Re: [Paddlewise] Volvo maintenance - Use synthetic oil

From: Erik Sprenne <sprenne_at_netnitco.net>
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 2003 02:40:34 -0600
Marsanne wrote:
> The guys on "Car Talk" (NPR) say that if you change your vehicle's oil
TWICE as
> often as the manual recommends the engine will last indefinitely! I am
pushing
> 100,000 on my Jeep Cherokee, have done all the normal scheduled
maintenance,
> without fail. No major problems, and its a good kayak vehicle. I am going
to
> push it as long as possible. I am thinking my next vehicle will be the one
I
> try to keep forever and see if these guys are right. I will do another
post
> here in 30 or 40 years to let you all know if that worked out. <G>  The
way
> things are sounding, it will probably be the Subaru.
>
If you want to have the internals of a paddling vehicle's engine last
forever, I highly recommend the use of a synthetic motor oil.

My Mitsu pickup blew a head gasket at 195K miles.  While that was being
replaced, the mechanic checked the piston/crankshaft bearings and found
*absolutely no wear*, which I attribute to exclusive use of Mobil 1 oil for
the entire life of the vehicle.  The oil change interval used with Mobil 1
oil was 8-12K miles.  Changing the oil twice as often as recommended with
regular oil would cost about the same as using synthetic oil, but would be
4-6 times as much work.
I've still got the Mitsu - now at 244K - but mechanical components other
than the engine make it untrustworthy for longer trips.

Erik Sprenne
(who bought a used Camry wagon to replace the Mitsu)

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Received on Tue Jan 14 2003 - 00:36:12 PST

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