Back up and Running..Break in Advice?

[Import_sounds-of-mid-GA]

I guess I'll hit the local canyon a couple of times soon.

Gosh, sounds really fun.... i cant wait to get my car back drivable!

[datsunfreak]

But I've never expected an engine to last more an 100K miles, so...

Unless it is an import.... nissan, mercedes, or toyota

Nope, I always end up switching to something bigger or selling the car before 50K rolls around... And they ain't exactly daily drivers most of them...

[dbrick]

Unless it is an import.... nissan, mercedes, or toyota

What gave you the idea Imports last so much better than American engines? Granted, alot of imported brands last well, but it's not like American vehicles are blowing up 45 minutes after the warranty expires.

One of my current Dodge trucks has 155,000 miles, uses no oil, my old street race car had 130,000 on the 340 engine before a valve job it needed, no hardened valve seats, and a re ring it didn't need then went another 100,000 after that in a truck, and is still running somewhere as far as I know. My Father in Law's 93 Dodge is around 210,000. Most of our work trucks have 130,000 miles or more up to over 200,000, Ford Chevy and Dodge, and my first car, Pontiac, was 190,000.

All of the above were American V8's and none were babied, and most were grossly under maintained. The work trucks are lucky to get an oil change between 5-10,000 miles and are driven by a bunch of animals. The 340 was thrashed on a regular basis street racing in a 13 second Dart and never broke anything in the drivetrain besides an occasional U joint.

[Import_sounds-of-mid-GA]

i know american made vehicles last a long time.... heck, you've seen me "campaigning" for chevy, but im just saying what ive seen..... 91(not sure the year) nissan p/u- 380k miles still running strong, 94 mercedes c220- 212k miles... PERFECT!! And ive see many more imports with miles similar to those

[dbrick]

And your point is???

[spl310]

I am not a Mopar guy, but I know someone with a Dodge truck with over 300k miles on the clock and running strong. Abuse kills engines, not necessarily use.

[67 roadster]

Whoa whoa whoa now, Granted imports can get rack up milage, and the dodge 318 is almost bullet proof. heck my 360 has a 150,000 on it and its still strong and i beat the crap out of it..i have raced my truck every other day since ive owned it..and before that my brother did...and the only thing ive ever done to it is regular oil changes and an air filter, other than modifications, the only thing that went was a few tai rods sp?) about a year back, my brother has a straight six in a ford f150, has 330,000 miles on it and its still a stump puller

[garth]

I am not a Mopar guy, but I know someone with a Dodge truck with over 300k miles on the clock and running strong. Abuse kills engines, not necessarily use.

Sid is right, abuse kill engines!

Anyone who has shared the family vehicle with their teenagers can testify to this. Four teenage drivers destroyed my 95 New Yorker in 3 years and 40K miles. My 98 Durango has 255k miles and still pulls strong. It’s been a �no kid zone�.

As for the difference between domestic and imports.

I believe that car manufacturers are globalized to the point that technology is available to and shared by all. It is only in the high end specialty and performance market that one manufacture may enjoy a brief advantage. I think we will see this when a manufacturer finally perfects and delivers a functional and economical hybrid vehicle. One will dominate for a year or two but others will soon adopt and tweak the design. It’s the nature of engineering in a competitive market.

[dbrick]

I agree with Sid and Garth. No manufacturer can afford to build a piece of junk anymore. Something like a K-car that saved Chrysler 25 years ago would sink them now. Hey, even British cars run now!

The next big jump will be the Hybrids and battery technology. I wonder what the bill is for a set of Prius batteries after the warranty is up, or from collision damage??

Japan is not imune to quality issues...Anyone see many 90's Toyota V6's with the original (or even second or third) Head gasket still installed. Granted, not nearly as bad as the Vegas with aluminum cylinder walls and iron piston rings, or the Volare retracting antenna (hit a bump and the antenna falls into the rusted out front fender)

[Import_sounds-of-mid-GA]

I think i heard $10g for a civic hybrid battery.... well, something that has to do with electricity on that car costs $10g!! My friends dad just bought one and he was telling me about it.

No manufacturer can afford to build a piece of junk anymore

You need to talk to my dad, he is always working on new POS!

[datsunfreak]

You need to talk to my dad, he is always working on new POS!

See below...

Abuse kills engines, not necessarily use.

[Import_sounds-of-mid-GA]

and these arent "abused" cars, most are very "nice" late model low mileage vehicles.... but they happen to be POS

[dbrick]

Was the car a POS before he smashed a knuckle, or just after?

[Import_sounds-of-mid-GA]

hold up! befer I answer anything, does bust a knuckle mean something other than what it sounds like?!?!?!

[datsunfreak]

hold up! befer I answer anything, does bust a knuckle mean something other than what it sounds like?!?!?!

No, you're thinking of the "5-knuckle shuffle"...