The surprising truth about motor oils

[Sully2]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( You guy's need your hard drives checked for viruses! Something ain't right. )</font>

Either that or whatever they have been smokin is twisted a tad too tight on the ends!!!

 

[CT_Tree_Guy]

<font color="blue"> Either that or whatever they have been smokin is twisted a tad too tight on the ends!!! </font>

Nah, I gave that up long ago - I kept forgetting who I was mad at, and why. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Sully2]

Me too. I gave it up for the hard stuff...

"Better living thru modern chemistry".....LMAO

 

[Bates]

Anyway, back to the topic.

I don't hear much discussion about variations in the quality of engineering and metallurgy during these discussions.
The aluminum block Cadillac V8's in the 80's were notorious for rounding off their camshaft lobes at around 50,000 miles.

You could put fresh Mobile One oil in those P.O.S.'s every day and they'd still fail. I never heard of a bad camshaft in a Toyota no matter how much it was abused, though.

It's not ALL about maintenance. It's about starting with quality engineering and metallurgy and THEN maintaining it well.

http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1220324&postcount=29

A 550,000 mile (Toyota) Lexus LS 400 still going strong.
This is why GM is in chapter 11 now with Ford close behind them. It's also why Toyota is poised to overtake GM this year as the world's #1 auto maker.

 

[BGL990]

Very much agreed. I too am a total Toyota fan. 7 years ago I was looking for a new vehicle and did quite a bit of research - internet, Lemon-Aid and similar books, even stopping people in parking lots and asking how they like their vehicle. Virtually everything I came up with pointed to Toyota having, on average, the best initial build quality, best customer support, best customer satisfaction, fewest recalls, etc.. Honda was a close second. The "big three" were some way down the list. I bought a Tacoma pickup and haven't looked back. Combine good engineering and manufacturing with a good synthetic oil and a bit of maintenance and an engine should definitely outlast the vehicle it's bolted into and maybe live longer than it's owner.

ps. You've got 500,000+ miles on your vehicle. I've seen several posts where people seem to consider 150,000 - 200,000 as high mileage. Personally I think if an engine only goes to 200,000 something is wrong. I'd be curious to hear what others consider "high" mileage.

 

[slowrev]

High mileage expectations sort of depends on how fast and in what manner the miles are put on an engine. If one puts 10K per year on a vehicle will they be likely to keep the beast going for 200k ? Most will get rid of the vehicle because of other age related problems before 200k. However someone that puts 75K per yr of highway miles on a car should get 200k or beyond with few problems.
I have found that somewhere around 10-15 years various rubber o-rings, gaskets, seals, etc start going out and most will dump the vehicle.

Ben

 

[Bates]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I've seen several posts where people seem to consider 150,000 - 200,000 as high mileage. )</font>

I've noticed that, too. Most Ford, GM, and Chrysler owners seem tickled pink if their cars last 150,000 miles. Us Toyota and Honda drivers don't even consider our cars broken in until 200k. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif **** retentive maintenance isn't needed. Regular, scheduled maintenance is all that's required.

Maintenance is not as important as owning a quality vehicle in the first place.

 

[JerryG]

<font color="blue"> Personally I think if an engine only goes to 200,000 something is wrong. I'd be curious to hear what others consider "high" mileage. </font>
I have a 1983 5 litre Mustang that has 345,000 miles on it and has never had a head off.

 

[Bates]

JerryG, I know there are domestic vehicles with very high miles on them. Overall, this is not the norm. MOST domestic cars are clapped out at 100k to 150k. MOST Hondas and Toyotas run twice that amount or more.

Sales numbers speak for themselves. On average, people are abandoning domestic cars and buying longer lasting, relatively trouble free imports.

 

[billbill1]

I drive a 1987 Toyota pickup everyday. 2 weeks ago, it went over the 200,000 mile mark. It has started getting weak on power (still doesn't use oil) I had the timing chain and gears replaced but no motor work otherwise. When I replace it, it would be tough to go with anything other than another Toyota. It has never left me stranded in over 10 years, I almost didn't buy it when I did because it had 87,000 miles in 1996. 22R motor.