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-   -   How 2 Keep You Car Running 4-Ever : ) (https://montecarloforum.com/forum/general-monte-carlo-talk-9/how-2-keep-you-car-running-4-ever-6509/)

BeachBumMike 11-14-2007 05:55 AM

How 2 Keep You Car Running 4-Ever : )
 
[align=center]http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h1...n/SS-Space.jpg
How to keep your car running forever ?[:-][/align][align=center]http://www.gifs.net/Animation11/Tran...serviced_2.gif[/align][align=center][/align][align=center]
Improvements in technology, build quality and metallurgy mean that cars are living longer and longer, even in the Rust Belt. And it's not just Japanese cars, either -- domestics and Europeans are giving reliable service up to, and well past, 150,000 miles. [/align][align=center]With proper care and feeding, virtually any car can be kept running as long as the owner wants to keep it. Here are twelve guidelines to keeping your car alive well into six-figure territory. [/align][ul][*][align=center]Buy a good car like a Chevrolet Monte Carloto begin with. Though Japanese cars are generally the most reliable, don't dismiss American cars like the Monte Carlo : )-- their quality is improving and they are often less expensive to repair. European cars are generally the most expensive to fix. If you're shopping, talk to owners of similar cars about their experiences. [/align][*][align=center]Follow the maintenance schedule in your owner's manual. If your car has a "maintenance minder", use that as a guideline for service, but be sure to double-check your owner's manual as some items need to be replaced based on time rather than mileage.


[/align][align=center][/align][align=center][/align][align=center]Don't forget the timing belt! Most cars need to have the timing belt replaced every 60,000 to 90,000 miles. It's not cheap, but it’s far less expensive than the damage it causes if it breaks. [/align][*][align=center]Keep a repair fund. Cars do break, and there's nothing like a $1,500 repair bill to scare an old-car owner into the new-car showroom. Remember, your car would have to generate repair bills of around $5,000 per year for at least four years in a row to even approach the cost of a new car. In place of your payment, try putting $100 or $200 per month into an interest-bearing car-repair account. That way an unexpected repair or major maintenance won't disrupt your normal cash flow. [/align][*][align=center]Do your homework. Many cars have known problems that tend to pop up under certain circumstances or after enough mileage/time. Most makes and models have Web sites and forums devoted to them; they can be a gold mine of information. Knowing your car is prone to a given problem isn't necessarily cause to get rid of it; it just allows you to be prepared. [/align][*][align=center]Be aware. Be on the lookout for new noises, strange smells or anything that just doesn’t feel right. If something seems amiss, talk to your mechanic or dealership. Don't let them tell you "that's normal" -- if you've been driving your car long enough, you know best what normal is. [/align][*][align=center]Ask a friend to drive. (When U R Drunk: )Every two or three months, ask a friend to take you for a drive in your own car. Some problems appear or increase so gradually that you may not even notice them, but they'll stick out like a sore thumb to someone less familiar. And by riding along in the passenger's seat, you may spot something you missed while preoccupied with driving. [/align][*][align=center]Fix everything as soon as it breaks. If you're going to keep your car as long as possible, you have to want to keep it as long as possible. Don't ignore seemingly unimportant problems like broken trim bits, torn upholstery, or electrical glitches. Little annoyances tend to add up and can begin to erode your love affair with your old car. [/align][*][align=cente

BeachBumMike 11-14-2007 02:08 PM

RE: How 2 Keep You Car Running 4-Ever : )
 
[:-]Below information found on a Space `Tripon the Web [:-]
How to Make Your Car Last Twice as Long
What Car Makers Don't Want You to Know
David Solomon, Nutz & Boltz®
One of the best ways to save money is to avoid buying or leasing a new car. Motorists can easily double or even triple the life spans of their present cars simply by performing proper maintenance, practicing good driving habits and avoiding the kinds of mistakes that send most cars to the junkyard.
Most Common Mistakes
Mistake: Failing to observe the "break-in" period. Drive gently during a new car's first 50 miles, and vary your speed for the first 500 miles of the car's life. Failing to do so results in improper seating of the piston rings, which leads to increased oil consumption throughout the life of the car. Also, change the oil promptly after the first 1,500 miles to eliminate bits of metal and grit found in a new engine.
Mistake: Making sudden starts and stops. Accelerating aggressively only to slam on the brakes at the next traffic light doesn't save time, but it does cause needless wear on your engine, transmission, suspension and brakes, and it wastes gas.
[blockquote]
Better: Anticipate traffic patterns to keep your speed as constant as possible.
[/blockquote]
Mistake: Downshifting needlessly. In the early days of automobiles, brakes were so unreliable that prudent drivers always shifted into a lower gear when descending hills or approaching busy intersections. Today, brakes are very reliable and far less costly to repair than engine and transmission components.
[blockquote]
Rule: Use engine braking only when descending a long, steep grade. At all other times, use your brakes.
[/blockquote]
Mistake: Driving hard with a cold engine. Engine wear occurs most swiftly not during high-speed driving but in the first moments after a car has been started, when the cylinders are starved for oil.
[blockquote]
To avoid trouble: Before driving off, let your engine idle with your foot off the accelerator pedal for about one minute. Once you're under way, drive slowly and avoid using your heater and other accessories until the engine reaches its normal temperature, usually after about three minutes.
Special dangers: Accelerating briskly with a cold engine can cause the engine's head gaskets to fail. Premature use of accessories expedites wear of engine bearings.
[/blockquote]
Mistake: Shifting gears haphazardly. Manual transmissions cost less and are cheaper to maintain than automatics, if you learn proper shifting techniques. Picking too high a gear for a given speed "lugs" your engine. Picking an excessively low gear causes it to "overrev." Both waste fuel and damage your engine bearings.
[blockquote]
Better: Shift so your speed remains between 2,000 and 3,000 revolutions per minute (RPM). Use overdrive settings only for speeds greater than 45 miles per hour.
Common problem: With many manual transmissions, shifting from neutral to first gear causes an audible grinding of the transmission's synchronizer rings.
Remedy: Avoid shifting directly from neutral to first gear. Instead, move the shift lever briefly into second, then shift into first gear. And never rest your hand on the shift lever or your foot on the clutch pedal. Use your right foot for both the accelerator and the brake. Use your left foot for the clutch.
[/blockquote][center][b]Mistake: Driving with dirty and/or worn-out o

BeachBumMike 11-14-2007 02:12 PM

RE: How 2 Keep You Car Running 4-Ever : )
 
Make Your Car Last 200,000 miles
CONSUMER REPORTS FINDS MAINTAINING CARS FOR 200,000 MILES CAN SAVE OWNERS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS







http://www.familycar.com/Articles/CU/Images/CarLas1.jpgJennifer and Fritz Kysar
Kearneysville, W.Va.

1994 Ford Ranger pickup
488,000 miles

Advice:
"If you're going to drive a vehicle for a long time, buy replacement parts with a lifetime warranty. I haven't paid for a set of brakes in eight or nine years," Fritz Kysar says.
YONKERS, NYWith proper care, many of today’s cars can last 200,000 miles or more, and owners seeking to limit repair costs by trading in their vehicle every three to five years may lose out on thousands of savings, says Consumer Reports October issue.
Consumer Reports 2007 Annual Auto Online Survey identified 6,769 readers with 200,000 miles or more on their vehicles’ odometers. The report featured accounts that ran the gamut of make and model, including a ‘95 Honda Civic with 227,000 miles, a ‘90 Lexus LS400 with 332,000 miles and a West Virginia family’s 1994 Ford Ranger pickup with an impressive 488,000 miles.
When comparing the costs of buying and keeping a car for 225,000 miles over 15 years to buying and financing an identical model every five years, CR found the savings could be more than the original purchase price of the vehicle—and even greater if the savings were invested.
For example, Consumer Reports estimated the popular Honda Civic EX, with an automatic transmission, could potentially save its owner as much as $20,500 if properly maintained over 15 years— $1,500 more than its purchase price.
In its analysis, CR calculated the costs of purchase price including destination fees, depreciation, maintenance and repairs, finance and interest, fees and taxes, and insurance for 15 years against the same factors for purchasing a new model every five years.
Factoring in three percent inflation and an annual five percent interest rate, Consumer Reports estimated an additional $10,300 in investment savings. As a result, maintaining the Civic EX over 15 years would be approximately $30,800 less than the cost of buying a new Civic EX every five years. Consumer Reports found similar savings with other models.

Consumer Reports Names Good and Bad Bets:
Buying a car with a good track record is important in reaching the 200K Club. Consumer Reports identifies Good and Bad Bets for those shooting for 200,000 miles.
Good Bets have performed well in Consumer Reports tests and have better-than-average reliability scores for several model years. Bad Bets have multiple years of much worse than average reliability and more problems than other models overall. Reliability is based on the results of Consumer Reports Reliability Survey, and all have three or more model years of data.
Good Bets: Honda Civic, Honda CR-V, Honda Element, Lexus ES, Lexus LS, Toyota 4Runner, Toyota Highlander, Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota Prius, Toyota RAV4
[font="times new roman"]Bad Bets: BMW 7-Series, Infiniti QX56, Jaguar S-Type, Jaguar

Cowboy6622 11-14-2007 03:20 PM

RE: How 2 Keep You Car Running 4-Ever : )
 
no space.. i believe that just about covers it :)

BLACK ATTACK 11-14-2007 06:39 PM

RE: How 2 Keep You Car Running 4-Ever : )
 
I had 235,000 miles on my 1991 Honda Accord, and sold it running like a top. Drove it hard, banged the gears (5-spd manual) everyday I owned it. Abused the hell out of that car! Off roading, drag racing, etc. Oh it wasbad asrecutting through a field!Putting some 4x4 to shame!

Changed the oil timely, added slick 50 at least one oil change per year.

Put gas in it and drove...

Fixed it when something broke. One Clutch, everything on the front suspension, two exhaust systems, and maybe 4 sets of tires. That was it!

GREAT CAR!!! Would buy another Honda Accord in a Heatbeat!

While I owned that Accord, We went through, a Ford Thunderbird (66,000 Cooked the motor),OldsmobileCutlass (Shot a Rod through the motor),a Ford LTD Crown (It sunk inour lakeafter it poped out of park), and aGMC Safari Van (165,000 - blew the motor, another Great vehicle! I abused the hell of it too towing a bass boat all over the United States!)


RocknSS04 11-15-2007 04:55 AM

RE: How 2 Keep You Car Running 4-Ever : )
 
Use a QUALITY synthetic oil, such as Mobil 1 Extended Performance, and change the filters frequently. Rotate the tires every 6,000mi, and do routine drivetrain fluids changes. That's about it for me. Basic maintance, just do it!

BeachBumMike 11-15-2007 05:38 AM

RE: How 2 Keep You Car Running 4-Ever : )
 
[align=center]Wayne, Thanks for your input/post.[/align][align=center]+ I really like your new `sig [:-]by `Craig [:-][/align][align=center]http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...ockss04sm1.jpg[/align][align=center]:eek:Monte of the Month Winner :eek:[/align][align=center]`Craig [:-][/align][align=center]http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/f...attacksig2.jpg[/align][align=center]:eek:Your artistic abilities have added a pro touch to the MCF.[/align][align=center]Play us a `Tune : )[/align][align=center]:D[8D][&:]:D[/align]

BeachBumMike 11-15-2007 07:57 AM

RE: How 2 Keep You Car Running 4-Ever : )
 
[:-]Posted Records on the Web [:-]



You can read more about world records and record breaking in our homepage[align=center]Subject: Re: Highest Mileage Vehicle?
From:
ratter1 (John Schmidt)
Date: 1998/08/24
Newsgroups:
rec.autos.tech

[hr]
I believe that UPS ran a Mack engine for a million miles without a rebuild. I
personally drove a Freightliner for about 450,000 miles without the pan or heads
being pulled. The truck was traded at that time, so I don't know how many more
miles, if any, were put on it.
Along the same lines as that almost 1,500,000 mile VW, an axe has been handed
down in my family for over a hundred years. The handle has been replaced countless
times, and the head has been replaced at least five times, but that axe still chops
like a new one in spite of its age.

On Sun, 23 Aug 1998 22:01:45 GMT,(Joe) wrote:

> I'm gonna beat the no rebuild milage. Let's see.... 47,000
>miles in five years = 9400 miles a year. 577,363 miles divided by
>9400 miles a year = 61.42 years. 61.42 years - 5 years = 56.42 years.
>Looks like I got a lot of life left in my 94 chev pickup, 56.42 years
>to go.
> How about eighteen wheelers, do they make the record book?
>I bet a million miles is nothing for them.
> No Flames intended.
>On Sun, 23 Aug 1998 15:21:13 -0600, "Robert Hancock"
>
>>I quote, from my '94 Guinness Book of Records: "The highest recorded mileage
>>for a car was 1,442,044 authenticated miles up to 25 Jan 1993 for a 1963
>>Volkswagen Beetle owned by Albert Klein of Pasadena, CA. The highest record
>>mileage for an automobile with the original gasoline motor without an
>>overhaul is 577,363 miles to 5 Jan 1993 by Don Champion's 1979 Cadillac
>>Sedan de Ville."

>[/align]

BeachBumMike 11-15-2007 08:03 AM

RE: How 2 Keep You Car Running 4-Ever : )
 
[align=center]From one of our MCF Sponsor's[/align][align=center]AMSOIL[/align][align=center][:-][/align][align=center][/align][align=center]Getting close to One Million Miles![/align][align=center]Melvin Willis bought his 1978 Chevy pickup with only 13,000 miles. He installed AMSOIL motor oil immediately. Willis and his truck have driven all over the country, totalling over 728,000 miles. Willis' oil of choice for his long-lived Chevy truck is AMSOIL 10W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil.[/align][align=center]After driving a total of 275,000 miles, Willis had an ideal opportunity to purchase a new engine at an unbeatable price. He bought the new motor and installed it in the truck. Naturally, he installed AMSOIL motor oil right from the start. Willis and his Chevy have driven more than 450,000 miles with the new engine. Willis is particularly proud that neither the valve covers nor the oil pan were ever removed from either engine. "It's a good old truck," said Willis. "She still runs like new. I've driven it so much it's on the third set of seats."[/align][align=center][/align][align=center]400,000 Miles and Counting[/align][align=center]Bill Anderson teaches automotive mechanics at Hermitage Technical Center, a vocational high school in Henrico, Virginia. When he used petroleum motor oil in his 1978 Oldsmobile, Bill faithfully changed the oil every 1,500 to 2,000 miles. After watching an AMSOIL lubrication and filtration seminar in 1985, Bill decided to switch the Olds to AMSOIL 10W-40 and install an AMSOIL Engine Oil Filter.

By following AMSOIL's recommendations, Bill currently has 396,000 miles on his Olds and plans to reach 400,000 miles very soon. Bill still drives his car to work every day and on regular business trips, and he tells his friends and colleagues about the advantages of AMSOIL over petroleum motor oil. In fact, Bill uses AMSOIL in his boat, lawnmower, chainsaw and other personal equipment. .
[/align][align=center][/align][align=center]What Do You Do When Your Car Accumulates Over 300,000 Miles?[/align][align=center][/align][align=center]Kenneth Lindland, a retired preacher from Grass Lake, Michigan, didn't reallly know what he was getting into when he purchased his used 1985 Pontiac Parisienne from his wife Agne's brother in 1989. At that time, the car had just over 57,000 miles on it, and Lindland said he would be happy if the car simply held together until 137,000 miles.[/align][align=center]He got all that, and a lot more.[/align][align=center]"The last thing on our minds when we obtained this car from Agne's brother was that we would drive it an unusual number of miles," Lindland said. "I figured if we drove it to 137,860 miles that we would have monies worth out of a totally depreciated car." Lindland soon had to recalculate his depreciation figures to 150,000 miles, and then to 200,000 miles. He would be recalculating those figures for quite some time, because the car was just too good to part with. "Because I had such short term milage expectations for this car, we didn't over-protect it. We used for jobs like trailering firewood and gravel at our cottage. This car vastly outperformed all our expectancies."[/align][align=center][b]Because the car kept running dependably past all of his benchmarks after becoming fully depreciated, Lindland realized that the car was actually making him money at the depreciation figure of 10 cents per mile. By the time it had accumulated over 330,000

cain45 11-15-2007 08:32 AM

RE: How 2 Keep You Car Running 4-Ever : )
 
I agree with Black Attack buy foreign...specifically Honda, Toyota, Saab, Lexus etc. American cars have improved significantly over the years but they are still behind foreign automakers.

BeachBumMike 11-15-2007 08:49 AM

RE: How 2 Keep You Car Running 4-Ever : )
 
Hi James -Cain45-
No Swearing permitted on the MCF :D
Buy American....Isn't the two vehicles you own `American ?
I still believe that competition makes for better auto's.
I think the US Automaker's are wak'in `up : )
How many miles are on your LTZ ?
Have you had any interested parties ?
You do have the only year Monte Carlo LTZ with a 3.9L
I think/believe it will be a future rare classic.
Wish you a `Happy

BLACK ATTACK 11-15-2007 09:27 AM

RE: How 2 Keep You Car Running 4-Ever : )
 
My point wasn't to buy foreign... If anything,each auto maker has certain models that perform well!

Fact is, Buick has surpassed Toyota in Quality & Reliability. Now... If Buick surpassed the King of foreign cars, and depending on models, the Pontiac, Saturn,and Chevrolet versions all roll down the SAME assembly line. Do you really think the folks at the plant say, "Whoa, this one is going to be a Buick, we need to make sure it is better than the Pontiac, Saturn& Chevrolet version." Mechanically they are the same! What changes is the trim and GLASS. What makes Buick JUMP OUT from the rest is its Sound Glass that is only available on Buick & Cadillac Brands. It is the illusion, if I cannot hear anything, it must be perfect. The other thing is the mirrors, where the coatings and curvature give SUPER detail, actually making you feel like you can see better.

From selling most of themakes & models of cars produced, I can tell you the things that JUMP OUT to customers. Sportcar customers want to HEAR and FEEL everything, with the most important being that feeling of being sucked back into the seat and tapping the steering wheel and the car responds aggressively and sure footed. But other than that select group, MOST people want QUIET. The less noise they hear, the better. The smoother the ride the better.

I sold Hondas, and I can tell you,NOT all their cars are great, the Accord with the Manual Transmissions seem to outlast the models with automatics, and I believe the same holds true for Nissan, Toyota, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Ford, etc. The problem is, most domestics do not offer a manual transmission option on their bigger cars like the foreign automakers do. Nissan sells their top of the line Maxima with a 6-spd option, and I have seen some of their older models come in for service with 350,000 miles on them. I have seen the same with older Chevrolet trucks with the manual transmission come in with over 300,000+ miles.

The question should be why does a manual transmission make a vehicle last longer?

Cowboy6622 11-15-2007 01:46 PM

RE: How 2 Keep You Car Running 4-Ever : )
 
Space, i've known several 18 wheelers to go over 1 million miles without rebuilds... i wouldn't be surprsied to see 2-3 million on one in all honesty without a rebuild. my dad had to rebuild his at 700,000 miles, but taht was only because he put a bad air filter in it and cooked it :(. Cummins, Cat, and Detroit are the big 3 makers of 18 wheeler engiens (post some crap about them will ya :)) and they claim their engines can go 1 million miles between rebuilds. most trucks call for an oil change at only every 25,000 miles (about 5 times year). i've heard rumor cat has a new engine that only calls for an oil change every 100,000 miles while using some kind of synthetic.

BeachBumMike 11-16-2007 11:49 AM

RE: How 2 Keep You Car Running 4-Ever : )
 




[align=left]http://www.grassrootdesign.com/images/r1.jpg[/align]




[blockquote][align=left]
[/align]
[align=left]How to make your car run forever.
[/align]Living in poverty, on the ramen, food stamps, keystone light, donating sperm all can by synonymous with being a student[/align]like `Space. As students are one valuable possession often turns out to be our car. However, cars can be an expensive proposition if you let them be. But with a little love and some common sense even the most inexperienced owner can save money and headache.

[/align]The first thing everybody should do is read the owners manual. As dumb as this sounds there are many people who never crack the owners manual. The owners manual has a scheduled maintenance list. Follow this list; the best way to prevent a major car repair bill is through preventative maintenance. Checking the oil, radiator and brake fluid is an easy way to save a problem before it begins. Many times large repair bills are prevented by these small steps.

[/align]A trip to the mechanic can often make a person’s heart stop. This is especially true if the tow truck drivers uncle owns the shop. Dealing with a shop you are unfamiliar with is a gamble at best. This is why it is always smart to get a reputable mechanic before you are having any trouble. If you are new to the area ask people who have lived in the community for a long time where they have their car work done.

When scouting out a prospective shop look around and ask questions; is their shop clean? Are the mechanics ASE certified? How long have they been in business? Many mechanics, especially in the college area, offer student discounts. Again find out this information before any work is done to your car. Any reputable business should be clean and be able to answer any of the above simple questions. [/align]What saved me the most money on my car repair bills was taking a couple of automotive repair classes at my local community college.

This gave me the confidence to take on some car projects myself. Before the classes all I could do was change my oil. After a couple classes I had the ability to give myold Montea complete tune-up, etc.. Overall I saved myself lots of $'s! While working on your car might not appeal to you, just having a good understanding of how a car runs will pay big dividends in the long run.`amen[/align][/blockquote]

Space 11-05-2008 04:24 AM

RE: How 2 Keep You Car Running 4-Ever : )
 
It`s amaz`in what one will find when you do a googles search[:-]
New Day, New President Elect...Peace/Love/Happiness 2 `all.
Good Luck to the USA : ) [sm=americanasmiley.gif]


did you ever wonder
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