Synthetic Oil

[NCRaineman]

Shaken Law has come to Europe, dang fellas. In other words, if you have an old vehicle like a 4 gen ram in order to comply you need to hang a filter on the exhaust? I guess ULEZ and shaken are easy to make law with people with no freak'n second amendment. Unbelievable, if you car is less the 40 years old this applies to you. I guess they are just trying to outlaw being poor?

Western governments are trying to turn people back into serfs. Controlling movement is one of the avenues to do this by. If they straight up outlawed cars they'd have a civil war on their hands, so instead they slowly make it more and more costly to own and operate one.

 

[White six four]

What about searching in your area for dealerships that sell new and used with a lifetime powertrain warranty? That takes away most of the worry of a design flaw that may or may never happen that pretty much all vehicles have in one way or another.

My opinion but researching vehicles online is usually a big waste of time. It's good for a little bit to see what's out there, but hours and hours is just wasting time. Unless a guy has nothing better to do besides muddy up his decision (aka the longer you look the worse it gets.) Not only will a guy find problems that may never happen with a particular vehicle during their ownership. A guy could find one that is near perfect in every way. Take it for a test drive and absolutely hate driving it.

For the oil related part to this thread I'm still running the same redline 5w30 that I put in last may or June. I have right around 4k miles on the run now but no piston slap on cold starts so far this winter. I've been babying it though and will plug it in for 30 minutes to 2 hours before I fire it up when it's below 20 degrees.

 

[MontanaHandyman]

Read the fine print, if the cost of repair is more than the current market value than the vehicle, the warranty pays the value of the vehicle. Hopefully your compass just keeps running for you.

Yeah, they didn't tell me that when I bought the lifetime warranty. Fortunately it's already paid for itself in repairs I've had to have done at this point.

 

[MontanaHandyman]

I need a therapist or something, 10 hours shopping cars with the wife is like torture on my sol. I need something to get right, maybe some type of pill?

Have you ever tried just saying "yes dear"... lol!

 

[Yardbird]

I always read owner forums for the vehicles I'm interested in. The owners, most of them anyway, are going to tell the good and bad.

I also look at owner complaints to get an idea of the weak parts.

I know the 3.5 in my wife's Edge had the stupid in block water pump that can ruin an engine if it goes out, but found a limited with 24k miles and gave it a chance.

No more than she drives it, I figured we would go to around 75k, then change the water pump out and keep going, as that was around the mileage the pumps seemed to start going out. Many have gone well past 150k with no problem.

It's been a great car, except........

The water pump let go at 58k miles.........

Luckily, it went out just as she was reaching to turn off the engine, so, the engine wasn't destroyed from antifreeze dumping into the oil pan.

Unfortunately, it was 95+ miles from home at night, and she was alone. I was in cardiac ICU, not knowing where or who I was at the time.....

It's fixed now, but it was very stressful for her during an already stressful time.

Research helps a LOT, but, crap happens sometimes.

 

[Burla]

Before I test drove the 350 the engine is one of the best if not the best there is, but I happened on to that info about the transmission in early gears before I test drove it. Now, two salesmen both told me the same thing, and 10% report it so that probably means 20% have it and it cannot be fixed. There is a reason this vehicle cant be bought new under 60k and within 3 years is 30k everywhere especially with the name Lexus. As bad as the reports are on the Forester, you still cant buy those 50% of original sales price in 3 years, they hold their value.

 

[NCRaineman]

Before I test drove the 350 the engine is one of the best if not the best there is, but I happened on to that info about the transmission in early gears before I test drove it. Now, two salesmen both told me the same thing, and 10% report it so that probably means 20% have it and it cannot be fixed. There is a reason this vehicle cant be bought new under 60k and within 3 years is 30k everywhere especially with the name Lexus. As bad as the reports are on the Forester, you still cant buy those 50% of original sales price in 3 years, they hold their value.

It might be bigger than you are looking for, but have you considered a Grand Cherokee? No need for Hemi, Pentastar is a fine engine and we are all aware of how the 8HP performs.

 

[Burla]

It might be bigger than you are looking for, but have you considered a Grand Cherokee? No need for Hemi, Pentastar is a fine engine and we are all aware of how the 8HP performs.

If it were for me I would for sure.

Looking at the field, I need to trick her into another rav 4, same engine but the transmission is now an 8 speed. The only thing I do not like it start stop, but you can turn it off when you drive. A couple mid sized looks good, pilot- passport, but I am kinda at a loss. I'm sure we will go everywhere and see what she likes, maybe Mercedes entry level.

 

[Hemi395]

It might be bigger than you are looking for, but have you considered a Grand Cherokee? No need for Hemi, Pentastar is a fine engine and we are all aware of how the 8HP performs.

I second this, my wife's 2020 Grand Cherokee has been great. The pentastar is good motor as long as you keep up with oil changes.

And we all know how good the 8 speed is. HOWEVER from personal experience, changing the fluid on it sucks...

 

[MontanaHandyman]

If it were for me I would for sure.

Looking at the field, I need to trick her into another rav 4, same engine but the transmission is now an 8 speed. The only thing I do not like it start stop, but you can turn it off when you drive. A couple mid sized looks good, pilot- passport, but I am kinda at a loss. I'm sure we will go everywhere and see what she likes, maybe Mercedes entry level.

Our prayers are with you... (lol!)

 

[Burla]

I second this, my wife's 2020 Grand Cherokee has been great. The pentastar is good motor as long as you keep up with oil changes.

And we all know how good the 8 speed is. HOWEVER from personal experience, changing the fluid on it sucks...

Well, seeing the absolute garbage going on out there this combo seems very familiar and doable the Pent/8 speed. If you would have asked me if this would be one of the best combo's available ten years ago I'd say you be cray cray. Now, this seams like 4 aces, you can beat it but it isn't easy. Take away the hemi, and I would take this over the hurricane anyway.

 

[Burla]

More debauchery and hypocrisy to discuss, so yada yada same ol story, we HAVE to go with new technologies to save the planet yes? I'm sure we all agree on that one

Toyota cross curb weight 3115 -2.0L 4-Cyl. Engine with CVT = 33 mpg freeway.
Rav 4 curb weight 3380 pounds- 2.5L 4-Cyl. Engine with 8 speed transmission wait for it 34 mpg's.

So a heavier vehicle with more pony's and more fuel delivery and a geared transmission gets better gas mileage? you cant make this stuff up.

 

[NCRaineman]

More debauchery and hypocrisy to discuss, so yada yada same ol story, we HAVE to go with new technologies to save the planet yes? I'm sure we all agree on that one

Toyota cross curb weight 3115 -2.0L 4-Cyl. Engine with CVT = 33 mpg freeway.
Rav 4 curb weight 3380 pounds- 2.5L 4-Cyl. Engine with 8 speed transmission wait for it 34 mpg's.

So a heavier vehicle with more pony's and more fuel delivery and a geared transmission gets better gas mileage? you cant make this stuff up.

Torque and gearing are where it's at for highway mileage. That 2.5 has more torque and likely uses a lower final drive ratio.

 

[Hemi395]

Well, seeing the absolute garbage going on out there this combo seems very familiar and doable the Pent/8 speed. If you would have asked me if this would be one of the best combo's available ten years ago I'd say you be cray cray. Now, this seams like 4 aces, you can beat it but it isn't easy. Take away the hemi, and I would take this over the hurricane anyway.

The only thing is for a Jeep GC, I would avoid the covid years up to 2024 if you can, lots of build quality problems...

 

[Burla]

In other words, the "fix" to increase mileage is actually a complete failure. Since what you said is right, it should be an easy refix? Just stop with the madness and go back? Ban cvt's?

 

[Burla]

Just in you guys in Canada like 1/2 this forum will not have problems getting redline oil at the same price we pay and no tax to get it!!

All we have to do is finalize the 51st state thing, so not sure if it will be 51,52, or 53rd state seams like there are some bold moves out there, but great news and congrats

 

[Hemi395]

In other words, the "fix" to increase mileage is actually a complete failure. Since what you said is right, it should be an easy refix? Just stop with the madness and go back? Ban cvt's?

Now Mike, that's using common sense and logic again. Getting that extra 1mpg should be your top priority, not the longevity of the vehicle.

Just ignore the fact that the $2.76 per tank you save will be overshadowed by the astronomical repair cost of the overly complex systems used to get you that $2.76 per tank.

 

[Burla]

Now Mike, that's using common sense and logic again. Getting that extra 1mpg should be your top priority, not the longevity of the vehicle.

Just ignore the fact that the $2.76 per tank you save will be overshadowed by the astronomical repair cost of the overly complex systems used to get you that $2.76 per tank.

me thinks you have to go back and reread partner, the extra mpg goes with the 8 speed not the cvt. So I win on both arguments longevity plus mpg.

 

[HEMIMANN]

Imma look for a horse and buggy. Lots of Amish around here.

Can still get harness oil. Not sure in synthetic.

EPA probably start regulating horse poop contents.

 

[Burla]

Imma look for a horse and buggy. Lots of Amish around here.

Can still get harness oil. Not sure in synthetic.

EPA probably start regulating horse poop contents.

start, lol...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates manure from large horse operations through Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) regulations. These regulations apply to facilities where many horses are fed and confined.

I'm pretty sure they wont reg a single horse and buggy, but my guess is your locale will have a thought about the waste in the street.