What Would It Take for YOU to buy a diesel car?

gagrice

Speaking of slow news. This is an issue for most cars built over the last 10 years or so. The TPMS (tire pressure measurement system). The little tire with a nail indicator came on. So I checked all the tire pressures and they were fine. Stopped by one of the Discount Tire centers and they quickly checked the tires and hooked up their little computer thingy. He reset the TPMS and the indicator went out for a day. Next day it was on again. I finally got into my regular Discount Tire store. He checked all the tires which were fine. Then hooked up the computer and gave me the bad news. The battery in the left front sensor is dead. $60 for new sensor. Installer told me the batteries usually last about 8 years. Well the Nissan Frontier is a 2008. Knowing all about Murphy's law it is almost a sure thing if I replace one another will soon go bad or all four. May be a good time to trade on a new GM Canyon/Colorado diesel. I hate electronics that have batteries that cannot be replaced.

ruking1

I have always thought the TPMS' are more trouble than they are worth.

I got to ride in a friend's new (compact CUV 3.5 L) 2017 Lexus RX350. It sports a well finished interior., albeit a tad tight. I It runs the 8 sp A/T. While very nice in most ways, performance seems to need @ least 100# ft of torque more & massive suspension upgrades to even come close to the 2.1 L MB GLK 250 BT. I doubt that either or both would allow the 20 to 23 mpg, ball park for the gas segment. This is underwhelming in contrast to a 36/37. The MSRP seems almost breath taking.

ruking1

I'm not sure this is diesel related or not, but in heavy stop and go traffic with the A/C on ; two or more commute drivers alerted my wife to the 2014 MB GLK 250 BT "smoking".

Probably not wanting to be a feature on the evening commute news....She immediately completes a 2 lane left direction. right lane connection, turns the next right & pulls right into an indy MB repair shop parking lot. Conveniently .... it's closed @ the time (aka, Friday night, closing time) By this time, full panick ensues.

By the time I get the call, the feeling I had was the car blew up. So I tell her (after calming mantra, normal boilerplate, safety checklist & trouble shooting hat on) make sure it's not on fire, then pop the hood, take a whiff & check oil. Yep, correct oil level. Nope, no smell. Go to each wheel well & do a whiff. No smell. So if no under hood smoke, nor smell nor wheel well smells: where from? So evidently, with no instrument cluster lamps flashing, the "smoke" seemed to come from under the right front passenger chassis? OK...???. So I surmise it's the fine to drive home. BUT,.... I figured discretion was probably the better part of valor, (as did MB dispatche)r; then told her then to call Mercedes Roadside. I know those MB trained Roadside guys know a fair amount. No such joy, MB elects to send a flat bed with a 55 minute ETA. F/F, I tell her to tow to our local dealer. They agree, even with a closer MB dealer. MB Roadside, N/C.

Long story short, the local dealer checks it out thoroughly. They scope it, inspect it, rack it, road test it.... They cannot duplicate (CND). They pronounce it ready (to do a short 500 miles trip, app Tahoe mileage: 420) The dealership did not charge. I'm told they washed the car to boot.

fintail

I've had a slight burning smell coming from my car on a few occasions, I think it might be the exhaust system disposing of particulates, or something like that. No smoke though.

ruking1

Giving your feedback, I suspect that it's (ours) just the normal operation. Perhaps A/C drainage hit the hot pipes underneath the chassis? It's scheduled for PU on Monday.

fintail

I hope it is nothing serious. I've searched forums, and have seen other comments about slight burning smells.

My car also gets to go to the dealer next week, due to me hitting a lunar crater-sized pothole. It might need a camber bolt, but the alignment guy who was there yesterday said there's no issue driving it until then.

ruking1

Thank you! @ this time, it seems a CND concern.

While I LOVE all this fantastic CUV handling (almost sports car like) @ .85 G +, I do pine for less extreme tire aspect ratio's & smaller sizes like 18 in & below to 15 in.!?

I'm guessing hitting that pot hole was a huge & loud jolt? It sounds like a careful inspection is in the cards.

I've run 3 psi + above placard for app 45,000 miles.

fintail

Maybe the worst pothole I have ever hit. I usually dodge them, or hit lightly, but this one was a surprise I couldn't avoid. From the moment I hit it, I knew I needed to take it in.

Damage is apparently minor, but still kind of crappy in what calls itself a developed nation. I suppose I should be happy the tire and wheel were not damaged. I don't know if a gasser would have fared any better

ruking1

Without a more TMI discussion, my guess a gasser would not have done equally as well. File with fed, state, county, local, for damage due to road conditions.

It would seem that the WA (your) governors & legislatures et al., have been doing what CA legislatures & governors, et al. have done for decades: repurpose legally earmarked transportation ONLY funding for NON transportation purposes? Purely a guess but I think the roads are scheduled to get a lot worse, before you get a slight improvement.

Local alignments run $100 +. & 9/10% tax on parts.

I've seen no studies & it's inconclusive what cumulative other $$ damages this/A/same pothole may have & continue to cause/d over its life span, i.e., windshields, paint, body damage, suspension, towing, etc.

Purely anecdotal, but on 4 diesels: 2 cars/2 CUVs 445,000 miles, I've (seemed to have) had ZERO $ damage!!?

So far, alignments (1) are @ 100,000 miles "preventative" intervals. So in truth it could have been ZERO alignments in 445,000 miles. Most preventative alignments are done one per year @ 15,000 mile intervals. This would amount to 30 alignments for 445,000 miles. My guess, intervals can be stretched another 50,000/100,000 miles. Treadwear has been dead even across 32 + tires.

It's hard NOT to be appreciative of "German" quality over 4 cars and 14 years. It's even more remarkable, given the fact that the roads where these diesels operate are so BAD.

UPDATE "SMOKING" (breaking fake news)

An "in the know service advisor" (my normal guy) says this is probably a DEF issue (diesel emissions fluid) normal/abnormal drip/leak: producing steam, which can look like smoke. "Smoke" was emitting under right from passenger chassis.

FYI, upon return from the dealer. It appears to be covered under the warranty.

ruking1

The ability to game OEM emissions tuning is rampant, aka normal in gasser circles. Here is a Honda Civic example. http://www.autoblog.com/2017/05/01/make-civic-turbo-more-powerful-than-si-with-hondata-tune/?ref=yfp

I'd love to do the 450 miles R/T Tahoe trip vs a turbo Honda Pilot/CR-V. Both drive both & vice versa. A NON diesel Honda version would be too much ado about nothing.

andres3

CA has dumb rules like you can't use an aftermarket CAT in your exhaust system if it doesn't say CA/CARB approved stamped right on it. Never mind if it passes the sniffer tests, if it doesn't have the stamp, you are forced to run cat-less and just reinstall the stock cat at smog time if you want to mod the exhaust. Doesn't make any sense. I guess they don't have faith in the sniff test.

AWD vehicles have an advantage, not many smog stations with AWD setups so they just have to check at idle and not at speed.

ruking1

All the " (gasser) car/motorcycle shows" routinely ignore emissions rules!! Really, you have a Ford 150 putting out less than 200 # ft torque, posting 15 mpg. Zouped it up to where the thing just 8/10 miles a gallon and throws 600 # ft and there's no increase of pollution, to now totally less pollution!? PLEAZe??!!

sda

fintail said:

Maybe the worst pothole I have ever hit. I usually dodge them, or hit lightly, but this one was a surprise I couldn't avoid. From the moment I hit it, I knew I needed to take it in.

Damage is apparently minor, but still kind of crappy in what calls itself a developed nation. I suppose I should be happy the tire and wheel were not damaged. I don't know if a gasser would have fared any better

Is it now not tracking true or vibrating or both? Hopefully no damage, perhaps a tweak to the alignment.

fintail

Actually, it felt fine, but I just knew something might be up with the severity of the impact. I don't think it is serious damage - a replacement bold seems to be the worst case scenario. They told me there's no issue driving it now, but I have a road trip Thursday - best to get it fixed first. It'll be fixed Wednesday.

Speaking of diesels, I talked to my former manager, who last year bought a 3 year old lease return ML350 Bluetec, with my approval. Zero issues so far, and she loves the mpg - averaging mid 30s in fast highway driving. Her prior car, a TSX, wasn't attaining that.

sda said:

Is it now not tracking true or vibrating or both? Hopefully no damage, perhaps a tweak to the alignment.

ruking1

I think it's great the good word on diesels gets out! A friend bought a two year old MB diesel with 7,200 miles! He's still absolutely a happy camper.!

There's a lot of fake news going on?! Auto pundits not long ago, heralded the record breaking 2016 auto sales @ 17.5 M. (aka, happy days are here again) Barely less than a year later, they predict (2017 auto sales of 17 to less than 17.5 M) just short of a gasser/hybrid, E10, E85, EV financial zombie apocalypse !?

..."Over the past couple of years, U.S. consumers have increasingly shunned cars in favor of larger crossovers, SUVs and trucks. While automakers posted steep declines for car sales in April, SUVs, crossovers and trucks were either up or off slightly."...
(does the articles' author have ADD? ) or is it really surprising that people don't buy what they really don't want ?

Go Diesels!
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/gm-ford-toyota-post-u-sales-declines-april-142037820--sector.html

OPEC fantasy math ? Out of 100, it was supposed to be minus - 4 % = 96 %, but is 4% PLUS + 104% ? http://finance.yahoo.com/news/opec-failed-220000275.html

They are producing 8% more than targeted cuts levels into a world wide glut ... & ...prices are going up!?

How much of the .06 cents of every (fed) tax $1.00 dollar is spent on highways? Dig around for the needle thin amounts in this haystack. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/government-spends-federal-income-taxes-065814050.html

..."Everything else — which includes crop subsidies, space travel, highway repairs, national parks, foreign aid and a lot more — accounted for the remaining 6 percent of federal spending last year."...

gagrice

Looks like the Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel is history. They have dropped it from their website. Looks like the EPA is after blood. FCA claims no foul.

Today, the EPA and the California Air Resources Board issued a notice of violation to FCA alleging the automaker installed—and didn’t disclose—software that results in increased nitrous oxide emissions beyond the legal limit on some of its diesel-powered cars. Regulators haven’t yet said what the software was actually for, and whether it constitutes some kind of deliberate attempt to cheat anti-pollution tests. The accusation covers Jeep Grand Cherokees (from 2014 to 2016) and Dodge Ram 1500 trucks powered by 3-liter diesel engines. It’s 104,000 cars in total.

https://www.wired.com/2017/01/epa-now-accusing-fiat-chrysler-selling-dirty-diesels/

ruking1

The diesel WITCH hunting is still in full swing! ? Guilty till proven innocent? Will FCA be able to match VW payouts?

ruking1

If VW brand can sustain this "new" (4.6% from .3%) profit margin / march, it's YUGE

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-03/volkswagen-profitability-surges-on-turnaround-following-scandal?utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=bd&utm_campaign=headline&cmpId=yhoo.headline&yptr=yahoo

If VW brand can match Porsche brands profitability, it's YUGER than YUGE !

gagrice

Looks like all three Porsche, Audi and VW are selling their 2015-16 inventory of 3.0L TDI vehicles. Cannot find any info on what the company did to make them legal?

ruking1

Yes! There are a number of those segments & #'s in those segments that are legally not in the "Kleig" lights. In addition, due to planned removal from diesel markets, that drives up the values of existing/remaining/fixed diesels.

On this thread, we have gone over how several years (@ Sep 2015) of "frozen" TDI used car prices have had ripple effects on unrelated, but still diesel vehicles. One example is the 14 MB GLK 250 BT. I was pleasantly surprised @ its' residual value. (Basically depreciation = 1% per year.) (cpmd:D = 2.4 cents)

Moreover, new (17.5M) & used (34 M) car gluts as well as zero down to zero % new car loans with rising % loans, still even further drive down gasser, gasser hybrid, E10, E85, EV new & used vehicle values/prices. This is also having less than nice ripple effects in financial markets.

Needless to say, advantage diesels !!

Michaell

Not everybody is abandoning the diesel market in the US:

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2017/05/diesel-engines-remain-next-generation-bmw-3-series-x3-report/#more-1562057

ruking1

Even in this neck of the woods, I see very very few BMW "D" models.

andres3

ruking1 said:

The diesel WITCH hunting is still in full swing! ? Guilty till proven innocent? Will FCA be able to match VW payouts?

That's not FCA's business model. VW made payouts because customer retention is part of their business plan. FCA is all about finding and getting new suckers er.... customers to buy their product.

ruking1

I'm not sure what triggered this, but I ran some numbers on my oldest TDI: the cpmd:ownership,depreciation posting @ 5.5 cents. the MOST costly. So across three (2003, 2009, 2012) VW TDI's, I'm happy @ VW's customer retention efforts!

ruking1

In almost every major way, VW over 3 dieselrs & 15 MY's has stepped up big time!

I'd be financially remiss if I didn't give them a first or last shot for the next used/new vehicles. So for example, I see a four-year 72,000 mile warranty on the 2018 VW Atlas. Not that I want a gasser Atlas. It also promises to be a very hot competitor in the midsize CUV & 3 row seat market segment.

Moreover unsold new 2016 & 2017 MY's VW's can be great buys! ZERO down/% loans continue to be another no-brainer.

So,...not only is there overabundant shale oil & gas in America… How about Argentina?https://www.wsj.com/articles/big-oil-gets-in-early-on-argentina-shale-1493890202

China has the most "potential" but unproven shale oil & gas!

ruking1

Slow diesel news day, oil < $46. per barrel

fintail

Small road trip under 150 miles today, but received 44.4 mpg per the trip computer, and that was with some stop and go traffic, and a few minute break off the highway.

ruking1

14 MB GLK 250 BT is getting delivered home tomorrow. The reasons were a bit phone garbled, So I will verify the service order. It seems the DEF connection sometimes gets loose & an intermittent leak, making steam occurs. I'm glad my normal service advisor is that or one of the dealerships diesel specialists.

12 VW Touareg TDI posting just shy of 32 mpg (31.86).

ruking1

ruking1 said:

14 MB GLK 250 BT is getting delivered home tomorrow. The reasons were a bit phone garbled, So I will verify the service order. It seems the DEF connection sometimes gets loose & an intermittent leak, making steam occurs. I'm glad my normal service advisor is that or one of the dealerships diesel specialists.

12 VW Touareg TDI posting just shy of 32 mpg (31.86).

Under MB warranty, leaking AdBlue metering valve, removed, replaced, reset. Battery charger applied, No computer codes, but cleared. Injection additive. Car hand washed, dried, vacuumed. Coincidently or not, the delivery guy loved his own 250 BT: same year, model, color, etc. He now has the new GLC coupe.

Kudos to the local Fremont, CA MB dealership & MB!

On much broader TDI news. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/drop-diesel-car-demand-could-132152836.html

ruking1

https://www.yahoo.com/news/2017-chevrolet-cruze-sedan-diesel-223500189.html

2017 Chevrolet Cruze TDI? Looks like 52 mpg in real world testing?

TBD for GM compact CUV's.

I'm not there, but heavy snow in South Lake Tahoe, CA! May 6, 2017!

ruking1

(South Lake Tahoe Keys, May 7, 2017)

Good morning, May 7, 2017 ! Got to love this global warming! If you believe the warm a sist 's fairy tales, the MB GLK BT 250 BT must have caused this! This is supposed to be a ( 100% man caused) severe drought!

kyfdx

Anecdotal information from one particular place and time isn't much of an argument for or against global warming.

ruking1

kyfdx said:

Anecdotal information from one particular place and time isn't much of an argument for or against global warming.

Lol That was precisely the opposite of what was (by warm a sists) said before the 2017 massive snows, which was exactly why it was phrased the way it was !! Warmacists blathering have long been tenants of the Fed/state/local religions. Simply: enact separation state/church. Want to contribute? No problem! Send contributions to the IRS!

Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for the $ 2 B plus, the last Fed administration spent here in "cleaning up the stadium", so to speak. They've even reversed "wrong-head environmental " policies.

After a fire, (some years ago) they've cleared & cleaned up areas & trails close to the house. On a more strategic.level this is a "last stand fire break" for the city of South Lake Tahoe: should a future fire approach from that direction, for the next 75 years.

Fed spending here has been serious & continuous since @ least the first Clinton administration! Like anything, more $$'s are better? Hopefully that spending continues under many more FED /State administrations.

fintail

I blame the cheater VWs.

On the road this morning, mpg maybe just a little off due to some city driving and a rolling slowdown:

ruking1

Now how many mid sized (GASSER) sedans post (your) this kind of mpg? (43.6) Keep up the posts!

(TMI

This (mine) 2.1 L BT (D) engine 7 sp A/T in an AWD compact CUV, routinely posts up to 49.5 mpg for up to 120 miles downgrade from as high as 7,300 ft. However, I will continue to post R/T, low fuel lamp, first click off, real world mpg. This continues to be 36/37 mpg.)

fintail

I don't know if anything can that also has AWD, the weight, and comfort.

ruking1

http://buzzdrives.com/30-cars-that-will-last-more-than-250000-miles/?brx_aid=3df818&utm_content=3df818&utm_source=YG&utm_medium=a8dLho2WBTvDZ9g--&utm_campaign=BD--250k--30_Cars_That_Will_Last_More_Than_250000_Miles--grey_hummer--All--US_CA_M0_1b&mike=0&utm_expid=104308666-5.1EYlQusXQHuadkGRQpPoKw.0

It may be no accident that some to most of these long lasters are diesels?

andres3

I have heard a lot of anecdotal reports from people with old Honda's getting 40+ MPG if they had a stick. Those cars, however, were about 2,000 pounds, or so probably, and probably wouldn't pass smog either if they were judged to 2017 standards.

I'm surprised if a car is old enough, it is exempt in CA. Wonder how long that'll last.

Michaell

andres3 said:

I have heard a lot of anecdotal reports from people with old Honda's getting 40+ MPG if they had a stick. Those cars, however, were about 2,000 pounds, or so probably, and probably wouldn't pass smog either if they were judged to 2017 standards.

I'm surprised if a car is old enough, it is exempt in CA. Wonder how long that'll last.

I owned an '85 Accord hatchback with a 5-speed. Took it on a cross-country trip from CA to MI in the fall of '86. I tracked each tank - the best tank was just over 44 MPG on westbound I-40 through NM and AZ.

fintail

I think the exemption year is 1975, right? Pre-cat. Probably not many vehicles on the road in every day usage to qualify for that exemption, most that do are already relegated to occasional use as hobby cars. Of course, pre-68 cars will be exempt as rudimentary smog pumps were not in production until then. IIRC, diesels are also exempt in CA.

In WA, cars are exempt after 25 years.

andres3 said:

I have heard a lot of anecdotal reports from people with old Honda's getting 40+ MPG if they had a stick. Those cars, however, were about 2,000 pounds, or so probably, and probably wouldn't pass smog either if they were judged to 2017 standards.

I'm surprised if a car is old enough, it is exempt in CA. Wonder how long that'll last.

ruking1

andres3 said:

I have heard a lot of anecdotal reports from people with old Honda's getting 40+ MPG if they had a stick. Those cars, however, were about 2,000 pounds, or so probably, and probably wouldn't pass smog either if they were judged to 2017 standards.

I'm surprised if a car is old enough, it is exempt in CA. Wonder how long that'll last.

My (now) daughter's 2004 Civic A/T posts 36 to 42 mpg.

It still passes its GA smog. But I have no doubt it will easily pass a CA smoke test in 2017.

I've always wished it was a TDI. I do understand it would have to have had some costly upgrades supporting a TDI upgrade.

Are your gas prices being gamed? https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-do-gas-station-prices-constantly-change-blame-the-algorithm-1494262674

kyfdx

'82 Accord hatch with 5-speed.. Carbureted. Averaged 36 mpg in local commuting, errands.. For about the first nine years.. Slipped to 33 mpg, once the carburetor needed rebuilding..

Michaell

kyfdx said:

'82 Accord hatch with 5-speed.. Carbureted. Averaged 36 mpg in local commuting, errands.. For about the first nine years.. Slipped to 33 mpg, once the carburetor needed rebuilding..

I didn't keep mine long enough. Got rid of it in '88 for an Isuzu Trooper. Family was into off-roading at the time (Ford Ranger, Jeep Cherokee).

ruking1

ruking1 said:

andres3 said:

I have heard a lot of anecdotal reports from people with old Honda's getting 40+ MPG if they had a stick. Those cars, however, were about 2,000 pounds, or so probably, and probably wouldn't pass smog either if they were judged to 2017 standards.

I'm surprised if a car is old enough, it is exempt in CA. Wonder how long that'll last.

My (now) daughter's 2004 Civic A/T posts 36 to 42 mpg.

It still passes its GA smog. But I have no doubt it will easily pass a CA smoke test in 2017.

I've always wished it was a TDI. I do understand it would have to have had some costly upgrades supporting a TDI upgrade.

Are your gas prices being gamed? https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-do-gas-station-prices-constantly-change-blame-the-algorithm-1494262674

The 2004 Honda Civic has about 200,000 miles. It's been doing 20,000 miles OCI's with Mobil One oil & WalMart $2.00 oil filters.

ruking1

ruking1 said:

ruking1 said:

andres3 said:

I have heard a lot of anecdotal reports from people with old Honda's getting 40+ MPG if they had a stick. Those cars, however, were about 2,000 pounds, or so probably, and probably wouldn't pass smog either if they were judged to 2017 standards.

I'm surprised if a car is old enough, it is exempt in CA. Wonder how long that'll last.

My (now) daughter's 2004 Civic A/T posts 36 to 42 mpg.

It still passes its GA smog. But I have no doubt it will easily pass a CA smoke test in 2017.

I've always wished it was a TDI. I do understand it would have to have had some costly upgrades supporting a TDI upgrade.

Are your gas prices being gamed? https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-do-gas-station-prices-constantly-change-blame-the-algorithm-1494262674

The 2004 Honda Civic has about 200,000 miles. It's been doing 20,000 miles OCI's with Mobil One oil & WalMart $2.00 oil filters.

15,500 app are average miles per year. App 1.75 to 2 years ago, it had a $400 intake manifold repair. No TDI work in contrast. Compared to the 2003 VW Jetta TDI, it eats brake pads & rotors & tires.(only 100,000 to 110,000 miles front brake pads & rotors) It's getting great air filter wear & performance.

From all indications, I know that 36 to 42 mpg on the 04 Honda Civic are outlier. It STILL pales in comparison to the 03 VW Jetta TDI's 48 to 52 mpg.

xwesx

ruking1 said:

It's getting great air filter wear & performance.

LOL

I can safely say that is the first time I have ever heard that sort of praise about a car!

ruking1

It's really a TMI kind of thing!

The silicon figure ( dirt from air intake migrating into oil, held in suspension) on a UOA (used oil analysis) can be used to determine a to fleet OCI's. (oil change intervals) Indeed a "slightly" dirty air filter filters better than a NEW air filter!

Most misunderstand to don't care about an oils specific standards to more expensive & niche market oil performances. Most could care less about how premium specific oils are designed to work over its lifetime (so called extended). If one has real world concerns, the UOA is a good indicator (fact based).

The 04 Civic uses Mobil One 0W20. (synthetic) The only reason why it's changed @ 20,000 miles intervals is by that mileage, the oil levels get closer to add oil. So rather than add less than a qt, it's not that much more effort to do an oil change.

More turbo diesel related, across 4 engines: 1.9 L, 2.0 L, 2.1L, 3.0 L, I've anecdotally noted each of them (over 30,000 miles OCI's) have used far less than a qt/l of oil.

The 3.0 L TDI is the "gobbler" @ half to maybe 3/4 of a qt/l. So if "add oil" (1 qt/l) on the dipstick, computer display is the marker/ standard, essentially, the diesels do not use oil.

In contrast, the 2001 Chevrolet Z06 Corvette has consistently use 1 qt between 2,500 to 5,000 miles. The 3.0L V6 puts up 406 # ft vs 5.7 L V8 385 # ft.

andres3

How much does a typical UOA cost?

ruking1

andres3 said:

How much does a typical UOA cost?

Let me point you to Bobistheoilguy.com.

Just think, all that VW whipping, humiliation, BULLYING by any to all sources like EPA/CARB etc. are now focused on EV!? Oh & VW is the biggest auto oem in the world! If GM was too big to fail, do we think the much larger VW is any less so?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/coming-tesla-says-volkswagen-boss-140812968.html

In case anyone has forgotten: why we fought in Afghanistan ? $ 10 T (trillion) estimated by the CIA) in mining assets, aka, rare earth metals essential to EV oem. The Chinese, of course have already staked out the mining rights, courtesy of American blood & treasure.

xwesx

My silicon readings are always higher than the universal averages on my cars. I think it is probably because I use K&N air filters. They have excellent air flow, but they definitely do not trap as fine of particulates as paper filters.

My cost on UOA is approximately $30 per, without the TBN analysis (extra $10). I used the total base number to determine an appropriate/safe change interval on my Forester by including the TBN on the first three analyses. I averaged about 11,000 miles per OCI and changed annually unless we did a long trip, and the TBN was always excellent, even on my highest OCI of nearly 16,000 miles.

Overall, I save a lot by doing annual changes PLUS the added confidence/knowledge from the UOA.