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Regards,
Jose
High performance synthetic oil after 15 hours in a lawnmower can doubtlessly be considered as brandnew and should not be wasted...!
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I just put as much fresh oil as my mower will hold before the first use every spring. Seems to work but now you guys have me nervous that I'm not doing all I should!
Oh well, it's just a $200 mower and it's in its 3rd year already...
And, using synthetic is not overkill, due to high operational temps of air cooled engines. But, to each his/her own - it's your investment.
For the 2009 model year, the H2 will be configured to run on E85, a blend of ethanol and gasoline. A year later, the H3 adds E85 capability. And in model year 2011, Walsh expects to introduce a line of diesel-powered trucks.
Is this quoting Walsh correctly? Did he mean just the H2, or light trucks in general? Is GM really going to wait four years before putting diesel into light trucks?
In a previous article, Mark Vaughn said:
General Motors announced it will build a turbocharged 4.5-liter Duramax clean diesel V8 making in excess of 310 hp and 520-lb-ft of torque for use in light-duty trucks and Hummer H2s built after 2009.
I thought "after 2009" meant "the following model year". I guessed it really meant was, "some time in the future, but no sooner than 2010".
I mean, we´re talking about some tiny, stoneaged 3, 5 or maybe 10hp airpumps...
Because I wouldn´t expect any of you folks mowing in deep winter at 0 degrees, not even a regular multigrade oil was necessary to provide proper lubrication. Simple SAE-30 or SAE-50 (due to temps of air cooled engines) would do the job perfectly.
If you prefer to spend lots of bucks on expensive synthetic oil rather than invite your wife for a nice diner, you should keep the stuff in your beloved crankcase a lot longer...!
Have a glance through this:
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larsb, "Hybrid Diesels?" #394, 13 Jun 2007 6:23 am
I´ll switch to synthetic immediately, too. But first I have to make sure that my certified Home Depot consultant doesn´t mind more frequent oil-changes. I just want to be on the safe side, because as a mechanic I don´t know exactly how to handle lawnmower maintenance. Especially with a highly sophisticated Honda product...
Brings a whole new meaning to a night out for dinner and a movie, eh?
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
kcram - Pickups Host
If you are putting the majority of those 40k miles per year on your RSX, you might want to rethink at a min, tires. Correct me if I am wrong, but the RSX tires are oem performance oriented tires. So the advantage you get in the twisties are probably lost in the more probable straight line (high/low) speed commutes. As a result it might be better to look to tires that are more touring in nature in the H rating, the longer the warranty the better. So for example, I am going on 96,000 miles on H rated tires. I project easily 100 to 125k. So in your case, those tires would last app 2.5 -3.125 years vs whatever your current ones are tending to last, which I would swag will be shorter.
So a VW Jetta TDI as an example would easily last 10 years (400,000 miles) and save you car payments from what you are probably used to. So with the H rated tires, the longer tread life will save real cash.
von Bernard Simon (Detroit)
The German carmaker is confident it can show Americans that their perception of diesel lags reality.
Volkswagen of America is running a contest to find the oldest and highest- mileage diesel-powered VWs still running on their original engines. The competition is more than a publicity stunt. It has kicked off one of the most ambitious campaigns to persuade American motorists that their cars will last longer and use far less fuel if they switch to diesel.
The German carmaker needs to generate interest ahead of next February's planned launch of its diesel-powered Jetta TDI, which VW hopes will not only revive the group's flagging US sales but put it in pole position to capture growing demand for diesels in the world's biggest car market. The Jetta is expected to be the first diesel to comply with increasingly stringent emission standards in all 50 states.
In spite of its headstart over rivals such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Honda and Nissan, VW faces a Herculean task. It is not only promoting a vehicle but trying to change a mindset. "The US image of diesel today is like Europe 20 years ago," says Adrian Hallmark, head of VW of America. "It's got a dirty, noisy, smoky reputation."
Until recently, diesel pumps were confined to truck stops and the far corners of filling stations. They are now easier to find but, according to the Diesel Technology Forum, diesel is still only available at 42 per cent of retail fuel outlets.
General Motors helped sully diesel's name during the last oil crisis in the late 1970s by converting the petrol engine of an Oldsmobile model to diesel, with disastrous results. The converted engines were not only smelly and noisy but prone to breakdown.
Unlike Europe, diesel typically costs more than petrol in the US, mainly because it competes for refining capacity with home heating oil. Diesel cars are also more expensive.
Entire Article Just Click Here
PS Just posted this because I wanted to have Post #3000. LOL
I believe that Honda and Toyota will be the ones to chnage the image of diesel in this country, as we've been saying all along. A high efficiency diesel in a car line perceived to have near-bulletproof reliability will make all the difference in the marketing of diesel engines.
My own experiences with the (USA) VW has been the reliability is just as good as either Honda or Toyota. In fact, consumable parts last 2x longer than the Honda or Toyota. Of course Honda claims dominance as does Toyota SANS consumable parts!!! VW quality is almost head and shoulders above both Honda and Toyota. This is NOT to discount the commonly knowledge (reliability or lack there of) that almost was a VW deal breaker in my case. So why Toyota or Honda for that matter is balking is quite a puzzle; in that it will be a grand opportunity to trump the Euro car makers in the USA markets and in several areas where they truly hold dominance, i.e., diesel power plants and even longer longevity.
I don't really want to get into this discussion here, but I do want to confirm:
That statement is YOUR PERSONAL OPINION, right?
Let's just make that clear for all the newbies on the forums, because no data I've ever seen anywhere backs that statement up.
So the message is to the Newbies: Don't be going around telling people that VW's quality is better than 'Yota and Honda unless you want to be laughed at.
Yes! I live/d with ALL three in the past, now and probably in the future.
Well, this is a call em as you see em rational. It is almost undeniable. As I have said in the past, Toyota and Honda do reliability well, with mediocre quality. VW needs to improve (the statisiticaly bad ones) as they do not do (statistical)reliability as well as Toyota and/Honda with much higher quality.
most professional reviews I've read would typically agree. They always seem to love the high-quality feel of VW.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
VW and reliable are not words that go together with any of the ones I've owned. Various years of the Beetles, a Kharman Ghia, a Rabbit and a Golf as well as a Dasher.
Not a single one even came close to being reliable. I had old beat to crap Mopars that were 2 steps away from the junkyard that ran more reliably that I paid less for.
Maybe I just have bad luck with VW? well VW and Ford. I had a the only turbo mustang ever produced by Ford back in the 1980's bought it with like 5 miles or so on it.
The shifter felt all wrong so I took it back to the dealer and the salesman said he'd look at it. He drove it around the building and proclaimed I didn't know how to drive a standard (yeah right). They wouldn't even let service look at it. 3 days later the engine /tranny fell onto the ground! Nearly flipped the car over *ss over teakettle.
It took 4 salesman to restrain me at the dealership from committing violent acts on the salesman. Hey I was young and really angry. Bottom line they could not replace the Mustang, nor would they fix it so they gave me a Ford Fairmont in exchange. The last Ford I ever owned and I will never own a Ford again, so I'm not dissing the VW's but poor reliability is just that. VW wasn't that bad but often I would have to take it back 5-6 times to get the same problem fixed. Pre lemon law.
Too bad they are the only ones with a diesel that's affordable next year. I'll buy a gasser before I'll buy a VW.
As for the Ford's you mentioned - they were absolute garbage. Ford has also apparently improved recently; I remain hopeful, but skeptical.
Honda and Toyota have clearly better reliability than Volkswagen.
Volkswagen may have better "quality" in terms of perceived high standard of materials and feel (may also help long term durability that Ruking appears to be looking for).
Toyota and Honda have better "quality" in terms of manufacture defects in assembly, fit and finish defects, etc.
When the vehicles are rated for which brands and models are higher in quality they tend to talk of the second definition which clearly favors Honda and Toyota.
In other words, Jaguar has outstanding "quality" with regards to great leather, wood, metals etc. but has very poor "quality" in the way its parts are put together during the manufacturing and assembly process.
Well when it comes to my hard earned I am very cautious about who I give it to. I have no qualms with Honda or Toyota and might buy one but I'm a Subie fan at heart. Mostly because they've been reliable and get through the bad winters with ease.
As for the Ford's you mentioned - they were absolute garbage. Ford has also apparently improved recently; I remain hopeful, but skeptical.
Yeah they were awful build quality and the dealer is a ripoff artist that is still in business and rips off one of his best customers a guy whom I know every 2 years they devalue his LTD's by 70% and those cars are low miles and clean enough to eat off of!
Ford execs could crawl on hands and knees over broken glass covered in salt and tabassco sauce to give me the keys to a brand new Ford and I wouldn't take it, unless I could sell it and keep the money. Nothing Ford can or ever will do could ever get me to buy one of their cars. Oh and I've owned a lot of used and new Fords but not for many years. I did buy a Miata which Ford basically owns Mazda but has no say in that car and a few other Mazdas but wasn't happy with them. The Miata was great but. If Ford has their hand in it then i just don't want to buy it. Their cars are too full of gremlins (not the AMC kind or the ones from the movie :P )
So, when we consider that the diesel mindset has to change, it will be changed in a number of ways. The public will start to see a very dramatic increase in diesel powertrain availability by various manufacturers over the next few years. They will not be as unique or rare as they have been in recent years. That increased exposure itself will lend credibility to diesels as a viable alternative. Especially when highly respected and highly regarded manufacturers also offer diesels. This increased credibility to the diesel alternative will continue to grow.
As advertising from the various manufacturers all start to hammer the same message... eventually the public will understand that diesels have undergone a major transition from the old clickety-clackety smokey engines to a whole new generation of cleaner, quiter, environmentally-friendly engines that will offer a huge increase in fuel economy.
Diesels will eventually experience a sales increase that will be so fast it will surpass the hybrid's rate of growth, but not necessarily the number of units sold. After all, hybrids have had a number of years head start to gain positive public perception.
Another factor in favor of the diesel is the product itself. Diesels have honest advantages that can be understood, and seen at the dealerships and test-driven. They are not hype. They are the real deal... offering a terrific alternative to the traditional gas ICE.
Personally, I can't wait to get at least two diesel-powered vehicles for my family. My wait, in California, might be a little longer than the rest of the country, but it will be worth it. I expect to get a Mercedes GL BlueTec for my wife, and I expect to get another smaller diesel SUV for myself... (when I'm not driving my Porsche Carrera S.
I will definately put my money where my mouth is. I am a true supporter of the new modern diesel.
Already the "chatter" about the upcoming diesels is growing. The auto magazines, as well as the auto columns in the newspapers and business magazines, as well as online auto-related content, and auto-focused websites have increasing content devoted to diesels.
This is only the beginning. VW will not bear the burden of convincing the nation about diesels. Only initially will they be amongst the early participants. We should expect a very large surge in diesel awareness and acceptance, which will prove itself in terms of diesel sales. Already exclusive in California, and by the end of this decade, the entire nation will be offering ULSD fuel, and at that same time we can expect diesel sales to skyrocket. And, as I indicated, the participation of most manufacturers, and especially the highly regarded ones, will add major credibility to the diesel alternative. Diesels will be very successful!
Diesel... the sooner the better!
TagMan