"Over-maintaining" a vehicle....

[cqaigy2]

LOL!

Great story, and I like your sense of humor too. I'm i the market for a new used car, ill have to look at that honda crv. Yours will run like it's turbo charged, what with all those cylinders working!:laughing:

 

[mikehaugen]

230,000 miles and not a single tune up is a bit far fetched.

I don't think it's THAT far fetched. I am not saying it's right, just not hard to believe... especially since the guy said most of the plugs were bad- he was probably just not in tune (no pun intended) with how his engine was running. So technically all the plugs didn't last that long, just enough to keep him running

I did mine at 120k just because but the plugs honestly looked like new. Perfect color, perfect gap, you had to look very close to see any rounding on the electrode. I know that is close to half of what he did did but I now have 208k and honestly believe that if I hadn't changed them, they would still not be causing problems (yet!). They were gm (probably delco) iridium plugs and I replaced them with delco iridium plugs and bosch wires.

I drive almost all highway and rarely less than 40 miles at a time. The gas is always fresh and 95% of it is from the bp by my house. I think with proper combustion and good ignition control plugs should last a long time.

 

[3930dave]

I just hit the 100,000 mile mark and am doing the plugs. On my Mercury Mariner you have to take the intake off. also changing coolant for the first time and trans service #3. I never did the rear brakes yet so I'll give them a peek.

Common change interval on plugs today, and if I had to pull the intake, I probably wouldn't be doing it sooner myself.

#3 - what, you don't like paying for new Transmissions ? :thumbsup:

Good stuff Murph.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

LOL!

Great story, and I like your sense of humor too. I'm i the market for a new used car, ill have to look at that honda crv. Yours will run like it's turbo charged, what with all those cylinders working!:laughing:

To be clear, that wasn't my CRV.... just a Review of the particular plug I was looking up on the NGK site. I would have needed a defibrillator on hot standby if it was my ride ! :shocked:

I guess if you come across one like this, (original plugs) could be a good negotiating tactic "Down on power, engine is tired..... :laughing:" ,... stranger things have happened.

Good luck on the search.

Rgds, D.

 

[Heywood Jannockitov]

I guess if you come across one like this, (original plugs) could be a good negotiating tactic "Down on power, engine is tired..... :laughing:" ,... stranger things have happened

That reminds me of a story I read where disillusioned owners of old Vegas would simply have their cars hauled off to the junkyard in frustration when they finally would no longer start. The cars used oil and Vegas, which surprisingly employed some rather advanced technology for the time, used an oil pressure switch that cut the power to the electric fuel pump if there was insufficient oil (or 710) pressure. Junkyard owners simply topped up the oil and the car would start right up. Then they resold them.

 

[3930dave]

I don't think it's THAT far fetched. I am not saying it's right, just not hard to believe... especially since the guy said most of the plugs were bad- he was probably just not in tune (no pun intended) with how his engine was running. So technically all the plugs didn't last that long, just enough to keep him running

I did mine at 120k just because but the plugs honestly looked like new. Perfect color, perfect gap, you had to look very close to see any rounding on the electrode. I know that is close to half of what he did did but I now have 208k and honestly believe that if I hadn't changed them, they would still not be causing problems (yet!). They were gm (probably delco) iridium plugs and I replaced them with delco iridium plugs and bosch wires.

I drive almost all highway and rarely less than 40 miles at a time. The gas is always fresh and 95% of it is from the bp by my house. I think with proper combustion and good ignition control plugs should last a long time.

Sadly, I agree... it is believable behaviour today.

"I think with proper combustion and good ignition control plugs should last a long time." First set of plugs I changed was on my Mom's '72 Nova - so I'm old enuff to really appreciate how far things have come. The engineering and plugs in today's gassers are impressive, for sure.

The plug in question (story) is just a basic nickel electrode Vgroove plug - so you tend to get a lot more electrode erosion than with platinum or iridium ones.

Many people today are like the guy in the story, they just totally ignore the service interval on plugs. I've seen the later coil-on-plug era Civics limp into my buddy's shop with 1 or more coils blown. High mileage, and original plugs - hard for a coil to drive those, and IMO, likely contributed to the coil failures. (Not picking on Civics, as my comment applies to all modern cars.... A Civic just happened to be the last one I saw in this state).

The other reason I don't like to leave plugs in my engines for crazy long mileages is carbon build-up. Fuel control today (MPFI) is good, but still, you get some build-up on the ends of the plugs - makes for a PITA removal. Aluminum heads still scare me, in this respect.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

That reminds me of a story I read where disillusioned owners of old Vegas would simply have their cars hauled off to the junkyard in frustration when they finally would no longer start. The cars used oil and Vegas, which surprisingly employed some rather advanced technology for the time, used an oil pressure switch that cut the power to the electric fuel pump if there was insufficient oil (or 710) pressure. Junkyard owners simply topped up the oil and the car would start right up. Then they resold them.

Knowledge. Priceless. And, in that case, a money-maker.

I've seen a number of FI engines recently, that were destroyed by lack of oil. But, that's OK, as it helps new car sales .

Then, and esp. now, lots of people haven't figured out that you need to check the "710" level on an IC engine.

They didn't quite have the block metallurgy figured out in the Vega, but yes, it had some advanced tech for it's day.

Rgds, D.

 

[Heywood Jannockitov]

Then, and esp. now, lots of people haven't figured out that you need to check the "710" level on an IC engine.

Yeah, my Audi S5 doesn't have a dipstick. I have to check the 710 level using the MMI.

Getting back to plugs, I would be more concerned with not being able to remove them easily if not changed after a few years, especially if I owned an F150. My BIL bought a used 2004 F150 and the first thing I asked him was if he knew when the last time the plugs were changed (if ever).

 

[3930dave]

Yeah, my Audi S5 doesn't have a dipstick. I have to check the 710 level using the MMI.

Getting back to plugs, I would be more concerned with not being able to remove them easily if not changed after a few years, especially if I owned an F150. My BIL bought a used 2004 F150 and the first thing I asked him was if he knew when the last time the plugs were changed (if ever).

I'm not familiar with the Audi system..... one thing I like about a mechanical dipstick is a longgggg MTBF # (low failure rate). I hear Porsche has people scratching their head on this issue.... likely similar technology.

I like Ford trucks, but yeah, the gas heads/plugs can be an issue - esp. certain years, they need really gentle handling, and accurate plug torque - under-engineered, IMO. Any busy shop has gotten good at heli-coiling these.

Rgds, D.

 

[D7E]

I have a 99 f150 with 340'000 that we use around the farms locally like a rolling toolbox that has never had the plugs changed since we bought it with less than 200'000 many years ago !