Boy, am I going to get flak....

Hey, you're my kind of guy. I laugh at all these newsgroupies that say we're all going to die if we don't rotate our brake fluid. I admit I do change my tranny fluid sometimes, but I have 3 4-speed chryslers! Living dangerously, I know.

If you had changed the fuel filter once in a while you may not have had to replace the pump. As the filter plugs the pressure at the pump rises to well over 100PSI, since it's not designed to run at those pressures it will fail fairly quickly.

And no way in hell can you tell me you got 189K on your timing belt or spark plugs. Bob

A very good point. I've been trying to tell people for 30 years. The brand of oil doesn't matter if you change it regularly.

s

Hell, I bought my old lady a 1990 Lincoln MKIV new. I sold it at 178K miles. Had a minor A/C problem once, a new starter at 8K miles musta just been bad luck, religiously changed the oil every 7,500 miles, original spark plugs, and still got excellent mileage. The paint, and the exhaust was gone when I let her go. That 302 was a badass little engine.

Yes and I am not even sure now regular is required. I have driven a lot of cars and other things fall apart before the engine ever goes. Most cars I have owned also go through valve guide seals first or burn a valve and changing or not changing oil doesn't seem to matter. I have never taken out rod or main bearings or worn cylinders down to the point of no compression. Know driving with no oil will do it ever time and for sure keep water in the radiator. Oil seems to be the last item I worry about other then keeping it full.

Also very few drivers drive a vehicle until it drops.

Steve Barker wrote:

Jumping in here feet first. We didn't let the plugs go that long on our company ranger, but we did get 181K out of the timing belt on our '94 2.3L. Also changed the OEM rad hoses and water pump at the same time. So it does happen. With proper care.

s

And how do you "properly care" for a timing belt or spark plugs to insure that they will last for 181K? Bob

On the belt, mainly just keeping it clean and properly tensioned. This means no oil leaks. As for the plugs, well clean gas and regular oil changes will prevent oil usage and thusly the plugs will last. I pulled the plugs at 112,000. Didn't really need them, but since they were out being inspected, why not?

s

Well Steve, a 94 2.3 Ranger left the factory with copper plugs. Are you seriously trying to convince anyone that they would look fine after 112,000 miles? I'd agree the engine may still be running okay at that point but the plugs certainly don't look "fine" except maybe to someone who doesn't realize the plug gap is supposed to be .044 and not .100".

The timing belt is pretty much the same thing, you're telling me that at

112,000 miles you are going to pull the cover, adjust the belt tensioner, look at how shitty the belt looks and say..... f*ck it.... looks to me like it'll go another 70 thousand! LOL... Bob

That's exactly what I did on 3 different occasions. As for the plugs, it came with and calls for double platnums. The belt was kind of a curiosity. After it made 100,000, i wanted to see just how long it would last. .

s