RST Engineering said:
Mike ...
I'm curious. As one of those "old timers" who cut their teeth on
straight-6 chevies without pressure rod bearings ("scoop" system) I'd like
to know how the "old ways" will ruin a modern engine. Last time I looked,
modern engines still worked on the suck-squeeze-bang-blow routine with
large pieces of iron flailing about wildly. Lots of round parts,
practically no square parts, and a few elliptical parts.
I seem to remember a comment also about "modern high-compression engines"
in this thread. My book has the 2.5L as a 9.7:1 motor which isn't enough
of "high compression" to warrant anything but plain old 87 octane regular
gas.
Hey, I'm here to learn, not to argue, but I like some basis for
understanding what I hear. As the saying goes, I keep an open mind, but
not so open that my brains fall out.
Jim
It really isn't the compression I'm worried about, but the changes made to
improve performance, reliability and longevity at the cost of being less
tolerant of abuse, including the addition of foreign substances. I've
considered making a list (in no particular order, you'll notice) for my own
reference, including more than just the engine per se:
1) Fill the radiator from the garden hose
2) If the coolant is low, drive a ways until the temperature guage gets
high, then let it cool and repeat until you get to a water hose
3) A roll of toilet paper is an acceptable replacement for the oil filter
cartridge (one of my mother's favorite tricks!)
4) If the battery dies, jump start from another car and let the alternator
charge the battery.
5) If the battery doesn't seem to be charging, start the engine and lift the
battery cable to see if it will run on the alternator alone
6) A couple quarts of ATF in the crankcase is a good way to ensure the
sludge doesn't build up too much
7) If the engine is overheating, remove the thermostat
8) Any old transmission fluid will do, unless it's a Ford or Mercury (those
use Type F)
9) Transmission fluid never needs to be changed
10) If you are stuck in the mud, "rock" the car out by rhythmically shifting
between drive and reverse
11) If the engine stalls on hot days, wet down the fuel pump to relieve the
vapor lock
12) A little bit of ping is normal climbing hills on hot days - it won't
hurt anything (another of my mother's favorites, but she never had a broken
piston ring that I know of)
13) Oil is oil
14) All antifreeze is the same... in fact, all brake fluids and power
steering fluids are the same except that weird English stuff
15) You don't need antifreeze if the temperature never gets below freezing
16) If the engine just won't start, use a rope to tow the car home. If it's
an automatic, keep the speed down to 35 mph.
17) The only preventive maintenance a car ever needs is an occasional oil
change
18) The owner's manual is unnecessary - all cars are basically the same
19) If the air filter is dirty, bang it on the ground a few times to knock
the dirt off
What have I forgotten?
I realize most of those were poor practice even in their time, but American
engines lasted about 100K miles before the wear was obscene whether we did
those things or whether we followed today's standards.