Secrets To A 500,000 Mile Car

[Xist]

I have a friend that is a know-it-all, even though she almost never leaves the house and lives in a small town. She likes to tell me how to do things that she has not done, but I have. Anyway, she was ranting and raving about what terrible cars Fords are, repeating the same clichés that I heard in junior high. I asked if this was based on her vast driving experience.

I knew that she has never had a license, but I had not realized that she had not even had a permit. She claimed "test anxiety" and insisted that she had driven "a lot." Apparently, all of her driving experience was on the simulators in Driver's Ed, which she insisted were real cars. At some point she mentioned her nephew's Power Wheels and I told her the kid had more driving experience than she did.

I also told her that my dad has put one million miles on four Fords.

"Then what happened?"

"He sold three, two to me, but one wore out."

What happened to the two you bought?"

"Someone drove into them."

"See?"

No, no I did not.

One was a 1989 Escort. He put 350,000 miles on it, the engine wore out, and he sold it to a shop. Both of us have seen it since with my "I'm proud of my Eagle Scout" sticker still on the bumper. He says that he would keep his Foci longer, but he drives in isolated areas without cell phone reception.

Yes, I know that I rant and rave, too. I just use longer words.

[Xist]

Oh, and on my famous Prelude, I needed to replace the clutch right away. A mechanic told me to purchase Autozone's cheapest because it had a lifetime warranty, but the third time that I replaced it I bought OEM. Then the transmission went out.

[RiderofBikes]

2001 Hyundia Tiburon... 2L "betaII" engine, all stock, 4-speed Auto.... Worst ever. $3,500 in repairs=1yr. Both front wheel bearings(Bearing in Hub assembly), Driver side half axle, 2 motor mounts, 1 Trans mount, Break pads/Rotors, Header(Cracked OEM), Alternator, Radiator, Belt, installed Ground Loop Isolator(still had Electrical short somewhere) Headlights would blow above 3000rpms?! Then Head Gasket blew... all around 100k mi

Some cars are just NOT ment to be...

[Ford Man]

Originally Posted by Xist

Oh, and on my famous Prelude, I needed to replace the clutch right away. A mechanic told me to purchase Autozone's cheapest because it had a lifetime warranty, but the third time that I replaced it I bought OEM. Then the transmission went out.

The clutch in my '88 Escort is an Auto Zone lifetime warranty and currently has about 210K miles on it. I've only replaced one clutch in any car I've ever owned because it wore out, it had 260K miles on it when it was replaced. I did replace the clutch in a Mazda pickup many years ago that only had abut 80K miles on it. The transmission was having to come out to have new needle bearing put in it so I told them to replace the clutch/pressure plate/release bearing. When I went to pick up the truck from a friend who did the work he said he did as I ask, but said the original clutch still looked new.

[jalmir]

BTW, the 2001 Tiburon has the "beta" engine (not the revised beta that is often called beta2).

But any car can be a lemon, one of my friend bought a 2003 Civic a few years ago, after 2 months she returned it to the dealer, the thing was riddled with electrical gremlins and small mechanical problems. Civics are good cars, but if you happen to get your hands on a lemon you might, like her, think that all Honda are crap!

As for a car that last 300k miles or more, I would put my money on a manual Toyota and stick with severe conditions maintenance!

[FXSTi]

The secret to driving a car 500,000 miles is to drive it 499,999 and then be very careful.

[thomason2wheels]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

The secret is to have the perfect environment- not too hot, not too cold, trips not too short or too long, nice smooth paved roads, clean air, no road salt. Easy on the gas pedal, easy on the brakes.

You seem so eager to dump chemicals in everything; I doubt they hurt, I doubt even more that they help. Just time and money down the drain most of the time.

There are some specific situations where a parts store chemical can help. I've used SeaFoam to free up a sticky lifter. The auto manufacturers, oil refiners, and myself ALL SAY that if there's no specific problem, there's no need for additives.

You're having a hard time lettin CTg go of the idling thing too. Try just getting in the car, getting all situated, turning the key, then going. You might like it.

Re: rusty brake lines: living in the rust belt, I have had to replace hard brake lines on numerous occasions; they all rusted out from the outside in. Changing the fluid every x years wouldn't have made a lick of difference; 10-12 years in the road salt is about all a person can expect to get. Perhaps changing brake fluid would have merit in a different environment that is more susceptible to condensation BUT again, as on the engine (even moreso) the brake system is SUPPOSED to be sealed i.e. it is NOT vented to the atmosphere so unless the little hands are always in there messing around it should be OK.

How do u use seafoam on a stuck lifter?

Thanks, tom

[Xist]

After an elk hit my Accord I got a ride from a friend that had one about the same age, but you could hardly tell. It looked like it had been through a string of owners that had gone out of their way to ruin it. I also talked to a girl that owned an Altima like the one that I owned. I loved mine, she hated hers.

I think that a lot of it is attitude. She is probably just a jerk!

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by thomason2wheels

How do u use seafoam on a stuck lifter?

Thanks, tom

Dump it in the crankcase.