Neil,
One of the main reasons for low or "maintenance-free" lube points is sales.
Which would the consumer want more: a car with no maintenance or one that
needs constant maintenance? Drive and forget about it, or take it in for
service on a regular schedule? Also, the car manufacturers can save about a
buck by eliminating the last few grease zerks. The problem is that it is
"maintenance-free" until those formerly greaseable points fail at 50K or
100K miles and the car needs maintenance. For the car manufacturer,
hopefully, the failure is after warranty expiration and the customer gets to
pay big bucks in the dealer's service shop.
The reason oil changes are now much longer is that oil technology, engine
metallurgy, engine machining, oil filter technology, have all improved, and
engines also run much cleaner so less sludge making contaminates get past
the rings into the oil. But I still think the recommended 6000 or 7500 miles
is much too long. And even though modern engines can get by with longer oil
changes, our old ForwardLook stuff still have the old engine metallurgy, old
engine machining, no PCV valves, and carburetors which are less precise and
can contribute gas from a rich mixture at times to oil contamination. I
still change my oil at least once a year in the fall or every 2000 miles,
whichever comes first.
Dave Homstad
56 Dodge D500
-----Original Message-----
From: Forward Look Mopar Discussion List
[mailto:L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of eastern sierra Adj Services
Sent: Tuesday, July 25, 2006 11:22 PM
To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [FWDLK] Lubricate THIS....
OK, I'm reading my current issue of Car Life magazine (12/56, so, I'm a
little behind, in my reading) and the "Car Maintenance" article says
that I "you" should lubricate your car's chassis
about ONCE per month, or every 1000 miles....
I know: the new-57's , with their ball joint suspensions, etc, require
fewer chassis lubes, but why/how are new suspension fittings so
"maintenance-free", that greasing the under-pinnings are almost
un-heard-of, now-a-days?
Were drivers back in the day, really so much tougher on their equipment?
The individual componentry were certainly tougher/stronger, than today
(where lightness/economy "rules")
Of course, checking your bias-tires' air pressure TWICE per month , is
always a good idea, I guess....you could expect get around 35K miles
on them, that way, but you'd better check for abnormal tread wear, &
rotate the tires every 5000 miles. Then, there's the MAJOR tune up,
(alternnating w/a 'minor' tune-up), every 10,000 miles
The article concludes by mentioning that per-mile "gas-and-oil" costs
might normally run
around 2.29 -2.79 cents per mile.
If inflation is 10-times mid 50's costs, that number would translate to
around 30- 80 cents per mile, today.
BUT: today, if your gas costs $3.00/gal, & if you only average 10mpg (on
average city/hwy), your gas charge, per mile would be 30 cents.
So, with today's LOWER costs of anciliary upkeep-items (battery,non-lead
gas, oil-changes, tires, spark plugs, etc), it would appear that it is
cheaper to operate our cars, today, than when they were 'new'.
Neil Vedder
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