General vehicle thread

[ben4372]

Does anyone else remember when exhaust systems used to rot out somewhere between 40 and 80k? Maybe it is because I am in Colorado, but back east, I remember mufflers dragging on cars almost everyday. Ray is right. Most vehicles today will go 250,000k with basic maintenance, unless someone hits or steals them.

When I was younger I worked at Midas. Stayed way busy. Some little old ladies would only get two years on a muffler. They were the people that loved the lifetime warranty. I haven't needed to replace a rotten muffler in 15 plus years.

[ray1970]

I think the rotted exhaust became less of a thing when most manufacturers switched to using stainless for the exhaust.

[Gman]

I think the rotted exhaust became less of a thing when most manufacturers switched to using stainless for the exhaust.

I've even seen them go so far as to coat the inside of the stainless with aluminum. Exhaust rot really seems to be a problem of the past.

[Martinjmpr]

I've even seen them go so far as to coat the inside of the stainless with aluminum. Exhaust rot really seems to be a problem of the past.

Speaking of things from the past - I was looking at some old highway pictures and it occurred to me that the old "oil stain in the middle of the highway" is pretty much a thing of the past. Back in the 60's and 70's it was just taken as a "given" that all cars would drip a little oil and so the middle of the lane in the freeway always had a nice black, oily stain. The older the highway, the worse the stain.

Here's an example of what I mean:

tmg-default_lq.jpg

Now that cars have pretty much stopped leaking you don't see that anymore.

[Jer]

Speaking of things from the past - I was looking at some old highway pictures and it occurred to me that the old "oil stain in the middle of the highway" is pretty much a thing of the past. Back in the 60's and 70's it was just taken as a "given" that all cars would drip a little oil and so the middle of the lane in the freeway always had a nice black, oily stain. The older the highway, the worse the stain.

Here's an example of what I mean:

tmg-default_lq.jpg

Now that cars have pretty much stopped leaking you don't see that anymore.

I actually thought of that yesterday when I pulled into a 7-Eleven to get an energy drink (since I don't "need" to go to gas stations anymore ;-) and in the parking spots were massive oil slicks and even degraded concrete as a result of the gross puddles people's cars leave. Granted the new cars are much better but another bonus to driving an EV is not worrying about leaks.

[Bailey Guns]

... but another bonus to driving an EV is not worrying about leaks.

I thought I read somewhere about Tesla (and perhaps other/all EVs) having a different sort of "leak" called Phantom Drain or Phantom Leaking. It was a reference to battery drain when the car wasn't in use. Some people apparently had a real problem with it. I also thought they had a coolant system.

**Not dumping on Tesla or EVs in general as, obviously, they won't leak like a "normal" car. Just curious.

[Gman]

Speaking of things from the past - I was looking at some old highway pictures and it occurred to me that the old "oil stain in the middle of the highway" is pretty much a thing of the past. Back in the 60's and 70's it was just taken as a "given" that all cars would drip a little oil and so the middle of the lane in the freeway always had a nice black, oily stain. The older the highway, the worse the stain.

Good point. I remember being able to tell where the bumps in the road were because it would cause any weeping oil to break loose and make a bigger stain.

[MrPrena]

1. I raised my Elantra on a ramp to do oil change, and it was still very clear. I try to do every 8k, because filter said it lasts upto 10k. I know oil lasts about 12k.
I am going to drive 1 more month and change the oil on that one.

2. I need to replace vacuum pump* and centrifuge (oil separator) on my mother's vehicle. It is leaking oil a little. Easy work. It now has about 139k and we only did basic maintenance on it.
(we are debating about changing the entire vacuum pump or just do o-ring replacement)

3. Still shopping around the Throttle actuator (bank 1) to see who is cheapest.

[wyome]

1. I raised my Elantra on a ramp to do oil change, and it was still very clear. I try to do every 8k, because filter said it lasts upto 10k. I know oil lasts about 12k.
I am going to drive 1 more month and change the oil on that one.

2. I need to replace vacuum pump* and centrifuge (oil separator) on my mother's vehicle. It is leaking oil a little. Easy work. It now has about 139k and we only did basic maintenance on it.
(we are debating about changing the entire vacuum pump or just do o-ring replacement)

3. Still shopping around the Throttle actuator (bank 1) to see who is cheapest.

#2 & #3: diesels? These parts sound unfamiliar or mebbe ac parts

[MrPrena]

#2 & #3: diesels? These parts sound unfamiliar or mebbe ac parts

All 3 are ICE.
2 uses odd names. Centrifuge was a first for me on vehicle parts.