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How come some cars with awd have different tire sizes out of the factory? I thought awd needs tires with same specs all around, especially threadwear.
1. I have to say that im quite dissapointed with your projection of 250k miles. My guess was at least 400k(if maintained by the book) and then up from there. What is your reasoning and criteria for 250k?
2. I honestly thought that the Americans have been making cars longer than Toyota. Why do you say that Land Rover is the least reliable?
3. I agree with you on weight. And you were the one that taught me that. I project that economy gas cars will get lighter and lighter with the use of aluminum. Government is always pushing for better mpg and gas prices is going to keep climbing. Eventually aluminum light weight cars will be worth its weight in gold. However right now the trend lean towards heavy bulky suvs because the weight does feel more sturdy in the case of an accident.
4. Im working on preventing EVs from becoming mainstream. Manufacturer executives are under a spell right now and they need to be snapped out of it. I think we can both agree that EVs will put a very large strain on the economy because 1. they are not as reliable as ICE 2. The cost of infrastructure upgrade is enormous. 3. Cost of manufacturer tool upgrade is also enormous. It must be stopped at all cost.
Mr Roth, If you don’t mind me asking, are you still working for a manufacturer or are you retired?
Whats your username for those forums? There’s no point in me reading the posts if its not from an engineer.
I see why they wouldn’t want anyone changing the fluid if the smallest speck of dirt is able to do that much damage.
Btw, it’s great when you explain in detail how to the maintenance.So what exactly caused a car like the 2003 Acura TL to have transmission problems once they get around 100k miles?
Ok its clear on the coolant.
But for the ATF, why then do they not recommend changing the fluid at all if its ok to change every 50k?
Hey Dave,
Its still not clear about the coolant change interval. The manual said not to change for the first 100k, and then change every 30k after that. I see 3 possible explanations:
1. The manufacturer wants to shorten the life of the engine on purpose so that you will buy a new vehicle.
2. The engine needs to break in the first 100k.
3. They want to keep maintenance cost down.If there’s no advantage to changing it early, why the 30k interval after 100k?
As for the ATF, the Hyundai says not to change. This too doesn’t make much sense. The warranty for most cars nowadays is 100k, but transmission break down can go past the 100k mark. I’d rather be proactive in my maintenance then depend on the manufacturer and warranties.
Would it be safe to change the ATF every 30k or 50k from a new vehicle? They say not to change the ATF, is there a level of planned obsolescence to get you to buy a new car after 10 years?
Thanks for answering my questions Dave.
So I guess people are right when they say, “its best to avoid first model years”. But then again that’s why there’s a warranty. But do first year models have enough failure’s to dismiss them overall or is the failure rate so small that one shouldn’t really have any worries? And these problems are usually confined to vehicles that try out new drive train components, right?
As for the CVT, I guess then we can both agree that the main cause of failure is “lack of knowledge”. I don’t know why those that sell cars with CVTs don’t implement a training program for their cars . Because if you look online, people are bashing CVTs left and right and they are losing major sales because of this. A small shift in knowledge would have saved them a lot of money.
Dave, is there a way I can reach you by email?
That still doesn’t make much sense how CVTs can have a high failure rate with the first generation. I thought suppliers thoroughly test out their products before they can get a contract with the car manufacturer? And then doesn’t the car manufacturer test the parts themselves in house? How is it possible that the CVT was green lighted if ,supposedly, all cars are thoroughly tested before making it to the market? That said, failure rate and expected life isn’t defined here. Because Ive seen regular transmissions fail at 100k while some CVTs fail at 170k.
Also I was asking more about the cause of failure for the CVT, would it be correct to say that the major cause of failure of CVTs is a lead foot?
Honestly I wished I had access to a car with CVT so that I can understand the problem more but just based on understanding the underlying working principals, the way people use the CVTs causes rapid failure and not so much the CVTs themselves. Hell its mostly people that are the causes for most failures, lol.
Dave, is there a way I can get in touch with you through email?
I found some video of the steering lock problem but this wasn’t the fix for my particular problem.
I fixed it by lubricating the lock with liquid graphite. Now my keys turn every single time without missing a heartbeat.Mr Roth, is there a way I can reach you by email? I’d love to discuss with you a project that I’m working on and is in dire need of your help.
Changing the oil frequently is not a good thing, its a GREAT THING.
Oil does five things:
1. Lubricates moving parts – thereby reducing power loss.
2. Assist in cooling by flowing between parts and carrying heat away.
3. Cleans parts by carrying away abrasive materials.
4. It seals parts such as pistons, rings, and cylinders.
5. Absorbs shocks, reducing engine noise and extending engine life.
-source: GM Engineers6. Oil traps the combustion gas thats leaks from piston rings. Over time this causes the oil to become acid like and eats away at the metal parts of the engine.
-source: EricthecarguySo yea, its always good to change the oil frequently. Its very easy to do yourself. But if you don’t know how, get the correct tools, get the correct techniques get the correct torques specs. Do this all upfront and you’ll be able to do all your oil change for the rest of your life, not just change but changed properly according to manufacturer specs.
By doing it yourself, you can save $20-$50. That said, if you don’t know much about cars, I recommend getting it done at the dealership. Because dealerships try to up sell other products for good reasons. They do a light inspection for free and catch things you wouldn’t have.
