[TowerTalk] OT: Lessons to be learned

[Wes]

On 4/19/2021 3:04 PM, Lux, Jim wrote:
>
> At least the plugs are good for 100k miles thanks to emissions requirements. 
> Presumably, you'd combine it with something like a timing belt replacement. 

Regrettably, not true.  My 2018 VW GTI specifies a plug change at 40K miles, 
although I talked the service rep into extending it to 50K.  So this "economy" 
car costs $250 every 40K for spark plugs, not to mention $300 to service the 
DCT, $100 oil change etc, etc...  A battery replacement, unless you use a nearly 
unobtainable factory part, requires programming the ECU to tell it how to charge 
the replacement.  I said the heck with it and paid the $200 for the factory part 
and waited a week for it.

Then there is the dirty little secret about direct fuel injection (gas) 
engines.  Without fuel washing the backs of the intake valves and intake ports, 
crankcase ventilation deposits oil vapor on them and carbon builds, eventually 
choking off air flow. Fix is about $800+ @ 50-60 K miles.  I believe both Ford 
and Honda now use dual port and direct injection to overcome this.

Wes  N7WS