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Detailed Topics By Category | |
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Engines
Don't Buy It
More and more, people are finding out the hard way about going too long between oil changes. The cost is staggering, otherwise good vehicles going to scrap yards. Vehicles that might have given twice as many years of service.
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Ford Spark Plug Breakage
Poorly thought out change can also be very costly, without providing benefits. The Ford two-piece spark plug is a good example of this. For whatever reason, Ford decided to build a two-piece spark plug and install it in millions of their V8 engines. The unlucky people that own such a vehicle may be in for a very expensive lesson.
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Damaged Oil Pans and Plugs
Finding a stripped oil-pan drain plug is very common. This is expensive to repair, and can result in a ruined engine. Improper service ruins most oil-pan drain plugs and the problem is preventable.
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Symptoms of Bad Timing Chain, Ford V8 Engines
The Ford 4.6 liter and 5.4 liter engines power millions of SUV, truck and car models. The Ford Modular engine is well engineered, but it is designed for specific lubrication. The oil viscosity and the type of oil filter can mean the difference between reliable service and an expensive repair.
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Leaking Intake Manifold Gaskets
Late model General Motors vehicles have had more than their share of problems with intake manifold gasket failure. Many times these vehicles come to us, leaking again after having had the intake gaskets replaced elsewhere. Any number of things have been blamed, from Dexcool coolant to defective gaskets. I feel neither of these adequately explains the large number of repeat failures suffered by these engines.
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What Is Pinging, Detonation and Pre-ignition
The terms valve clatter, pinging, pre-ignition and detonation describe the strange rattle or knock coming from an engine. This occurs on acceleration with the engine under a load. The actual conditions vary, but the result is usually the same, engine damage.
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Choosing a Good Oil Filter
An oil filter serves a similar function in the engine, as the kidneys do in the human body. The oil filter helps to clean the oil, which is the life blood of the engine. If the oil stops flowing, even for a matter of seconds, severe engine damage can result.
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The Sad Truth (about extended oil changes)
Several times a week vehicles come into the shop with major problems. Rear main seals, valve guide seals and valve covers leaking are very common. Inevitably, when the engine is examined it is clear the oil has not been changed often enough. The seals are now very hard and brittle and the engine has several leaks. More unfortunate, this may only be the beginning.
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