my booming population

[user 423]

I've NEVER had a tune up in 5 years.

How many miles of travel in 5 years? Does it start easy? Belch smoke? Run roughly?

With the high price of gas, it wouldn't take long to recoup the cost of a tuneup. And of course you can be 'greener'.

 

[Giulia]

Knock on wood, it runs like a dream, starts up every time, even after sitting for 6 months, and I've driven it like 30,000 miles. No smoke, nothing. And it passes its smog...That's why I'm scared to mess with anything. I've changed the oil once and a fan belt because it was squeaky. It's still squeaky on cold, wet mornings anyway.

Sent from my SM-J727VPP using Tapatalk

 

[user 423]

Don't mess with success! Sounds good and I hope I can get my '93 running as smoothly. Still runs rough at times.

When belts get old and stiff they can be noisy but sounds like the belt is just a little loose. A new one will stretch a little.

 

[B and C]

I don't know if your van has one but a new belt tensioner may help with the squealing belt. They do loose tension with age (like me after retirement )
Changing oil only once in 30,000 miles is not near enough. I use high mileage blended oil and change every 5,000 miles. The high mileage oil has some additives that help with seal sealing among other things.

 

[user 423]

Yikes. One oil change in 5 years and 30,000 and only a belt replaced. At least the maintenance $ have been low. How did that commercial used to go?

"You can pay me now or you can pay me later"...

 

[Giulia]

I figure since she cost me $2,000 to buy, from Palm Desert, so no rust etc. She has amortized more than her value over the years.

Sent from my SM-J727VPP using Tapatalk

 

[Giulia]

I sort of feel like if I do that I'll stir stuff up and then you get deposits swirling around clogging things up... Unless I used the magnet on the oil pan trick..

Sent from my SM-J727VPP using Tapatalk

 

[user 423]

I sort of feel like if I do that I'll stir stuff up and then you get deposits swirling around clogging things up...

Do you mean by changing the oil you would be 'stirring things' up? Every time you run your engine you are stirring things up as the oil circulates through the engine.

How many quarts of oil have you added over the 30,ooo miles? If it burns and/or leaks a quart every 2500 miles (possibly an average for most engines), then new oil has been added at least 12 times and you apparently have had adequate lubrication.

Cast iron Detroit engines can tolerate all kinds of abuse and keep running for years despite lax maintenance. It's been proven over and over.

 

[Gardenias]

Welcome!