OnTheReel

Been tinkering over the last week or two cleaning my TRX up. Mainly underneath and inside. Just crossed the 5 year mark with it and I’m very happy with the condition I’ve kept it in, especially for a rust belt truck that lives outside 24/7/365. See, not everything needs to turn into a rusty piece of junk up here. But most stuff does.

Thanks, it’s a 442 tribute. Not something I would have done personally but it was an older resto and has all the correct bits already. Including a correct 400 olds motor sitting in the garage that I gotta tend to eventually. 5.3 and Muncie is actually a delightful little combo though, so I’m in no hurry. Aside from the fact that I also have a 1991 Infiniti M30 rag top that could use an LS swap too. Might have to do some horse trading between the cars some day. Funny enough there’s a Lil Red Express at the show today. I’ve seen quite a few of them over the years. Or just the same one goes to all the shows!

I’ve had plenty of nice cars but car shows have never really been my thing personally. I’d much rather be driving or wrenching. But over the years I’ve noticed they are dying out. This one has even been canceled in the past. Hate to see that happen so I brought my Olds out for the afternoon. If turnout was really bad I had the TRX on standby too but thankfully quite a few nice rigs showed up. Nice people too. I may be converted.

Yeah, cartridge filter on this one. I actually ran R&P when I first bought it and didn’t see anything in it. But it was a fairly short run so we’ll see. Of course!

Why not run both, you ask? Well I am. R&P 5w30 plus a quart of HPL EC40 has been in my Jeep for around 1500 miles. I’m not really trying to solve any problems, no measurable consumption or issues. Just figured at over 100k, most of it probably on shelf oils save for my ownership period…might as well do a general cleanup. As I see it the products target two different areas. R&P seems to target pistons/ rings. The ester based HPL may be better at general varnish type cleanup. Will be back on Red Line for the next run but will pull a UOA on the cleanup cocktail and see how things are interacting.

Yeah, shame I can’t really get that filter easily anymore. Running a PureOne. Your fave! TAN would be neat to see. Confirmation I ran it too long probably.

Red Line 5w30 Euro, Fram Ultra filter.

Rain, humidity, and insects. That is all we have lately.

Can’t really say I noticed any difference during treatment or since. Granted it ran perfectly before anyway so can’t expect much. My hope is lower fuel in the oil analysis.

Yeah, quite a few pumps. Definitely grateful for $1.69 E85.

I spent a fair amount of time in the 2018-2024 versions. Had two different Equinox and a Terrain as loaners when my Silverado was down (regularly). I actually really liked them. Very comfortable. Efficient. The GMC was a SLT and had a reasonably nice interior too. And I’ve seen a lot of them go high miles with the 1.5. Unfortunately for me I’d have to go 2.0 because the 1.5 is SO SLOW. I know it’s not a performance vehicle anyway but I just can’t drive that much of a dog. The Malibu I had with the same motor wasn’t much peppier. These tiny engines just can’t move these bigger cars very well.

Clearances haven’t changed in decades and looking at the oil spec of our same engines in other countries pretty much gives that argument up anyway. But yes, people still try. Regardless, GM and all other automakers always knew the real risk is not with viscosity too high, but too low. They still played the game and finally have to admit defeat on this round. Unfortunately they gave the DEXOS license to the M1 AFE 0w30, and not the much stouter ESP version which has a 3.5 HTHS. But hey, if a guy wanted to ignore DEXOS but still stay relatively “warranty safe” the ESP 0w30 is still API and seems to be a decent option. Certainly puts owners in a better spot than in the previous gen trucks where nothing API 0w20 would ever actually work.

https://www.gm-trucks.com/why-gm-chose-0w-30-gen-6-v8-oil/ The swing back to reality continues…

.30” of rain all month and it’s been weeks since that. “Mowed” our two properties today for the first time since July 2nd. It only took 30 minutes because all I had to do was level some weeds and saplings in a few problem areas. Everything else is dead.

This is exactly what everyone here claims they want, so we’ll see if it comes to be. Skeptical but for $25 I’ll take a flyer…

Insane smoke out today. Worst air ever recorded here. Sunrise over the water looked apocalyptic. Pretty bad in town as well. Didn’t stop this guy from letting the top down in his C5 of course. He must be a heavy smoker because my lungs wouldn’t handle that so well.

Break-in reality check? Very strange to such a cautious (and threatening) break-in procedure on a 2026 vehicle but yet Ram deemed this necessary on their DC650 sport truck. This is a stock 5.7 Hemi with a blower bolted onto it. Internally nothing different from the engine in millions of other trucks, so why the “excessive” break-in? And why then wouldn’t a “normal” truck also benefit from following it? Rhetorical questions of course…

You got any pictures of this beast? I’m assuming the body is in better condition than anything remaining here in Wisconsin or the list wouldn’t be quite so long!

Over the last week I installed GM coils, Taylor wires and Red Line SI-1 in the fuel which cleared up a slightly rough idle. Coils made the biggest difference even just A/B testing one bank at a time. I know everyone says the OEM ones last forever but at 212k on these units they were tired. Fade to failure, like shock absorbers in my experience. Also slightly richened the target idle AFR in the tune for good measure. I have zero tolerance for anything less than buttery smooth, and since emissions are not a concern I can get there any way I please.

Was checking out a 39 Buick at a charity auction and found the statement on the cover of the owners manual interesting. What it can do for you, and what YOU can do for IT? Framing your ownership as a two way relationship! Seems this type of thinking is all but gone with the non-enthusiasts, and something like that would never be printed on the cover of a manual. It would likely offend people. Hey, I just spent two years salary on an SUV and it has the nerve to request anything back from me????

I had some interest in this when the tax credit still existed and it was going to be super cheap. Still like the concept but not so sure of the value. Check a few option boxes on the SUV version and it’s right up there with a base Model 3. Nevermind that depreciated low mile Model 3s are in the 20s.

Yeah, they’ve really been hitting it hard with the R&D. If their oil wasn’t performing as well as it has been for people I’d say this just a cash grab/ marketing ploy. But the BITOG folks seem to think this may be legit too. Trying it in the Jeep, fuel has been a problem in the samples and while I have new injectors on the shelf, this is an easier proposition…

Just cruising around this holiday weekend. Been working on her every spare minute for the past two months. Still lots to do but sometimes you gotta stop and smell some flowers! Old school guys will appreciate the rock crusher whining away. Such a nostalgic sound. Purists may disagree but I like to think I hit a good blend of modern and retro with this car and did it my way.

Fairly new product, just picked up two bottles at Autozone, buy one get one free sale. Also sold at Advance and Walmart so far. The Restore & Protect oil seems to be a legitimate product. Now we will see if this unseats my Redline SI-1 as the go to cleaner. This product is NOT using PEA but some other proprietary chemical. Will be interesting to see some real world results…