OnTheReel

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…

Had a 93 with this junk system that rarely ran well even when nothing was “broken”. This was at least in the era where you could still get parts pretty easily. You have my sympathy and when you get it running, dump it ASAP.

The good old days are coming back boys! Premium still $4.66 and Regular at $3.45.

Historically I’ve run about 2 to 1. So two oil changes in the time it takes the OLM to tick over once. I only reset them when the truck starts reminding me to get an oil change and have no use for them. In no cases has the oil I’ve sampled been fit to run twice as long so the OLM is bunk across GM and other makes/models. My experience is that there’s ALWAYS something. Either the TBN is ready to fall off the cliff, fuel dilution too high, viscosity down (shear or dilution). But I suppose if you never actually test, you wouldn’t know.

I get why they do this…but man…not ideal. I only extract on inboard boat engines because the drains are buried and even then I hate it because it’s easy to leave a quart behind with that method. They should market it as an “oil refresh” not oil change!

Paid $1.999 today for E85 up here. Premium still wild at $5.699. They can keep it for that price.

Certainly no shortage of “not good” ones, younger age notwithstanding. But in my view there’s no need to wait 13 more years to see the writing on the wall anyway. Weaker ring package, weaker cam and lifter design, lower viscosity oil, and DI which even in the best state of tune dumps more fuel into oil. All of this saying nothing of the embarrassing manufacturing defects and just general poor quality of the last 5 years which works against everyone too. What everyone got away with “in the old days” for maintenance is not likely to lead to the same results it did in the Gen 3s and earlier. I like em just the same but these newer engines just aren’t going to be cockroaches like the old ones.

212k miles on shelf oils. 2003 LM7 5.3 I bought a couple weeks ago. I would consider this a clean, well maintained engine and do have the records. Still some room for improvement. No “sludge” per se but a little dirty for sure. To keep clean just takes better products than they used. Either way, bores look great, nice cross hatching. Cam shows almost no wear. These pre-DI and pre-AFM engines are treats. But as Grumpy says, we are past this point. To keep a newer DI, low tension ring engine even just in this “average” state at 200k takes some care. It’s not 2003 anymore.

2 for 1 weekend. 2018 Jeep 3.6: 2979 miles on interval, 107,952 total Red Line Euro 5w30 & Fram XG filter out, sample sent to OAI. Valvoline R&P + 1 qt. HPL EC SAE40 installed. Purolator PL36296 filter. Not really looking to “fix” anything with this witches brew, just figured I’d do a short little clean up run as we pushed over 100k. 2021 Ram TRX: 793 miles on interval, 30,600 total Drained M1 FS 0w40, sample sent to OAI. I don’t think I even posted when I installed this oil in January but it was just a short winter / flush run. HPL Super Car 5w50 & PPE filter installed. Curious to see what copper winds up looking like between the flush oil and the switch from RL to HPL.

Got the resident dust collector out of my shop. Yanked it with my 4 wheeler and slid it into its new home on Go-Jacks pretty much by myself this morning. Wife helped a little once she figured out how to open the door and what pedal is the brake lol. Gave it a wash but that’s about it for the day. Just easier to work on outside too. More room!