The Peckish Synapse

[OnTheReel]

A tale of two TRXs.

 

Mine on mile 40 of a highway run in 90 deg heat. 

Oil: 199 (Red Line 5w50 just installed)

Coolant: 185

ATF: 165

 

Meanwhile this is what most people think is OK:

ATF: 214

Coolant: 234

Oil: 286! (Factory approved 0w40, gotta save that warranty).

 

“The fluid temps were well within allowed range. 286 may seem high but it was for a short period and is OK with fully synthetics. TRX has safety limits, which were beyond these temps.” 
 

What’s the safety limit? Punching a rod through the oil pan to add extra ventilation?

 

We’re getting beyond blind faith in the OEs and into pure ignorance at this point.

I heard an analogy somewhere that I liked. Imagine your body had a full warranty for 40 years. Would you smoke 3 packs a day and eat only McDonalds because all your medical expenses were covered for that time? Of course not because what happens on year 41? Vehicle warranty is no different. Factory spec oil is often the McDonalds, and those operating temperatures are the chain smoking. 

[customboss]

1 minute ago, OnTheReel said:

A tale of two TRXs.

 

Mine on mile 40 of a highway run in 90 deg heat. 

Oil: 199 (Red Line 5w50 just installed)

Coolant: 185

ATF: 165

 

Meanwhile this is what most people think is OK:

ATF: 214

Coolant: 234

Oil: 286! (Factory approved 0w40, gotta save that warranty).

 

“The fluid temps were well within allowed range. 286 may seem high but it was for a short period and is OK with fully synthetics. TRX has safety limits, which were beyond these temps.” 
 

What’s the safety limit? Punching a rod through the oil pan to add extra ventilation?

 

We’re getting beyond blind faith in the OEs and into pure ignorance at this point.

I heard an analogy somewhere that I liked. Imagine your body had a full warranty for 40 years. Would you smoke 3 packs a day and eat only McDonalds because all your medical expenses were covered for that time? Of course not because what happens on year 41? Vehicle warranty is no different. Factory spec oil is often the McDonalds, and those operating temperatures are the chain smoking. 

That’s certainly compelling

[newdude]

22 minutes ago, OnTheReel said:

A tale of two TRXs.

 

Mine on mile 40 of a highway run in 90 deg heat. 

Oil: 199 (Red Line 5w50 just installed)

Coolant: 185

ATF: 165

 

Meanwhile this is what most people think is OK:

ATF: 214

Coolant: 234

Oil: 286! (Factory approved 0w40, gotta save that warranty).

 

“The fluid temps were well within allowed range. 286 may seem high but it was for a short period and is OK with fully synthetics. TRX has safety limits, which were beyond these temps.” 
 

What’s the safety limit? Punching a rod through the oil pan to add extra ventilation?

 

We’re getting beyond blind faith in the OEs and into pure ignorance at this point.

I heard an analogy somewhere that I liked. Imagine your body had a full warranty for 40 years. Would you smoke 3 packs a day and eat only McDonalds because all your medical expenses were covered for that time? Of course not because what happens on year 41? Vehicle warranty is no different. Factory spec oil is often the McDonalds, and those operating temperatures are the chain smoking. 

 

 

Some observations there though. 

 

The second dash.  Tow/Haul is on which IMO implies that truck was towing and is spinning 3000rpm where your truck was 70mph, I assume not towing and in 8th at under 2000rpm.  

 

So two trucks in two different scenarios which would...have a sway in temperature readings.  

 

 

[OnTheReel]

11 minutes ago, newdude said:

 

 

Some observations there though. 

 

The second dash.  Tow/Haul is on which IMO implies that truck was towing and is spinning 3000rpm where your truck was 70mph, I assume not towing and in 8th at under 2000rpm.  

 

So two trucks in two different scenarios which would...have a sway in temperature readings.  

 

 

Fair. But the point was more his nonchalant reaction (or really no reaction at all) to running those temperatures. It’s normalized, and even worse some people actually think it’s BETTER.

 

His truck still has the factory warranty using approved fluids, and stock thermostat & TBV. My truck doesn’t. Which one would you want to buy used?

[Grumpy Bear]

1 hour ago, newdude said:

 

 

Some observations there though. 

 

The second dash.  Tow/Haul is on which IMO implies that truck was towing and is spinning 3000rpm where your truck was 70mph, I assume not towing and in 8th at under 2000rpm.  

 

So two trucks in two different scenarios which would...have a sway in temperature readings.  

 

 

 

Again as true as that is what it shows is the truck is not set up for towing. @OnTheReel 's dash would be what it should look like towing as well. 

 

***************************************

General comments to attached to the newdude quote: 

 

 

Physics doesn't leave the room when it's towing or on track day. Thermostat doesn't do cooling, it does regulating. If the cooler is WAY to large for day in and day out task the thermostat keeps it warm enough. If the thermostat is defeated by a cooler to small then it needs enough cooler to put it in control. 

 

When I first bought Pepper my dash looked like #2 on a hot day doing 55 mph. Not quite that bad but you get the idea. I took steps to get to the OneTheReel dash look and it does quite well up to over 90 F air temps. Even with all the modifications I would need more to tow or run the Mexican deserts. 

 

GM gives us a 'starter kit' and a darn poor one at that. 

[Grumpy Bear]

2 hours ago, OnTheReel said:

What’s the safety limit? Punching a rod through the oil pan to add extra ventilation?

 

We’re getting beyond blind faith in the OEs and into pure ignorance at this point.

 

Somewhere we got the notion that getting away with something was the same as it not being a problem. Like the drunk who drives because he's to drunk to walk and because he never hits anything over a long span of time comes to believe that his behavior is harmless. If rods aren't hanging out, we're good, right? 

[Grumpy Bear]

2 hours ago, OnTheReel said:

A tale of two TRXs.

 

Mine on mile 40 of a highway run in 90 deg heat. 

Oil: 199 (Red Line 5w50 just installed)

Coolant: 185

ATF: 165

 

I'm officially jealous. I can hit those numbers in that temperature, just not at 701 mph. I have work to do.  

[Atlas]

On 6/22/2025 at 5:25 AM, KARNUT said:

I’m an old guy. My memory is vivid from the 60s on. We had plenty of cars and trucks being a large family. Mostly GMs some Fords. Factually speaking. Even at 3K oil changes during that time. We without a doubt as a family and business. Have more vehicles passing mileage we’d only dream of back in the old days. It took me until recently to trust a vehicle passing 150K miles. That’s average for me now. I only recently stopped going extended with oil changes. Only because my driving changed. Sure there’s experimental engines that shorten engine life. As a rule generally the manufacturers that do it right have longevity. Even at their recommend extended drains. Simple buy those. But generally they all last longer than the old days. Well almost all. 

 

For sure. Hitting 188k on a fullsize pickup without engine or trans failure isn't exactly amazing. Was it the hundreds/thousands of hours of forum posts and obsessing over temperatures the magic potion? The guy who drives 40k per year and doesn't always change the oil on time but close enough, and when he does, tosses the keys to "Shop who uses bulk oil" seems to have about the same success rate overall.

 

...And if something major does break... fix it? Or buy a new one.

[OnTheReel]

53 minutes ago, Grumpy Bear said:

 

I'm officially jealous. I can hit those numbers in that temperature, just not at 701 mph. I have work to do.  

Truck has a ton of cooling from factory. They just made poor decisions to use it. I’d be running 205-215 coolant, oil and ATF when stock in the same conditions.
 

I pulled the OEM trans TBV and found it’s the same part number used on V6 Challengers and Chargers which was an odd choice. 1/2” lines and a big cooler don’t mean squat when you’re necked down to 1/4” at the outlet of the TBV. A TBV that is set to open way too late as well.

[KARNUT]

1 hour ago, Atlas said:

 

For sure. Hitting 188k on a fullsize pickup without engine or trans failure isn't exactly amazing. Was it the hundreds/thousands of hours of forum posts and obsessing over temperatures the magic potion? The guy who drives 40k per year and doesn't always change the oil on time but close enough, and when he does, tosses the keys to "Shop who uses bulk oil" seems to have about the same success rate overall.

 

...And if something major does break... fix it? Or buy a new one.

The biggest change for us in the 80s was Amsoil. That was in engines, transmission and Hydraulic. Lower temperatures that led to higher working oil pressure and more tolerances to heat. We double the hours for oil changes with our equipment in the field. Our first test vehicle a 1988 7.3 with the C-6 transmission. After a transmission rebuild at 100K miles we added another 185K before we traded it in no other failures. The only change was Amsoil. At the same time we went extended on fluids per their instructions. Some people claim results with one or two vehicles. Our results are many years with many vehicles. Of course if you buy vehicles that are not well built you have to adjust to more frequent oil changes. I even have stopped going extreme extended. If I was running the interstate like I used to I would be going more extended. Most of the problems with the engines and transmissions today are build quality. Sometimes more frequent oil changes help that. I just buy vehicles that are more reliable. 

[Grumpy Bear]

2 hours ago, Atlas said:

 

For sure. Hitting 188k on a fullsize pickup without engine or trans failure isn't exactly amazing. Was it the hundreds/thousands of hours of forum posts and obsessing over temperatures the magic potion? The guy who drives 40k per year and doesn't always change the oil on time but close enough, and when he does, tosses the keys to "Shop who uses bulk oil" seems to have about the same success rate overall.

 

...And if something major does break... fix it? Or buy a new one.

 

 Failure? That's your bar?   Describe what success means to you.

 

Are you one of those people that thinks you can say a thing true? It is because you 'says' it is? 

 

Apples, oranges, it's all fruit, right? City dweller and OTR all the same pot of fish. 

 

As long as I've been here the goal post is always moving further along. Won't go 80K without using oil. It did. Won't go 100K without a lifter failure. It did. Trans wont make it past warranty. It did. Lifetime is 150K you sure, Yep. TSB on rings says you are on borrowed time. Catch can or die. It didn't. Still waiting for the cam/lifters/rings to fail. Still waiting for it to use oil. In fact I'm still waiting for deposits to form. (168K)

 

 

Open yours up and lets have a look at success. 

 

I replaced that piece of plastic around the starter. That's been my non-routine maintenance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 23, 2025 by Grumpy Bear

[KARNUT]

It’s amazing how a bear comes out of his cave and preaches what everyone success should be. I’m happy with 200K and 20 years max. Some people it’s 10 years. That would be about 150K miles. I run my mower about 10 years. I usually run my appliances about 10 years. I don’t want drama and I can afford it. My kids will get plenty when I pass. All this talk about super high mileage. I have more high mileage vehicles than the bear. I’m normal with oil changes. My toy is a Acura Type R. G-4 I rather die. 

[Atlas]

4 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

 

 Failure? That's your bar?   Describe what success means to you.

 

Are you one of those people that thinks you can say a thing true? It is because you 'says' it is? 

 

Apples, oranges, it's all fruit, right? City dweller and OTR all the same pot of fish. 

 

As long as I've been here the goal post is always moving further along. Won't go 80K without using oil. It did. Won't go 100K without a lifter failure. It did. Trans wont make it past warranty. It did. Lifetime is 150K you sure, Yep. TSB on rings says you are on borrowed time. Catch can or die. It didn't. Still waiting for the cam/lifters/rings to fail. Still waiting for it to use oil. In fact I'm still waiting for deposits to form. (168K)

 

 

Open yours up and lets have a look at success. 

 

I replaced that piece of plastic around the starter. That's been my non-routine maintenance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mine has 213 miles. No reason to crack the valve covers.

 

Success for me is happiness. Very little to do with owning a truck or showing everyone how my top end is clean at 168k. I've seen and owned engines that have gone more miles and they're still clean. Some of them didn't even use synthetic for most of their miles. So I'm not really sure what your point is? A modern engine going 168k with regular changes is frankly...unremarkable.

[jwhjr]

11 hours ago, Atlas said:

 

Mine has 213 miles. No reason to crack the valve covers.

 

Success for me is happiness. Very little to do with owning a truck or showing everyone how my top end is clean at 168k. I've seen and owned engines that have gone more miles and they're still clean. Some of them didn't even use synthetic for most of their miles. So I'm not really sure what your point is? A modern engine going 168k with regular changes is frankly...unremarkable.

[OnTheReel]

I happen to really like the fleet I have currently. And I modify and drive them hard. Success for me is having wear rates much lower than universal averages in spite of that. Simply by paying attention to many of the same things Grump preaches. You can dislike his delivery or just not care about your vehicles as much he does. But that doesn’t change what I’ve tested and observed on my own vehicles.