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EV's, Gas/Oil, and The Future- another swerve split from- JT Hints Boosting Canada’s Military Spending

I bought a new vehicle late last year and the owner’s manual says it only needs service every 10,000 km, which sounds excessive. I recently received an email my dealership advising I bring it in for service at 5,000 km, which is half the manufacturer’s recommendation. I don’t know if the dealership is just trying to suck more money out of my wallet, or if there is genuine advice for my vehicle to last longer.

If it wasn’t clear, I don’t trust dealership shops. They hose you all the time.
I still have the manual for my 67 Mustang and it recommended an oil change every 5 or 6 thousand miles which is the equivalent of what your owner's manual still says. With the synthetic oils in use now that figure should be higher. I know that on my newer car it is an annual service only. Maybe it is because people don't take the time to check their oil and other fluids, and check the tires. Having spent a decade driving transports and school buses around I have just got into the habit of doing a walk-around and it seems to work just fine. Other than an early model Datsun I have yet to have a vehicle go fewer than 200000 and my last one was well over 3 before I traded it in. (bad move)
 
More frequent oil changes is the single best thing you can do to enhance longevity out of your engine. My vehicle has 15,000 km oil change intervals and I change every 6000 kms myself with top tier oil, and at that the oil is still pretty filthy coming out. $300 at the dealer for their stock oil and probably the apprentice who doesn't have much GAF, or $120 for Amsoil, <1 hr doing it myself and being particular about everything.
 
I bought a new vehicle late last year and the owner’s manual says it only needs service every 10,000 km, which sounds excessive. I recently received an email my dealership advising I bring it in for service at 5,000 km, which is half the manufacturer’s recommendation. I don’t know if the dealership is just trying to suck more money out of my wallet, or if there is genuine advice for my vehicle to last longer.

If it wasn’t clear, I don’t trust dealership shops. They hose you all the time.
If they use 0 weight oil recommend you go up to 5 weight
 
I will argue that non-EV vehicles peaked just after 2000 when you factor in price, reliability, features.

Define "peaked".

My 2003 Lexus IS was starting to rust when I sold it in 2012. With 210k on it. My 2013 Jetta Hybrid didn't have a spec of rust and only started giving me trouble at 240k. Sold it after 12 years.

Cars have gotten more reliable and lower maintenance over time. Stats bear this out. But people refuse to believe any of it. Reminds me about discussion on crime.

What is killing engines today is long service intervals and usage that the vehicle is not designed for. What Furniture said is very true, the short trips most urban people do are very hard on modern engines. A company must meet an "average fuel consumption" across it's fleet or face fines. So the companies try to eek out every last bit of efficiency they can. They reduce the casting thicknesses, use extremely thin oil, reduce bearing surfaces. Use "intelligent" oil and water pumps and other sorcery to get that .001% gain in fuel mileage. These new engines are balanced on a pin, any unforeseen usage or issue causes a cascading fault which the engine is not able to handle. Throw in marketing demands for more power out of less and less of an engine and it is a total mess. The problem is even worse with the small diesels used mainly in Europe.

Cars are an appliance. Unless you live for motoring, most people don't think more of their Toyota than they do about their Whirlpool fridge. And if I had a fridge, I had to service every year, I would hate it. For most people, servicing is an absolute pain. You're taking a day off or working from home to go to the dealership or mechanic. At least, if you're a diligent person who services on time. So the less servicing days in a year the better. Honestly, I was kinda disappointed to go from a car with 15 000 km intervals to my Subaru now with 10 000 km.

When it comes to the rest of your post, I'll go back to why most suburbanites should stop compensating for their boring lives with truck and SUV features they never use. Embrace the hassle free EV lifestyle for the grocery getter and commuter. Then, if you genuinely want to indulge in motoring, actually get something interesting and not a CRV, RAV4, F150.
 
Define "peaked".

My 2003 Lexus IS was starting to rust when I sold it in 2012. With 210k on it. My 2013 Jetta Hybrid didn't have a spec of rust and only started giving me trouble at 240k. Sold it after 12 years.

Cars have gotten more reliable and lower maintenance over time. Stats bear this out. But people refuse to believe any of it. Reminds me about discussion on crime.



Cars are an appliance. Unless you live for motoring, most people don't think more of their Toyota than they do about their Whirlpool fridge. And if I had a fridge, I had to service every year, I would hate it. For most people, servicing is an absolute pain. You're taking a day off or working from home to go to the dealership or mechanic. At least, if you're a diligent person who services on time. So the less servicing days in a year the better. Honestly, I was kinda disappointed to go from a car with 15 000 km intervals to my Subaru now with 10 000 km.

When it comes to the rest of your post, I'll go back to why most suburbanites should stop compensating for their boring lives with truck and SUV features they never use. Embrace the hassle free EV lifestyle for the grocery getter and commuter. Then, if you genuinely want to indulge in motoring, actually get something interesting and not a CRV, RAV4, F150.
I buy the CRV and RAV4 because I want the longevity, the dependability, the boring. I want the 12yrs before I need to start thinking about real maintenance issues. I buy into the Wealthy Barber mantra still - avoid bad debt, keep it simple and live within your means.
 
How many of you have or do perform fluid analysis on their oil?
How do you know how dirty it is or isnt other then how it looks or smells?

I have done fluid analysis in the past. I can say modern oils and modern vehicles can safely go more then 3-5000km on oil change intervals. What they can not do is make up for poor maintenance such as skipping changing oil filters, spark plugs etc.
To each their own.
 
Define "peaked".

My 2003 Lexus IS was starting to rust when I sold it in 2012. With 210k on it. My 2013 Jetta Hybrid didn't have a spec of rust and only started giving me trouble at 240k. Sold it after 12 years.

Cars have gotten more reliable and lower maintenance over time. Stats bear this out. But people refuse to believe any of it. Reminds me about discussion on crime.



Cars are an appliance. Unless you live for motoring, most people don't think more of their Toyota than they do about their Whirlpool fridge. And if I had a fridge, I had to service every year, I would hate it. For most people, servicing is an absolute pain. You're taking a day off or working from home to go to the dealership or mechanic. At least, if you're a diligent person who services on time. So the less servicing days in a year the better. Honestly, I was kinda disappointed to go from a car with 15 000 km intervals to my Subaru now with 10 000 km.

When it comes to the rest of your post, I'll go back to why most suburbanites should stop compensating for their boring lives with truck and SUV features they never use. Embrace the hassle free EV lifestyle for the grocery getter and commuter. Then, if you genuinely want to indulge in motoring, actually get something interesting and not a CRV, RAV4, F150.

I believe in freedom of choice. Make a product people want and they will buy it.
 
I believe in freedom of choice. Make a product people want and they will buy it.

Nobody said otherwise.

Though I question how sincere this sentiment is when driving is so heavily subsidized in North America. And given how much every other form of transport is both demonized less subsidized.

In any event, EVs and hybrids are flying off the lot now that owning a full size pickup is in mortgage payment territory on total cost.
 
I buy the CRV and RAV4 because I want the longevity, the dependability, the boring. I want the 12yrs before I need to start thinking about real maintenance issues. I buy into the Wealthy Barber mantra still - avoid bad debt, keep it simple and live within your means.

Literally any modern car will last 12 years if you just do recommended maintenance on time, don't cheap out on parts and put the recommended fuel in it. Especially if you drive less than 20 000 km/yr. It's really not that hard. People who say their vehicles don't last 12 years are telling on themselves.
 
Literally any modern car will last 12 years if you just do recommended maintenance on time, don't cheap out on parts and put the recommended fuel in it. Especially if you drive less than 20 000 km/yr. It's really not that hard. People who say their vehicles don't last 12 years are telling on themselves.
lol, go and look at the various reports on quality of engines and such across the various car companies. They are not all created equally.
I follow the maintenance schedule religiously and have a folder for each car containing all the work performed across its lifespan.
As I stated earlier, 2 of the 3 Chrysler products I owned both had their transmissions fail just over the 105k km mark. Chryslers have a long long history of having shitty engines/transmissions.
Sure you can get a car, just about any car, to last 12yrs but at what cost and what will the car look like? My 2008 Honda Civic has virtually not a speck of rust on it but the paint job is gone, in large spots it’s bare metal. The engine stills responds beautifully. A few brake jobs, oil, transmission and coolant changes and new tires and that’s it. Still has the original spark plugs.
Car last longer than they did in the past and for certain brands and models they last even longer.
 
Literally any modern car will last 12 years if you just do recommended maintenance on time, don't cheap out on parts and put the recommended fuel in it. Especially if you drive less than 20 000 km/yr. It's really not that hard. People who say their vehicles don't last 12 years are telling on themselves.
Unless you grab onto a vehicle with inherent design problems, which seem to be more common now as manufacturers try to trim costs and trim weigh. On of Ford's Eco-Boost engines (I forget which one) had design issues right out of the factory, and GM has had to recall about 3/4 million vehicles with the 6.2 V8. My neighbour's grenaded on him around 35K. Then a golden oldie, like the Pontiac Sunfire, that went through brakes like Tic-Tacs.

Back in the day, carbureted, cast iron engines seldom had issued and, if they did, were comparatively easy to fix.

On the other hand, things like stainless steel exhaust systems and rust-proofing seem better.
 
Our Corolla turns 13 this month, has about 120K on it, and we're probably keeping it another 2 years. So far, one unplanned trip to the shop that was under $1K.

No surprise: that's what we're looking at next time, too.
 
My daily driver is a 2021 GMC 2500HD with the Duramax diesel. I just rolled over 219000Km. I have towed with it, but it doesn't lead a very hard life. I get an oil change when the sensor says its at 0%, and go to the closest Great Canadian Oil Change. I change the fuel filter myself when the sensor tells me its at 0% because the stealership charges $240 plus tax for a $90 filter and less than 15minutes of labour to do the job. I change the air filter when the sensor says its at 0%. I just had the rear brakes done, but the fronts are still going strong. I have had the mechanic check the dif fluid in the front and back, and they said it was good. The one issue I had was having to replace the one of the front headlight assemblies which was thankfully covered by the warranty at the time.

All that to say is I do the bare minimum for maintenance and it keeps on trucking. Sure, the transmission or engine could go at any time now. And either would likely be a $15K repair. But on what would be a $110K truck these days, it would be worth the investment.

If any of you are interested in a good youtube channel that delves into the truths and myths of oil changes, vehicle maintenance, etc. using comedy and science, check out this https://www.youtube.com/@freedomworx (HT, I think you'd get a kick out of it)
 
My daily driver is a 2021 GMC 2500HD with the Duramax diesel. I just rolled over 219000Km.
L5P is a solid engine, CL, especially compared to the earlier LBx and LMx variants. Bosch CP4 pump issues resolved, you should be good for a long time. 👍🏼

How many of you have or do perform fluid analysis on their oil?
C56, I SOAP’d all my diesels (I’ve had 5 total, still own 2, total cumulative mileage 875K amongst them - high timer was a Mk IV Jetta 1.9 TDI 5-sp at 300k) in their first 50k and they were trending nicely using the manufacturer’s schedule and/or onboard diagnostic scheduler ad some of the intervals reached 15K. I don’t SOAP my two current diesels because their last few were stablized. One is approaching 150k so I may do that one out of interest, not concern.
 
Literally any modern car will last 12 years if you just do recommended maintenance on time, don't cheap out on parts and put the recommended fuel in it. Especially if you drive less than 20 000 km/yr. It's really not that hard. People who say their vehicles don't last 12 years are telling on themselves.
Many Hyuandi and Kia owner might disagree with you. Toyota is recalling 270,000 vehicles to inspect their engines, with 2024 engines often getting outright engine replacements. Then there is the Ford Lion engine debacle. Honda 3.5L and 1.5L engine recalls. JLR with it's 5L engine issues and now with the 2.0 Ingenium TD. Then there is transmissions, Ford, Nissan, Subaru, BMW.
 
Interesting piece of news out of the US, I'm sure that it translates to sales in Canada as well.

Hyundai expected to outsell Ford in third quarter as Detroit automakers lack hybrids​



  • For the first time ever, Hyundai is expected to pass Ford in quarterly sales, according to a new Cox Automotive forecast.
  • Cox analysts said Ford and General Motors are seeing sales lag because they don’t have many hybrid vehicles, which have been a growing market in the U.S. amid inflated gas prices.
  • Hybrid leader Toyota Motor also has been narrowing its sales gap with No. 1 sales leader GM
The South Korean automaker is expected to report a 6.5% increase in year-over-year sales from July through September to 511,421 units. That compares with an expected 7.1% decline for Ford over the third quarter to 504,172 new vehicles sold, according to Cox predictions.

The expected leaderboard change would make Hyundai the third best-selling automaker in the U.S. behind General Motors and Toyota Motor

Aside from pickup production troubles, Cox analysts said sales for Ford and its crosstown rival GM are being hindered by a lack of hybrid vehicles – a rapidly growing market in the U.S. amid inflated gas prices.

Toyota gains on GM​

Hybrid leader Toyota Motor also has been narrowing its sales gap with No. 1 sales leader GM. Cox said last quarter that GM could be overtaken by the Japanese automaker this year in annual sales.

GM is expected to report a year-over-year sales decline of 5.2% to 671,706 new vehicles sold during the third quarter, while Toyota is predicted to report a 2.2% gain to 642,707 units. For the year, Toyota is trailing GM by fewer than 121,100 units.

If Toyota can top GM, it would mark the second time Toyota has ever outsold GM in annual U.S. sales. The first time was in 2021 when supply chain disruptions affected vehicle production.
 
Maybe the U.S. government will help Ford and GM with some of its tariff windfall?
Clearly the US auto firms are not building what the majority of American consumers want.

Chrysler (Stellanis), which is no longer 'American' is down to 8% total US market share now. They are quickly becoming a niche player.
 
Many Hyuandi and Kia owner might disagree with you. Toyota is recalling 270,000 vehicles to inspect their engines, with 2024 engines often getting outright engine replacements. Then there is the Ford Lion engine debacle. Honda 3.5L and 1.5L engine recalls. JLR with it's 5L engine issues and now with the 2.0 Ingenium TD. Then there is transmissions, Ford, Nissan, Subaru, BMW.
I had a Hyundai Kona with the "terrible" 2.0L engine. Never had a single issue with it, but I stayed on top of oil changes +/- 500km of the recommended intervals.

Also, exceptions don't disprove the general rule that cars are better and more mechanically reliable than before. There were lots of bad cars in the 90s through 10s, it's just that people latch onto the memory of the exceptionally good ones.

A Civic or Corolla motor might run on neglect and distain, but the Neon/Protogé/Malibu/Focus/Golf didn't. For every reliable car, there were 10 worse than what we get now.
 
I had a Hyundai Kona with the "terrible" 2.0L engine. Never had a single issue with it, but I stayed on top of oil changes +/- 500km of the recommended intervals.

Also, exceptions don't disprove the general rule that cars are better and more mechanically reliable than before. There were lots of bad cars in the 90s through 10s, it's just that people latch onto the memory of the exceptionally good ones.

A Civic or Corolla motor might run on neglect and distain, but the Neon/Protogé/Malibu/Focus/Golf didn't. For every reliable car, there were 10 worse than what we get now.
Same. We had a Tucson with the 2.0. We did the recalls where they reprogrammed the knock sensor and other tweaks but never had an issue. It was our second Tucson - no problems with either of them. The next go-round the missus wanted something different.

I had a friend with a 2nd generation Tacoma that had the frame rust problems. It was fairly old and higher mileage (about 150k) and he was sure they would offer him a trade-in package. Nope. They ripped everything off the frame and installed a new one. A travelling team did it at the dealership over three days and took up two bays. He lacked confidence in the workmanship and dealt it shortly thereafter.
 
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