Recent content by Palut

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    Talk Some Sense into an Oil Thickie?

    Just an update on the Honda L15CA: I've changed oil at 1,000 miles with M1 Extended Performance 5W-30, again at 4,554 miles with M1 0W-30, and just recently at 9,033 miles with more M1 0W-30. Over all three OCIs there has been almost zero movement of the oil level on the dipstick. So unless...
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    Pay off Auto Loan or Continue Making Payments?

    If you actually have the cash in hand to pay off the loan, then I would recommend that you invest it in US Treasury series I savings bonds. No risk of loss and a 9.62% interest rate. It's one of the better investing deals around right now. While the money is inaccessible for the first 12 months...
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    Talk Some Sense into an Oil Thickie?

    Are there a lot of non synthetic A5/B5 rated oils? My point is that if you're running an oil with that rating, then it's not an oil quality or economics issue. Mexico may tend to be warmer on average, but 0 degrees C in Mexico is the same as 0 degrees C in the US. I'd believe the US...
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    Talk Some Sense into an Oil Thickie?

    I'm borderline there! Still have several jugs of 0W-40 from my last car. I feel more certain after downloading the factory service manual. US models get only 0W-20 no matter what, while Mexico gets 0W-20 through 5W-30, ACEA A5/B5 rated oil. Given the ACEA rating requirement in Mexico, it...
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    Talk Some Sense into an Oil Thickie?

    Thank you all for your input. I'm planning to put some M1 5W-30 Extended Performance in on Sunday. I've still got M1 0W-40 and Pennzoil Platinum 0W-40 left over that was intended for my old WRX. Maybe they'll make a good summer oil...
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    Talk Some Sense into an Oil Thickie?

    Can you talk some sense into me? I recently bought a 2023 Acura Integra, basically Acura's version of the Civic Si. I've got 900 miles on it and am thinking of doing the first oil change this weekend. I just can't wrap my mind around using 0W-20 in a turbocharged engine that will see a lot of...
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    Calling all car "nerds": strangely optioned vehicles you've owned?

    I made it a point to order my '18 WRX without Subaru's Eyesight system. I switched from manual to auto for quality of life reasons, but didn't want any nanny systems interfering. I was surprised they let me order it like that. It also ended up getting me a hand operated parking brake rather...
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    How hard do dirty intake valves hurt mileage - Direction Injection - WRX

    How big an effect do dirty intake valves in a DI engine have on fuel economy? Does anyone have any good sources that quantify the impact? I can only find general and vague information. My 2018 WRX is rated 18/24, 21 combined, and has been seeing a steady decrease in fuel economy over the past...
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    E15 : List of vehicles that accept it

    2018 WRX, owner's manual states not to exceed 10% ethanol, and gives E15 as an example of something to avoid:
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    Lexus bolt torque maintenance - Is it for real?

    Every single maintenance interval requires verification of proper floor mat installation...
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    Lexus bolt torque maintenance - Is it for real?

    I'm taking over the maintenance on my wife's 2016 Lexus NX, and I'm seeing two maintenance recommendations that have never before entered my mind. They recommend: Every 5k miles or 6 months to retorque the nuts & bolts on the drive shaft (for AWD) Every 30k miles to "Torque Nuts And Bolts On...
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    How many miles to get your money’s worth?

    I expect to get 200k miles out of a new car. Therefore I depreciate my cars on a per mile basis over a 200k mile life. Regardless of mileage, if I sell a car for more than that formula says it's worth I feel that I got good value out of it.
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    Can't tell if all old brake fluid is out - The old fluid is as clear as the new

    Thank you for your comments. Having the volume guideline is very helpful, we'll probably go by that in the future.
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    Can't tell if all old brake fluid is out - The old fluid is as clear as the new

    My buddy came over with his Civic wanting to change his brake fluid. I think the fluid was 4-5 years old. We started bleeding the brakes, but ran into the issue that the old fluid coming out was just as clear as the new fluid going in. All advice I can find online says that you'll know the old...
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    WRX - Make My Valve Stem Seals Leak

    I think I found an electronic solution to this problem: I made a spreadsheet on google drive so that I could keep track of when it smoked, no matter where I was. It's been two weeks since I did that and it hasn't smoked since! Somehow it knows! Ha!
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