Recent content by UCN195

Only vehicle I’ve got with a true oil pressure gauge is my 04 Express 3500 6.0. Running Delo 15W40 in it currently, hot idle is a hair under 40, cruising at 65mph is about 55 psi, and WOT right at shift point it nearly pegs the gauge at 80. No tach, so those are my reference points. 287k...

I think the politicians that required these features in cars should have cameras recording their every movement and conversation, and it should be broadcasted live 24/7 for the whole world.

Nice truck! It should serve you well. I’ve always loved driving medium duty trucks. Before I got started in my current business, I drove a 26 foot Freightliner FL70 with an 8.3 Cummins and a 6 speed manual for work. It was the most fun I’ve had driving something so slow that 0-60 was measured in...

Toyota has been overrated for a very long time. Compared to malaise era American vehicles they were superior in quality, but that hasn’t really been the case in decades. That reputation has been carrying them. They have made some great vehicles but they have also made some crap too. Take the...

Even the first generation from 15-17 was really solid. They’re overbuilt and were designed from the ground up to be turbocharged. I had one, it was fantastic and better than any NA V8 I’ve had in a pickup. The only reason I got rid of it is I needed a truck with a bit heavier duty suspension. I...

Why don’t these automakers take a look at the Ford 2.7 V6 to see how they produced a high power density, direct injected, turbocharged engine that is boringly reliable? It can be done.

Yep, the Kia Rio of the same years was the same car and a good one. I had one with the 6 speed manual and crank windows/manual locks. I drove it 90k miles and never did anything but fluid changes. It was a reasonably good driving little car for the price too.

Back under the box truck today. This time because the **** AC belt decided to come off the pulleys. I found that it was caused by a clapped out tensioner. Oreilly’s had one in stock, 2 bolts later it’s back in business.

I had to drop the pan on my old 6.0 Chevy box truck this weekend. The last couple weeks it has been showing signs of a failing oil pickup tube seal that these engines are known for. Also it was a great opportunity to replace the leaky pan gasket. Of course I didn’t think to take any pictures…...

Rotella is perfectly fine in a diesel, and will work just fine in most gas engines as well. No, it isn’t the greatest oil on earth, but it works good when used at appropriate intervals and is reasonably priced at retail. My dirt bike and quad have used plenty of T4 and T6 and they’re holding...

I’m of the opinion that a properly designed wet belt in an engine using oil that is changed at reasonable intervals and not overheated extensively will last indefinitely. The Ford 2.7 and 5.0s with the wet oil pump belt haven’t had any real problems. Also, I don’t think age will be that big of...

That pressure seems pretty high to me too. I would expect more like 55-60, but I may be wrong for this application. I’d look deeper there.

They came from a 210k mile Chevy 6.0. The truck was recently purchased and I hadn’t gotten around to plugs yet. I started getting some pinging under heavy throttle, and upon pulling the plugs this is what I found. 64k miles later truck is still running great.

I suppose I’ve had mixed luck overall when I’ve cheaped out. I put a GSP CV axle on the wife’s Q5, it’s been holding up well and gets driven a lot. Cost was around a hundred bucks. The Napa water pump I put in my old 6.0 Chevy box truck had the most absolutely atrocious looking casting I have...

That’s nothin Look at these beauties!