LC vs. AutoRx vs. nothing

[doitmyself]

I have a new Chrysler mini-van with a four banger engine. I drove my last one to 200K with NO problems. Engine was very clean with no adds.

I use a 3K OCI with dino because of very frequent short trips (1 mile to work, shopping, etc.).

I'm going to order Fuel Power out of curiosity, but I'm not sure about an oil treatment.

LC at every OCI? AutoRx once every 50K? Or nothing?

I would appreciate comments and suggestions.

Thank you much.

 

[Ugly3]

A 3000 mile OCI with a decent dino oil and the engine will be clean and run well into the 100,000's of thousands of miles. Fuel Power is a really good fuel system cleaner and conditioner.

Congrats on the new vehicle!

 

[JHZR2]

they still make the chrysler minivans with the 2.4L???

Thats good news to me. That seals which minivan I'd buy if I needed one!

JMH

 

[doitmyself]

They still make them - you need one to round out your stable. This is my third one in about 18 years. I took one of them to 200 K -was the most trouble free vehicle I ever had. The other one was at 120K when it got crunched.

This "new" one (I really have 12k on already) is the same engine with some improvements?/refinements. Mine seems to be a bit more "buzzy" sounding - alomst like a piece of muffler shielding is vibrating or something. Can't find it though.

I know Chrysler doesn't stack up to Honda and Toyota, but I have had superb results. And, most important, I like it's styling (for a mini-van).

My first two had the flawless 3 speed tranny. Supposedly, after ten years and three fixes, the four speed is now o.k.. Time will tell.

And, don't plan on a lot of heavy hauling or mountain passing with the 4 cylinder. It will do 80 mph on the expressway no problem though. Servicing is super easy...great access to plugs, filters, brakes are a snap. Parts are cheap too. What you lose in resale value, you make up in servicing it yourself.

[ April 10, 2005, 02:42 PM: Message edited by: doitmyself ]

 

[JohnBrowning]

With oil changes that freq. and past history of long life I would be even more conservative! I would do an Auto-Rx every 75,000 miles. IF you deveolop an issues alon the way you can always change the game plan! To days base stocks are not likely to sludge easily! What I would consider for future use is Specialty Formulations SX-UP. The anti-wear additives and other stuff in motor oil keeps going down! Sooner or later wear is going to out pace deposit control as the most serious issue affecting engine life!

 

[T-Keith]

Skip the auto-rx unless it's a sludge-maker and use LC at regular intervals. LC seems to handle high fuel and water contamination is stride.

-T

 

[JHZR2]

quote:

---

Originally posted by doitmyself:
They still make them - you need one to round out your stable. This is my third one in about 18 years. I took one of them to 200 K -was the most trouble free vehicle I ever had.

I know Chrysler doesn't stack up to Honda and Toyota, but I have had superb results. And, most important, I like it's styling (for a mini-van).

What you lose in resale value, you make up in servicing it yourself.

---

I dont think youre loosing anything in resale... Obviously youre keeping your vehicles long enough to extract VERY MUCH utility from them, not just swapping cars wevery few years. Plus, they may not be worth much, even 5 years out, but Ill bet you paid a lot LESS than a honda or toyota van, so you have more valuable money in your pocket now, rather than a higher resale but in dollars that are worth less in inflation. And, with what they say about the upcoming inflation, Id rather not be holding ont a more expensive car hoping that Ill get back some of my hard earned bucks down the line in resale.

I think you did good, hopefully this one will provide the excellent service the others did.

Can you comment on what kind of mileage you get from that van?

Thanks,

JMH

 

[mettech]

I plan on doing an Auto-Rx treatment every 30K. That's when I flush the transmission.