$$$$.....Regular Fuel makes a real difference.

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Jan 15, 2020 | 05:35 PM

#211

mmarshall

Lexus Fanatic

Joined: Oct 2003

Posts: 94,475

Likes: 252

From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJT123

I'm sure you're right. Oh, the stories he would tell me. Like that back in the day cars would die at 40-60k or after a few years; getting to 100k was unheard of.

In general, back then, the average American vehicle died around 80-90K miles, although there were some notable exceptions, like with Chrysler Slant-Six engines, the Chevy Stovebolt Six, and the Checker Marathon cabs. The Slant Six engine was especially durable (some went 200K or more), and almost indestructible....but the rest of the car, around it, was generally poorly-built. But most engines, with average care, would typically start using oil from worn rings and valves at around 70K or so.

When my late father first learned to drive, in the 1940s, the average life of a new vehicle was maybe half that......around 40K miles or so, often less than that. But I can't really get into that too deeply because I don't really know those cars that well and don't have experience in them. It would also be getting too far off topic.

Quote:

He always replaced all his hoses and belts in his cars when it wasn't needed because those all blew a lot back in the day, too. I'm talking 1950s.

Much higher-quality rubber and vinyl is used for today's hoses and belts. Not only that, but a lot of what used to be driven by belts and pulleys is now often done with electric motors....power-steering, water-pump, A/C compressor, etc.....

Quote:

Gramps was frugal, as most of The Greatest Generation were/are. He never drove anything nicer than a Mercury or Chrysler. But he did have respect for Lexus, especially after riding in one of his partners gen 1 LS400 in the early 90s. (And he knew how obsessed I was with Lexus as a child) He wrote me a letter telling me it was the smoothest and quietest and most luxurious car he'd ever ridden in. But he would have died before buying anything foreign, which I understand, finally, at age 38. Sometimes I think of Pearl Harbor and ask myself why I'm driving a Japanese car, but they are the best.

He was (almost) correct. I've only driven one car that was smoother and quieter than an LS.....that was the 1969 Lincoln Continental.

Back closer to topic, the leaded fuels in those days made the regular/premium question somewhat different from today, because, in addition to carbon deposits, one also had to deal with the possibility lead-fouling on the plugs. The lead in the gas also provided lubrication for the valve-seals, which is why engines from that era which are re-manufactured or rebuilt for today's use, with unleaded gas, have hardened valve-seals that don't need as much lubrication.

Jan 15, 2020 | 06:36 PM

#212

SW17LS

Lexus Fanatic

Joined: May 2012

Posts: 68,762

Likes: 4,080

From: Maryland

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJT123

Even though the only vehicle with the 5.7 that "requires" premium is the LX?

If you had a Land Cruiser would you put premium in that to gain the 2hp? If it was 20hp maybe I'd consider using premium and even then IDK.

In the GX I get it, that's debatable bc the compression is different than the 4.6 used in the Toyota applications, but in the 5.7 you're just throwing money away by using premium. It is absolutely identical to what goes in Toyotas. One reason, among plenty, I want the LX over the GX is bc I don't have to use premium. That will negate the worse mileage the LX gets and what it would otherwise cost me with the fuel bill.

I hate to sound like such a cheap azz but I just can't stand throwing money away.

If I had a Land Cruiser and they said to use regular I would use regular. If I had an LX and it said to use Premium I would use premium.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJT123

Fine, merge this post into a thread if you want.

My inlaws spend a FORTUNE on bottled water. They must buy the 24 packs several times a week. What a colossal waste of money.

All you need is a filter in your fridge and boom, there's your bottled water.

I ask them if they realize they are throwing money away and they don't really respond one way or another.

I prefer bottled water. It’s just easier to grab a bottle that I can carry with me and dispose of while I’m out in the world without having to worry about hauling a reusable bottle around. We have a filter in the fridge too but we still also use bottled water.