Date: Fri, 7 Dec 2012 10:28:52 -0600
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Oil Change. Zetec
In-Reply-To: <92507BCA-F16F-4A2C-B99B-37CE5574AF35@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
---- Robert Stevens <mtbiker62@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> On Dec 6, 2012, at 9:10 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
>
>
> but .... if you take a look at the direction that this thread took, it became much more about one list member
> making presumptions about the "replacement" cost of the Bostig "kit", THEN the replacement cost of the engine
> aspect of the thread emerged. Making presumptions (read: believing one's internal dialogue) vs collecting
> factual information, THEN making an informed statement/posting an inquiry, without which will always result
> in unnecessary and useless distractions to what could have been an informative, and simple, and BRIEF discussion.
>
> It is actually Scott's erroneous conclustion that the cost of a replacement Zetec, had directly to do with
> scrimping on oil changes, which was never brought up during the course of this thread, except by him ... a simple
> thinking error.
On the contrary Bob, this is the post that led to the discussion of costs of engines and oil changes, and it was this post that led to my questioning whether the cost of the block itself was everything involved:
> " Please do not take what I am about to say as advice! It is simply
>> what I've been doing.
>>
>> I have about 10,000 miles on my zetec a oil over the course of about
>> a year and a half. I last pulled the dipstick to check in August,
>> and that was the first time in about six months.
>> I even moved this engine from a different Van in that time, and did
>> not change or check the oil while the engine was on the stand.
>>
>> The engine has mobile 1 synthetic, and I put a new filter on it
>> sometime last year. I may do that again soon.
>>
>> What am I tryin to prove?
>> Nothing.
>> The last oil analysis I had came back acceptably, and I just don't
>> see the need to baby a $300 engine block. Oil isn't cheap these
>> days, and I really hate changing it. Yes, I actually enjoy changing
>> engines more than I enjoy changing oil
>> Am I crazy? Maybe. Please don't tell me if I am though, it will ruin
>> the surprise.
>>
>> Your zetec is built well. The bostig sump holds a lot of oil. Modern
>> oil rocks.
>>
>> -craig "
>>
I merely asked if all the replacement costs for the engine were being considered when one chooses not to change oil because the engine is so cheap. I learned that for many the replacement costs are relatively minor, since they do their own work with a kit. That does not obviate what Scott said, either. To me, what Scott said is a matter of wisdom. But if I had not asked, I would not have learned how relatively inexpensive many people consider replacing a Zetec engine to be. I would still change the oil regularly if I had one. Even if I had the skills and tools to replace an engine, I would consider that job to be rather much to have to do in order to skip oil changes.
mcneely
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