I need some quick advice before a road trip tomorrow. My car is a '95 with about 147,500 miles, and I'm about to drive it from Philadelphia to Toronto, Canada, and when I check it tonight I want to make sure I hit all the important bits.

The engine is a DE-K that I bought with 41k miles on it, and the tranny is a high-mileage rebuilt unit. I have put about 24k miles on both of them since they were installed. Here's a list of what I already know:

- Engine oil and oil filter are new
- Transmission oil is new
- Drain plugs are fine
- Cooling system is fine, coolant is clear and full
- Accessory belts are good
- Idle is stable
- Tires are new, pressure is good, balance and condition are good
- Front wheel bearings and hubs are relatively new, rear wheel bearings are good
- Suspension and tie rods are good
- Battery and alternator are good
- Axles are fine
- Fuel filter is new
- Fuses and relays are good
- All lights and signals work
- All power locks, windows, and mirrors are good
- Front brake rotors are almost done but not warped or cracked; front pads are fine; rear pads and rotors are in great shape
- Brake fluid is clear and full; brake lines are good; system is bled
- Air filter is new
- HVAC makes some slight noise but works fine
- Power steering leaks fluid under use (probably something at the pump) but it's not bad, and I have a ton of spare fluid
- No odd vibrations, pulling, etc. (except a frew minor interior rattles)
- Front end suspension bushings are... polyurethane
- Rear bushings are probably old as hell but not totally shot

What am I missing?

 

seat belts
10 char

 

spare tire

 

some minor bits...good wiper blades, maybe some rain-x on the windshield, full windshield washer fluid, good alignment, and most important:

make sure that CD player is workin!

 

You have gas in it

 

Yo philly to canadien ehh dictionary. I'm just kidding.
I think, you pretty much covered it all.

 

With all that listed above, I want your car. HAHAHA

 

When was the last time the spark plugs and PCV valve were replaced?

When will the "new" tires need to be rotated?

I would overinflate the tires to 35F/34R for a road trip. This is the pressure I run all the time now as it gives better fuel economy and tread life and I can't notice the ride being adversely affected. My car is a stock 95SE, 5-speed, with no suspension work.

Fill up before you cross into Canada as the gas is more expensive, albeit better IMHO!

What kind of oil do you run?

When you are in Toronto, find out where the nearest Esso bulk plant is and by a case (12 litres) or more of Esso Extra XD3 0w30 PAO, full synthetic oil. It's better than Mobil 1 5w30 based on UOA and VOA analysis on BITOG and is cheaper.

I converted to this oil last February following an AutoRX trial and my VQ loves it. It is a heavier 30 weight at operating temperature and is not prone to shearing like Mobil 1.

 

Sounds good. If you are that worried take some basic wrenches and sockets from 8-14mm. Flashlight is nice to have as well for inspection mid-trip (engine bay/wheels/tires).

 

A map.....

 

I agree with fr33way, I recent caught on to how good of an idea it is to have certain tools in the car. Flash light is one, and a good set of sockets and wrenches. 10mm-19mm Just in case. make sure to especially have a 10mm/12mm/14mm.

Aside from that d00d, your good to go. I dont know how long of a drive it is, but I assume around 11 hrs. Your car should breeze thru it.

 

...and a compass

 

Wow, thanks for the replies!

Let's see....


Seat belts, check. Although my PS retractor is getting a little sticky... If the stealership can replace that tomorrow morning, I'll do it then.


Spare tire, check.


Good wiper blades, check. Valeo Ultimates. Rain-X is a good idea. Windshield washer fluid is full. Alignment is good. CD player, amp, all 4 speakers, and subwoofer, all check.


Gas, check.


Philly-to-Canadian dictionary, check. I was born there.


Spark plugs are probably 40k miles old, and they're NGK Iridium IXs. They were checked about 4k ago, and they're doing great. PCV valve seems fine. Tires are coming up on rotation soon. I have them at about 35 psi all around. The engine oil is Amsoil Series 2000 0w-30 with an Amsoil EaO filter, so I'm probably okay in that department. An Esso bulk plant seems like a great idea, though. Can't argue with similar quality for half the price. I've also seen UOAs on that XD-3 synthetic and it does indeed sound like damn good stuff...


Tools and flashlight, check. There isn't much I can't do with the tools I usually carry in the trunk...


Map, check. At least two of them, plus a Triptik, and probably also a GPS thingy of some kind.


The drive "is" about 9 hours. I use the word "is" loosely because the laws of space and time do not apply to me on a highway.


Compass... Damnit. I knew I was missing something.

 

Got about $2,200? Because if you do, it's yours.

Seriously.






























No, seriously. I wasn't going to put it up for sale for another month and I've already received tentative interest, but I won't refuse a cash-in-hand buyer...

 

I want your gears.

 

Man you have it all covered. I need to be as thorough as you. I just check oil, gas and tires and I'm off.

 

It's a cinch for me because:

1. I'm really good about necessary maintenance
2. I don't really care that much about cosmetics so I always have money for maintenance...

 

Isn't the trip only about 500 miles each way?

Don't sweat the small stuff as you should be good to go!

I haven't handed out an **** .orger award for a year or so (joke), but you are my first recipient of 2007.

Congratulations!

 

Wait a minute... You all didn't think I got under my car with a clipboard and checked all that stuff in one go, did you? I did inspect some stuff yesterday and today (tires, washer fluid, lights, etc.), but most of the items on that list are things that I know I've done or seen at some point within whatever time period is reasonable... e.g. brake and clutch fluids while I was under the hood replenishing my PSF yesterday, wipers a few weeks ago, engine/tranny fluids a few thousand miles ago, etc...

 

Actually, I did-

 

Haha, nah... I just pay a lot of attention normally.

 

wow good check.........like someone said.....i check oils, tires, spare, and gas.........good for you..........good luck on the trip.............bring me back 3L bottle of Black Label!........haha

 

Alright guys, time to set off. Thanks again!

 

You better check everything at the half way point, once you get to Toronto, half way home, and when you get home, just to be safe!

 

Good luck & have a safe one!

 

I checked Gas and food supply before I drove from Buffalo to NYC....oh I did do an oil change the week before......
but my brother did take my 96 from Buffalo to Nova Scotia Canada and u know oil change, brakes, coolant, all other fluids...front end parts were checked before hand

 

I been using Mobil 1 10w30 for some time and I dont like it. Where can i find that oil? Im in GA. With Mobil I can tell when it loses potency because after about only 2.5k miles the engine sounds different.

 

Sweetness, I was in the runnings in 2005!

MDeezy- If he is taking sockets up to 19mm he might as well bring breaker bars, WD40, jackstands, and a laptop (.org).

 

well you never know, say the bolt for the ball joint comes off but miraculously gets wedged on the car where he finds it. He would be glad he has that 19mm to tighten that nut down.

Or he could take a crescent wrench and call it a day.

 

I know, I know.

 

Esso Extra XD3 0w30 PAO full synthetic is not sold in the United States and is not sold in stores in Canada. Esso is a subsidiary of Exxon.

This oil is only available in Canada at Esso bulk plants.

Read up about it on www.bobistheoilguy.com

Users rave about it. It is an ideal oil for the VQ. A good alternative in the US would be German Castrol, but its a lot more expensive.

 

I'm just curious. How does one KNOW what oil is good for an engine or how do they determine that they don't "like" a particular type of oil?? Or to put it another way-how does one know a "good" oil from a "bad" oil??
Not slamming on Qbridge at all, but because "the engine sounds different" is not IMHO, a valid reason to not like/use a particular brand. My engine sounds different sometimes, and it can be anything from environmental to "feel". How an engine "feels" can also be chalked up to environment (cooler air up to a point=more power) for example.
Maybe it's just me...I've used several brands and weights of oil in my engine and again, I now have 264,xxx with no engine related failure or oil burning (I've been using regular Castrol lately) and it works just like oil is supposed to.

 

Tire pressure, check it again, make sure its perfect, nothing worse than a pulling car on the highway.....plus saves gas

 

If you are using Castro GTX 5w30 dino oil, Sounbwoy, I am sure you are good to go. That is the oil I used for most of my car's life, prior to switching to synthetic.

One of the best ways to determine how an engine oil stands up for your vehicle, is to send in a used oil analysis to Blackstone Labs or whatever engine oil analysis company you desire.

To get educated on oil, I suggest you join www.bobistheoilguy.com and peruse their forums.

All I know is that following an AutoRX trial and having switched to Esso XD3 0w30, I literally can not hear my engine idle with the windows rolled up and I have 66K on the clock with the original spark plugs and Budget y.

My car runs smooth as silk. I will not be switching back to Castrol GTX 5w30 anytime soon.

 

UOA aka Used oil analysis' They show you wear numbers in the oil, and show how much more life your oil has, and comparativly how good it is...about $25 but you gotta know what to look for

 

Damn you bobo, always beating me to this stuff

PS you gotta get on those plugs

 

My motto is "if it ain't broke don't fix it". I don't go through emissions testing until next December and my fuel economy is as good as its ever been and my butt dyno shows no ill effects.

 

I've used 10W30 most of the time with no issues (since I have really high mileage), but at the last change, they put 5w in. I haven't really noticed a difference, but then I'm not as sensitive to those nuances as others are. Thanks for the info. I just find it ironic that people will swear by a brand of oil but don't have empirical info to back it up. The most common one I hear down here: "Don't use Quaker State." I have had to use it in a previous vehicle I owned once, and it did the job during the time it was in there....oh well.

 

Essentially the only empirical evidence for a particular engine is found in the UOAs. I know a lot of members on BITOG like Havoline motor oil (dino), as well as Castrol.

 

Just got back about an hour ago. The car purred all the way there and back. My brother and I (we switched off with the driving) only managed something like 23 mpg, but that isn't really surprising -- my brother has a neatly printed document from the NY State Highway Patrol to prove it...

Didn't get to stop by an Esso bulk plant, unfortunately. Time was a big constraint. Next time, though...

Some things that REALLY helped: a laptop connected to the line-in on my head unit, a 160GB external hard drive to store the music, and a DC-AC inverter to power them. Swapping out CDs all the time is just silly when you have a passenger who is perfectly able to pick out a playlist while you drive.

As for my tools:

- 18" breaker bar
- Small pipe to extend breaker bar
- 3/8" drive torque wrench
- Another 3/8" drive torque wrench (more trustworthy)
- 2x locking pliers
- 3/8" sockets from 8 to 19 mm
- 1/2" sockets from 10 to 19 mm plus 22 mm
- 1/2" and 3/8" U-joints
- Converters between 1/2" and 3/8" (both ways)
- Swivel-head ratcheting wrenches in 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, and 19 mm
- Oil filter wrench
- Small pliers
- Magnetic pickup
- Some other kind of pickup with a plunger-kinda thing on one end and little needly things on the other end
- 2x screwdrivers with multiple heads (flat, Phillips, Torx, square)
- Lots of Allen wrenches
- Wire cutting/stripping tool
- Zip ties
- Flashlight
- 3 different kinds of tape

...I know there's more, but that's the idea.