DeTomaso Mailing List: September 2000, Message #91

A few weeks ago, a neighbor stopped by to check the progress on my car.
We got to talking. Turns out his brother in law used to have one. Then
he made a comment I've never heard before. He said his BIL had said that
one of the problems with mid-engine cars is the engines wear out faster!!

I thought a little about it and think he may be right! The main cause of
engine wear is dirt in the oil. The main source of dirt in the oil is
"breathed in" dirt from the intake. The mid-engine design and our air
flow pattern in particular ensures that plenty of dirt is in the air
that gets to the engine. Just look at your engine compartment!

I sold my old engine to Grant Stockwell. Bobbie Byers rebuilt it. One of
Bobbie's comments was that it was REALLY worn. I had 90K miles on it. I
ran synthetic oil in it the whole time. This is strange, thought I. In
retrospect here's what (I think) happened. With synthetic oil I used
extended oil drain (usually about 15K miles) + I the air cleaner never
fit quite right on my Holly + lots of extra dirt in the air = much
faster engine wear.

My new engine will get the best filter money can buy (I'm not convinced
that is K&N which is what my old one had for about 1/2 it's life). And
I'll change the (synthetic) oil much more frequently.

Any thoughts??

-- 
Sincerely,
Richard Barkley

To Ski or not to Ski, that is the question!

Richard Barkley
(310) 373-6695 (home), 813-2432 (work)
E-mail: richard.barkley@trw.com (work), rbarkley@earthlink.net (home)
Mammoth Condo 2BR+loft/3Bath - Horizons 4 #186 (760) 934-6758
Condo web address: http://home.earthlink.net/~rbarkley