As a former Minnesotan, now North Dakotan I have many friends that have Electric or Plug in hybrids and the first thing they do when they get home(Especially in the winter) is plug their car in. so I think the thought that people being "too lazy" would be incorrect.
...a $3000-5000 clunker doesn’t cut the mustard. I shopped for a Year for a car that was 2-Doors (I am large with WIDE SHOULDERS), have a TimingChain (I know how belts snap at the most inconvenient time) and with an automatic (My wife and M/T don’t mix), and A/C get Double the Average MPGs of...
...that it wouldn't cost the $2K like it does on a TDI which requires it every 100K.
Since looking at the Elio engine, it's obviously a timingchain. So there's no belt. It is good to see they are using a ATI damper on it. That shows Elio is not being cheap when it comes to components. They...
I have changed a few VW TDI timing belts. Even with a handful of them under my belt, it takes a good 5 hours (usually more like 6 hours and a few beers), and that's with one or two assistants and all the right tools in a climate controlled garage with a lift.
Dealerships that do it right...
Linamar is building the engines. That was an agreement they reached a while back, they will build them and they have rights to build them for themselves to sell in other markets, like marine applications.
I would agree when it comes to economics. There are many cars out there with timingchain failures due to companies trying to save a penny on a design. Then they offer an update kit with better components down the road which costs you, the consumer, plenty of money.
It would be better to have a...
The dry teeth for timing belts wear, just like the teeth on the gears of an oil bathed timingchain. "If" the teeth for the belt wear smooth enough on either edge, the belt could/will slip. With todays interference motors, it probably would be fatal.
Except it's hard to reset the auto tensioner without removing the front cover.
Belts can be better. I had a Volvo, and I changed the belt in less than 20 minutes.
My mechanic work for a living ended about 23 Yrs. ago. Only "some" imports had tensioners on metal timingchains. Even then they were more like guides. V8s and Sixes had simple Two to One rotation gears and the chains had no master links. I tinker now, enjoying the hands on work without...
6 qt. oil pan? I had missd any previous mention of this. What is the reasoning behind this? And while I'm on the subject of oil, will the Elio have an engine oil cooler? Thanks.
I have to admit though... I didn't think about removing links. I've always put them on from the front but that's because of the tensioner more than anything else.
IIRC the reason MB timingchains have a master link is because MB recommends replacement of the chains at a specific interval. As low as 100k on some engines. There are also special tools that install over the cam sprockets to keep the chain from jumping the teeth as it is pulled through with no...
Wait...I don't think I've ever seen a "linked" timingchain. On ALL chains the weakest point is the "master link".
Got a link somewhere for your information.