>
> I am impressed with both your service life and your disciplined driving
> style, it verifies much of what I have suggested previously. *I will admit
> to reving slightly higher than you on occasion (usually under 3000 but
> occasionally higher) but in my defense also operate on much steeper mountain
> grades than you do, and often haul considerable weight. *I have always
> thought that the S series SOHC engines greatest unappreciated strength was
> the flat low RPM torque curve that permits most operation at low engine
> speed which considerably reduces engine wear and fuel consumption.
>

Thank you... I never thought I'd be able to keep up with this style of
driving but it's been 18 years and I stuck to my old guns, LOL. The
car does occasionally see around 3000 RPM but not often enough. The
area where I live is flat as a pancake... we do have some hills and
valleys north of us but I don't go there that often.

> I am unaware if you are a pilot in addition to your navaidtech work. *Most
> people are unaware that aircraft engines operate in a similar RPM range and

Nope, not a pilot... just looking after all the navaids in the Toronto
area.

>
> The SOHC S series 5sp transmission has quite a low gear ratio in 1st gear
> which combined with the engines good low speed torque allows one to get
> rolling at low engine speed and without excessive clutch slippage. *(Heavy
> vehicle drivers are trained to start out in the gear which will allow
> start-up without adding throttle.) *I find that the shift to 2nd gear can be
> made in a very short distance and at quite low engine speed. *I am a big

Yes... I've noticed that as well.

> believer in 'progressive shifting' where the shift point rpms are
> progressively raised as we work our way up the trany, but with the shifts
> been made as soon as possible. *This is sometimes called 'short shifting'.
> I think this is the major factor in long clutch life but you should claim
> much of the credit for having and performing good and disciplined driving
> skills, I bet you keep your foot away from the clutch pedal unless you are
> using it.

Yes, this is something that my Dad told me a looong time ago - never
keep your foot on the clutch unless you have to. As such, my shifter
is always in neutral and my left foot is off the clutch pedal when I'm
stopped at the lights. I'm still not sure what he meant by it, but I
do remember him saying that when the clutch is depressed, there is
some component in the transaxle that is doing some work and wears out
over time. Unfortunately, my knowledge of manual transmissions is
extremely limited (I can fix just about anything else in that car BUT
the transmission) so I can't even picture as to what he was referring
to.
Bottom line is that his advice (whether right or wrong it might be)
stuck with me and quite possibly prolonged the life of the
clutch....maybe?


>
> I hesitate to suggest that you vary a maintenance schedule which is
> obviously working well, but most engines experience increased oil
> contamination rates as they age and this will also be increased by short
> trips, particularly in the winter months as the engine oil will spend less
> time at full operating temperature which will reduce moisture boil off and
> crankcase cleaning through the PCV valve and cause increased acid formation
> in the oil. *Due to your decreased trip lengths, I would suggest that you
> consider reducing your change intervals particularly during the cold months.
>

You know what? I agree with you and I think I'll start doing just
that. Too bad this didn't occur to me sooner...

> I hope you can make it to 1,000,000 km. consider this a challenge.
>

Oh boy... that will be tough. WIth my current driving schedule, it
would take me about 20+ years to get up to a mil. The car is slowly
falling apart in other places and I have a feeling that the engine
will outlast the body, LOL. However, I will try to keep the car as
long as I can until my wife threatens me with a divorce, LOL. You
should have seen her face when I told her about the timing chain
trouble and the car was on its last legs a couple of months back...
she lit up like a Christmas tree and said "Does that mean you're
getting rid of this piece of s... and buying a new car???". But in the
end, when I fixed the car, her mood changed drastically.

> Good luck, YMMV

Thanks!!!

Alex