I have a tendency to agree with you Alex. Sometimes I drive mine hard,
sometimes I drive it easy, but more hard than easy. Now, as far as
maintenance goes I'm as picky as the next guy. I change fluids as I feel
they are necessary, not when the maintenance book tells me. In the case of
engine oil, always Castrol Syntec, always max. 5000 miles per change, a new
K&N oil filter every change. My truck hums all the time, every time. If
you drive it like a Geo Metro, then expect it to act like a Geo Metro.
Never against you Will. I wish I had the time to take care of the exterior
of mine like you do but I don't. I do manage to wax it at least once every
three months and I use the best stuff you can buy but that's all the time I
have. I wash it every week except when the weather's like this (cats and
dogs).
Ron
00 PB SLT QC 4X2 5.9 46RE 3.92 LSD
For modifications see my DML Profile (URL follows)
http://www.twistedbits.net/WWWProfile/dakota/Kw9pV1EkFeOYY
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-dakota-truck@buffnet.net
[mailto:owner-dakota-truck@buffnet.net]On Behalf Of AlexReed
Sent: Sunday, February 25, 2001 9:24 AM
To: dakota-truck@buffnet.net
Subject: Re: DML: oil filter, Attn: Will
No offense or anything but doesnt that take the truck out of truck. You
should
drive a truck like it is meant to. It is built to take some use, to drive
the
speed limit, to actually be used. Maybe the truck needs to be worked some,
if
you completly baby it, maybe the parts are wearing even more or more stress
is
put on them. If you think about it, you are not using it the way it was
intended. Im not saying to constantly burn the tires or over load it or
anything
but my god! There is such a thing as overkill. Dont take any offense, your
opinion is your opinion and mine is mine, nothing personal. I just had to
reply
say what was on my mind. Later.
AR
Will Coughlin wrote:
> Well, David everytime I get in my truck, it feels older! The transmission
is
> really erratic.Sometimes it shifts great, then sometimes it won't shift
> hardly at all.The engine seems to be getting looser as time goes on.It
just
> doesn't feel the same as it did.It doesn't seem like it has the torque, or
> pull between about 400 rpm and 1800 rpm like it used to.The oil emulsion
in
> the filler neck thing really bothers me,although I don't seem to have it
> near as bad as some.The rearend has a little slack in it,as all of them
that
> I've seen do. It just bothers me when I can rarely shift without a clunk.I
> have a few minor imperfections in the paint, but I couldn't help that.The
> undercarriage is cleaner than when I picked it up.The engine is cleaner
than
> when I picked it up,as well is the interior.I share the same idea that you
> do-that at anytime my truck has to be ready to make a run wherever I need
to
> go.I run back and forth to Houston,which is 700 miles,one way,ends being a
> 1500 mile round trip. I am crazy about the maintenance on my truck and
drive
> it very easily.I have gotten on it a little in the past when I get mad and
> it isn't running right anyway.For the first 10,000 miles, the motor had
> never seen 2500 rpm.I never drive it until the temp gauge is all the way
up
> where it runs. I check all the fluids everyday before I drive it,and never
> have I let any of them get even close to "not full". I have had it to 70
mph
> once for about 3 minutes, and I haven't done it again. I drove it to
Paducah
> Kentucky on friday.It was a 4 hr trip up and I drove 45mph@1600 rpms for
> about 80% of the time.I never got over 45.As I went on, when I had to make
a
> stop, it got harder and harder to shift each time. On the return trip, the
> transmission was giving me problems again.It would not take 2nd about half
> the time,and it got stuck in 5the/overdrive once so bad that I had to take
> both hands and jerk the stick really hard to get it out.Every time it
would
> take second, it would hit the first synchro ring, then it would hit the
gear
> and grind just a hair before it fell in.Keep in mind that I never shut the
> engine down on this whole trip.I love my truck and like to think it will
go
> 200,000+, but It doesn't sound or feel good! The way it's running right
now,
> I would expect at about 15,000 miles the transmission will be completely
out
> of it.If I get lucky and the factory shitty cooling system doesn't let the
> motor get too hot,I think I might get 60,000 or so out of the engine.The
> rearend? It'll probably last until the constant banging of the backlash
slap
> tears up the gears or carrier(30,40K??).I am somewhat disappointed in the
> truck,but I still love it.I'll just have to deal with all the crap it
gives
> me to keep it on the road.I used to give my friend crap about how he takes
> care of his '99 silverado until I got mine.Now it kind of makes me mad
> because he changes his oil by the "message center" recommendation(usually
> 7500 miles),he's never changed any other fluids and he is on his truck
> constantly,racing it,ripping 2ends and 3rd/Drive. His truck is so much
> tighter than mine is that it's not even funny! His truck has 42,XXX on it
> and mine has 11,400. It is somewhat embarrassing, but I've learned to live
> with it. I think I've typed long enough, so let me know what you think.By
> the way, what year is your truck? how is it equipped? Let me know,
> Will Coughlin willcoughlin@hotmail.com
> '00 reg.cab,2wd,4.7L/hd5-spd/3.92sg(9.25")
> http://www.geocities.com/willcoughlin/index.html
> ----Original Message Follows----
> From: DRD892@aol.com
> Reply-To: dakota-truck@buffnet.net
> To: dakota-truck@buffnet.net
> Subject: Re: DML: oil filter, Attn: Will
> Date: Sun, 25 Feb 2001 05:08:28 EST
>
> Good morning Will,
>
> Read your message sent at 02:51AM this morning. I see I'm not the only
> one that's up weird hours or has a passion for Dakota maintenance.
>
> I'm a bit confused on some of your comments. Your signature line
> indicates you have a 2000 Dakota 4.7l 5-speed. You obviously take
> excellent care of it. What is going on with your Dakota that makes you
> think you cannot get a long service life out of it? It should be the
> reverse.
>
> So far, my "plan" is working just fine. At 88,000 miles it is in better
> condition
> than new (minus the necessary stone hits and a few small scratches).
> The way I judge the condition of my Dakota is this:
> Every time I turn the key in the ignition, the truck must be ready to
travel
> two miles to the store, 19 miles to work, 1,200 miles to Oklahoma or
> 1,800 miles to Houston. No exceptions. This is what drives my personal
> maintenance schedule.
>
> Your 2K Dakota should be at least as good as mine if not better.
>
> I just looked outside (again). Snow, Ice and Water in abundance. Ech!
> I got to move south.
>
> David R.
> Sterling Heights
> Michigan
> drd892@aol.com
>
> _________________________________________________________________
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