"Truble via CarKB.com" <u30733@uwe> wrote in message
news:6beda0dc8d903@uwe...
> Thanks, everyone for all of the info and advice. I'll be asking my friend
> at
> what point she changed the oil. Even though the V-Tec seems like a pretty
> durable engine, my tendency at this point is to "walk on by" unless I get
> satisfactory info...Pretty irresponsible not to perform regular
> maintenance
> even if you are not keeping the car long-term. One last question...would
> regular maintenance undo any potential damage done?
>
My opinion is that is is like stopping a smoking habit. There is a lot of
immediate value to getting back on track, and the crank bearings are
probably safe. The steel-on-steel contacts that depend on oil will have
suffered already and may give trouble before the engine's time is due; valve
guides definitely, along with possibly cam bearings, lifter surfaces and
possibly the control hydraulics for the cam.

Mostly, a revelation of inadequate maintenance is reason enough to make me
look elsewhere. I always wonder - has tap water been used in the cooling
system? You can look under the oil filler cap for varnish or (shudder!)
deposits on the rocker arm assembly and you can look for signs of rust or
cloudiness in the radiator, but I use those checks to answer the questions
about maintenance that I couldn't be sure of getting a candid answer to. You
have the answer already.

Mike

 

Truble via CarKB.com wrote:
> Thanks, everyone for all of the info and advice. I'll be asking my friend at
> what point she changed the oil. Even though the V-Tec seems like a pretty
> durable engine, my tendency at this point is to "walk on by" unless I get
> satisfactory info...Pretty irresponsible not to perform regular maintenance
> even if you are not keeping the car long-term. One last question...would
> regular maintenance undo any potential damage done?

No, it will never UNDO the damage which MAY have been caused, excessive
wear, etc. All you can hope for is maintain the status quo and prevent
further, excessive wear by performing proper maintenance.

 

Truble via CarKB.com wrote:
> Thanks, everyone for all of the info and advice. I'll be asking my friend at
> what point she changed the oil. Even though the V-Tec seems like a pretty
> durable engine, my tendency at this point is to "walk on by" unless I get
> satisfactory info...Pretty irresponsible not to perform regular maintenance
> even if you are not keeping the car long-term. One last question...would
> regular maintenance undo any potential damage done?

No, it will never UNDO the damage which MAY have been caused, excessive
wear, etc. All you can hope for is maintain the status quo and prevent
further, excessive wear by performing proper maintenance.

 

Truble via CarKB.com wrote:
> Thanks, everyone for all of the info and advice. I'll be asking my friend at
> what point she changed the oil. Even though the V-Tec seems like a pretty
> durable engine, my tendency at this point is to "walk on by" unless I get
> satisfactory info...Pretty irresponsible not to perform regular maintenance
> even if you are not keeping the car long-term. One last question...would
> regular maintenance undo any potential damage done?

No, it will never UNDO the damage which MAY have been caused, excessive
wear, etc. All you can hope for is maintain the status quo and prevent
further, excessive wear by performing proper maintenance.

 

On Sun, 7 Jan 2007 08:05:51 -0700, "Michael Pardee"
<michaeltnull@cybertrails.com> wrote:

>"Truble via CarKB.com" <u30733@uwe> wrote in message
>news:6beda0dc8d903@uwe...
>> Thanks, everyone for all of the info and advice. I'll be asking my friend
>> at
>> what point she changed the oil. Even though the V-Tec seems like a pretty
>> durable engine, my tendency at this point is to "walk on by" unless I get
>> satisfactory info...Pretty irresponsible not to perform regular
>> maintenance
>> even if you are not keeping the car long-term. One last question...would
>> regular maintenance undo any potential damage done?
>>
>My opinion is that is is like stopping a smoking habit. There is a lot of
>immediate value to getting back on track, and the crank bearings are
>probably safe. The steel-on-steel contacts that depend on oil will have
>suffered already and may give trouble before the engine's time is due; valve
>guides definitely, along with possibly cam bearings, lifter surfaces and
>possibly the control hydraulics for the cam.
>
>Mostly, a revelation of inadequate maintenance is reason enough to make me
>look elsewhere. I always wonder - has tap water been used in the cooling
>system? You can look under the oil filler cap for varnish or (shudder!)
>deposits on the rocker arm assembly and you can look for signs of rust or
>cloudiness in the radiator, but I use those checks to answer the questions
>about maintenance that I couldn't be sure of getting a candid answer to. You
>have the answer already.
>
>Mike

With only 26K and only one oil change behind it, I would feel pretty
safe saying that nothing has been done to the cooling system or
anything else. Nothing else critical is past due so I wouldn't worry
on that account. The timing on that one oil change is pretty
critical. I am guessing she might have changed it at 3K and never
again. If it was changed at 13K it's probably OK. I would put in
Mobil 1 immediately and then change it again in a couple thousand
miles in hopes of washing out any sludge that might have formed.

The other question I have is whether you are going to get a good price
buying her off-lease car. I have a friend who had a car coming off
lease. She asked the price to buy it and the lease agency quoted a
price thousands higher than market value. She tried to reason with
them that they had to sell the car to someone and that no one was
going to pay that price, but they wouldn't budge. She walked, of
course.

 

On Sun, 7 Jan 2007 08:05:51 -0700, "Michael Pardee"
<michaeltnull@cybertrails.com> wrote:

>"Truble via CarKB.com" <u30733@uwe> wrote in message
>news:6beda0dc8d903@uwe...
>> Thanks, everyone for all of the info and advice. I'll be asking my friend
>> at
>> what point she changed the oil. Even though the V-Tec seems like a pretty
>> durable engine, my tendency at this point is to "walk on by" unless I get
>> satisfactory info...Pretty irresponsible not to perform regular
>> maintenance
>> even if you are not keeping the car long-term. One last question...would
>> regular maintenance undo any potential damage done?
>>
>My opinion is that is is like stopping a smoking habit. There is a lot of
>immediate value to getting back on track, and the crank bearings are
>probably safe. The steel-on-steel contacts that depend on oil will have
>suffered already and may give trouble before the engine's time is due; valve
>guides definitely, along with possibly cam bearings, lifter surfaces and
>possibly the control hydraulics for the cam.
>
>Mostly, a revelation of inadequate maintenance is reason enough to make me
>look elsewhere. I always wonder - has tap water been used in the cooling
>system? You can look under the oil filler cap for varnish or (shudder!)
>deposits on the rocker arm assembly and you can look for signs of rust or
>cloudiness in the radiator, but I use those checks to answer the questions
>about maintenance that I couldn't be sure of getting a candid answer to. You
>have the answer already.
>
>Mike

With only 26K and only one oil change behind it, I would feel pretty
safe saying that nothing has been done to the cooling system or
anything else. Nothing else critical is past due so I wouldn't worry
on that account. The timing on that one oil change is pretty
critical. I am guessing she might have changed it at 3K and never
again. If it was changed at 13K it's probably OK. I would put in
Mobil 1 immediately and then change it again in a couple thousand
miles in hopes of washing out any sludge that might have formed.

The other question I have is whether you are going to get a good price
buying her off-lease car. I have a friend who had a car coming off
lease. She asked the price to buy it and the lease agency quoted a
price thousands higher than market value. She tried to reason with
them that they had to sell the car to someone and that no one was
going to pay that price, but they wouldn't budge. She walked, of
course.

 

On Sun, 7 Jan 2007 08:05:51 -0700, "Michael Pardee"
<michaeltnull@cybertrails.com> wrote:

>"Truble via CarKB.com" <u30733@uwe> wrote in message
>news:6beda0dc8d903@uwe...
>> Thanks, everyone for all of the info and advice. I'll be asking my friend
>> at
>> what point she changed the oil. Even though the V-Tec seems like a pretty
>> durable engine, my tendency at this point is to "walk on by" unless I get
>> satisfactory info...Pretty irresponsible not to perform regular
>> maintenance
>> even if you are not keeping the car long-term. One last question...would
>> regular maintenance undo any potential damage done?
>>
>My opinion is that is is like stopping a smoking habit. There is a lot of
>immediate value to getting back on track, and the crank bearings are
>probably safe. The steel-on-steel contacts that depend on oil will have
>suffered already and may give trouble before the engine's time is due; valve
>guides definitely, along with possibly cam bearings, lifter surfaces and
>possibly the control hydraulics for the cam.
>
>Mostly, a revelation of inadequate maintenance is reason enough to make me
>look elsewhere. I always wonder - has tap water been used in the cooling
>system? You can look under the oil filler cap for varnish or (shudder!)
>deposits on the rocker arm assembly and you can look for signs of rust or
>cloudiness in the radiator, but I use those checks to answer the questions
>about maintenance that I couldn't be sure of getting a candid answer to. You
>have the answer already.
>
>Mike

With only 26K and only one oil change behind it, I would feel pretty
safe saying that nothing has been done to the cooling system or
anything else. Nothing else critical is past due so I wouldn't worry
on that account. The timing on that one oil change is pretty
critical. I am guessing she might have changed it at 3K and never
again. If it was changed at 13K it's probably OK. I would put in
Mobil 1 immediately and then change it again in a couple thousand
miles in hopes of washing out any sludge that might have formed.

The other question I have is whether you are going to get a good price
buying her off-lease car. I have a friend who had a car coming off
lease. She asked the price to buy it and the lease agency quoted a
price thousands higher than market value. She tried to reason with
them that they had to sell the car to someone and that no one was
going to pay that price, but they wouldn't budge. She walked, of
course.

 

Unquestionably Confused wrote:
>> Thanks, everyone for all of the info and advice. I'll be asking my friend at
>> what point she changed the oil. Even though the V-Tec seems like a pretty
>> durable engine, my tendency at this point is to "walk on by" unless I get
>> satisfactory info...Pretty irresponsible not to perform regular maintenance
>> even if you are not keeping the car long-term. One last question...would
>> regular maintenance undo any potential damage done?
>
>No, it will never UNDO the damage which MAY have been caused, excessive
>wear, etc. All you can hope for is maintain the status quo and prevent
>further, excessive wear by performing proper maintenance.

Most, Most helpful. I agree that damage done is irreversible. I also spoke
with my current mechanic and a good friend who owned his own auto shop. They
pretty much said the same thing-the life span of the engine may be affected.
The price was a littele better than book, but there was no getting the dealer
to budge. I've decided to let it go. Thanks for all the candid and helpful
advice.

--
Message posted via CarKB.com
http://www.carkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx...-cars/200701/1

 

Unquestionably Confused wrote:
>> Thanks, everyone for all of the info and advice. I'll be asking my friend at
>> what point she changed the oil. Even though the V-Tec seems like a pretty
>> durable engine, my tendency at this point is to "walk on by" unless I get
>> satisfactory info...Pretty irresponsible not to perform regular maintenance
>> even if you are not keeping the car long-term. One last question...would
>> regular maintenance undo any potential damage done?
>
>No, it will never UNDO the damage which MAY have been caused, excessive
>wear, etc. All you can hope for is maintain the status quo and prevent
>further, excessive wear by performing proper maintenance.

Most, Most helpful. I agree that damage done is irreversible. I also spoke
with my current mechanic and a good friend who owned his own auto shop. They
pretty much said the same thing-the life span of the engine may be affected.
The price was a littele better than book, but there was no getting the dealer
to budge. I've decided to let it go. Thanks for all the candid and helpful
advice.

--
Message posted via CarKB.com
http://www.carkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx...-cars/200701/1

 

Unquestionably Confused wrote:
>> Thanks, everyone for all of the info and advice. I'll be asking my friend at
>> what point she changed the oil. Even though the V-Tec seems like a pretty
>> durable engine, my tendency at this point is to "walk on by" unless I get
>> satisfactory info...Pretty irresponsible not to perform regular maintenance
>> even if you are not keeping the car long-term. One last question...would
>> regular maintenance undo any potential damage done?
>
>No, it will never UNDO the damage which MAY have been caused, excessive
>wear, etc. All you can hope for is maintain the status quo and prevent
>further, excessive wear by performing proper maintenance.

Most, Most helpful. I agree that damage done is irreversible. I also spoke
with my current mechanic and a good friend who owned his own auto shop. They
pretty much said the same thing-the life span of the engine may be affected.
The price was a littele better than book, but there was no getting the dealer
to budge. I've decided to let it go. Thanks for all the candid and helpful
advice.

--
Message posted via CarKB.com
http://www.carkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx...-cars/200701/1

 

Truble wrote:
> I am thinking about buying a Honda Accord EX with a V-Tec engine that a
> friend of mine is leasing. She leased for 3 years and the car looks great and
> has given her no problems. We were all set to complete the deal with the
> leasing company when she told me she only changed theoil once during the 3
> year period. At that point I hesitated. She has 26,500 miles on the car and
> did not overheat or have any engine or oil light come on. If I buy the car
> now, change the oil regularly, etc., does anybody have any advice about how
> much of a risk I'm taking? What about the engine's lifespan? I'd appreciate
> any help. It's more money than I've ever spent on a car and don't want to
> make a stupid mistake.

Might work out fine, might shorten the life, but I'd certainly expect a
LARGE discount over book price, for which you could find an Accord with
meticulous maintenance records. Of course, you probably can't tell the
leasing company, or your friend will get the bill, no?

 

Truble wrote:
> I am thinking about buying a Honda Accord EX with a V-Tec engine that a
> friend of mine is leasing. She leased for 3 years and the car looks great and
> has given her no problems. We were all set to complete the deal with the
> leasing company when she told me she only changed theoil once during the 3
> year period. At that point I hesitated. She has 26,500 miles on the car and
> did not overheat or have any engine or oil light come on. If I buy the car
> now, change the oil regularly, etc., does anybody have any advice about how
> much of a risk I'm taking? What about the engine's lifespan? I'd appreciate
> any help. It's more money than I've ever spent on a car and don't want to
> make a stupid mistake.

Might work out fine, might shorten the life, but I'd certainly expect a
LARGE discount over book price, for which you could find an Accord with
meticulous maintenance records. Of course, you probably can't tell the
leasing company, or your friend will get the bill, no?

 

Truble wrote:
> I am thinking about buying a Honda Accord EX with a V-Tec engine that a
> friend of mine is leasing. She leased for 3 years and the car looks great and
> has given her no problems. We were all set to complete the deal with the
> leasing company when she told me she only changed theoil once during the 3
> year period. At that point I hesitated. She has 26,500 miles on the car and
> did not overheat or have any engine or oil light come on. If I buy the car
> now, change the oil regularly, etc., does anybody have any advice about how
> much of a risk I'm taking? What about the engine's lifespan? I'd appreciate
> any help. It's more money than I've ever spent on a car and don't want to
> make a stupid mistake.

Might work out fine, might shorten the life, but I'd certainly expect a
LARGE discount over book price, for which you could find an Accord with
meticulous maintenance records. Of course, you probably can't tell the
leasing company, or your friend will get the bill, no?

 

Truble via CarKB.com wrote:
> Unquestionably Confused wrote:
>>> Thanks, everyone for all of the info and advice. I'll be asking my
>>> friend at what point she changed the oil. Even though the V-Tec
>>> seems like a pretty durable engine, my tendency at this point is to
>>> "walk on by" unless I get satisfactory info...Pretty irresponsible
>>> not to perform regular maintenance even if you are not keeping the
>>> car long-term. One last question...would regular maintenance undo
>>> any potential damage done?
>>
>> No, it will never UNDO the damage which MAY have been caused,
>> excessive wear, etc. All you can hope for is maintain the status
>> quo and prevent further, excessive wear by performing proper
>> maintenance.
>
> Most, Most helpful. I agree that damage done is irreversible. I also
> spoke with my current mechanic and a good friend who owned his own
> auto shop. They pretty much said the same thing-the life span of the
> engine may be affected. The price was a littele better than book, but
> there was no getting the dealer to budge. I've decided to let it go.
> Thanks for all the candid and helpful advice.

Funny that the dealer wouldn't budge due to inadequate maintenance. I could
imagine what he would have said if it was brought in for warranty work......

 

Truble via CarKB.com wrote:
> Unquestionably Confused wrote:
>>> Thanks, everyone for all of the info and advice. I'll be asking my
>>> friend at what point she changed the oil. Even though the V-Tec
>>> seems like a pretty durable engine, my tendency at this point is to
>>> "walk on by" unless I get satisfactory info...Pretty irresponsible
>>> not to perform regular maintenance even if you are not keeping the
>>> car long-term. One last question...would regular maintenance undo
>>> any potential damage done?
>>
>> No, it will never UNDO the damage which MAY have been caused,
>> excessive wear, etc. All you can hope for is maintain the status
>> quo and prevent further, excessive wear by performing proper
>> maintenance.
>
> Most, Most helpful. I agree that damage done is irreversible. I also
> spoke with my current mechanic and a good friend who owned his own
> auto shop. They pretty much said the same thing-the life span of the
> engine may be affected. The price was a littele better than book, but
> there was no getting the dealer to budge. I've decided to let it go.
> Thanks for all the candid and helpful advice.

Funny that the dealer wouldn't budge due to inadequate maintenance. I could
imagine what he would have said if it was brought in for warranty work......