How does an expert break in a new engine..

[g2020]

Not only is it appraised value but many of us, me included, tend to keep our vehicles long after the warranty is up. At that point it comes out of my pocket so a little preventative maintenance goes a long way. I used the same philosophy in my construction business where our equipment was worth well over $1 million.

Mentioning the value of construction equipment helps me understand the value that the testing camp, on this forum, provides to the rest of us.

On Gold Rush or Yukon Gold, those guys are miles from anywhere. Let's say that the two most popular mining operations want to sell out at the end of a season. One camp is fastidious about testing and changing oils & filters (and keeps good records), and the other operation runs equipment past recommended intervals, has never heard of Blackstone Labs or Polaris Labs, and tracks maintenance using sticky notes on the fridge.

If the yield projections and operating costs for both mines were the same, I would buy the camp with the equipment that has been well-maintained, and would make sure that I put in a high bid to clinch the deal.

If you were driving to Alaska with a few other Gladiator owners (perhaps to see the northern lights and discuss wear metals), what type of owner would you travel with to avoid breakdowns? Similarly, if you were looking for a good used Gladiator, what kind of owner would you buy from?

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[Squashead]

In all seriousness, I was already doing a break in procedure for my wife's new Grand Cherokee (3.6). Here is the report after the second change. I almost picked identical intervals as Lake used in that video (500mi on oil, 1500 miles on oil).

 

[Hootbro]

Ya, I think “telling people they have too” is too strong and not right. I think going after this kind of data is only for people that need to see the extra data points. It’s only in the make-up of that particular person, OCD spectrum types where details mater. Of course, not everyone falls into that category, I definitely do. If you want further info, lab reports is how you get it. If you’re in the crowd that doesn’t care, you dismiss it. Dismissing this lab data doesn’t mean it’s bunk and the need to have this data doesn’t mean not caring about that part, is doing your vehicle wrong. Everybody wins.

We are about to find out today what all my oil analysis reports have done and mean to my insurance company appraiser who is showing up to “write off” or “fix” my truck. If it’s written off, he has to appraise its value. The burning question we’re about to find out is…

Do my reports show a level of absolute proof of doing my own maintenance and does this level of maintenance add value?

I’ll post his answer later. If it doesn’t, then it’s an individual’s choice to be guided by it, if it adds value, then …. take it or leave it. I can tell you this angle has never been asked.

I am in your camp and will be the first to admit that I over maintain also, but it has never got me a lick extra in value when selling or trading off to the next entity.

Unless selling a exotic, collectible or high priced heavy equipment, the extra maintenance never translate to more value.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Hell, drive it like you stole it.. My procedure is RED LINE 1st 2nd as soon as possible leaving the dealership... It'll blow or go while in the warranty !

Break it in the same way you plan to use it.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

Do my reports show a level of absolute proof of doing my own maintenance and does this level of maintenance add value?

I’ll post his answer later. If it doesn’t, then it’s an individual’s choice to be guided by it, if it adds value, then …. take it or leave it. I can tell you this angle has never been asked.

I saw the insurance appraiser today and after looking at all the moose crash damage and listing out the damaged parts. He then had to look at the condition of the vehicle inside and out and said it’s clear I take care of it.

I had a package of papers of upgrade receipts and stuff which included all my oil analysis reports on the diffs, transfer case, power steering, transmission and engine and I asked him for his professional position on if these reports do anything for valuation of the truck.

He said “the reports give me the highest maintenance care rating that’s recognized which will reflect in the value that will be made” There is no higher rating but there is lower.

Can you get this highest maintenance care rating with just proof of oil and filter purchase or regular maintenance service records from the dealership? Sure.

I chose not to go to the dealership to have some newbie f@$k up my oil service. The reports I have has provided my proof I did my own service and in fact when the lab highlighted the iron wear count as abnormally high in my 3rd transmission along with the accompanying whine in first and second gear, FCA considered the lab report to support the whine and warranty gave me the replacement.

 

[g2020]

it has never got me a lick extra in value when selling or trading off to the next entity.

A few hours before I traded in my 2014 4WD Patriot ($18,400 new incl TT&L) in Houston in September 2019, I got an offer from CarMax for exactly $9,000. It had a gash on one of the doors and the front end needed work. In their words, the reason that the offer was so high was "we liked your maintenance history". This took place four months before the COVID era began and started messing with new and used auto markets alike.

I agree with you that a perfect maintenance record doesn't create additional value, but that vehicle at that point in time was in high enough demand, in places like Colorado (where I bought it), to receive a higher-than-expected offer. A high maintenance score in the CarMax system likely meant that they didn't discount their offer at all. Also, I believe that they were able to download my dealer maintenance history before I walked through the door...and maybe they didn't notice the gash.

Note: I think that it was you that said that only dealer service records are visible to others on mopar.com. Maintenance records added by the vehicle owner on mopar.com are not shared by MOPAR with other parties. ​

Starting with a difference of $2,000 in the valuation of my trade-in, the CarMax offer helped me reduce the price of the Gladiator by another $1,400 during round three with the salesman at the Jeep dealership. If I had walked out, I probably could have got the remaining $600 and possibly then some, but I was sold on the Gladiator before I drove it off the lot. They did agree to give me a spare key (laser-cut metal part only) at no additional charge.

Not sure whether I should have got the crystalfusion (aftermarket) coating for the windshield. I have had to have the windshield on my Gladiator replaced once (two months after I purchased it) for a $50 deductible. The current windshield has three repairs. It didn't take long to learn to either stay well behind large trucks on the highway or quickly pass them.

 

[BallsDeep]

I chose not to go to the dealership to have some newbie f@$k up my oil service.

Not even just newbies! But that is exactly why I always change mine, my wife’s, and my kid’s oil. I know that I’m not being rushed to get 20 cars in and out… I’m taking the time to properly torque everything… I know exactly what oil is going in, etc etc.

No one is going to take as much pride and care working on your vehicle as you will yourself.

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