Auto Maintenance - What Do We Really Need?

[JoeWras]

Yes... Not a lot, but at times



Of course...



On my vehicles, yes... And I don't know or care what EV's can do.

Of course Car-Guy would know.

I probably should have said: "In general, are people informed how to downshift on an automatic, and the reasons for wanting to do so."

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BTW, looking at my avatar, I realized this does not apply. Bicycles are freewheeling. I just have to worry about my rubber pads overheating! (My avatar points out a pretty serious hill.)

 

[G8tr]

I started a different thread about the new car buying experience with dealerships. Seems like they're just like casinos - the only way to win is not to play.

I can do some basic maintenance, but because of the time and tools involved, I choose to take my cars to a shop that I somewhat trust. By "somewhat" I mean that the shop's prices are generally reasonable as compared to others in my area (DC suburbs - plenty of people with high end cars and money, but little automotive knowledge - jury is still out on having common sense). I do change bulbs, cabin air filters, install roof racks, wash/wax, etc... Those don't take long.

It annoys me that cars are such a racket, but there is little I can do but keep them as long as possible and do the required maintenance.

 

[Car-Guy]

I started a different thread about the new car buying experience with dealerships. Seems like they're just like casinos - the only way to win is not to play.

I guess I see it a little different.. When I drop ~50k in a Casino, I "usually" just leave with memories... At least when I spend ~50k, at a car dealership I leave with a car.

 

[MRG]

Does anyone driving a car downshift anymore?

Does anyone with an automatic know how to use low gear?

Hell, can the newest automatics even go low gear? What about EVs?

We drive the mountains usually once or twice a year, including the tail of the dragon. I scrub most of my speed using my paddle shifter on my CVT equipped Subaru. Now I may have to worry about overheating my tranny. It is smart and won't let you over-rev. It does have a temperature warning which I've never seen engaged.

Yes automatics can still supply compression braking. DW'S ICE Wrangler even has slow(from .5- 6mph) speed cruise for long downhills in low range.

EVs have no transmission to shift. You simply lift your foot from the accelerator to slow down. This can be rather aggressive depending upon configuration, temperature, and state of charge. I use disk brakes once in a while to knock the rust off.

My dual motor Y has a slip start setting for low traction starts. I assume this locks the differentials. It's not the vehicle that we use the most in low traction however, the Rubicon is better equipped to handle inclimate weather.

 

[Music Lover]

Yes automatics can still supply compression braking. DW'S ICE Wrangler even has slow(from .5- 6mph) speed cruise for long downhills in low range.

My Acura (automatic) when on cruise control will downshift when going down a grade if the speed increases...I assume that is to try to maintain the set speed.

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

EVs have no transmission to shift. You simply lift your foot from the accelerator to slow down. This can be rather aggressive depending upon configuration, temperature, and state of charge. I use disk brakes once in a while to knock the rust off.

My dual motor Y has a slip start setting for low traction starts. I assume this locks the differentials. It's not the vehicle that we use the most in low traction however, the Rubicon is better equipped to handle inclimate weather.

If EVs are anything like our Prius in this regard, the drivetrain has a "regenerative braking" feature that engages the motor to work like a generator/alternator and convert forward momentum into electrical energy that is returned to the battery. That means the brakes themselves don't do nearly as much work as they do in a non-electric.

That can have a downside, though. Long downhill grades can overcharge the battery, which can shorten its life. Our Prius has a drive selector that allows the driver to disable the regen braking function (ours is a 2007, I don't know about newer ones). Again, my experience is with Toyota's Synergy Drive, maybe other hybrid/EV builders do things differently.

I've mentioned this before, but electric motors have instant torque. When the car's wheels spin on a slippery surface and then catch traction suddenly it can put a lot of strain on drivetrain components like axles and CV joints. That's why the Prius (our generation, anyway) has such active traction control. We were driving in a couple inches of wet snow yesterday and the traction light was flashing pretty constantly, even with a set of new snow tires.

 

[JoeWras]

That can have a downside, though. Long downhill grades can overcharge the battery, which can shorten its life. Our Prius has a drive selector that allows the driver to disable the regen braking function (ours is a 2007, I don't know about newer ones). Again, my experience is with Toyota's Synergy Drive, maybe other hybrid/EV builders do things differently.

Interesting! That energy has to go somewhere. On my CVT, I could potentially overheat it too. It has a warning light.

Locomotives use regenerative braking and have huge "resistors" to blow off the excess when it can't absorb the additional energy.

But a Prius is not a locomotive of course. It would be interesting to see if the smart technology has come along since 2007... Wait, looked up Teslas. They automatically limit regeneration in such a case. You are back to using good old hydraulic brakes.

So, per the original thread, even Teslas have to make sure their brake fluid is in good shape, especially if you are a chronic mountain driver.

 

[Music Lover]

If EVs are anything like our Prius in this regard, the drivetrain has a "regenerative braking" feature that engages the motor to work like a generator/alternator and convert forward momentum into electrical energy that is returned to the battery. That means the brakes themselves don't do nearly as much work as they do in a non-electric.

That can have a downside, though. Long downhill grades can overcharge the battery, which can shorten its life. Our Prius has a drive selector that allows the driver to disable the regen braking function (ours is a 2007, I don't know about newer ones). Again, my experience is with Toyota's Synergy Drive, maybe other hybrid/EV builders do things differently.

You're saying that some EV cars don't have the ability to stop charging the battery when it's full? Even a $40 battery tender knows when to shut off.

 

[JoeWras]

You're saying that some EV cars don't have the ability to stop charging the battery when it's full? Even a $40 battery tender knows when to shut off.

It is a 2007.

Because this is an interesting topic, I did some searching and it looks like all the modern, recent hybrids handle it automatically. They actually switch to a mode that uses engine braking. The computer will protect the battery.

Pure EVs have to rely on hydraulic brakes when the battery can't take any more charging. Keep your brakes in good order. No car is maintenance free.

 

[Car-Guy]

It is a 2007.

Pure EVs have to rely on hydraulic brakes when the battery can't take any more charging. Keep your brakes in good order. No car is maintenance free.

I wonder why EV's haven't started using electric applied brakes instead of hydraulics for brakes... Maybe they are afraid of a total electrical failure?

 

[Chuckanut]

Hell, can the newest automatics even go low gear? What about EVs?

My Hybrid has an engine braking selection. I don't quite know how it works, but it is not the same as traditional engine braking. I tried it once and definitely slows the car down quite a bit on a slope. If the batter is fully charged, the engine really starts revving.

 

[ncbill]

Does anyone driving a car downshift anymore?

Does anyone with an automatic know how to use low gear?

Hell, can the newest automatics even go low gear? What about EVs?

We drive the mountains usually once or twice a year, including the tail of the dragon. I scrub most of my speed using my paddle shifter on my CVT equipped Subaru. Now I may have to worry about overheating my tranny. It is smart and won't let you over-rev. It does have a temperature warning which I've never seen engaged.

Subaru is still using 3rd-party (Jatco) CVTs, which haven't had the greatest reputation for reliability/longevity, so I wouldn't put any add'l stress on it.

Pads & rotors are much cheaper to replace than a CVT.

 

[JoeWras]

IIRC, Subaru is still using 3rd-party (Jatco) CVTs, which haven't had the greatest reputation for reliability/longevity.

Pads & rotors are cheaper to replace than a CVT.

I'm stress testing for them.

 

[travelover]

...........That can have a downside, though. Long downhill grades can overcharge the battery, which can shorten its life. Our Prius has a drive selector that allows the driver to disable the regen braking function (ours is a 2007, I don't know about newer ones). Again, my experience is with Toyota's Synergy Drive, maybe other hybrid/EV builders do things differently..........

My 2007 Escape hybrid had a mode where if descending a mountain and the battery was full, it burned off excess energy by spinning the engine. The "starter motor" was the motor / generator.

 

[G8tr]

I guess I see it a little different.. When I drop ~50k in a Casino, I "usually" just leave with memories... At least when I spend ~50k, at a car dealership I leave with a car.

True, but I was referring to the buying experience. As for casinos, I look at the money I gamble as an entertainment expense. I know the odds are stacked against me, but I can make $100 last quite a while, with a slightly less than 50% chance that I'll win and double my money on a hand. The key is knowing when to walk away, and knowing when to run.

 

[Venturer]

Does anyone driving a car downshift anymore?

Does anyone with an automatic know how to use low gear?

Hell, can the newest automatics even go low gear? What about EVs?

We drive the mountains usually once or twice a year, including the tail of the dragon. I scrub most of my speed using my paddle shifter on my CVT equipped Subaru. Now I may have to worry about overheating my tranny. It is smart and won't let you over-rev. It does have a temperature warning which I've never seen engaged.

My DW has a 20 Highlander Hybrid, we go to /thru N Ga. mts. a lot just riding around or traveling to the Smokies, Cherohala Skyway, & yes The Dragon. It will and does go into low gear and scrubs off speed great,it uses the engine braking to do this. I get informed frequently that it isn't my motorcycle so you need to slow it down!

 

[Chuckanut]

My DW has a 20 Highlander Hybrid, we go to /thru N Ga. mts. a lot just riding around or traveling to the Smokies, Cherohala Skyway, & yes The Dragon. It will and does go into low gear and scrubs off speed great,it uses the engine braking to do this. I get informed frequently that it isn't my motorcycle so you need to slow it down!

Here's one tech's description of how the Toyota Hybrid braking system works.

 

[ls99]

My 2012 caddy presented with ABS complaint, Right front. Had the two rear hubs replaced last year for same problem. They contain the magnets energizing the sensor as wheels rotate. THis info is needed for ABS, traction and stability control. All of which can be pushbutton disabled by the brave to do donuts, burn rubber, etc.. WIll have both front hubs replaced next week even though only one failed. Elsewhere I noted they are a royal PITA to remove even when on a lift, install is 10 minutes.

A truly crappy design by GM, the magnet rings fall apart, and no way to replace them, only complete hubs are available. On the up side all new wheel bearing assemblys are installed. Not cheap. These have been the only failures since purchase of the car. Did have a set of brake pads replaced a few years ago, as well as on the second set of replacement tires. Air filter for the engine and cabin a few months ago. Not too bad for a GM vehicle.

Oh yeah, it does need gas filled every so often But I never have to plug it in and gas stations are everywhere.
Edit add: Some Subarus and VW have similar

 

[oscar1]

Used to use an iPhone app for about 10 years which tracked reminders on any car service but typically oil change, wipers, tires, belts, etc. The developer stopped supporting the app which was too bad because it was good.

Now testing an app called SimplyAuto. Early stages but initial signs look good.

Other people use spreadsheets but I like an app that reminds me when oil changes, wipers, etc are coming up. Allows me to stay on top of things and only pay for necessary preventative maintenance as opposed to shops nagging me about things that are not necessary. Last car traded in at 206,000 miles.