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When do you replace things?

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JPSmit

JPSmit

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So, puttering on the car tonight and realized that new hoses are likely in my future, I will probably install them in the spring. This however got me thinking, given that almost none of us actually wear things out - how often do you replace things like hoses/ brake hoses/ brake cylinders etc.

I will say that I have probably replaced my spark plugs a little too often.

what is your practice?
 
I used to figure 10 years service life for "rubber" like soft brake lines, fuel lines, fan belts and such. They'll often go much longer, but it seems like the chance if sudden failure goes up.
Modern rubber-like materials do seem to last longer tho, so I've been going 20 years.

No failures yet with the braided SS over Teflon brake lines, or the Cunifer hard lines; so I'm not going to mess with them until something happens. Using DOT 5 fluid also seems to make seals last forever, so I'm not changing them until I start having problems.
 
I agree with Randall on my British stuff, and though they have lead a sheltered life, the hoses and such on my TR250 are all ten years old now and I should probably look at replacing.

Modern Japanese cars are amazing, with 20 year old hoses still feeling pretty much like new (not too spongy or too crispy), but I suppose they should be looked at too.
 
P.S. I used to replace spark plugs more often, but after years of doing it, sometimes as routine maintenance, sometimes as "throwing parts at a problem" I never seemed to notice much difference in how the car ran, so don't worry about them so much now.
 
glemon said:
P.S. I used to replace spark plugs more often, but after years of doing it, sometimes as routine maintenance, sometimes as "throwing parts at a problem" I never seemed to notice much difference in how the car ran, so don't worry about them so much now.
Click to expand...


I do change the points on my old cars every Spring and usually look at the plugs at the same time. I almost always put them back in unless there's been a skip or they are badly worn or fouled, and I pretty much just eyeball the gap.

Just my 2p.

Tom
 
Speaking of tools or other "stuff", I usually replace them right before I find the one i misplaced.
 
When you find it, put it back in the box for next time.
Tom
 
Bayless said:
Speaking of tools or other "stuff", I usually replace them right before I find the one i misplaced.
Click to expand...

actually the only way I can find the misplaced thing is to buy a new one. and the corollary of this is that for something I have many of (like tape measures) at best I can still only fond one at a time
 
Spark Plugs (Platinum tip) I change about every 100k miles on average. I change timing belts about every 50k. I don't change hoses on a regular interval but probably should. If they look old and cracked I'll change them. I usually change air filter when I do an oil change (every 5-6k)
 
I replace things when they get old and not quite as useful as they used to be, BUT, I'm careful not to mention that around here, as I don't want the wife to get any ideas! :devilgrin:
 
PAUL161 said:
I replace things when they get old and not quite as useful as they used to be, BUT, I'm careful not to mention that around here, as I don't want the wife to get any ideas! :devilgrin:
Click to expand...

probably cut the forum in half size wise too. :rolleyes:
 
I replace parts at half the recommended service intervals. Depends on milege and how hard i've been on vehicle. 2 track sessions plus driving. Plugs changed every three yrs for iridium and every other yr fo regular plugs. Warranty on plugs usually 2 yrs, but if run hard, in change after last run. Use Techron every fifth tank.
 
I had a long, hard think about this.

Generally when symptomology dictates a failure is eminent, parts get replaced.
The big exception to that is coils.

Based entirely on expert testimony from this august group, I keep two cases of those on the shelf.

I have discovered that a pot hole is good enough reason to change out a coil.

So far, have not had one fail in service. I suppose in the previous 55 years never having one fail in service doesn't count.
 
I have had to replace newer rubber hoses in less than 10 years. I think the rubber has changed. Both the TR3 and AH had a failure in a radiator hose. The mini, I used silicone hoses and they have had no problems. My issue is that I like restoring cars, but I hate having to replace broken parts.

I am now going over to a friends house to help with his Morris Minor. He has a faulty starter, we already replaced the brake master but he has a leak somewhere. He should really invite over better mechanics!
Jerry
 
TOC said:
I had a long, hard think about this.

Generally when symptomology dictates a failure is eminent, parts get replaced.
The big exception to that is coils.

Based entirely on expert testimony from this august group, I keep two cases of those on the shelf.

I have discovered that a pot hole is good enough reason to change out a coil.

So far, have not had one fail in service. I suppose in the previous 55 years never having one fail in service doesn't count.
Click to expand...

I've had one that I remember in the same time period or perhaps a bit longer. The coil just quit without warning. Only issue is that it was hard to diagnose on the side of the road with no ohm meter handy. Finally ran out of other things to test or replace.
Tom
 
I carried extra coil and points. Had a 79 XJ6 that would die on the way to work. Restart and ran fine. One morning I saw black smoke in the mirror and watched the tach die and the ignition light come on. Coil was hot. Started to change out and found the terminals weren't tight. Tightened and ran without dying for the next two yrs. Still have the extra coil for my other cars.
 
Like so many other things, there is tremendous variability in coil longevity. I've had a few fail in service on my TR3; what was probably the original 1956 Lucas coil on TS13571L broke down on the way to Triumphest 2009. Didn't fail completely, just made the engine run bad (lots of misfires, lack of power and so on). I had just gotten into town when it started acting up, and finished driving to the event that way.

Only coil I found at the event was a Lucas "Sports" coil. It only lasted about 2 years before it failed, on the freeway during rush hour. A much "harder" failure, I did manage to coax the engine to run again, but it took full throttle just to keep it idling and I had to walk away. Initially, I thought it was the condenser, but replacing it made no difference at all.

I've had a couple of failures with GM "electronic" coils, too. When I bought my Buick wagon, it was scared of water and would refuse to run if it even caught sight of a puddle! A new coil solved the problem. Years later, it flunked a smog check and the problem was (eventually) traced to the coil.

Ken Gillanders (who ran British Frame and Engine for many years) once told me he bought a whole case of Lucas Sports coils and tested all of them. He claimed that over half the case was either DOA or tested weak. And he refused to sell the others, discarded the entire case. Ken was a class act.
 
This thread just seems strange to me. The only time I have ever changed a coil in 60 plus years of driving was when I upgraded the Prefect from 6 to 12 volts.
 
Bayless said:
This thread just seems strange to me. The only time I have ever changed a coil in 60 plus years of driving was when I upgraded the Prefect from 6 to 12 volts.
Click to expand...

So together we have 1 in 120 years. Still, if it quits, you're dead in the road.
Tom
 
I'm not trying to say it doesn't happen, just that the thread seems strange to me since it has never happened to me. Probably just really lucky.
 
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