Putting stress on the car

[jrim]

I acquired my Alero in the beginning of September, and from day one, it was hard to not give this car a little extra gas every now and then, it's just too much fun.

I have a friend that worked as a mechanic for many years. He tells me that when I start the car, he can hear the engine knock for a second or two, and tells me it's because I "hot rod" the car and that if I don't stop, the car will last another year if I'm lucky.

I'm just posting to assess the validity of this statement - can "hot rodding" a car that isn't a hot rod cause problems? I'd have to imagine GM would expect people to drive the car like that or it wouldn't have the ability to do so.

Of course, I am fairly uneducated in the autos field, and that is why I seek your help.

Thoughts?

[jayson_waltz]

most cars will have a slight knock right when they start when it is cold outside, its common. but trying to keep it away from redline won't hurt life any. doubt thats your problem tho probably just age.

[[ion] C2]

woohoo michigan

and it takes a second or two for oil pressure to be made, it's no biggie, it'd be nice to know how many miles you have on it and what engine it is though

[jrim]

54,000 miles 3.4L V6 2002

Jayson: Thanks, I'll keep that in mind, good to know that it's not B.S. what I'm hearing.

Can anyone give me a technical explanation as to WHY it harms the car/engine? I'm the kind of guy that needs to understand -why- something is how it is before I can buy it. (buy it in a figurative sense)

The slight 'knock' (sounds like a ticking sound to me, uneducated motorist ear) generally goes away as I drive the car but I can hear it when the car sits idling. I've been told that it sounds like metal compressing and decompressing, idk.

Sorry if my spelling/grammar is horrible, suffering from a slight ocular migraine right now :x

[[ion] C2]

at that mileage, should be all good

normal sound from the lifters actuating likely.

[jrim]

Okay, thanks. I edited the above post btw, I see u posted back right after heh

[cherrington17]

in the most general explanation possible....

how is slamming on the pedal bad? well... they do build them to withstand more abuse then that... BUT its just the sudden rapid increase in pressure/combustion/all things that make the car run. your going from nearly nothing to all out everything.

its just like all of a sudden someone runs in and points a gun in your face. your gonna panic. your body is built to handle such things... but it doesn't mean you should do it every day of your life. you'll start cut'n days off your total life eventually.

[Midgear]

since the day i got my car.. i dont think i've gone a single trip / drive without givin it the beans at least once.. and i was also facinated (sp) at the fact that I had a car that could lay some serious black streaks across the pavement..

2 sets of tires later.. i've realized that i need to stop .. driving it like a sports car is one thing.. beatin the shit out of it is another

[CarGodz]

One thing you have to realize is that when you first start your vehicle all of the oil is in the pan, so it takes a couple seconds to make it's way up into the engine (even longer when it's cold another second or 2), so my best suggestion to most is that they just give it a few seconds after cold starting (any time the engine has had longer than about 45min. to cool down) and NEVER rev the motor as soon as you start it up... Otherwise occasionally getting on the pedal when driving or at take off from a light isn't going to hurt the motor as long as you properly maintain it... Heck in some cases it actually helps a little to get on it if you do a lot of city driving cause it helps blow out a little bit of residue that may build up in the fuel system and helps break loose gunk that builds up in the motor for the filter to catch.

[jayson_waltz]

Originally Posted by jrim

54,000 miles 3.4L V6 2002

Jayson: Thanks, I'll keep that in mind, good to know that it's not B.S. what I'm hearing.

Can anyone give me a technical explanation as to WHY it harms the car/engine? I'm the kind of guy that needs to understand -why- something is how it is before I can buy it. (buy it in a figurative sense)

The slight 'knock' (sounds like a ticking sound to me, uneducated motorist ear) generally goes away as I drive the car but I can hear it when the car sits idling. I've been told that it sounds like metal compressing and decompressing, idk.

with that many miles it still shouldn't be too nbg of a deal as long as its not done every single time u drive.

if it goeas away then come back its likely valve tick anyways.

[Midgear]

I agree on the cold starts.. my car absolutely hates waking up to freezing temps lol

[alerored04]

/\ Whiner. Aleros love the cold. I almost never had trouble with mine when I lived in ND with average temps around -10 in the winter. Started every time.

[Midgear]

mine starts every time.. only time my car hasnt started on the first try is when the fuel pressure regulator crapped on me-

and when the security randomly decided i was trying to steal the car

[jrim]

A lot of helpful input, thanks guys

Yeah I pretty much only put it to the floor if I'm trying to merge onto the freeway or change lanes from the slow lane to the fast lane (necessities). And of course the occasional "I want to hear that engine!" feeling we all get :P

[Redog]

The tapping noise is most likely the lifters, mine has always done that when it's cold since about 30,000 miles and now it's over 100,000

Might also be a good time to make the switch to syn. oil



And for some reason \/ she popped up under a google img seach for Mobil 1, gotta keep those babies lubed

[Cliff8928]

Not the lifters, but piston slap. It's a known "issue" and is deemed harmless.

[jrim]

Originally Posted by Cliff8928

Not the lifters, but piston slap. It's a known "issue" and is deemed harmless.

Ahhh Ok, I can't wait to throw that in his face