Holden VE Commodore named best Australian-built car in history

[HK1837]

Jump in a totally original V2 CV8 Monaro, or even a VZ CV8. Heaps better car than a Commodore.

[Dylan]

carn the VS. cant get enough of them. the VZ will be their relative equivalent... if only the motor was 1/2 as good as the VS

Enough said. I love the VS. I like the VZ but that allotec what a lemon don't get me started.

[HK1837]

Lesson in that. Never buy a V6 when a V8 is an option!

[Vombil]

alloytec needs fresh oil... very regularly... as i understand. i think the clunky auto in the 04 is more of an issue

[Dylan]

That's the whole issue,servicing. Holden should not of stretched them out. Given the higher capacity sump it just did not work.
15,000 kilometre interval turns into 20,000! Ever seen inside one after 200+? I don't know how the oil flows then when the sludge falls off, pick up blocks then game over seen it happen.

Some people are buying new engines from holden, a lot are needing timing chains replaced along with tensioners but lots of workshops won't touch inside them incase they dislodge some crud!

[Robbo]

My ute get's serviced on a time basis these day's, not kilometre's travelled. My earlier car's I alway's serviced myself at 5000k interval's, and alway's fitted a new oil filter. No way in the world would I run a car to 15,000k's, that's just inviting drama's.

Cheers.

[HK1837]

Totally agree. RX350 is 15,000kM or 12 months. Hilux is 10,000kM or 6 months. Both get 6months even with 100% synthetic oil. It isn't just oil, it is tyre rotation. If you don't rotate tyres and assess alignment and pressures every 5,000kM you can shag a set of tyres in 25,000kM. I just bought 4x new Yokohama GO55 235/55/19 tyres for the RX350 at $340 a pop. Original Dueller 33's were almost at 20% on edges but like 75% left in centre as it did 15,000kM in its first 10 months, and no rotation or pressure checks. Plus alignment can change quickly in the first 10,000kM. Lexus was out front and rear.
Other issue is manufacturers are specifying oil for economy and not showing us proper SAE graphs in the manuals. The Lexus, Hilux and my CV8 all call for 10W-30. 30 is too thin for Australia, proper SAE curves show 30 only good up to about 32deg or so. I use 10W-40 Nulon synthetic, good value on 20% off days at Repco or Supacheap plus comes in 6L which is good as both cars take about 5.6L. I use 10W-60 Castrol Edge in the CV8, used Mobil1 10W-30 at first but it ran so much quieter with the 60 weight oil.

[Vombil]

hey byron i use the 10-40 also on the gen 1's, ecotec and alloytec. how would 20-60 (if there is one) or the 40-70 go in the old 173, 186 or 202? I have a noisey lifter in the 173.

[HK1837]

What have you got with an early SBC Vombil? These are normally better suited to 20W-50, same with the old 173. I think you can get a high mileage oil in Penrite, like 40W-70 or 30W-60 or somethinl like that but a noisy lifter is probably not as much the oil but a worn cam lobe or buggered lifter or both.

[Vombil]

crap. I kinda wish I has something with a SBC! typo mate. gen3

The WB with blue 202 has a noisy cam. I might try some 40-70 in that. Just don't want to turn it into a sludge fest