Adivce needed on '95 90q

[Elliott Potter]

Andrew Lundy wrote:
> 
> > > 1)  Oil consumption.
> >
> > Not really, mine takes maybe a quart over 3000 miles. If I replace the
> > valve cover gaskets, it would probably be less.
> 
> It's about a 50/50 split.  The cars are either around 3000 miles/qt or 1000
> miles/qt....depends if you have the rediesgned valve seals (and how many oil
> leaks)!!
 
Also there were some early issues with the low tension rings they used. 
Don't know if they ever changed those or if they decided that not enough
people had problems.

> > > 2)  Oil leaks (usually at the head gasket for one place...and yes, I
> meant
> > > HEAD gasket).
> >Not common, but it happens, more often in the older V6s.
> 
> Head gasket is common...and you say you have a leaky valve cover gasket??
> Is a valve cover leak not a leak.  Probably not going to leak in such a low
> mileage car but it will evenutally have miles on it (I hope)!!
 
Oil leak problems occured in 1992 cars and early 1993 cars, but by
mid-1993 they seem to have figured it out and fixed the leaks.  Head
gasket leaks were somewhat common in the '92-'93 cars, but not all of
them leaked.  However when they do leak, it's pretty major and harder to
overlook than other leaks like the valve cover gaskets.
But valve cover gaskets do leak, again in the '92-'93 cars, and it is
enough to notice.
The valley pan gasket tends to leak, a lot, and that's something that
appears to happen with later cars too, even A6's.  It's just one of
those green paper-like gaskets, and it cooks up there.  If I was going
to say that oil leaks were common on the V6, I'd say the leak was at the
valley pan seal, not the head gasket.

> > > 6)  Cars have a "dead" spot in the low RPM range.  "Dead" as in don't
> drag
> > > race anybody!!!
> >
> > Disagree here, I took on a new Chrysler 300M, blew his doors off.
> This is subjective.  I could put every performance option on my car an it
> wouldn't touch my 928.  I don't really drive my '90's for speed...winter
> cars!!
 
Remember, the 90 is a 4-door family sedan, and the 928 is a sports car. 
If you try to compare them, the 90 will always dissapoint.  If you
compare it to other 4-door family sedans, it does OK.

> > > 8)  Rear calipers are troublesome...like all 90's!
> >
> > Disagree here too. The guide pins on the front and rear calipers MUST be
> > maintained. In other words, check and grease at least every 6 months.
> > Other than the guide pins, and one Ebrake lever sticking, I haven't had
> > any problems. I cured the Ebrake lever sticking by cleaning it out with
> > brake cleaner and then liberally squirting in lithium grease.
> YMMV

I think the easy thing to do is get the pin refresh kit from the dealer
every time you change the pads -- did it once at 60k, and looks like
I'll do it again around 110k; so far I haven't had anything stick.  The
kit is only about $25 from the dealer, and includes the rubber boots and
the grease.  Doesn't take too much time, and it does appear to work.  Of
course how long you wait probably depends on other factors.

Another $.02...
--
Elliott