Re: Cheap filters....CR

[WARATAP@aol.com]

I wrote about last year's C.U. test that ...They also did a test on engine
oils last year and found little difference between them, whether synthetic or
not.  Yeh right!  

to which Avi responded:

<< Yes they are right and BTW running a taxi is about the toughest thing you
 can do to a car, I will bet with you that your Q will have a really hard
 time as a taxi. BTW many taxis in Europe are MB because not too many cars
 can stand to the extreme demand of taxis (needless to say the drivers)!!!!
 Avi Meron >>

I agree that NYC taxi cabs probably do go through a lot (the suspensions, or
lack thereof attest to that), but I disagree with the premise that oils
perform about the same.  The taxis were running almost all the time, meaning
that the oil never properly 'settled', and simulated 100,000 miles of
driving, which is just when our cars are broken in.  Since 90+% of engine
wear occurs at startup, this 'test' is flawed IMHO.  German taxis are usually
Mercedes because they are indeed reliable (95% are diesel) and are sold to
taxi fleets at a special discount (at least they used to be). 

-Ingo Rautenberg
90 V8Q 160K
85 4KQ 130K