Recent content by rodhotter

wheels IMO can make a ride or not. theres lots of options depending on your wallet. but for me being in Pa with poor roads smaller is better with better riding tyres having a decent sidewall that also protects the wheels + bigger is usually heavier costing performance as well as mpgs not to...

there are a lot of variables with upkeep, where we drive, length of trips + how we drive are but a few. most oils are fake synthetics aka group III highly refined crude where real synthetic PAO + Ester oils last longer + the push especially in USA to use thinner oils shortens drain intervals...

lubricants have varying amounts of additives as well as various base oils. more additives are said to let a lube do its job correctly longer. then theres REAL synthetics groups IV + V they are TOTALLY clean as they are NOT refined but made-synthesised + last a long time + function better in...

the 1.8T 225 is a stout engine said to handle up to 400 hp, but its the torque that stresses the engine as well as the clutch + of course a lot depends on how its used + maintained

300 hp is possible on a stock turbo with mapping, intake + very importantly a hi-flo exhaust with changing the very restrictive downpipe with it. depending on cat requirements as well as emissions a 3" turbo back is optimal but many 3" cats are said not to pass emissions. on the ragtop I love it...

a little update, got the 3" downpipe in a real PIA on a 225Q! the cat or not bolts to a flange on the downpipe allowing easy switching for offroad, it really makes a difference that looking at the quick response on the boost gauge shows.

here in the USA as well as most other countries since 1999 group III oils aka severely hydrocracked CRUDE oisl are legally sold as "synthetic" clouding its meaning IMO. manufactures seldom show specs or even tell you what base oils are used but just say buy ours its best. they all want your...

generally from reading most wings-spoilers work at speeds most of us will never see!! those who track their cars or drive on the autobahn will get benefits for sure. my 2001 TT has a small "wing" on the very heavy trunk lid, said to have been added to keep the rear planted as the first TT's...

i had jet hot + HPC coated pipes with little longevity, this is a daily driven car, snow, salt, + simple rain, coating peeled in a few years!! 304 stainless on my 2001 jetta-bora 10 years, dull but NO deterioration at trade in time. just search stainless steel, there are many with different...

i have had several name brand ceramic exhaust coating + NONE of them held up on a daily driver in snow + salt winters. problem is the cheap mild steel piping under the coating. wrapping pipes or other parts shortens their life for sure. unless racing for $$$ just get stainless steel, 304 grade...

here in the USA a dodge neon was factory built without a silencer, being a turbo car the combination of turbo + the cat converter both act like silencers, sounded good but still legal

generally unless your using "racing" only oil gains are minute. lighter oils are good as long as they get the job done, example of my 2001 audi TT 225Q, modified to about 300 hp + tq. i was using amsoil 10-30 signature series said to be a PAO base oil, car was using prolly at least a qt in 500...

oils with a higher TBN-total base number indicate more additives for longer drains but, short driving where not enough heat is created is considered severe service requiring shorter change intervals. changing the filter + topping up can extend service life. engines with more oil capacity are...

most lifetime fluids mean until the warranty runs out!!! on my purchased new 2001 VW jetta-bora i had free services for 24,000 or 2 yrs, after breakin i asked the dealer to put in my Amsoil bought by me, its a group IV-V oil, they said no, so after they changed it i dumped it upon getting home...

oil generally will not add power except, oils for racing only. true group IV + V synthetics prolly add a little but actually not noticeable. important differences in oil groups, for instance a group IV like Amsoil 10-30 starts as a 30 wt but meets the 10 wt spec, NO viscosity index improvers at...