Don't forget one of the latest automotive mistakes, the "wet timing belt". This is a rubber timing belt (not a chain) that runs through your engine oil disintegrating and clogging up your oil filters.

If anyone here owns a car with that system I recommend taking it to your trusted mechanic and discussing with them to do additional preventive maintenance on it.

Don't forget one of the latest automotive mistakes, the "wet timing belt". This is a rubber timing belt (not a chain) that runs through your engine oil disintegrating and clogging up your oil filters.

What cars use those?

A lot of 4 cylinders and the Duramax 3.0L engine. The claim is that these belts reduce noise because chains are "loud".

Wow, yeah, it looks like the Duramax engine has a 15-year belt replacement interval that costs $10K at today's rates.

They aren't even trying to hide the whole planned-obsolescence thing at this point. Average age of cars on the road is approaching 13 years now, so someone who buys a Duramax-based vehicle will end up with a metal and plastic brick that costs more to maintain than it's worth, just because of the timing belt alone.

Build a drop-in crate EV conversion kit now. Cheap shells available soon.

That is the worst idea in the history of ideas