Reply to "How should I be driving my engine?"

Hey Mike,

Drive it until you break it! The problem with getting INTO the engine to do preventative "maintenance" (replacements) is that it fast becomes a slippery slope. You're doing the valve springs, then better check and replace those roller rockers. And while you're there, how do those lifters look, and what about the cam lobes. Maybe you'll want to replace the cam and lifters at the same time, "just to be safe." Well now you might as well pull the engine to facilitate all this replacement of bits, and since its out of the car, may as well replace the rod and main bearings, and heck, since you're doing all that, you might as well hone the cylinders and replace the rings too... And before you know it, you're doing a completely unnecessary rebuild, the cost of which would have bought you a LOT OF FUN in gallons of gas, or other desired upgrades/improvements to Snow White.
Just trying to be the voice of reason here.