[southpaw]

Good day everyone,

I bought a 2018 Hellcat that was leased. The car has about 10k miles but of course coming from a lease, it's probably been driven hard. It's gone through one tire change, Oil changes weren't done at correct intervals (1x a year) per CarFax.

So my question is, say if they car was driven hard, not really taken care of as it should be, can I reverse any of the damage made onto the car, engine and transmission in particular. I would like to keep this car for a really long time, 20+ years. How can I make this car last "forever". Is there a way for me to check on the overall health of the engine/transmission via dealership shops.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[$pir1tu$]

I don't think it would really be that bad for the engine if the oil was only changed once a year, as long as it wasn't more than 5000 miles each time. I think an oil analysis or having someone look into the engine with a scope would give you a good idea of the shape it is in. Expensive scan tools are also good enough that they will tell a mechanic if the engine is running right and if the transmission is shifting correctly. I don't think that you could really reverse any damage without completely rebuilding the engine/trans or getting new ones. I personally would just change the engine oil and maybe get an oil analysis done since you would be changing it anyways. You could have the trans fluid changed, but from what I read it is at least a $1000 job. You could also have an independent mechanic look over it really well and see if there are any issues. If it is still under warranty, you could try to get them fixed under warranty. I am sure someone who is more mechanically inclined than me can offer more insight. If you buy a car like this in the future, I would recommend checking the Carfax before you buy it.

I think that it will be fine because it is low mileage, not much time for someone to do a lot of damage to the car.

This is also why I wouldn't buy a leased Hellcat. I don't trust people to take care of leases.

 

[Snowman]

If the oil was changed and the car was never modified, it is perfectly fine and there is no need to worry. These engines and transmissions are VERY conservatively tuned from the factory and are designed to take a beating without getting hurt. If ANYTHING would break, it would be something in the driveline that would have had to been fixed for you to even drive the car. Just relax and enjoy how impressive these cars truly are!

 

[Blkout]

Good day everyone,

I bought a 2018 Hellcat that was leased. The car has about 10k miles but of course coming from a lease, it's probably been driven hard. It's gone through one tire change, Oil changes weren't done at correct intervals (1x a year) per CarFax.

So my question is, say if they car was driven hard, not really taken care of as it should be, can I reverse any of the damage made onto the car, engine and transmission in particular. I would like to keep this car for a really long time, 20+ years. How can I make this car last "forever". Is there a way for me to check on the overall health of the engine/transmission via dealership shops.

Thanks for any advice.

These cars are VERY overbuilt from the factory. If the car is stock and someone changed the oil at regular intervals, someone would have had to beat the piss out of it for it to be damaged at 10k miles.

 

[Rockster]

Good day everyone,

I bought a 2018 Hellcat that was leased. The car has about 10k miles but of course coming from a lease, it's probably been driven hard. It's gone through one tire change, Oil changes weren't done at correct intervals (1x a year) per CarFax.

So my question is, say if they car was driven hard, not really taken care of as it should be, can I reverse any of the damage made onto the car, engine and transmission in particular. I would like to keep this car for a really long time, 20+ years. How can I make this car last "forever". Is there a way for me to check on the overall health of the engine/transmission via dealership shops.

Thanks for any advice.

The process of helping to ensure the car delivers long and trouble free service starts at mile 1. That you bought a leased car with 10K miles means -- of course -- mile 1 is long gone...

And if there has been any "damage" to the car/engine you can't undo that.

All you can do is bring the services up to date: oil/filter, engine air filter, cabin air filter (they stink after a while), get the brake fluid flushed/bled. Then drive the car. The odds are the car will be fine. With proper servicing and care and use the odds are the car will deliver a long and trouble free life.

 

[Frankjr392]

I don't think it would really be that bad for the engine if the oil was only changed once a year, as long as it wasn't more than 5000 miles each time. I think an oil analysis or having someone look into the engine with a scope would give you a good idea of the shape it is in. Expensive scan tools are also good enough that they will tell a mechanic if the engine is running right and if the transmission is shifting correctly. I don't think that you could really reverse any damage without completely rebuilding the engine/trans or getting new ones. I personally would just change the engine oil and maybe get an oil analysis done since you would be changing it anyways. You could have the trans fluid changed, but from what I read it is at least a $1000 job. You could also have an independent mechanic look over it really well and see if there are any issues. If it is still under warranty, you could try to get them fixed under warranty. I am sure someone who is more mechanically inclined than me can offer more insight. If you buy a car like this in the future, I would recommend checking the Carfax before you buy it.

I think that it will be fine because it is low mileage, not much time for someone to do a lot of damage to the car.

This is also why I wouldn't buy a leased Hellcat. I don't trust people to take care of leases.

Blackstone Laboratories

Learn what's going on in your engine with oil analysis. Our free kits are easy to use and we explain the results in plain English!

www.blackstone-labs.com

 

[StevenB]

I believe Snowman and Blkout pretty much covered it. I went to Radford Racing and drove their cars as hard as I could and asked one of the instructors about the cars taking a beating and how they hold up. Actually he said almost verbatim what Blkout said “Dodge didn’t know what it would take to warranty a 700 horsepower vehicle and over engineered them“. He said the only thing they do is change oil, brake pads and brake fluid….otherwise, these things are rock solid. I can almost guarantee your car wasn’t driven as hard as the Radford cars are driven.

I agree with Snowman…..chill out and enjoy the car for another 20 years, you could buy a brand new one and have problems.

SB

 

[toekneethetiger]

Just a few quarts of this will instantly make it a brand new engine and drive train. lol

No but seriously, I agree with the as long as it had oil changes all will be well even with hard driving sentiment. If they drove it hard, the level of enjoyment would have compelled them to buy out the lease and keep it.

 

[baabootoo]

I guess I'd ask what damage do you think there is???????

 

[Unholy707]

Good day everyone,

I bought a 2018 Hellcat that was leased. The car has about 10k miles but of course coming from a lease, it's probably been driven hard. It's gone through one tire change, Oil changes weren't done at correct intervals (1x a year) per CarFax.

So my question is, say if they car was driven hard, not really taken care of as it should be, can I reverse any of the damage made onto the car, engine and transmission in particular. I would like to keep this car for a really long time, 20+ years. How can I make this car last "forever". Is there a way for me to check on the overall health of the engine/transmission via dealership shops.

Thanks for any advice.

Sure. Frame it tub it

 

[Mattm400]

^^^^ I knew that was coming!....

 

[DEANGEL]

Uh oh, I think SickToo and Unholy707 are actually the same person.

 

[Unholy707]

Uh oh, I think SickToo and Unholy707 are actually the same person.

Don’t say that. He was annoying, in a good way. I actually own a hellcat

 

[Unholy707]

Just change the oil, I’m sure the car is fine. If the miles are that low it might be under warranty still

 

[BrakeFade]

Change the oil. Your car will be fine. At your next change just send some to Blackstone for an analysis. If you need piece of mind.
Some would argue driving it hard is a better break in.

 

[juanagofast]

Probably best to sell it

 

[Unholy707]

My oil has metal in it every change runs like a champ

 

[Robbie68]

Modern synthetic oils don’t really need changing every 5,000 unless it was a dedicated track car. The 5k change is a throwback to the days of mineral oil. In Europe the car judges the oil change based on driving not just miles and/or time. I had Audis and BMWs that regularly indicated a change needed around 20k miles and they ran fine into 6 figures with zero engine issues.

 

[Dennis H]

I too was amazed at how tight and new feeling the 6k mile Bondurant cars were. Durable. They get driven HARD.

 

[Unholy707]

I too was amazed at how tight and new feeling the 6k mile Bondurant cars were. Durable. They get driven HARD.

Did you get a hellcat yet?