That 5K miles is a typo - should have been 4,000. I figure that if I get 10mpg over 4K miles, that's 400 gallons. At $2/gallon, that's $800. Ouch. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />



I think that the oil leak just started with the switch to 0W40. I was using NAPA 5W30 synthetic and never noticed the leak until a few hundred miles after the Mobil1 0W40 was in there. I've got an extra 6-pack of Mobil1 0W40.

My tires are OK, not great. I am fanatical about checking tire pressure, especially n long trips, and I really didn't want to buy new tires before the trip. I'll definitely need new tires when I get to Oregon.

Side note: I added a Class III receiver hitch to the Trooper to haul the trailer for this trip. Part of the install required the removal of the rear tow hook. I bought a foot of 2" square steel tubing, drilled a couple of holes for the hook (and one for the receiver pin) and bolted the tow hook to the steel tube. Now my recovery hook fits into my receiver hitch--and pulls on both frame rails insted of just one.