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Sometimes I have to explain to non-believers why we have nothing but old Volvos instead of new cars every several years. I use the AC/Delco tank pump as an example of a highly developed engineering skill and process.
Some years back, when US auto manufacturing was still king, I used to travel regularly to the GM Tech Center in Warren, MI. I learned, from casual conversation, how the continuation engineering process was mostly about removing pennies from a part or product, and how those pennies were translated by the economy of scale. The pennies came out where things lasted too long -- after all what good is a part that might make a Chevy last 40 years?
I don't believe the Volvos we discuss on RWD have much planned obsolescence in them. Methinks the Swedish designers went to a different school back then. But they bought the lift pump first from VDO and then later from AC, and then later yet the Regina (pressure) pumps from AC.
Its life seems to be mostly determined by revolutions (run time), and I suspect, gas tank filling habits, and it is cool to see how these appear to correlate with mileage.
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Art Benstein near Baltimore
Never hit a man with glasses. Hit him with a baseball bat.
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