Auto Maintance

[cleanteamofny]

OK, who does your minor auto maintance?
As for changing most of, or all fluids:
Engine oil, tranny, differentials, brakes, power steering and coolant.
Do you DIY, take it to the Dealer or Neighborhood Repair shop?

Do you follow MFG scheduals or once an year type of guy/gal?

 

[g3bill]

If you're using that adjustable wrench to work on the motor I'd take it in for repairs

I do most everything myself from oil change to motor/trans overhaul. Been doing it since I was a teen and like knowing its done right. Mosyly got tired of redoing what so called mechanics failed to do correctly. I once saw a young girl changing the oil in her car naxt to a gas station, I really admired that but haven't seen it since? Guess most people think its beneath them to get dirty if they can pay...

 

[wayupnorth]

My new Silverado came with free scheduled maintainance for the first 2 years. So I just take it back to the dealer.

 

[goatfarmer]

I do about everything on my fleet. Oil changes, brakes, shocks, if it needs done, I do it. Very few things get sent out.

 

[aeoliandave]

I have habitually done all my own fluid changes. I use an independent mechanic for minor tweaks. I have caught my (and other) dealership doing slipshod work (or not at all) and missing bolts & washers...or 'forgetting' to put the bottom engine aero panel back on or missing fasteners.
For major Brand specific work (timing belt/exhaust system/etc) I specify what the job should entail on a separate attached sheet to the work order and have the Mechanic sign that, too, before any work begins. On pickup I subject the car to MY inspection before driving away. For this level of service I gladly pay the going rate (which I usually check on at Subaru Headquarters website.
Most Dealerships give proper service as a matter of coarse.
Amazing what some dealerships think they can get away with, even when informed beforehand that I am a mechanical engineer & a knowledgeable customer.
A vehicle is the second largest investment one makes after a house. It pays back in long ownership & reliability to never take these things for granted.

 

[firedome]

always worked on and/or restored both old & new cars...

at least until recently when health got in the way. However now we take cars for oil changes to Monroe, where they'll do oil & filter for 18.99 using Valvoline, which I always used anyway... I can't even buy the stuff and do it myself for that, much less the mess and oil disposal hassle! Always tell them to spare the "complementary" check over etc. where they'll try to upsell you with more repairs, so now they don't even ask, in and out in less than an hour. When they actually do need repair, we take it to a shop whose owner & wife are both primary care patients of my wife, so we KNOW we'll be treated right, and we always have been.

 

[cleanteamofny]

I see we take care of our toys very well by DIY!

I've gotten tired of sitting at the shop for the simple lube jobs and doing them myself.

As for the timing belt brake fluid and coolant changes, those are done at the dealer.

Oil changes is a breeze if you had this type of valve installed to reduce splatters to almost zero condition.

T bone hydraulic jacks with 2 pair of 6 ton jack stand makes tire rotation real simple and easy!

The liquid vac is for the power steering reservoir.

I'm trying to stay on top of the oil maintance schedual intervals and added the power steering flush to the list recently.
I know it needs to be done and done so successfully thanks to YouTube!

Getting rid of oil is not a problem since the dump take used motor oil for free and tranny is taken to the dealer when my 5 gallon container is filled. (STPP container put to use).

 

[cadman]

Funny this should come up as just yesterday I changed out an exhaust mainfold on my daily driver that the local auto shop shied away from. Lots of excuses from them. A visit to ebay and an hour of my labor and the job is now done to my satisfaction.

The biggest problem these days is the high school kid at the lube shop forgetting the pan plug, over-tigtening and stripping it out, not getting the filter installed right or even under/overfilling the fresh oil. Frankly, they don't care. I'll admit I don't pull out the torque wrench for an oil change, but there's peace of mind knowing the engine's most critical system is up to snuff and you're not going to drop your filter 200 miles from home.

 

[mrb627]

Dealer. No Excuses.

Of course it helps that maintenance is free for 4 years.

Malcolm

 

[rp2813]

I stopped DIY oil changes after I had a car with an aero panel below and got tired of battling to get it back into place.  With today's cars, I'll repair or replace what I can get at, but beyond that it goes to the mechanic, a specialist who happens to be a low key but meticulous and highly literate guy.

 

My current car doesn't even have a dipstick.  You check the oil level from the steering wheel.  It takes synthetic oil, and change intervals happen when Service "A" and Service "B" are due, so it all takes place on a single visit every 15K miles or so.

 

On the other hand, I'm all about DIY on the '50 GMC.  Generator, water pump, starter, master cylinder, transmission, clutch, ignition coil and fuel gauge sending unit have all had attention or been rebuilt/changed out over the past couple of years.

 

[cadman]

Be careful with who you trust with your car, especially if it's something special. Seems this has been happening A LOT lately...

Dealership Totals Customer's Camaro ZL1, Owner And Dealer At War - Jalopnik

Debbie and John Hooper took their cherished Chevy Camaro ZL1 to the dealer under warranty to fix a minor paint problem. Then they allege they got a call from the dealer saying they'd wrecked the car. Now they've offered a replacement, but it might not be enough.

jalopnik.com

 

[cleanteamofny]

Cory, that is one sorry story!
I had one bad dealer experience and I lost faith in them.

 

[washer111]

My car (A 93 BMW) hasn't seen a BMW specialist for about 17-18K miles now. Its overdue, I know.
The oil has been changed, by me, twice. First time around 5K miles (just after I got it), and used Mobil 1 0w-40 for 7.5K miles, and am now running Shell Rotella T6 5w-40.

This car has an service indicator which has an interval *up to* (and including) 10K miles (15K km). Slightly later models go to 15K miles (about 18K km) on each service, depending on driving habit.
Some people feel this is too far, and change the oil around half that themselves. My car now has nearly 119K miles (191K km) and has followed this since new, so how bad can it be?

If your car has "Lifetime" fluids, I'd change them. Especially power steering/auto (or manual) transmission. This car has a manual and both are "Lifetime" (OF WHAT?!). These oils go bad too, they aren't the stuff of forever. Screw what BMW thinks here, this was something done to save money on free yearly services (and sell more Made in France GM auto's, which broke enough as it was).

Some cars have poor accessories installed, which require more frequent overhaul. Case in point, the BMW E36 is widely known for "Cooling System Failures." So its best to change anywhere between 60-100k miles, depending on how much plastic is currently fitted by way of water pumps, radiators, expansion tanks and so on... I just spent about $800 DIY'ing this myself! Very rewarding feeling, and I feel more comfortable knowing I don't have un-seen leaks now.

Its best to Google your car's model/year or production code to get the wrap on what the problems are with your vehicle, and work to prevent them with prudent maintenance, which while seemingly wasteful, could save you so much later on. Of course, your mechanic/dealer would frown upon this, but hey, everyone loves "thrift," right?

 

[neptunebob]

Well, here's the man we can trust with our cars!

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[askolover]

While under warranty...

dealership, then it's me.  I maintain our 3 vehicles myself, belts, hoses, oil, trans, tire rotations, brakes, detailing, you name it.  But, I have my limits too....my little diesel German commuter has a timing belt and if one little step in that change process is done incorrectly the entire engine will be trashed so I have that done by my trusted independent VW/Audi mechanic in Nashville, that way, should something fail it will be warranted by them...and they will fix it.

 

All that "lifetime" fluid bull....everything wears out, especially when exposed to heat and friction.  I change my "lifetime" fluids around 50K miles...cheap insurance.

 

[a440]

My 2009 Audi A8 I do all of the maintenance on my own.  I have two brothers that have been Audi / VW mechanics all of their lives and I have been using them for out of warranty maintenance since 1988.  They are like my family.  I use their shop and they are cool with it.  I love working on cars. 

My 2014 Passat of course gets covered by the dealer.  I don't trust any dealer as far as I can throw them.  I have not had any issues however with general maintenance thus far. 

I will say it is hard to find a honest good mechanic that has knowledge of your specific car.  I am sure this has been since the beginning of time with cars.

When in doubt go to the dealer.  At least you will have a warranty for the work and something to fall back on.

I have always bought VW's, Audi, Porsche because I know the brand and the workings.  That makes a big difference on knowing if someone is trying to take advantage of you.  I go in and tell them what is wrong!  I am usually 99% correct.  They are cool with that.

And also....If you do plan on keeping a car for more then 2 years, follow the schedule maintenance.  It is very important.  Just like washers and dryers things change over the life of the car as far as "specs".  Those changes they warn you about....can kill your engine, transmission, A/C...you name it if the spec changes are not performed.  If you don't do these maintenance schedules you are out of luck.  Do it.  It is usually free to new buyers and second hand buyers.  Always check it out.  If you go to a "mechanic" that is not in the loop, you will never know that this was a recall.  And if he performs the work and it fails....you are out sucka!  

B

 

 

[retro-man]

3 year all maintenance covered. Goes back to the dealership. When that expires it goes back to the dealership. Too much stuff under the hood that I don't know about anymore. Too many computers all working together to make the vehicle run. Another plus is I can right this off to vehicle maintenance.

Jon

 

[cadman]

Another dealer "mishap". This time a new WRX.

If your car is stolen and wrecked at least you have a leg to stand on, but when you willingly hand over the keys...

http://carbuying.jalopnik.com/dealership-employee-borrows-then-wrecks-customers-brand-1683126379/+matthardigree

 

[andic29]

Both the husband and I got new cars recently so we use the dealer until the free visits run out (I always sit and wait for my car, no one drives it but me) but after that he will take care of everything. He spent years as a mechanic in the Army so we're good to go on that front! He's kept my moms almost 20 year old SUV running for years.