On Mon, 07 Aug 2006 15:55:54 -0400, "Steve W."
wrote:
Lew Hodgett wrote:
Trevor Jones wrote:
It is in fact not only possible, but pretty easy to do. A simple set of
hand tools and a Haynes or Chilton manual for your vehicle, and you or
anyone else is quite capable of changing the oil, belts, or various
electrical components like starters or alternators, at home or on the
roadside.
snip
Totally impractical to try to work on an automobile today.
If you live in an urban area, many places do not permit working on a
car, especially outside, even on your own property, much less a rental
unit.
Want to change your oil?
6 qts of oil, an air and oil filter costs as much or more than paying
for that same service down at the corner gas station, in this area at
least, never mind the used oil disposal process and cost.
BULL.
New oil - 12.00 for mid line oil in quarts. Filter - 3-4 bucks.
Oil disposal fee? No place selling oil can charge you a fee legally. The
law states that ANY business selling new oil MUST accept used oil for
recycling, at NO CHARGE. Cost 0.00 Drop off the used oil from the
vehicle when you buy the new oil. You can even pour it back into the
empty bottles to save on container expense.
Benefits to the owner: YOU know the oil was changed, while under there
YOU can look over the engine and underside of the vehicle and look for
problems or leaks. While under the vehicle YOU can also grease any items
that can be greased, this has the side benefit of lowering wear on items
that should be lubed but usually are not.
Sort of makes changing your own oil a non productive process.
Want to change the coolant every couple of years?
Again you face a toxic waste disposal problem which does not include
being able to pour used coolant into the sewer.
And again you can return the used coolant to any store that does coolant
changes for free. And again you can return it when you buy the new coolant.
The plugs on my vehicle are good for 100,000 miles and require special
tools to change. Think I'll pass on that one.
Not likely. Just a normal plug wrench for any plug on the market today.
You may need a torx bit or similar item if you need to remove a coil
pack or pull a cover but those are hardly special tools.
Most people don't keep a vehicle 100,000 miles like I do so they don't
even have to think about changing plugs and wires.
Nope because they have the same attitude you have, that it is easier to
trade them than to LEARN how to repair them.
Matter of fact, most of today's vehicles have a pretty good track record
for the first 75,000 miles.
Trying to do your own auto repairs today is a lose-lose proposition, IMHO.
Not if you have the foresight to learn all you can.
Now you want to talk about diesel engine maintenance on a sail boat,
that's another matterG.
Lew
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Its never a lose lose proposition learning how to do anything, and
really its not all that hard working on today's cars if you buy and
read the manuals, have access to tools and don't mind getting dirty.
I'm still driving a 1996 grand am with 260,000 miles on it and a 1995
Chevy S10 with 225,000 miles on it. I rebuilt the automatic
transmission in the S10 5 years ago by following a books instruction
(I don't think I ever want to do that again, but I learned something).
I've done all the maintenance myself on all the cars I've owned and
can't imagine the amounts of money I've saved over the years.
I'll be buying a Prius January 2007 and my intent is to do all the
service work on that as well.