|
|
Post by jhawkr on Mar 1, 2021 13:19:54 GMT -5
Forecast for Wednesday is 68F and sunny so a good day to change the oil and filters in my Mustang. Ordered Motorcraft Engine air filter and cabin air filter from Amazon but of course the cabin air filter is back-ordered to the 12th. I should have planned ahead! I just changed the wiper blades last Friday so all the maintenance needed will be complete as long as the weather cooperates. I already have the oil filter and plenty of Mobil 1. Will take it to Costco this summer for free balancing of the tires.
|
|
|
|
Post by modbus on Mar 1, 2021 14:06:28 GMT -5
How do you get under the car? Do you have a lift?
I wish I had a lift.
|
|
|
|
Post by jazzguy on Mar 1, 2021 15:05:15 GMT -5
you can buy plastic ramps @ places like Pep Boys. I haven't had to take my car in for an oil change in forever.
|
|
|
|
Post by jhawkr on Mar 1, 2021 15:49:13 GMT -5
I have a floor jack and jack stands. It would be sweet to have a lift!
|
|
moose0130
Wholenote
Enter your message here...
Posts: 155
|
Post by moose0130 on Mar 1, 2021 16:18:59 GMT -5
I keep looking at a full lift for my barn but am really paranoid about the installation process. There is something called a QuickJack which is a nice compromise. Still lands you on your back under the car but a very convenient way to get the car off the ground and secure. www.quickjack.com/ |
|
|
|
Post by Ragtop on Mar 1, 2021 18:20:09 GMT -5
I had the oil & filter changed on my Pilot this morning. I kinda miss doing it myself, but it's just simpler to have it done.
I do not miss the being underneath the car part.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mfitz804 on Mar 1, 2021 18:23:02 GMT -5
I had the oil & filter changed on my Pilot this morning. I kinda miss doing it myself, but it's just simpler to have it done. I do not miss the being underneath the car part. I have never changed my own oil. Don’t know what I’m doing and it’s too simple to go to the local quickie oil change guy. I wayltched my dad do it when I was a kid, and it was always an hours long ordeal that usually wound up with something (the street or himself) covered in oil, and a lot of cursing. So I will pass on it. |
|
|
|
Post by jhawkr on Mar 1, 2021 18:31:04 GMT -5
No more difficult than replacing a pump on a washing machine or heating element in a dryer. The hardest part is almost always getting to it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mfitz804 on Mar 1, 2021 18:37:10 GMT -5
No more difficult than replacing a pump on a washing machine or heating element in a dryer. The hardest part is almost always getting to it. I also bought a new washer instead of replacing the pump recently. |
|
|
|
Post by super400 on Mar 1, 2021 18:49:14 GMT -5
My neighbor has a lift and welcomes me whenever necessary.
Maybe even better than owning a lift.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mfitz804 on Mar 1, 2021 19:01:41 GMT -5
My neighbor has a lift and welcomes me whenever necessary. Maybe even better than owning a lift. That sounds just about perfect actually. |
|
|
|
Post by jhawkr on Mar 1, 2021 19:53:22 GMT -5
No more difficult than replacing a pump on a washing machine or heating element in a dryer. The hardest part is almost always getting to it. I also bought a new washer instead of replacing the pump recently. Yeah, lots of people do it that way. Then there are people like me, with nothing better to do, who possess all the necessary tools and skills who can change their own oil with nary a curse word and stay reasonably clean doing it and saving half the cost which may be used towards a trip to Mt Rushmore next fall. |
|
|
|
Post by Mfitz804 on Mar 1, 2021 19:56:34 GMT -5
In fairness, I coulda changed that pump but I was overruled.
|
|
|
|
Post by jhawkr on Mar 1, 2021 20:28:54 GMT -5
There is a certain satisfaction in accomplishing a project. I still mow my own lawn and do many other mundane tasks too. My old boss, a multimillionaire, pays someone to do all kinds of tasks he doesn’t care to do so he can build model airplanes, hot rods, antique motorcycles, etc. But money is no object to him as he can jump in his Super King Air, fly to wherever his yacht is and do whatever. I on the other hand, have a budget. Bummer!
|
|
|
|
Post by modbus on Mar 1, 2021 20:43:14 GMT -5
you can buy plastic ramps @ places like Pep Boys. I haven't had to take my car in for an oil change in forever.
I have an irrational fear of ramps. I'm afraid they'll either slide on the way up, or I'll drive off the end of them accidentally.
Also, can you get all the oil to drain out when the car's on an angle like that?
If I ever build a pole barn, I'd like to put in a pit in order to get under vehicles.
|
|
|
|
Post by jhawkr on Mar 1, 2021 21:03:53 GMT -5
Lifts are pretty affordable now if you have the overhead space. I had a buddy with one but when he moved it wouldn’t fit in his new garages. He sold it and is back to scooting around on his back again.
|
|
|
|
Post by Laker on Mar 1, 2021 21:18:33 GMT -5
I was cured of crawling around under my cars when I changed the spark plugs in my ‘91 Seville many, many years ago. That cross-mounted V-8 gave me an absolute headache trying to get to the two center plugs on the rear side of the engine. I swore I would never submit myself to that ever again. It’s pleasant, now days, to bring the cars in and then sit in the customer lounge watching TV while someone else performs work that is covered under their liability insurance.
|
|
|
|
Post by LTB on Mar 2, 2021 1:13:04 GMT -5
I still have ramps and used them to change motor mounts but Haven’t changed my own oil in over 12 or so years. Got tired of having to take oil somewhere to dispose of it and clean up mess on driveway, clothes etc. Ramps are a little unnerving
|
|
|
|
Post by jhawkr on Mar 2, 2021 8:32:52 GMT -5
I was cured of crawling around under my cars when I changed the spark plugs in my ‘91 Seville many, many years ago. That cross-mounted V-8 gave me an absolute headache trying to get to the two center plugs on the rear side of the engine. I swore I would never submit myself to that ever again. It’s pleasant, now days, to bring the cars in and then sit in the customer lounge watching TV while someone else performs work that is covered under their liability insurance. There are plenty of things I know how to do that I won’t attempt due to my advanced geezerness. Like anything to do with an exhaust system. I need to have my front and rear stabilizer bushings replaced as I don’t have the strength to muscle things in place lying on my back. Probably could do it with a lift. I’ll have a shop do it. |
|
|
|
Post by Ragtop on Mar 2, 2021 13:19:48 GMT -5
I think the last time I was underneath a car it was my '90 Miata. I was swapping out the factory transmission fluid for Red Line. Had to jack up one side of the car. I had jack stands and the wheels blocked, but still did not like being under there.
Seems like once a year or so I would read in the paper about some local guy getting squished underneath his car while working on it. Not the way I want to depart this life.
|
|
|
|
Post by jhawkr on Mar 4, 2021 13:32:43 GMT -5
I just got done changing the oil & filter and engine air filter. The cabin air filter won’t arrive until next week but that’s ok because I am pooped! 💩
Ragtop, your post just reminded me that I forgot to remove the wheel chocks! I’ll do that right now before I take an oil change recovery nap! 😴
|
|
|
|
Post by RufusTeleStrat on Mar 4, 2021 14:24:19 GMT -5
Back in my military days there was an auto shop on base where you could on your day off go and use the lift to change the oil. I am sure safety rules have made this a NO nO now. But you haul it up in the air, spin off the filter and open the pan nut and in 15 mins you had new oil and filter for parts cost. I think it was a nominal $5 cost to use the lift.
Now my new Ram truck has the 3.0 turbo diesel, needs mermaid tears for oil, and most places want 300 for an oil change. Seems the specified oil is 20 a quart through the dealer and it takes 8.5 qts. I wait for the coupon from the dealer where it is a low price of $159 or so. Good thing it is a 10k oil change. Makes me rethink this purchase, and perhaps the brand as well. This is getting into Mercedes/Audi maintenance cost territory.
|
|
|
|
Post by jhawkr on Mar 4, 2021 14:28:39 GMT -5
The 8 qts full synthetic oil is a major factor driving me to change my own. It’s a $100 oil change at the dealer.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mike the marksman on Mar 4, 2021 15:07:19 GMT -5
changing the oil and filter in my '02 Tahoe is easy, just crawl underneath, drain, change filter, plug, fill, and done. Takes 15 minutes and I don't even need a jack, plenty of ground clearance and everything is right there, easy to reach.
My wife's 2013 Ford Escape is a different story. It's really low, It has a big plastic skid plate that has to be removed, and the filter is mounted horizontally in a really tight spot and I have to fish it through a bunch of hoses, and oil pours out and gets all over everything. I take it to a buddy's house who has a hydraulic lift and do it there, or just pay to have it done.
|
|
|
|
Post by Laker on Mar 4, 2021 18:01:26 GMT -5
changing the oil and filter in my '02 Tahoe is easy, just crawl underneath, drain, change filter, plug, fill, and done. Takes 15 minutes and I don't even need a jack, plenty of ground clearance and everything is right there, easy to reach. My wife's 2013 Ford Escape is a different story. It's really low, It has a big plastic skid plate that has to be removed, and the filter is mounted horizontally in a really tight spot and I have to fish it through a bunch of hoses, and oil pours out and gets all over everything. I take it to a buddy's house who has a hydraulic lift and do it there, or just pay to have it done. Right here is the reason, at 74 years old, I just take it to my friend’s garage (or the dealer if under warranty) and let them worry about it. In my life I’ve crawled under cars, over cars, and into cars, engineering and repairing the things that I found. It is so nice to just smile at the service writer and then get a cup of coffee and let someone else worry about stuff. |
|
|
|
Post by rickyguitar on Mar 5, 2021 5:50:56 GMT -5
Tomorrow. 3 PM appt. $59, it would ok prolly cost $40 to buy the oil and filter. I will gladly pay $19 to not do it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mfitz804 on Mar 5, 2021 8:18:11 GMT -5
Tomorrow. 3 PM appt. $59, it would ok prolly cost $40 to buy the oil and filter. I will gladly pay $19 to not do it. That sounds right. |
|
|
|
Post by jhawkr on Mar 5, 2021 10:55:34 GMT -5
Tomorrow. 3 PM appt. $59, it would ok prolly cost $40 to buy the oil and filter. I will gladly pay $19 to not do it. That sounds right. I would gladly pay that price too! But that is not the case when your car requires 8qts full synthetic oil. As it is I pay an average of $4.33qt for Mobil 1, 5W20 and about $6 for a Motorcraft OEM oil filter. That is a shade over $40 for my oil change vs $100 to have it done for me. Plus, doing it myself insures the drain plug and oil filter are properly tightened and all the drips are wiped clean. That is often not the case when having it done. |
|
|
|
Post by modbus on Mar 5, 2021 11:29:36 GMT -5
Remember the good ol' days of 4 quarts of 10W40?
|
|
|
|
Post by jhawkr on Mar 5, 2021 11:37:15 GMT -5
Remember the good ol' days of 4 quarts of 10W40? Fondly! |
|
