[ember1205]

Originally Posted by zaimer

I'm with you. I think even if it were free, I would still pay for the supplies to do it myself. There is just nothing that interests me in going into the service bays.

I have a private mechanic that I don't question if I bring something to him to do (he has questioned ME on whether things need to be done, however - I've had to insist he do them!). I have one dealership that I generally trust because I've had two different vehicles in to them a number of times for oil changes and warranty items with zero issues. Beyond that, I'm skeptical of a lot. There's a dealership "consortium" (not really sure what to call it) in my area that owns at least one lot of pretty much every car make. They did a massive rip-off job on the SO's Accord a short while back and I now can barely bring myself to bring any vehicles to ANY of their lots for warranty work.

[s346k]

all of these reasons are why you do your own work. in all honesty: after factoring time, tools and general pain in the ass, most diy repairs won't save you a lot of money. the peace of mind and education is what's valuable.

something as simple as an oil change? yeah, i'll find a way to do it myself no matter what.

[ember1205]

Originally Posted by s346k

all of these reasons are why you do your own work. in all honesty: after factoring time, tools and general pain in the ass, most diy repairs won't save you a lot of money. the peace of mind and education is what's valuable.

something as simple as an oil change? yeah, i'll find a way to do it myself no matter what.

Depends on the maintenance item... I've done a timing belt twice as DIY... Once on a 2001 Civic with help from a former Honda mechanic (who had a couple of tools that made it simpler to do) and once on a Tacoma V6 entirely by myself. The truck took me the better part of a day to do mostly because I opted to remove a lot of the stuff in front of the engine (grille, radiator, etc.) to make access significantly easier. The car was a few hours. Both sucked to do as DIY because it's not a job you do often and you have to take your time plus there's the disposal of all of the fluids and refilling the entire cooling system.

But...

That's a super expensive job to have a mechanic do a lot of time, so it was worth the giant PITA financially.

Oil changes? I consider it a zero savings event. By the time I'm done running around to buy the supplies, dispose of old oil, etc., it definitely doesn't save me any money. In fact, it ends up costing me more if I place any sort of value on my time that's required to do all of those things. But, it's done 100% on my schedule, to my spec, and to my liking. And I know exactly what was and what wasn't done (and whether it was done correctly or not).

[Getnlwr]

This will be fun. I used to work at the walmart Tire lube express when I was 19-20.



The amount of horror stories are usually exaggerated. I have brought my Viper to the one I worked at nearly 20 years ago. There is also a jiffy lube type place here that you drive in over the pit yourself and stay in the car as the service is being done. They have done the work on my Viper as well. I wouldn't hesitate to have the second place do my ZL1. Some people get wound up a bit too tight about this stuff. The procedures used are pretty straight forward.



The second place was pretty cool. I had an oil cooler hose Oring fail and I brought the Viper in and they let me go into the pit disconnect the line and replace the line and reinstall it.

[Jinso]

Originally Posted by CamaroSSStlfan

but even the dealers can do mistakes. I posted about my dad's sonata and how they didn't screw the oil filter all the way and nearly was a disaster.


The one another poster posted about walmart putting coolant instead of oil was very likely a disgruntled employee who did it on purpose.


Look at some of the C8 Corvettes being totaled because they're not being put on the lifts correctly at the Chevy dealers.


I see dealers and big box places like big Chain restaurants. Hit or miss.

Everyone makes mistakes except those in the car forums. Everything they do is perfect.

[Aragorn]

Originally Posted by ember1205

Depends on the maintenance item... I've done a timing belt twice as DIY... Once on a 2001 Civic with help from a former Honda mechanic (who had a couple of tools that made it simpler to do) and once on a Tacoma V6 entirely by myself. The truck took me the better part of a day to do mostly because I opted to remove a lot of the stuff in front of the engine (grille, radiator, etc.) to make access significantly easier. The car was a few hours. Both sucked to do as DIY because it's not a job you do often and you have to take your time plus there's the disposal of all of the fluids and refilling the entire cooling system.

But...

That's a super expensive job to have a mechanic do a lot of time, so it was worth the giant PITA financially.

Oil changes? I consider it a zero savings event. By the time I'm done running around to buy the supplies, dispose of old oil, etc., it definitely doesn't save me any money. In fact, it ends up costing me more if I place any sort of value on my time that's required to do all of those things. But, it's done 100% on my schedule, to my spec, and to my liking. And I know exactly what was and what wasn't done (and whether it was done correctly or not).

I get the subjectivity off pricing ones time, but I’m not sure about zero savings overall. It may depend on how much you spend on your oil, but mine is $2.50 a quart. That’s pretty hard to beat.

[Aragorn]

Originally Posted by Jinso

Everyone makes mistakes except those in the car forums. Everything they do is perfect.

For what it’s worth I didn't align the oil drain pan once, and even though it only took me a few seconds to center it, the mess was still pretty bad.

[s346k]

Originally Posted by ember1205

Depends on the maintenance item... I've done a timing belt twice as DIY... Once on a 2001 Civic with help from a former Honda mechanic (who had a couple of tools that made it simpler to do) and once on a Tacoma V6 entirely by myself. The truck took me the better part of a day to do mostly because I opted to remove a lot of the stuff in front of the engine (grille, radiator, etc.) to make access significantly easier. The car was a few hours. Both sucked to do as DIY because it's not a job you do often and you have to take your time plus there's the disposal of all of the fluids and refilling the entire cooling system.

yeah i've done a water pump (timing belt etc) on an 01 tacoma 3.4? v6. we made the special tool so it wasn't too bad. i feel your pain on that.

[ember1205]

Originally Posted by Aragorn

I get the subjectivity off pricing ones time, but I’m not sure about zero savings overall. It may depend on how much you spend on your oil, but mine is $2.50 a quart. That’s pretty hard to beat.

What about the gas and wear and tear on the vehicle to get pick up the supplies, return the used oil, etc.? I get my oil for a similar cost, so the whole thing with a quality filter is about $35 all in. Once I start adding in my time to run around and get everything, the costs of doing do, disposal after-the-fact, and similar, I'm really not saving any money.

[s346k]

Originally Posted by Jinso

Everyone makes mistakes except those in the car forums. Everything they do is perfect.

the difference is there aren't any recorded instances where i messed something up and then didn't tell myself i didn't do it and left the damage for me to find later.

[MR's 2SS]

I do my own maint... up to things I cant handle. There is usually marginal savings, but that has little to do with why I do so.
I rotate my trucks tires. It would be $50 or so. I spent %150 for a USA made torque wrench to do that. SWo I guess after the third I was in the black. But those 275/65/20 LTs are a biotch to move around with my getting older by the day back...but now I have the wrench and can properly torque the Camaro wheels.
It costs me the 30 or so bucks for the truck with Valvoline 5w 30 full synth and filter. 2 grease fittings...
But, I just got supplies for change 1 on the Camaro. Rock auto, $6.50 qt. for 0w40. I bought 24 qts and a bunch of filters. Because shipping we pretty much constant for 12 as for 24 so shipping per qt. was less. But thats still around $70 per oil change.
I do have a big shop at work and a waste oil burning heater in the garage there. It would be a lot less desirable doing it in my driveway as my garage is too small.

[MR's 2SS]

Originally Posted by zaimer

I'm with you. I think even if it were free, I would still pay for the supplies to do it myself. There is just nothing that interests me in going into the service bays.

I already decided to do my first change myself.... and I get the free one from the dealership...
So yea, even though its free Im still doing it myself.

[Aragorn]

Originally Posted by ember1205

What about the gas and wear and tear on the vehicle to get pick up the supplies, return the used oil, etc.? I get my oil for a similar cost, so the whole thing with a quality filter is about $35 all in. Once I start adding in my time to run around and get everything, the costs of doing do, disposal after-the-fact, and similar, I'm really not saving any money.

I believe you when you say there are no savings in it for you. For me I believe there is. I change the oil once a year and buy the oil at Costco where we shop once per week. The last two filters were bought on Amazon. The oil dump is out of my way at an autoparts but only two miles from my house. I’m definitely saving money.

[Aaron07]

Originally Posted by Jinso

Everyone makes mistakes except those in the car forums. Everything they do is perfect.

LOL!