How often do you change your oil?

[A Horse With No Name]

On 12/4/2020 at 1:14 PM, balthazar said:

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I also don’t necessarily like to drop off a truck loaded with tools to a guy with a monster toolbox he uses for his job.

Probably good thinking. 

There are advantages to ICE trucks that need oil changes...

 

[Robert Hall]

Modern vehicles aren't designed for DIY servicing.   My Jeep, for instance, requires removing the whole front fascia to change any of the front bulbs. 

[A Horse With No Name]

12 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

Modern vehicles aren't designed for DIY servicing.   My Jeep, for instance, requires removing the whole front fascia to change any of the front bulbs. 

We have an outside vendor service our vehicles on campus. It is going to cost $250 to fix a bad turn signal lamp. Part is two weeks out with Ford apparently. It's going to get to the point everyone will lease just so service is included. Not going to be good for idnpendant shops, maybe. 

Interested in input on what you guys think the future of the indpendant shop is. 

[ykX]

16 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

Modern vehicles aren't designed for DIY servicing.   My Jeep, for instance, requires removing the whole front fascia to change any of the front bulbs. 

Depends.  My car, my wife's car and my parents car are all 2016-2019 models with my wife's car being a hybrid, and all the basic stuff is not a problem to do,  Oil, brakes are easy.  Some light bulbs are pain in the @ss to replace. 

Edited December 8, 2020 by ykX

[Robert Hall]

The dealer can change the oil and brakes much faster than I ever could...I have no interest in f*cking around w/ that shit...nor do I have a lift or pit in my garage or the space for one. 

[David]

My SS requires the whole front facia be removed to replace headlights and turn signal lights, Crappy design from an engineering point of view when they could have made it easy from the engine bay with just a little thinking. I believe this happens due to separate engineering teams that do not communicate with other teams. Just given connection points and they build their module to attach to the connection points. Sad really.

In regards to independent service businesses for ICE auto's. I have a friend Tony who owns his own Transmission / Auto repair shop. Started as only a transmission differential focused business but he has had to expand to covering everything as he himself has said he does not see independent auto shops being around in 25 years. He has pushed his own kids to get college educated and skills in areas that will have career growth rather than learning business to take over his business.

Tony said he see's himself 20 more years in it before selling it off. As such, his daughter is in college now for a medical degree and his son started this year in computer science. His son still loves to be in the shop and work on auto's but Tony has him enjoying it as a hobby rather than a career.

Interesting times we live in for sure.

[Robert Hall]

I know a really good independent shop here that my sister used for her Cadillac..been in business 50 years, on their 3rd generation in a family.  Just like the independent shop I frequented in my Phoenix neighborhood.   Both are generalist shops, and there is also a great Euro shop there that she took her old Mercedes to.   

I do wonder if in the future we will see independent EV repair shops to repair future EVs?  Or will they just be disposable appliances that the automakers recycle after the leases are up? 

[ykX]

1 hour ago, Robert Hall said:

The dealer can change the oil and brakes much faster than I ever could...I have no interest in f*cking around w/ that $h!...nor do I have a lift or pit in my garage or the space for one. 

Well, last time I was with my wife's previous car at the dealer changing oil (still was under warranty) they said the car needs rear brake pads and quoted me $300 for the replacement.  I said no thank you, bought pads on rockauto for $40 and it took me 40 minutes to install them.  So that's that ...

[USA-1]

On 12/4/2020 at 11:01 AM, balthazar said:

NAPA Gold (made by Wix) is $18. I had bought a case of them some years ago; then I think they were $7 or $9 ea, but I only have one left.
Last time I bought a 3-gal case of Rotella-T @ Costco- it was $30. That’s a $48 oil change.
It takes me less time to change my own oil than schedule/ drop off/ wait/ go pick up than for me to do it myself at my whim in my driveway.
Disposal is thru the county- once every couple years I ride about 2 miles and drop off all hazard chems I may have accumulated. Easy-peasy.
 

Yep, I buy the 6 qt. boxes of Mobil 1 Full Syn. at Costco when they're 10 bucks off in coupon book, so $28 instead of $38, then I hit up O'Reilly's or Wally's World for the Wix XP oil filter for $9-$11 a piece which is well worth it. Then I get 'er done myself and O'Reilly's takes the used oil. Good times!

[A Horse With No Name]

2 hours ago, ykX said:

Well, last time I was with my wife's previous car at the dealer changing oil (still was under warranty) they said the car needs rear brake pads and quoted me $300 for the replacement.  I said no thank you, bought pads on rockauto for $40 and it took me 40 minutes to install them.  So that's that ...

Depends on teh independant shop. Here in Ohio I have good small shops, and even a good cheap vet.  Last time I took my cat in ist was ten bucks with meds...

[Robert Hall]

If I tried sitting on the floor or use a creeper to get under a car without a lift I'd be a world of pain the next day.  My back just can't take that shit.    I'd rather pay a specialist...that's how the economy works... I get paid for my specialized work product so I can pay others for their specialized goods and services...can't do everything myself. 

 

Edited December 8, 2020 by Robert Hall