A car can be an incredibly expensive, sophisticated, intricate, and downright scary thing to own. Changing oil? Are you nuts? Heck, before I got my license I couldn’t even tell you the difference between a Capri and a Caprice. There were far too many other things going on in my life that were far more important. College for one. Girls (or in my case, girl) for another. Money . . . well, unfortunately not so much. That’s why I now tend to be very forgiving when it comes to teaching others about cars. Speaking of which . . .
I always try to start with the big things first. That’s the engine. That’s the battery. That’s where the coolant goes—and if it’s an old Neon I also make sure to point out the blown head gasket. Seriously though, I usually point out no more than three simple things in the beginning and then have them do something simple with them in order to help overcome the fear factor.
Open the oil cap and look at the engine. Take that 10 mm wrench and loosen the negative battery terminal by remembering, “Lefty loosey, Righty tighty.” Open and close the latches on the air filter casing. When the novice is facing a big machine, I’ve found that it always pays to start with the very small simple steps.
Then I let them ask me questions, “How does an engine run?” is not as common as pointing at a part and asking “What’s that for?” If it involves a fluid I show them how to measure it. Believe it or not, learning to inspect and fill fluids in a car can be as liberating an experience for the automotive novice as learning how to ride a bike. Or for the gamblers amongst us . . . counting cards.
Once the small doing is done, I have them do one simple complete task. It may be changing the oil. Checking and filling their fluids. Or cleaning and coating the battery terminals. I try to start with whatever actually interests them the most. During this time I’ll also help them buy two things. A socket wrench set and a Haynes repair manual.
Of course, they may need to buy a few other small tools as well. But once they own the tools, have done the work themselves, and have the information needed to do it again, they’re ready to begin their own automotive journey.
Their graduation diploma? Referring them to an enthusiast site for the model they now own.
Nice article. I’m no mechanic but I would say out of the last 4 problems my wife’s neon has had I’ve guessed the cause 3 times just from talking with the mechanic/dad about other problems they’ve encountered. The one I couldn’t diagnose (light on on the dash of an 05STi with 10k miles) I pulled with my ODBII reader & looked up on a subaru enthusiast site (bad valve spring).
Funnily enough, I can change the oil on my motorcycle but have never done a car oil change. I can also tighten/lube the chain, put it up on stands by myself (front+rear), etc. I still don’t consider myself mechanically inclined.
I’ve tried to swap my winter tires 3 or 4 times for the summer & always give up.
A buddy who was very mechanically inclined (does his own clutches, brakes, etc) told me changing tires was easy — until he actually tried it. The lug nuts were torqued on SO tight him (at 270 pounds) was jumping on the (forgot-the-name-of-the-thing-to-take-off-the-nuts-on-the-wheel) and he couldn’t get them to budge. Me at 204 didn’t have a chance.
and if it’s an old Neon I also make sure to point out the blown head gasket
Man, that was cold.
Counting cards? I don’t get it.
Anyway, good for you for helping people do at least some things. I am not an expert, but I at least know some things. My brothers-in-law don’t know how to change a flat…no kidding. And not too long ago I intercepted someone at a gas station who decided to top up their fluids and were on the verge of putting oil in their rad and coolant in their engine (expensive!).
The good news is that the future is bright for mechanics as no one can even change a plug anymore.
Simple mechanics is another good idea. Tinkering with a moped or small motorcycle is a good way of learning. For me, it was the boat engine in our sailboat. The boat is a small and very narrow 29 footer, built in the 60’s. Mahogny on oak. You can barely stand inside without hitting your head. Suitable for three people and luggage and sails…
Anyway, the engine is a fairly rough two-cylinder two-stroke. And I have learnt everything I can about engines with that motor. Replaced the gaskets, replaced the gas filter, overhauled the generator, and so on and so forth.
It’s a very forgiving engine, as it is so sturdy, and fairly easy to manoeuver about. The whole boat is made like a big meccano of wood, so you can tear as much down as you want of the compartments around the engine bay. Simple mechanics, simple electronics, simple ducts. In fact, a really good way of learning.
I consider myself to be mechanically challenged but I am sure I could do those basics if needed and short of changing the oil have done them.
I just don’t see the advantage of a drive way oil change when you end up with 4 or 5 quarts of used oil slopping around in a pan that has to then be drained into an approved type of container and then you drive it to some sort of recycling disposal center that is always on the other side of town.
Meanwhile you drive by about 5 fast oil joints advertising 29 buck changes. Doh!
One of the things that does surprise me however is the number of people that can’t drive a standard. That to me should be taught somewhere along the way.
I can’t see why I should wait in line at a Jiffy Lube when I can do the job faster, better, and cheaper in my garage :). Luckily we have curb-side used oil recyling in our area.
But, the big money savings is on other routine jobs. Last week I did a rear brake pad job for a friend. Charged her $50 including parts and it took me under an hour. She brought us a nice home made apple pie :). Dealer price for that service: $220.
DIY complete transmission fluid filter change, refill and flush: Cost $48, dealer price: $200
Dealers have pushed the price of routine service visits through the roof when the number of things to service is actually minimal on most cars. 30,000 mile service is $150-$250 for most cars at most dealerships.
Timing belt and water pump? $800-$1200 for most vehicles in our area at a dealer or indy. My cost – $75-$150.
I just don’t see the advantage of a drive way oil change when you end up with 4 or 5 quarts of used oil slopping around in a pan that has to then be drained into an approved type of container and then you drive it to some sort of recycling disposal center that is always on the other side of town.
I have to agree with this. Between the time it takes (especially if you have young kids) and the logistics of obtaining and disposing of materials, it’s not always worth it to do it yourself.
It is, however, worth it to be able to know what’s wrong, and if your mechanic really did do the work they said they did.
Hm, and to add on this thread:
My neon has 168k and no blown head gasket, however it was the first model year after the re-design (2000).
I also drive a “standard” :)
Wow, what a nice story Mr. Lang. I can still remember when I was the person whom you speak of here, many years and many cars ago.
The float in the carb on my ’66 F85 got stuck one day, made the car stall in the middle of the highway and caused gas to gush all over the intake. I thought my car was ruined!! But that event was my very first step into a life long dedication to automotive repair, modifications and maintenance.
Oil changes help me keep a closer relationship with my car. It offers me the opportunity to look at the front axles, check the fluids, and have a general look around the front end of the car and engine bay. I also found on my wife’s car that the quick change oil place had been doing two things wrong. 1) they were using the oil filter for a standard Mustang 5.0 engine rather than the larger (and probably more expensive) filter for the higher compression engine in her Cobra. 2) They were obviously only draining the oil from the upper drain plug. Once again, the Cobra has two drain plugs on the oil pan instead of the one drain lug that is typical. The condition of the lower drain plug along with the gunk that came out when I removed it told me that the lower drain plug had not been removed recently and possibly never.
Oil changes are also a “gateway repair.” You start with oil changes and graduate to replacing alternators, water pumps, changing differential fluid, etc.
You know what’s sad… when you’re at a car assembly plant and people don’t know shit about cars.
One guy once asked me what was the function of the brake calliper. Almost slapped him.
I started changing the oil. Dad taught me how to check fluids. Then I became very familiar with the process of replacing a Corolla radiator, found a service manual and it went downhill since.
I have some tools. Need a torque wrench to perform some repairs like changing the CV boots.
The biggest job I’ve done alone is removing the front subframe… still ongoing, waiting for parts.
Adapting parts from other cars is a bit more challenging… I’m in the process of polishing that skill
I started by helping my dad tearing down and rebuilding smallblocks for the racecar we ran back in the 90’s. Then it was working on other components in the car – which was nice due to all the extra room you had since the car was gutted out or in later years was custom sheet metal on a tube frame. Then I graduated to my Sonoma and worked a stint at AutoZone for 2 years while in college. Soon you find yourself getting phone calls from friends asking you what’s wrong with their car.
One nice thing about *most* basic automotive maintenance is that it’s really no different than it was 20, 30, 40 years ago.
Brakes are still brakes. Oil is still oil. Air filters have funnier shapes now, but they work the same as the round ones that used to universally sit on top of the carburettor.
Even on expensive high-end cars, most of the stuff is simple, it’s just covered by a bunch of plastic covers that you have to have the courage/knowledge/patience to remove first.
There’s no reason that most people who can handle WinDoze computer applications can’t learn to change the oil in their vehicle.
robstar – the tire/wheel change is always frustrating. For flats, that’s what your AAA membership is for. My Dad used to hand the mechanic at the local garage a 4 way and ask him to manually back off and re-tighten the lug nuts. After a while, they caught on, at least for his cars. If you want to do it yourself, leverage is your friend. I have occasion to back off and re-tighten the nuts on 1″ studs exposed to weather. A five foot pipe on a breaker bar does the trick, although I did get a funny look when I asked for a replacement on a bar I pretzled pretty good….
It’s pretty astounding (or sad) how many times over $300-500 worth of basic hand tools and some simple lift equipment will pay for itself.
“and if it’s an old Neon I also make sure to point out the blown head gasket.”
Sadly the gasket problem could have been avoided. It was finally fixed but it should never have happened but because of one man.
Fortunately the great forum post by former engineer Bob Sheaves at Allpar has been edited and turned into an article. In it he talks about the Neon’s development as well as the effect of Daimler coming on the scene.
http://www.allpar.com/neon/engineering.html
About the Head gasket he says:
“Unfortunately, Eaton [former GM executive – windswords] had replaced Iacocca before the launch of the Neon, and demanded several changes that were the undoing of the car in the public eyes including the exhaust donut and head gasket. About $2 saved per vehicle (over $2,000,000 total), but more was lost in customer value.”
Eaton saved more money on the cheaper gasket than Chrylser paid out in warranty repairs (does this not sound like a GM bean counter?). But he destroyed the reputation of an otherwise good little car.
I have occasion to back off and re-tighten the nuts on 1″ studs exposed to weather. A five foot pipe on a breaker bar does the trick, although I did get a funny look when I asked for a replacement on a bar I pretzled pretty good….
The last time I changed a tire was three years ago, when I snapped my torque wrench tightening the lugs on my snows. The motion also saw my jaw and nose smack hard into the front fender.
Since a good torque wrench costs money, wouldn’t be used much, and I don’t want to bruise my face again, I’ve just elected to have this done at a tire shop. Of course, I went through two who a) didn’t notice one tire was flat and b) forgot to change one tire.
Colinpolyps :
March 25th, 2009 at 9:09 am
One of the things that does surprise me however is the number of people that can’t drive a standard. That to me should be taught somewhere along the way.
————————————————
Even more people cannot program in C, or run a mile under 6 minutes, or cook (well enough that no one complains), or play piano, or …
I believe those are more essential life skills.
Robstar:Me at 204 didn’t have a chance.
What you don’t know about cheaters? Oh, man, that’s a a teensy-tiny step beyond gettabiggahammer. Didcha never have high school physics? Oh, you can get yourself in ALL kindsa trouble with a big enough lever!
#1: get yourself a breaker bar (like a ratchet, but with no clickety-click), the bigger the better, best 1/2″ drive with a six-point socket, #2 then get a piece of substantial pipe, like 1″ threaded steel water pipe (cut length at HD), that can go over the breaker bar…3′ feet or so
#3 that will either crank that sucker off (no matter how hard the turkey with the impact wrench wound it up) or twist the stud off.
Party on! Like Archimedes said, “Give me a big enough lever and place to stand (He left out the fulcrum) and I can move the world.
Any crude disaster you create is your responsiblity, NOT mine. I have calibrated my own idiocy in my time……..
The reason you don’t take your car to a 15 minute oil change place, is because they can mess up your car. The oil change guy, is not a mechanic. When I worked at the VW dealer, it seemed we got cars in almost daily where the drain plugs were stripped out. Most of the time they would seal them in with RTV, and the customer would have no idea what happened. You do it yourself for the piece of mind.
MBella: “You do it yourself for the (peace) of mind.”
Indeed. When I was a poor college student I bought a wonderful repair manual for my cheap car. I taught me much and I have been a DIY maintenance mechanic ever since. I don’t consider myself an expert by any stretch but I’ve had enough experience with dealer service departments (when my kids were little and I was short on time & tools) to know to never go back to them ever again. It just is not worth the money… ever. I regularly squeeze 100-200K miles from my cars, with all the maintenance and most of the repairs done by me. I can also drive my classic car on multi-thousand mile road trips knowing that I can likely fix any issue on the car myself.
That sort of confidence is priceless.
–chuck
@ wsn, there are useful things to know in life like cooking, programming in C, etc. But the automobile is a very expensive item to own and maintain.
Having confidence in your ability to repair your own car allows you to buy a used car, not a new one, thereby saving money at purchase and avoiding a massive depreciation.
Second, you save money every time you fix the car because you are paying for parts only, not labor.
Over a decade, the difference between a non-repairing new car buyer and a savvy used car buyer can run in the tens of thousands of dollars.
So yes, this is a useful skill.
I also agree with Mr. Lang here about getting on the forum for whatever car you own. That’s the first place I usually go when I have an issue, because it’s safe to assume that others have already had this same noise/leak/fault light/etc.
Another thing for some people to overcome, is the fact it isn’t rocket science. Some people I know will set up a psychological barrier in their mind, just because it’s a car and it looks complicated, when basic maintenance is quite simple.
I’ve done complete engines in my garage. I’m proud of having mechanical skills. Nothing scares me under the hood.
“I’ve done complete engines in my garage. I’m proud of having mechanical skills. Nothing scares me under the hood.”
Awesome.
—
I’m going to put my “automotive enthusiast” card on top of the fire for a moment.
I’ve never been taught any sort of mechanical car maintenance.
I’ve owned two cars, and one was purchased brand new. That car has been perfect. I take it to the dealership for oil changes and when the manual says it should be taken.
In the other car, the most I did was adjust the throttle cable to get over an awkward idle problem before I traded it in to help my father with his car purchase.
Beyond that, I’ve changed tires. I don’t like my lack of knowledge and am working on rectifying it, since I don’t really have an excuse. I’m young (18), and have comparatively few responsibilities.
Yep, that card is pretty much completely burned away now. Now to rescue it and restore it to a high level than it ever was… I’m actually going to college for mechanical engineering.
Son has done brake pads and rotors, sunroof repair, and helped with steering box refurbishment.
I’m getting a mechanical engineer out of the deal.
Robstar: A buddy who was very mechanically inclined (does his own clutches, brakes, etc) told me changing tires was easy — until he actually tried it. The lug nuts were torqued on SO tight him (at 270 pounds) was jumping on the (forgot-the-name-of-the-thing-to-take-off-the-nuts-on-the-wheel) and he couldn’t get them to budge. Me at 204 didn’t have a chance.
He’s not too mechanically inclined if he couldn’t even get lug nuts off! But this illustrates exactly why you should do it yourself: the idiots with impact wrenches don’t care about your car and how much they overtighten things. Nobody touches my cars but me.
GS650G :
March 25th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
I’ve done complete engines in my garage. I’m proud of having mechanical skills. Nothing scares me under the hood.
Sounds like my grandfather. He was very mechanically inclined, and he also liked to save money. The most complicated jobs I can remember him tackling were rebuilding the auto on his 1969 Chrysler Newport and rebuilding the straight 6 in his 1958 Chevy. I don’t think he ever took a car to a repair shop for anything. AC, breaks, suspension, you name it. If it was on a car, he fixed it at some point in his life.
“the idiots with impact wrenches don’t care about your car and how much they overtighten things.”
True, but if you find yourself stuck for whatever reason and at the mercy of a tech in a generalist shop, at least know the torque value for your lug nuts/bolts, and ask the tech doing the installing to tighten to that value BEFORE they get out the wrench. It’s a simple bit of insurance.
Haynes repair manuals are near worthless, and Chiltons are downright dangerous. Always get the factory manual. Most come on cd now, so you can print out the few pages you need and then dump them when you’re finished. Yes, a factory manual is overkill for a noob, but they explain everything in great detail, with drawings, even the simple stuff like changing oil and filters.
MBella: “You do it yourself for the (peace) of mind.”
Indeed.
I fully agree. Based on my various experiences at Jiffy Lube, Walmart, and other quicky oil change joints, I feel better just doing it myself. For one thing, I know exactly what filter and oil is going back into my vehicle because I bought all of the stuff myself. This also gives me a chance to inspect the engine bay over and underneath, looking at hoses, belts, filters, battery, CV boots, tires, etc.
If I go to Jiffy Lube, I can ask for 5W30, but who knows what the Jiffy Lube kid is really putting in. Who knows if he/she really drained ALL of the old oil and/or even replaced the oil filter?
One experience I had with a Walmart oil change took place in ’96 in State College, PA. The oil filler cap was left off and just placed somewhere in the engine compartment. I found the filler cap laying on the parking lot at my apartment complex several days later – and yes, it was mine as the filler port was uncapped and open. That same oil change experience left me with a stripped oil drain plug that I only discovered 6 months later at the next oil change. Walmart had spray painted over the leaking drain plug to keep it “sealed” until the next oil change.
Another time, in Farmington, NM at the local Jiffy Lube, I specifically requested 5W30 in my vehicle, as that was what the manufacturer recommended. When the rude bitchy female CSR was reviewing my service receipt with me, she glossed over the fact that they had mistakenly put in 10W30. When I very politely told her that I requested 5W30 and that I wanted 5W30, not 10W30, she became even more testy with me. Seems that she felt threatened by an evil man correcting her on such a petty mundane detail as oil viscosity (never mind that I was the customer) in my own vehicle. I then went to the store manager about this situation, where they pulled my vehicle back into the service bay, “redrained and refilled” it (in quotes because I suspect that they did nothing), and sent me on my way.
These are only two examples of many more piss poor services that could have been avoided had I just done it myself.
As mentioned above, I now do my own oil changes, tire rotations, and other simple maintenance. It helps me bond with my vehicles and instills a sense of confidence knowing that the jobs were done right.
Thanks for reminding me. I just had a set of tires put on at Sears. I’ll go over them and make sure I can break them with the lug wrench in the car. I dont give a rat’s rear end for torque values, what matters most is if I can can change a tire with the tools in the trunk.
I do as much work on my cars as possible. About the only job I farmed out in the last decade was a trans R+R for a leaky seal. Whilst on the hunt for a centerline vibration , I pulled the driveshaft. Bingo, the trans shop destroyed the centering bushing in the nose of the shaft. Luckily I had a spare driveshaft.
Then I tracked down the mid range stumble, replaced the plugs, and changed the oil.
All this work was done in my driveway on my schedule. I have maybe 500$ tied up in hand tools most of which, Ive had 40 yrs.
Stingray: One guy once asked me what was the function of the brake calliper. Almost slapped him.
Yeah I noticed a guy oiling his brake rotors one time!!! Said it kept the brakes from squealing…
ubtee1480: Then I graduated to my Sonoma and worked a stint at AutoZone for 2 years while in college.
Me too – but Advance Auto instead. My first night included one of my coworkers asking what a spark plug looked like and what they did… Left that job several months later (as planned, just saving some cash for our first house purchase) and still got calls from the store asking me to help customers. That was part of the reason I left. Only a few of us worked on cars. Wasn’t getting paid any more than my coworkers who knew nothing. Told them nicely to quit bothering me.
chuckR: My Dad used to hand the mechanic at the local garage a 4 way and ask him to manually back off and re-tighten the lug nuts. After a while, they caught on,
Exactly. My trips to the tire store always includes my torque wrench. I tell the guys to only tighten them enough that the car will sit on the wheels so I can torque them myself. Showed one kid who insisted he was really good with a “dog bone” that he was 50 ft/lbs over – easily. They think I’m a kook but I don’t care.
I agree with a previous comment – nobody touches my car but me. Everytime somebody works on my car (VERY rarely) there are problems. Either the cost is ridiculous, hardware is left OFF, or something else.
Had a bearing go bad a few months ago. Pulled the assembly to have the new one pressed in. The bearing I purchased was $40. It wasn’t the right one but the shop offered to find the correct one. The replacement was $150 + 15 mins labor. I silently blew my top and found the bearing at a local bearing supplier later for $20!!! Took me 5 mins to find the $20 bearing. Guess who won’t be getting carte blanche with me anymore… Back to working on my own vehicles – thanks…
As for shop manuals – the factory manuals are worth their price. One time not going to the mechanic pays for it. Same goes for tools. I can’t remember when buying the tools, parts and my time wasn’t cheaper and more reliable than just doing it myself.
Haynes has too often left me hanging with statements like “this repair is beyond the scope of this manual”. The think Chilton’s manuals (the green ones) have been okay but the black one I got for my VW daily driver was a JOKE. I bought a Helm’s manual for my Honda (factory) and a Bentley’s manual for each of my VWs (again the factory manual) and they have been excellent. No more cheap imitations thanks…
Roll back the clock to the mid-80s and I was doing a few repairs on my first car. Dad led me through a little of everything. Engine rebuilds, tranny swaps, heat core extractions, brakes, oil changes.
Heck I did my first oil change when I was EIGHT years old. Dad parked the Landcruiser for me, handed me the tools and told me how to get started. Of course Dad had to loosen the drain bolt for me and then the filter and then tighten everything and mop up the spilled oil on top of the engine… You see it was just a modified version of me handing him the tools… VBG!
In 1991 and I was overseas having just purchased a Beetle and a parts-car. Life was much more complicated without Dad looking over my shoulder. No way to phone home. Letters took three weeks. None of the local mechanics spoke english. I was on my own. I had a copy of John Muir’s “How to Keep Your VW Alive for the Compleat Idiot”, a Bentley manual, and a basic kit of tools. Two weeks later I had a very smoothly running car that took me all over Italy for three years. Admittedly it took HOURS to adjust the brakes. It took hours to adjust the valves. It took days to swap the engine for my spare. After a year though I could do an engines wap in 25 mins, adjust the valves in 20, adjust the brakes in 20 and change the oil in 20 minutes. Fun car to work on. Much easier than my other rides over the years.
The confidence that inspired, the money it saved me, and the tools it motivated me to buy have been WELL worth it. I hope my sons will be motivated to learn. My wife has. She rebuilt our ’78 VW Westfalia 2.0L engine a few years back. I pulled it out, ordered the parts and she rebuilt it with guidance from me and from our repair manuals.
I now have a pretty well stocked shop with hand tools, a MIG welder, power tools, etc and I am restoring two aircooled VWs – both with warmed over drivetrains (updated engines) and refined suspensions (brakes, suspension, and wheel upgrades). Both will look stock but offer a bit of refinement and reliability (i.e. not very custom appearing).
Learn these skills – they pay for themselves over and over and over and over. Especially during a recession!!!