What did you do today non-detailing related?

[Big DaveBig Dave is verified member.]

There is only 1 “quick lube” type place that has the 0-16 wt oil the car takes and it’s like $125 there for the oil change

And they always try to upsell you on crap you don’t need

The service this morning included cabin air filter, rotate and balance wheels, genuine Toyota/Lexus oil and filter, etc

Probably a bit more at Lexus but not sure I want some Quik lube guys rummaging around the guts of my hybrid


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The place I go to isn't part of a chain, so if they screw up, it can go bad for them real quick. And they do specialise in 4X4s, it's in their name, Active 4X4. All the mechanics drive 4X4s as well.

I checked my invoice, $78 for oil, $45 for other consumables, oil filter, sump plug washer, grease, washer fluid, no air filter as I have a K&N, and no blinker fluid.

We don't have them here, but I hear you have drive thru oil change places, where you don't even get out of the car, it's all done while you wait in the car, I've also heard there's been a few cases of them forgetting to refill the oil, they basically drive out, not noticing how noisy the engine suddenly is, get a few miles before bang, seized engine. And yet people keep going there.

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[chilly]

Semi detailing related

Went to back the little blue car out for a thorough interior cleaning prior to taking it in to the dealer for its 20,000 mile service

Garage door wouldn’t open

It started up and struggled and stopped

I’m like WTH

It’s the first belt drive opener I’ve ever had so I’m thinking belt slipping?

Nope

Something at some point obviously got spilled near the door and dissolved the sealant that the concrete guys apply to all the garage floors they pour and it turned tacky enough to glue the door seal to the floor

I’m remembering one time I slightly overfilled the snow blower but that was months ago

I have no idea what happened except for the fact it’s been in the mid 70s and in direct sun for a few days and it just created the perfect storm of stickiness

I mixed up a concoction of Dawn and Mean Green and went after the floor with my push broom and hit the seal with the same thing and a softer wheel brush

I went over both twice and rinsed and I’m waiting for the sun to cook it off and see what happens

Weird


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For the record, this didn't work

I need a solvent of some kind and some elbow grease

 

[MisterSnoop]

There is only 1 “quick lube” type place that has the 0-16 wt oil the car takes and it’s like $125 there for the oil change

And they always try to upsell you on crap you don’t need

The service this morning included cabin air filter, rotate and balance wheels, genuine Toyota/Lexus oil and filter, etc

Probably a bit more at Lexus but not sure I want some Quik lube guys rummaging around the guts of my hybrid

but how much is just and oil change/tire rotation and an air filter to go? dealerships usually charge a ridiculous amount of money to put a filter in.

 

[chilly]

The place I go to isn't part of a chain, so if they screw up, it can go bad for them real quick. And they do specialise in 4X4s, it's in their name, Active 4X4. All the mechanics drive 4X4s as well.

I checked my invoice, $78 for oil, $45 for other consumables, oil filter, sump plug washer, grease, washer fluid, no air filter as I have a K&N, and no blinker fluid.

We don't have them here, but I hear you have drive thru oil change places, where you don't even get out of the car, it's all done while you wait in the car, I've also heard there's been a few cases of them forgetting to refill the oil, they basically drive out, not noticing how noisy the engine suddenly is, get a few miles before bang, seized engine. And yet people keep going there.

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Yup, that is a thing here and I don't trust the ones that belong to national chains

There is a local one I trust with my 4Runner but Godzilla couldn't hurt that thing and I check the dipstick myself within minutes of pulling out

The most expensive thing at the dealer was the cabin air filter, $69.92

Oil was billed weirdly, a quantity of 45 at $0.64 per unit, for a total of $28.80.

It holds 4.5 liters so I get the 45, sort of, I just can't figure out how they are measuring it

Oil filter was $10.14 and gasket was $2.50

Shop supplies $30.15

Labor $150.75

Laundry list of things they checked, tightened, etc (I hope)

 

[chilly]

but how much is just and oil change/tire rotation and an air filter to go? dealerships usually charge a ridiculous amount of money to put a filter in.

I agree on the dealerships charging too much sometimes, but horror stories about Lube N Go places abound and I can afford it so what the heck

 

[Big DaveBig Dave is verified member.]

I take my plastic centre caps off when I take the FJ anywhere the wheels will be removed, I don't trust anyone to put them back on without cracking the plastic. I thought I might go without them for a while, but I wasn't happy with the rusty rear hubs, so I bought some satin black anti-rust epoxy to cover it up. I also decided to put a coat on my rusty nuts as well, all done by hand with a small brush.

I also confirmed that my wheels were removed at the service last week, about half of the lug nuts were incorrectly torqued, 2 on each wheel were way too tight, I had to get my extension bar to loosen them, and more concerningly, a few felt not as tight as they should have been, but that may have been because the others were over tightened. But I re-torqued everything to 113Nm as per the manual.

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[oneheadlite]

The place I go to isn't part of a chain, so if they screw up, it can go bad for them real quick. And they do specialise in 4X4s, it's in their name, Active 4X4. All the mechanics drive 4X4s as well.

I checked my invoice, $78 for oil, $45 for other consumables, oil filter, sump plug washer, grease, washer fluid, no air filter as I have a K&N, and no blinker fluid.

We don't have them here, but I hear you have drive thru oil change places, where you don't even get out of the car, it's all done while you wait in the car, I've also heard there's been a few cases of them forgetting to refill the oil, they basically drive out, not noticing how noisy the engine suddenly is, get a few miles before bang, seized engine. And yet people keep going there.

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Oh, come on - they don't always forget to put oil in. We had an M3 come in that had gone to a rapid oil place that we drained 20 quarts out of...

I've also heard of cases where they drain the transmission (I can't see a drain plug! Wait - here's one!), then double fill the engine.

I should show you pictures of what the oil filters look like after they've been in the car... (Napa Gold, I'm also looking squarely at you...). The o-rings (on the cartridge filters) also have such a reputation for turning to plastic and leaking, I don't know how they don't have every one come back.

But, if you're lucky, you'll get a free oil pan out of one of them. Had an X3 where they got their oil change, it leaked.
Visit 1: "Sealing washer leaking, replaced. No leaks." Except...
Visit 2: "Drain plug leaking, replaced.
Visit 3: "Manager sourced new drain plug, installed new oversized drain plug."

I don't remember how much bigger the plug was that they put in, but they cracked the pan, then tried to JB weld it while it was leaking. I'm sure they stripped the pan round one, then just chased their tail hackin' away...

Needless to say I'm a firm believer in bringing your car somewhere where the techs are familiar with YOUR car. It can be an independent (like where I am now), just make sure to find a solid one.

 

[oneheadlite]

Also, it's not a given you're getting aces at the dealer. Frequently the gravy maintenance gets fed to the entry-level paygrade folks. I remember times at the dealer when one of the "Express Techs" would do an oil change, go to put it in the wash line, then come racing back through the shop - kill the engine and coast back to their stall. THEN they'd put the oil in they forgot. :doh:

 

[Big DaveBig Dave is verified member.]

I remember where I used to work they had a Range Rover Sport V8 come in for a service, it was also having another slight issue, all the mechanics were standing around brainstorming, they adjusted something, took it for another test drive, and it came back with steam pouring out of it. One of the brainstormers had taken the radiator cap off and nobody noticed. They had to replace the engine in that one, they don't come back from severe overheating, the mechanic doing the test drive had to accept fault, he didn't check the cap, or keep an eye on the gauges.

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[Odrapnew1]

No good deed goes unpunished.

After finding owner of lost cell phone on my bike ride, my Mustang decided to strand me. Just died while idling.

Good thing I was in a parking lot playing with the idle, bad thing I was about 1.5 miles from home and had to walk (hot and humid). I got home, packed up a bunch of tools and some parts, jumped in my Edge and headed back.

First thing, check for spark, nothing. This is good because all the spare parts I brought were ignition related. Started to swap the coil and then thought, let's bypass the MSD box first. Bam, fixed. Wish I would have thought of that right away.

MSD = May Suddenly Die

I don't know if I really need the ignition box, but won't be running it anymore.

Currently laying in the basement in front of a fan.

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[chilly]

Oh, come on - they don't always forget to put oil in. We had an M3 come in that had gone to a rapid oil place that we drained 20 quarts out of...

I've also heard of cases where they drain the transmission (I can't see a drain plug! Wait - here's one!), then double fill the engine.

I should show you pictures of what the oil filters look like after they've been in the car... (Napa Gold, I'm also looking squarely at you...). The o-rings (on the cartridge filters) also have such a reputation for turning to plastic and leaking, I don't know how they don't have every one come back.

But, if you're lucky, you'll get a free oil pan out of one of them. Had an X3 where they got their oil change, it leaked.
Visit 1: "Sealing washer leaking, replaced. No leaks." Except...
Visit 2: "Drain plug leaking, replaced.
Visit 3: "Manager sourced new drain plug, installed new oversized drain plug."

I don't remember how much bigger the plug was that they put in, but they cracked the pan, then tried to JB weld it while it was leaking. I'm sure they stripped the pan round one, then just chased their tail hackin' away...

Needless to say I'm a firm believer in bringing your car somewhere where the techs are familiar with YOUR car. It can be an independent (like where I am now), just make sure to find a solid one.

Also, it's not a given you're getting aces at the dealer. Frequently the gravy maintenance gets fed to the entry-level paygrade folks. I remember times at the dealer when one of the "Express Techs" would do an oil change, go to put it in the wash line, then come racing back through the shop - kill the engine and coast back to their stall. THEN they'd put the oil in they forgot. :doh:

You made some good points, going to the dealer doesn't guarantee you a proper job, but there is no question that you can hold them liable if they screw up

I don't have a bias against smaller shops, independent or otherwise, as long as they are solid and reliable

I just haven't found one yet that I trust with anything newer than my 2008 4Runner

The new 2024 Lexus will probably never see the inside of anything but the dealer, the same goes for the 2020 Lexus

I can usually get in when I want, either wait in the pretty plush waiting area with amenities, or get a loaner for the day or longer if i have stuff I can do around town so it isn't a wasted trip

I guess I feel I paid for that extra bit of service up front in the purchase price so why not take advantage of it

 

[DFB]

Oh, come on - they don't always forget to put oil in. We had an M3 come in that had gone to a rapid oil place that we drained 20 quarts out of...

Needless to say I'm a firm believer in bringing your car somewhere where the techs are familiar with YOUR car. It can be an independent (like where I am now), just make sure to find a solid one.

Can I ask, why do you guys in the US buy oil in single quart bottles? I often see this in videos or posts where several quart bottles are emptied one-by-one into the filler neck. Is this not more time consuming and wasteful in terms of more plastic bottles?



Compared to that, we would be buying larger 5 or 6-liter (5.3 or 6.3 quart) bottles and decanting from one or two of those.



Anyway, just something I have wondered for a while.

 

[Klasse Act]

Can I ask, why do you guys in the US buy oil in single quart bottles? I often see this in videos or posts where several quart bottles are emptied one-by-one into the filler neck. Is this not more time consuming and wasteful in terms of more plastic bottles?



Compared to that, we would be buying larger 5 or 6-liter (5.3 or 6.3 quart) bottles and decanting from one or two of those.



Anyway, just something I have wondered for a while.

I'd say there might not be the particular brand/weight available at the store when they go to buy the oil

I always buy a jug because my oil brand/weight is always there or I'm getting it online. Speaking of oil, my tune called for 5w40 Motul so I bought that in a 5 quart jug and although not tuned my recent oil change got that heavier oil anyways, it's been a fairly hot summer so I feel good about, plus my Dragon Run is coming up in a little over 2 monthes, this recent oil change will cover that trip and it throws at the EN

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[Big DaveBig Dave is verified member.]

Can I ask, why do you guys in the US buy oil in single quart bottles? I often see this in videos or posts where several quart bottles are emptied one-by-one into the filler neck. Is this not more time consuming and wasteful in terms of more plastic bottles?



Compared to that, we would be buying larger 5 or 6-liter (5.3 or 6.3 quart) bottles and decanting from one or two of those.



Anyway, just something I have wondered for a while.

While we're on container sizes, I bet most people think drink can sizes are the same all around the world, nope. In Australia our standard can size for soft drinks and beer is 375ml, or 12.68 fl oz, whereas in North America it is 355ml/12 fl oz, but in the UK it's 330ml/11.15 fl oz. Sure there are bigger and smaller cans, and they vary by region as well, but you'd think the most common size would be the same everywhere. I found this out when I worked for a US company and one of our international visitors said he liked that our cans were bigger, even though it was only slightly larger, it was like a bonus in every can.

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[Klasse Act]

While we're on container sizes, I bet most people think drink can sizes are the same all around the world, nope. In Australia our standard can size for soft drinks and beer is 375ml, or 12.68 fl oz, whereas in North America it is 355ml/12 fl oz, but in the UK it's 330ml/11.15 fl oz. Sure there are bigger and smaller cans, and they vary by region as well, but you'd think the most common size would be the same everywhere. I found this out when I worked for a US company and one of our international visitors said he liked that our cans were bigger, even though it was only slightly larger, it was like a bonus in every can.

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20 oz drinks are probably more popular here, more is better

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[Big DaveBig Dave is verified member.]

20 oz drinks are probably more popular here, more is better

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Our largest beer can size is 500ml, if you want more you go for a "long neck" which is a bottle, 750ml/25.3 fl oz.

This is not from personal experience though, now don't judge me, but I don't drink any alcohol.

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[Klasse Act]

Our largest beer can size is 500ml, if you want more you go for a "long neck" which is a bottle, 750ml/25.3 fl oz.

This is not from personal experience though, now don't judge me, but I don't drink any alcohol.

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No worries Dave, that makes 2 of us ...we've got other vices

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[Odrapnew1]

Can I ask, why do you guys in the US buy oil in single quart bottles? I often see this in videos or posts where several quart bottles are emptied one-by-one into the filler neck. Is this not more time consuming and wasteful in terms of more plastic bottles?



Compared to that, we would be buying larger 5 or 6-liter (5.3 or 6.3 quart) bottles and decanting from one or two of those.



Anyway, just something I have wondered for a while.

I usually buy 5qt jugs because they are cheaper, but it kind of sucks because 2 of my vehicles take 6 quarts. I usually have a partial 5qt sitting around because I'll buy more than needed and just use it at the next change.

Last time I was at Walmart, I found a 12qt box of Mobil 1. Same price/qt as 5qt jugs, but gave me exactly 2 changes.

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[Karl_in_Chicago]

Can I ask, why do you guys in the US buy oil in single quart bottles? I often see this in videos or posts where several quart bottles are emptied one-by-one into the filler neck. Is this not more time consuming and wasteful in terms of more plastic bottles?

Compared to that, we would be buying larger 5 or 6-liter (5.3 or 6.3 quart) bottles and decanting from one or two of those.


Anyway, just something I have wondered for a while.

Can't speak to the why's and wherefore's of people that film themselves doing maintenance, maybe shots of the 1 quart pours come across better I really don't know, but 5 qt jugs are my preference (and same for those I know) but I don't own ANY vehicles that use 5 quarts. Everything (save my bagger) uses more but nothing that would perfectly align with any standard quantity container. So I need 6 or 6.something to properly refill after a change. That means a 5 quart and "some more". A full pour of a 5 qt is one thing but trying to accurately and neatly pour just ONE quart out of another full 5 qt isn't easy, at least for me; much easier to do the topping up by using a smaller container. If I were to decant a new 5 qt into an empty 5 qt I'm not really seeing the benefit/value but I am seeing the potential mess.

So I buy both the 5 quart jugs and the 1 quart bottles; sometimes, as noted in another post, the mega retailers have cases of the 1 quarts discounted such that they are even *cheaper* than the 5 quarts. Go figure (literally).

 

[PA DETAILER]

Re: Installed some Conti DWS06's on the RedSport

After not cutting grass for 2 weeks cut it today. Due to the heat and no rain, it has been very dry. Brown in spots. More of a prosperity cut today.