Maintenance question
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 7,382
Likes: 3,501
From: Lake Havasu City Arizona
Maintenance question
I have been reading the thread about owners that change their own oil. I understand why they do. Mostly because when the owner does it, it is done right. My question is what about the other maintenance items? Do you self oil change people do those items? If not, why would you trust someone to do those? I think there is something I'm missing here, but it seems like there are a lot of maintenance items that are more critical than changing the oil. Thank you.
Popular Reply
Jul 11, 2019, 11:48 AM
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,746
Likes: 916
Which other maintenance items?
Brakes? yep.
Air filters? yep
Trans fluid? yep
Differential? yep
Spark plugs? yep
I do as much as I can to avoid messing with the dealership.
Brakes? yep.
Air filters? yep
Trans fluid? yep
Differential? yep
Spark plugs? yep
I do as much as I can to avoid messing with the dealership.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 676
Likes: 111
I maintain 3 cars in the household (2 Hondas and a C7 GS). I do all of the fluids, filters, tire rotation, and all of the brake works myself. It is not just about doing it right, it saves me a lot of money and times. I enjoy working on the Vette. My neighbors always come by to chit chat when they see me working on the Vette, which is quite often due to tracking the car. I can't say the same thing about the Hondas though.
Lurker
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 2,033
Likes: 644
From: Denton, TX
St. Jude Donor '19-'20
There's nothing in the Maintenance Schedule that should scare ya. I don't even wanna think about what a dealer would charge to do some of those items.
Personally I enjoy doing it and when its done I have the satisfaction of accomplishing something and saving myself some coin to boot!
Best part is I don't have to listen to some tech tell me this needs changed, that needs flushed, those are worn out, blah blah blah.
Personally I enjoy doing it and when its done I have the satisfaction of accomplishing something and saving myself some coin to boot!
Best part is I don't have to listen to some tech tell me this needs changed, that needs flushed, those are worn out, blah blah blah.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 13,602
Likes: 12,864
From: Virginia
I have been reading the thread about owners that change their own oil. I understand why they do. Mostly because when the owner does it, it is done right. My question is what about the other maintenance items? Do you self oil change people do those items? If not, why would you trust someone to do those? I think there is something I'm missing here, but it seems like there are a lot of maintenance items that are more critical than changing the oil. Thank you.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 630
Likes: 384
From: Florida
I used to do everything when I was young and a lot healthier. This is how it stacks up as of now. The reality is that I never put high miles on my toy cars and they generally get traded long before they will need many of these maintenance items.
* Engine Oil and Filter - Yes
* Other Lubrication (Hinges, Locks, Weatherstripping, etc.) - Yes
* Tire Rotation - Not Required But If it Was - Yes
* Engine Air Filter - Yes
* Cabin Air Filter - Yes
* Transmission Fluid (A8) - No (Dealer)
* Brake Fluid - No (Dealer)
* Wiper Blades - Yes
* Rear Axle Fluid - No (Dealer)
* Engine Drive Belt - No (Dealer)
* Spark Plugs - No (Dealer)
* Battery - No (Dealer)
* Brakes - No (Dealer)
* Engine Oil and Filter - Yes
* Other Lubrication (Hinges, Locks, Weatherstripping, etc.) - Yes
* Tire Rotation - Not Required But If it Was - Yes
* Engine Air Filter - Yes
* Cabin Air Filter - Yes
* Transmission Fluid (A8) - No (Dealer)
* Brake Fluid - No (Dealer)
* Wiper Blades - Yes
* Rear Axle Fluid - No (Dealer)
* Engine Drive Belt - No (Dealer)
* Spark Plugs - No (Dealer)
* Battery - No (Dealer)
* Brakes - No (Dealer)
Last edited by ShadowGray19; Jul 11, 2019 at 03:46 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
I do all my own maintenance on our 4 vehicles and rarely take it to the dealer. I had them do the required 500mi oil change on my dry sump for the record, but passed on all the other free oil changes. I'd rather do myself than wait around for someone else to do it for me. If I'm working on the vettes, then that's always a good excuse to invite friends over to have some cold ones and get caught up.
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,948
Likes: 6,750
From: Bonneville Salt Flats
Why would anyone think that doing ones own maintenance would only include oil and oil filter? 
Eight vehicles on the road and I do all but my wife's new Hyundai. Simple as that. Always have and shall continue as long as I can read a Service Manual and turn a wrench.
Eight vehicles on the road and I do all but my wife's new Hyundai. Simple as that. Always have and shall continue as long as I can read a Service Manual and turn a wrench.
Last edited by Avanti; Jul 11, 2019 at 05:14 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 4,303
Likes: 2,055
From: Margate, FL
If you can do the oil then you can do the rear axle and brakes. The skills and time required is about the same. Having a few extra tools makes it go quicker so you have to be prepared. Brakes pads are cake once you watch someone else do it first. Rotors are more complicated as you have to remove the calipers and those things are bolted on solid. The rear diff is challenging just due the location. The M7 transmission fluid change is no problem, but I've heard the A8 is dealer task for sure.
I once lived in fear of all of things greasy but then I started tracking my car. This forced me to do my own brake pad & fluid changes which lead to tackling other items. On my last car I did a complete transmission swap with the help of a friend. I've also done sway bars, big brake kit conversions, exhaust work, etc. YouTube and forums like this have revolutionized my view on most of these tasks.
However I fully understand that it is often much better to just pay an expert to handle the task... after all they have way more tools and experience. Time has tremendous value so if someone can do it faster then you it make the most sense to pay them to get-r-done.
I once lived in fear of all of things greasy but then I started tracking my car. This forced me to do my own brake pad & fluid changes which lead to tackling other items. On my last car I did a complete transmission swap with the help of a friend. I've also done sway bars, big brake kit conversions, exhaust work, etc. YouTube and forums like this have revolutionized my view on most of these tasks.
However I fully understand that it is often much better to just pay an expert to handle the task... after all they have way more tools and experience. Time has tremendous value so if someone can do it faster then you it make the most sense to pay them to get-r-done.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 7,382
Likes: 3,501
From: Lake Havasu City Arizona
Oh. And you are correct sir. I am
. Just ask my wife and relatives.
Last edited by joemessman; Jul 11, 2019 at 05:42 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 6,426
Likes: 3,611
From: Commerce Texas
As I've mentioned on this forum many times, I quit changing my own oil when I was 16. I'm now 77 and have owned about 100 cars over the years. I've got more than 800K miles in Corvettes, more than 300K in Porsches, 40K in a Ferrari and a succession of miles in MBs, BMW, Audis, and a host of American cars and trucks. These cars have been serviced in Asia, Europe, and all over the US without a problem.
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I do as much as I feel comfortable doing. Everything else I have my dealer do whom I trust to do it right the first time.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 647
Likes: 135
From: Big Canoe Georgia
I would differentiate a brake job into pads only versus rotors and pads. For pads only (yes in my opinion) otherwise dealer. I changed the brake pads on my C6 and plan to do the same on my C7. Saved about $1K, yes thousand.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 437
Likes: 253
From: Barnegat NJ
I am no mechanic. My skills to jack up my cars to change the oil is not worth the $50 that it costs I found a performance shop that specializes in Corvettes https://www.tunetimeperformance.com/ and they take care of my C7
Pro
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 630
Likes: 384
From: Florida
Well in your case and some others maybe it would NOT be done right. A lot of the old heads on this forum have a lot of mechanical savvy and experience and you can be sure it will be done right. in my case, I have taken numerous auto tech courses over the years and have successfully worked on most of the cars I have owned for the last 50 years (90 to date). I always buy the service manual for almost every vehicle I have owned and follow the maintenance procedures exactly. Every fastener is torqued to spec. After witnessing and hearing/reading about dealer and shop failures many times over the years, I am absolutely certain that this owner will do it right.
Last edited by ShadowGray19; Jul 12, 2019 at 03:34 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,303
Likes: 151
From: Las Vegas Nevada
I agree that I probably take more care and make sure everything is done right, but lately I've been letting the dealership do all my fluid changes - the car is under warranty and want no question that it has been fully maintained.
Even though self changing oil or other fluids doesn't (shouldn't) affect your engine/differential/transmission warranty, too many stories of having to prove when and what fluids were used if a problem arises. Documenting purchase and the actual changing of the oil and filter is just not worth the effort to me.
I do my own brakes - saves a lot of money and don't really have to worry about warranty. Plus, I know that I can do a better brake job than most shops.
Carnac
Even though self changing oil or other fluids doesn't (shouldn't) affect your engine/differential/transmission warranty, too many stories of having to prove when and what fluids were used if a problem arises. Documenting purchase and the actual changing of the oil and filter is just not worth the effort to me.
I do my own brakes - saves a lot of money and don't really have to worry about warranty. Plus, I know that I can do a better brake job than most shops.
Carnac