odd Dealership oil recommendation

[Neuk_]

Yea, I hear you. I have also found that the requirement for special tools can become very frustrating. Sure, you can fashion a tool here and there if needed but sometimes it's not viable and that can leave you stuck with the damned car on jackstands for a week.

It depends on the car, my MkI Golf has sat on jack stands for a while when I was doing rear wheel bearings, brake shoes, suspension bushes, CV's, etc. but I don't need it daily. I have contacts for big work who have the knowledge, experience, tools and more importantly big brass balls for the work.

 

[SlinkyMike]

more importantly big brass balls for the work.

So much this. As I get older I look at a job and enumerate all the crap that can go wrong and ask myself: is life too short for this?

 

[Neuk_]

So much this. As I get older I look at a job and enumerate all the crap that can go wrong and ask myself: is life too short for this?

There is some of that, there are also things like on my Touareg that require the engine be taken out, which I will not do at home myself.

 

[Draconia2]

What happened to the days when your pal's older brother would pull in one afternoon and charge you s sixpack to do plugs oil and filters? I learned to do these things along with clutch adjustment on several old Golf Mk1s and a few 90s XR3 Escourts. Fond memories of being the 'laaitie' and not fully following all of the crass conversations.

while doing the oil change on my 95 rav4 3 door I noticed the distributor leaking oil ....

lets just say :

mechanic +100

I had to quickly learn how to change the gasket, mark timings, make sure plugs are in correct firing order, and disassemble the distrib and reassemble to the way it was. As annoying as the little **** was, had some fun times lol but luckily I found some tutorial on youtube with a ballie rebuilding an old 3sfe distrib for a camry. just followed the same and did a better job than the mechanic who broke my distributor in the first place.

Theres always a first time for everything XD

Do everything yourself and find a small/backyard mechanic with a stamp and pay him a few bucks for the stamp in your book.

in Limpopo that is super easy > they are everywhere lol

 

[unobeat]

I service my own cars and its Therapeutic.
Uno- i have been DIY services for 14 years and it has taught me a lot about car maintenance. I do have a knowledgeable mechanic who i have worked with closely for big jobs like clutch kit change and its due for a clutch kit again which i am thinking of DIY.

Auris- bought it at 159 000km, currently sitting on 245 000km and i have been doing DIY Services using the oil that toyota used from new(shell 15w40) using oem oil filter and GUD oil filter. Have done fanbelt(Meyle) change which i got from GW, spark plugs(NGK iridiums), brake fluid flush and gearbox oil change using toyota oil. Only thing it went for at toyota in 2020 was for a recall for replacement of Airbags. Car drives well with no issues.


Mazda CX-5- wife's daily, did DIY oil service using OEM oil filter plus sump plug and used Shell 5w30 oil. it has done 2 000km since oil service and still drives normal.

Auris & CX-5- i fill in the service book myself, keep receipts and a detailed Excel spreadsheet for all cars(including Uno)

I always do extensive research about the job at hand, make sure have correct tools to do the job and all is well. All cars get serviced every 10 000km. With Lockdown and WFH, the Auris and Uno drives less than 10 000km but every 10-12 months get an oil service.
I enjoy doing all maintenance on all the cars including cleaning them as they don't go to car washes which has made me to invest in a vacuum cleaner and pressure washer.

 

[Mekon]

R119 per liter is not expensive.For example i use liqui moly 10w60 and its nearly R900 for a 5L , and thats for goldwagen or online from a normal retailer.

But for what car though?

 

[Mekon]

My 2006 Corsa C was on 422000 km when I had an accident with it. Always used Helix 15w40. Never anything else.

 

[TheChamp]

But for what car though?

Exactly.

 

[qscwbt]

Not a fan of castrol. I really prefer helix, valvoline, redline, Motul or liqui molly

look at the api rating for example (api SG CD)
The S means spark ignition. the G for example follows the aphabet and the higher the second letter the better.
The C is combustion ignition (diesel) and the second letter again follows the aphabet. The higher the letter the better. see chart below

 

[qscwbt]

http://www.pqiamerica.com/apiserviceclass.htm