The Car Maintenance Thread

I used to do almost all of it myself but as time goes by (and income has risen) I'll pay to have more done. #1 rule these days - I don't work under a car (except to drain the oil). One of my VW GTIs even has the oil filter mounted right side up (no drip) up top under the hood next to the washer/squirter fluid tank. Almost as easy to change as taking off the oil fill cap and putting it back on.
 
I normally buy Michelin tires. Anybody using BFGoodrich? Good/bad experience(s)?

BF G's...my favorite truck tires. Have used 'em for over 40 years. Their Radial T/A TKO tires are awesome! They wear so much better than stock tires and most other brands, wear like iron! I used to do a TON of organized 4x4 offroad events in my prior various Jeeps that I usually modded myself, mountain climbs 'n stuff.

Cooper is my favorite "budget friendly" brand.
 
In a past life our company would only use Continental on our fuel tankers. (B-Doubles) (Triples) and (Trains)

Now for my car I just get whatever's going at the local Bridgestone Tyre Dealer or Bob Jane T-Mart.
Most of the time I get a choice of Cheng Shin, Double Coin, SunStar, Olympic or Luccini.
Sometimes they have specials on Bridgestone or Dunlop so if they're a good price I go for them.
At the moment I've got Dunlop on the rear and two new Luccini on the front.

When I was riding my Yamaha IT 250 (and later YZ 250) in endurance events, the best tyres I ever had/used were Pirelli.
 
On my Buick Lucerne I run Michelin 90k warranty tires. I think they called them the "Road Warriors" or something like that. They do pretty good however I do not have much to compare them with as the set that was on them when I bought the car where pretty worn out. So, I guess anything would be an improvement. However, The Michelin tires have done me very well for over 3 years or so now.

My last car was a 2002 Buick Century. I ran Pirelli's and they also did well.

Now that spring is coming its time to clean out the Buick from a long winter. :)
 
I like Michelin tires and have run them many times in the past. Probably one of my favorites but they do command a premium $ for the name. I've run a bunch of Continental performance tires (Conti Extreme Contact, etc.) but I burn them off in 35,000 miles or less. I'm running Pirelli performance tires now but I don't like how they flat-spot when they are cold. Cooper tires sucked in the snow up here even though they were rated for it. I'm picky about tires I guess. (@add - Hankook snow tires have been incredible. Even when the bottom of the car is dragging in deep snow they pull through.)
 
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I'm picky about tires I guess.
Same here. You can't put a price on safety.

I always buy the best tyres available, which these days are usually Michelin tyres. I'm due to remove my winter tyres very soon (assuming the "beast from the east" doesn't return, again) and replace them with a brand new summer set. My winter set are Michelin Alpin PA4 tyres and I've just taken delivery of a set of the highly rated Pilot Sport 4 tyres, which I got for less than £190 per tyre. They will be replacing my previous summer set of Pilot Super Sport tyres, which are now nearly 3 years old and have covered approx. 10,000 miles.
 
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I've run Michelin for year's but the price keep's climbing. I think BFG would probably do what I need but it's hard to get away from something that works.
 
Just had an argument with a mechanic - fixed my mothers car. They didn't reconnect the positive cap cover properly on battery and was melted against the engine. He came out and simply stated, it's only ornamental. I went wtf not when it is stuck to the engine mate. I said it could have led to the radiator hoses getting burnt out. His response was plastic is not conductive...OMFG fine but when it is stuck to a heated pipe and a radiator hose beneath it will conduct heat and cause plastic to drip onto hoses underneath in time.

Absolute arsehole he was..
 
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Just had an argument with a mechanic - fixed my mothers car. They didn't reconnect the positive cap cover properly on battery and was melted against the engine. He came out and simply stated, it's only ornamental. I went wtf not when it is stuck to the engine mate. I said it could have led to the radiator hoses getting burnt out. His response was plastic is not conductive...OMFG fine but when it is stuck to a heated pipe and a radiator hose beneath it will conduct heat and cause plastic to drip onto hoses underneath in time.

Absolute arsehole he was..
What a dipstick!
So...you're looking for a new mechanic then?
 
Just had an argument with a mechanic - fixed my mothers car. They didn't reconnect the positive cap cover properly on battery and was melted against the engine. He came out and simply stated, it's only ornamental. I went wtf not when it is stuck to the engine mate. I said it could have led to the radiator hoses getting burnt out. His response was plastic is not conductive...OMFG fine but when it is stuck to a heated pipe and a radiator hose beneath it will conduct heat and cause plastic to drip onto hoses underneath in time.

Absolute arsehole he was..

Just shows a mechanic that doesnt take pride in their work. I hate that. I see that in everything now a days. There is a reason that they have a plastic cap on the positive terminal of a battery. Its not ornamental at all. The next time they accidentally drop a wrench across the posts they can replace the battery, Computer and everything else that blows out. This is one reason that I do all my own service when possible.

I wouldnt get bent out of shape about it though. I would just tell them that if they do not feel they should replace it then you will find another mechanic in the future.
 
RACV, NRMA, RACQ, RAA those dicks are all the same. It's just a job to them and they don't really care.
It's like an inconvenience 'cause you called 'em out.
You should ring their office and complain. The guys name will be on the ticket he gave you.
 
A good mechanic / shop is a rare treat these days. Unfortunately the one we did business with moved pretty far south of our city (darnit!) and we've had to try to find others to take their place.

I still have the "stealership" do my oil changes since it is a vehicle that they sell, but for tires I go elsewhere and I too, run Michelin tires on my 2011 Chrysler Towne & Country. MY wife takes her Mercury to a local Ford dealer for various work. We will be taking it to a auto trim shop soon for a new headliner.
 
3. Impact Wrench - What a time saver! They range from inexpensive to expensive of course but for the weekend warrior like us a basic model will do. They are great for removing tires in a hurry and other things. I have a 18V model that will do 300fpt.

Not to sound stupid, but I know an Impact wrench runs on an air compressor. I have a battery powered "Impact Driver" that came as part of a drill set. Is that the same thing?
 
3. Impact Wrench - What a time saver! They range from inexpensive to expensive of course but for the weekend warrior like us a basic model will do. They are great for removing tires in a hurry and other things. I have a 18V model that will do 300fpt.

Not to sound stupid, but I know an Impact wrench runs on an air compressor. I have a battery powered "Impact Driver" that came as part of a drill set. Is that the same thing?
No, impact drivers are typically closer to an electric drill/driver. They work in a similar fashion, but on a smaller scale. Impact drivers usually have a 1/4" hex chuck, where as the impact wrenches whether electric or air usually are 3/8" or 1/2", but there are 1/4" versions as well.
 
3. Impact Wrench - What a time saver! They range from inexpensive to expensive of course but for the weekend warrior like us a basic model will do. They are great for removing tires in a hurry and other things. I have a 18V model that will do 300fpt.

Not to sound stupid, but I know an Impact wrench runs on an air compressor. I have a battery powered "Impact Driver" that came as part of a drill set. Is that the same thing?

I love my impact wrench!

I got it at Harbor Freight but it really does a good job. Its the battery powered one. I dont know how I got along without it really.

Im trying to save up for a compressor and tools now.
 
battery operated impacts usually just don't have the "ummmpff" that an air setup does. You can get half inch battery impacts, most of them put out anywhere between 100 and 300 fp which north of 150 you can usually spin off just about any lug nut on a regular passenger vehicle. Air operated setups can go well north of 500, and have the benefit of being able to continuously hammer away given a proper air supply. The battery setup will die pretty fast, especially if your pushing the tool.
 
My (late) wife's car got a hole in the bottom of the coolant overflow bottle. (No idea how!)
I looked around and found a detergent bottle that was abut the same shape so it fitted in the cradle.
I just drilled a hole in the cap for the hose and voila'! All good now!
 
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