I just find it really funny that all these HARDCORE 4x4 HELL YEAH guys are scared of getting a little dirty for like 30 minutes every few months. :hiding:
I know it's a bit repetitive, but I like changing the oil. I like getting under the vehicle and taking a look around, and I like wrenching (even piddly stuff like oil changes).
Not sure what people are talking about with the oil mess either; the stock skid plate comes off in 3 minutes and then you have a straight shot to the filter. You have to try to make a mess.
Maybe an issue if you have a supremely unruly aftermarket engine skid-plate that's a PITA to remove, but then, that's your own fault.
On my Altima I have to JACK UP THE VEHICLE AND REMOVE THE TIRE to get to the filter, per the FSM. Much easier and almost the same price to have someone else bother with it for $30.
I know that reputability changes from shop to shop, but with removing a wheel, that just seems like a whole lot more that can 'go wrong' with NOT going DIY.
It bothers you just to do that every few months; what if you were the 'low guy on the totem pole' at the shop and got stuck changing oil all day every day? I'm sure your Altima is not the only vehicle that needs a wheel removed to access the filter.
He's probably attacking all the lug-nuts he can with nothing but an air impact, just out of trying to get 30 repetitive jobs a day done. Probably not at all torqued to spec, and we all know what that means.
I've seen too many signs at quick change places (where I get my state inspections done) that say they are not responsible for stripping drain pan holes. So some 16 yo jackass strips the plug, and I can't sue when my engine dumps all its oil with me going 70 down the freeway? Yeah right.
FYI for everyone; my dad used to work at Firestone. While they may charge the consumer '$x.xx' per labor hour, or '$x.xx' per engine/tranny/diff oil change, they pay the technician a set flat rate amount per job, regardless of how long it takes him. If it takes him 5 minutes, or 2 hours, he gets paid the same.
So pretty much, the technician is 'financially encouraged' to be as fast as possible to get as many 'flat rated' tasks squeezed into the day as he can. He makes more money that way. There's a bit more to the pricing structure than that, but that's it in a nutshell.
This may not be the case for all shops, but just an FYI.
This does not speak 'quality' to me.
Also, I use Wal-Mart Synthetic and filters. $20. Have used Valvoline High Mileage Synthetic blend before too.
arty:you guys are awesome :fro:
