Age age age guys over 50 doing maintenance

M

MaximaGuy

Joined
Sep 20, 2003
Messages
1,786
Location
Austin, TX
I turned 51 this year, and let’s just say my body isn’t as enthusiastic about getting under the car anymore—and my wife? She’s been voicing that sentiment for over 20 years now.

I’ve been putting off a brake job on my MB for over a year. The parts have been sitting in the garage, just waiting. This week, Austin weather finally cooperated, so I figured I’d tackle it between 3 and 5 PM. I took off a wheel and started looking for the right sockets… and couldn’t find what I needed. That’s when my brain just kind of switched off my body and said, “Yeah, let’s not do this today.” So I buttoned everything back up and decided to write this post instead.

Do any of you go through this tug-of-war—where your heart wants to get it done, but your brain (or body) just isn’t on board? And for those over 50, do you still enjoy wrenching, or has it become more of a chore?

Suggestions to keep enjoying it....
 
52 here. I don't love wrenching, but do a little here and there to save a few $$. It's definitely harder on my body that it was 20 years ago. I try to tackle my projects in bits and spurts these days, instead of trying to accomplish big jobs in one day. I also know when I'm out of my depth and just need to pay my mechanic.

And I don't blame you for quitting on the brake job. Have I ever told you all how much I hate brake work?
 
58 and strangely enough started doing a lot more wrenching on my own cars in the past few years. My body is not beat up like a lot of guys I know. I started working out a few years ago, that has made a huge difference. So feeling good and still enjoying wrenching (on my own stuff, occasionally!)
 
MaximaGuy said:
I turned 51 this year, and let’s just say my body isn’t as enthusiastic about getting under the car anymore—and my wife? She’s been voicing that sentiment for over 20 years now.

I’ve been putting off a brake job on my MB for over a year. The parts have been sitting in the garage, just waiting. This week, Austin weather finally cooperated, so I figured I’d tackle it between 3 and 5 PM. I took off a wheel and started looking for the right sockets… and couldn’t find what I needed. That’s when my brain just kind of switched off my body and said, “Yeah, let’s not do this today.” So I buttoned everything back up and decided to write this post instead.

Do any of you go through this tug-of-war—where your heart wants to get it done, but your brain (or body) just isn’t on board? And for those over 50, do you still enjoy wrenching, or has it become more of a chore?

Suggestions to keep enjoying it....
Click to expand...
Turning 50 in 12 days! Getting started is difficult, I'll plan and purchase parts then wait for the right day weather wise. Once I get started, it's getting done. My professional work (IT) lacks the feeling of accomplishment that auto maintenance provides. That enthusiasm alone will drive a project. 😁

What helps me:
In the last 10 years I've added air tools and battery powered tools where I used all hand tools previously.
 
53 here. Feel it all the time.. So far this spring has been 4 winter/summer wheel changes, 4 oil changes, transmission drain/fill, brake fluid flush and a few cabin air filters. I set aside a full day and work at a speed I can complete the job at. Nothing has been super urgent yet.
 
47, Austin area too. Sometimes I lose motivation too, all sorts of reasons. Give yourself some credit and self motivate when the time is right. Work has been hell lately and the boss gave me the rest of today off.

In the summer, I am outside every weekend doing ranch stuff, but cutoff at noon if its hard physical work, all day if its sitting on a tractor but sunscreen etc. For wrenching I now have a small portable AC for the garage but need to insulate. Harder and harder to move around but doing outdoory stuff as much as possible to counter having a WFH desk job. Naproxin for when its bad. I'm with you too with probably 8 wrenching projects in the queue but lately gardening and a new shed has taken priority. 🤜
 
I installed a NOS passenger side headlight and sanded / buffed / ceramic coated the driver's side and re-installed, and I feel like somebody has beaten me with a bat. I still need to get out in the driveway and wash it because it looks terrible, but my body is flipping me the bird. Turned 55 in February, still changing oil and keeping everything maintained myself but it's getting harder and harder. I've almost reached the point where I'm going to turn over tire rotation duties to Discount Tire If I can get them to do the correct rotation pattern.
 
Almost 68 and not doing as much as I used to but still working normal hours doing fuel injectors and some repairs on top of that, I figure I am still doing 50 hrs a 6 day week. If it is busy I work Sundays too, I am a triple dipper so I don't have to work at all if I don't to but hanging around waiting to die is not my thing either.
 
Just turned 56 last week, and I still enjoy wrenching, although I got smarter. For example, regarding oil & filter changes, I no longer have to get underneath the car, remove the belly pan, hot-drain the oil, etc., because now I use one of my newest maintenance tools - an oil extractor:

Bavarian Autosport Oil Extractor

And if I need to work on the brakes, exhaust, or suspension, I have QuickJack 5000-SLX Lifting Platforms to raise the vehicle safely.
 
I'm almost 56 and went through prostate cancer (surgery and radiation) last year. Although I look like I'm in good shape (still same weight and size I was in high school), I've got lower back problems and lost a lot of stamina and with that, enthusiasm. I still do the easy stuff, but I do pay for it the next day. There are certain jobs I can still do but still don't look forward to them. Like a transmission fluid change that involves more than just a drain and fill. Our Volvo requires the air box removed to access the fill hole, and as minor as that seems, it becomes a stumbling block for me. I've been putting it off for a year. Maybe this Spring! LOL. Tire rotations are another one, just due to the weight of the wheels. I still do them, but need some serious motivation to get the job done.
 
I'll be 56 in a couple weeks. I don't mind wrenching, there are a few things that I feel the next day, but I know that before I start (usually). My Dad is 76, and keeps up his cars himself, as well as his girlfriend's. He still does suspension work and swapped out a gas tank on his Volvo xc . The mechanic I use if I'm pressed for time or tools is 78. He's working mostly alone in his shop 5 days a week. The only other shop around me I trust is run by Mennonites, they're all 60+.
 
A few months after my 70th birthday I took my Subaru to an independent shop to get struts installed. First automotive work I have hired out in my lifetime. Then this year I had another shop overhaul the manual trannie in my old 4Runner. I still do most of it. But with replacement shoulder and knee. I don’t enjoy crawling underneath like I used to tolerate.
 
Thank you all for the responses, makes me feel better knowing its hard on most of us. Yes, we have the drive and knowledge but the enthusiasm to complete it missing in my life. I will get this done soon, Austin can get wild soon and my home AC broke and thats weighting me down as my HVAC guy tells me I need a new system (the EPA idiots apparently changed the freon from R22 (forever) to R410 (introduced in 2005 and they find the high pressures of 410 is blowing the evap coils) and now to R32 (avatar of R22 back to old tonic)

The other day did an oil change on Rav4 and it pained me as well (feel everything is getting harder).
 
I'm older than everyone who has listed so far. I've been retired for 10 years.

I limit myself to 2 hours of physical work a day (except for my once a week museum day when I work for 4 hours, and Monday every other week when our gardener is here for 3 hours). I don't count minor household chores. Have to leave time for recreation, reading, and doing nothing much at all.

I'm working up to an oil change on the Accord now that it's starting properly.
 
Trav said:
Almost 68 and not doing as much as I used to but still working normal hours doing fuel injectors and some repairs on top of that, I figure I am still doing 50 hrs a 6 day week. If it is busy I work Sundays too, I am a triple dipper so I don't have to work at all if I don't to but hanging around waiting to die is not my thing either.
Click to expand...
You're just a young guy... And my guess is you know all the efficiency tricks, so there's that.
 
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