Hi Guys,
I've been lurking (and continue to lurk) the last few months after I purchased my first "newish" vehicle after years of getting by on slightly older cars and a lease I didn't have much control over. I learned as much as I could about maintenance and upkeep, and I really wanted to learn how to change the oil myself and what the options were.
There's such a wealth of knowledge here, collectively, in the community. Opinions too. They all range from oil brands, types, situational and contextual facts and figures. A general reliance upon facts, statistics, and bird-in-hand knowledge combined with wisdom and real world experience that I think you can't find anywhere else. You guys are all great. All of you. Even if you don't think you did, if you're reading this, you played some part in helping me learn how to properly take care of my car during my larger journey of research and hands-on work. Thank you.
It's a shame how something as integral as motor oil and engine health is given such a wide berth culturally in our society of ownership. There's this reinforced foregone conclusion that you have to put your fate in the hands of others to take care of this low-hanging fruit of upkeep. Not that there is anything wrong with that at all - I have a very good relationship with my local independent certified mechanics - but I had no idea how much I could be allowed to have a hand in knowing how to take care of such a huge personal investment as a vehicle. It just wasn't part of my education, upbringing, or anything. I don't even do it for cost-savings, or longer interval changes, or anything like that. I do it because I have the ability to know what I'm putting in my car, and how it happened. That is really cool to me, and something I really didn't think I could do.
I really do not have anyone else in my life to share this with, so with your collective permission and acceptance I hope to share it here. This mundane action that is incidentally insignificant, and hopefully indicative of broader experience and knowledge to come. It is trivial, and yet, it means a lot to me.
I fully expect the usual barrage of internet forum hijinks that range from collective yawns to positive rejoinders of support, but that's okay. You all have shared ownership being the architects of my journey. So this is for you regardless.
Anyway, cheers guys. I go back to blend into the background of this place but wanted to step out to say this. Have a great rest of your weekend. And a good week to follow.
Where in Ohio are you buddy? 
