Gen X most likely to change their own oil - according to survey

It's as clean or as messy as you want to make it. I've employed drain valves on all of my vehicles for several years now. No wrenches. No stripped drain plugs. No having hot oil running all over your hands.

No dropping the drain plug into the oil, and having to fish it out. As far as filters, some are easier to change than others. Spin on filters, (which all my vehicles have), are usually easier, and far less messy than a lot of the cartridge types.

But overall it not that bad of a job. Besides, at my age my hands are so dry and wrinkled, getting a little oil on them actually helps. 😄
I hated the splatter from 8 quarts of hot 0W20 before getting Fumoto valves - and by running a filter 2x - I can reach under doing the mid point OCI with no ramps or wrenches - quick and clean …
 
Not really... Drive it up the ramp....drain the oil and remove the filter...have a cup of coffee...install drain plug and new filter....Fill with oil....back off the ramps....have another cup of coffee and wash hands....then go for a ride feeling happy that you did the job...I am 70 and enjoy working on my HRV....
You forget about taking off aero or skid plates that are on many vehicles.
 
I'll be 72 in 3 days, and 3 weeks ago I changed the oil and filters in all 3 vehicles. Start to finish is around 3-1/2 hours. I do one after the other. That includes a, "warm up drive".

Then shower, and go dump the oil at one of two Autozone's in town. After that I'm done for the day. TV and / or BITOG for the rest of the day..... With a marginally sore back the next day.
Same here but I can only do one vehicle a day. Being old and disabled slows me down a bit plus I cannot take the Sun and heat in my old age (and sun exposure do to melanoma).

I put the vehicles on four jack stands so I can grease the chassis, rotate the tires and make sure all is well on the bottom side.

I don't understand the "gen's" so I don't know what my daughter is. She's 44 and has done all her own maintenance since she's been driving. She does it in my driveway because I have the tools and she likes me looking over her shoulder.

I put my drain oil into an old steel five gallon gas can. When full I haul it off to the recycle.
 
You forget about taking off aero or skid plates that are on many vehicles.
I R/R'd the skid plates on the wife's 4Runnder once. I believe they are made from armor plate and could withstand an IED. I had to make a decision. Use a floor jack or leave them off. They are sitting in the corner of the garage.
 
Very suprising to see that "lack of funds" was the largest reason for all age groups for delaying repair / maintenance, at an aggregate of 66%. Are people really that tapped out?
 
Interesting that this came up since my wife and I were just talking about this. Lots of great comments. I have done maintenance work on everything from golf carts to class 8 trucks. I enjoy working on my own stuff and take a lot of pride in my work. I also have trust issues with others working on my vehicles. Its interesting how some folks will think they are saving money by not doing oil changes all the while exposing themselves to many many thousands of dollars in repairs.
 
Same here but I can only do one vehicle a day. Being old and disabled slows me down a bit plus I cannot take the Sun and heat in my old age (and sun exposure do to melanoma).

I put the vehicles on four jack stands so I can grease the chassis, rotate the tires and make sure all is well on the bottom side.

I don't understand the "gen's" so I don't know what my daughter is. She's 44 and has done all her own maintenance since she's been driving. She does it in my driveway because I have the tools and she likes me looking over her shoulder.

I put my drain oil into an old steel five gallon gas can. When full I haul it off to the recycle.
Respectfully- unless it's budgeting reasons I don't see why you are doing all the work with your health conditions you described.
 
I have seen members here state they wont buy a late model used vehicle at a dealer without a Carfax history showing it's been properly maintained. I'm a Gen X'er and have always changed my own oil minus the free dealer provided ones.

And the one time I traded my car in at a dealer, I had receipts of motor oil, oil filters, parts, maintenance records. Apparently modern car dealers wont pass or let a prospective buyer see the records due to liability. They might for something like a Porsche, Corvette or a BMW M series, but not a Honda Accord at a large dealer conglomerate.
 
 
Interesting that this came up since my wife and I were just talking about this. Lots of great comments. I have done maintenance work on everything from golf carts to class 8 trucks. I enjoy working on my own stuff and take a lot of pride in my work. I also have trust issues with others working on my vehicles. Its interesting how some folks will think they are saving money by not doing oil changes all the while exposing themselves to many many thousands of dollars in repairs.
It seems that some (many?) folks here, and elsewhere, don't have a trusted non-dealer shop that they have used and have a long-term relationship with. I'm not sure why that is. Perhaps because people move to different areas, maybe because they're always looking for the least expensive (dare I say cheapest?) shop ... I don't know.

I look for established businesses that have been around a long time and which have roots to the community. For example, I've been using my brake and suspension guy since 1984. The brothers took over the business from their dad and have been in the same location since at least 1946. They are well known and respected in the community and have customers that I know of since the 1960s.

A tire shop that I use has been my go-to place since 1970. It's still family owned, although now the daughter is running the place since Don retired and passed. I can count on them to do good, consistent work and they readily stand behind their products and service.

My tranny guy has been in business at he same location for more than 30 years. They are used and recommended by other shops, and, as every other shop I use, they stand behind their work 100%

I tend to work with specialists, although there are two shops that I use for general work. They, too, stand behind their work completely.

Perhaps it helps that I've been living in the area since 1969 and have gotten to know who does what type of work the best.
 
Very suprising to see that "lack of funds" was the largest reason for all age groups for delaying repair / maintenance, at an aggregate of 66%. Are people really that tapped out?
Economists are calling it the K shaped economy.

If your in the top 1/3rd of income your house value has gone up, your stocks have gone up, and your income has probably come close to keeping up.

If your in the bottom 2/3 your credit card debt has gone up and your savings rate has gone down. Overall savings rate in USA is at all time low and cc debt all time high.

Since the top 1/3 do most of the consumer discrtionary spending - economy still looks pretty good. But that all depends on who you are.

So yes, lots of folks are completely tapped out.

1730643906091.webp


https://research.eef.or.th/from-a-k-shaped-to-a-v-shaped-recovery-education-inequality-is-reduced/
 
I'm sick of polls and surveys. While some may be ball parkish semi-close, they are used very often very wrongly.

And don't get me started on what you ate surveys. "What did you have for lunch, last Tuesday?" 19 of 76 people maybe or maybe not remember had a turkey sandwich. Or was it chicken. No it was ham. 4 of those people have an itchy crack. Therefore turkey sandwiches cause itchy crack.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: hrv
I'm sick of polls and surveys. While some may be ball parkish semi-close, they are used very often very wrongly.

And don't get me started on what you ate surveys. "What did you have for lunch, last Tuesday?" 19 of 76 people had a turkey sandwich. 4 of those people have an itchy crack. Therefore turkey sandwiches cause itchy crack.
Thanks for that info. I thought I had hemorrhoids but now realize that it's just a turkey allergy.
 
"Old" Millennial (Product of a Boomer) here that has only had a shop change my oil 2-4 times max over 40 vehicles. May be a bit inconvenient now that I have some little ones again that are taking all my time. Wife collects leftover sawdust in a bag for the messes b/c they do happen & can completely understand a lot of folks don't want the hassle (forgot to pull the drain plug on the drain pan :oops:).

full-78665-9647-img_20170706_122537.jpg


 
I am a boomer and change all my own oil and filters as well as some other fluids. The Rav4 is still under the free oil change program from Toyota. It would cost me a small fortune with 4 vehicles, a boat with 2 engines, a riding lawn mower and push mower and a power washer plus my Honda monkey. If I had to hire someone to do the work I would be constantly running from shop to shop. Plus, I like the peace of mind knowing I did it right. Everyone's situation is different.
 
Back
Top Bottom