guys over 50 doing maintenance

[BISCUT]

Mid 50's and still enjoy the maintenance items I can do on our 4 vehicles. For me, I am incredibly grateful I can continue to do oil changes as I don't trust others doing them and I love how quick it is for me.

 

[sds911]

55 and still doing routine maintenance. Sometimes I put things off like you - like brake flush on my gx460, although phoenix test strip and water meter say it’s still good after 6 years. Definitely need to do it soon. I’d like to do that service every 2 to 3 years. Need to clay bar, polish and seal the paint too. Winter of running through car wash left plenty of swirls.

Have new rotors and pads, light bulbs, fuel injectors for my 911 sitting for couple years now in garage. Current brake pads and rotors with 40k miles or more aren’t too bad, so just waiting till it’s really necessary or I’m in the mood. And I don’t drive the car often. I did my friend’s rear brake pads and rotors recently. Fronts soon. All in saving my friend $600 over dealer/shop quotes.

Probably do more work on my vehicles now that spring is here. One more snow storm Friday to Saturday though and back in 30f temps.

Neck/back issues definitely get worse after some work. But, addressing those rn with my doctor. B/c it’s not just a diy maintenance issue.

 

[sds911]

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.

Just had discount rotate, balance mine on the gx460. It was free and quick with an appointment. I’ll check lug nut torque though…

 

[Kurtatron]

I’m not ancient yet at 36, but I got my first debilitating injury. A grade 2 muscle strain that is taking MONTHS to recover. I can’t do any strength exercises with my left leg. It’s been an excruciating experience that I believe would recover much faster if I were in my 20s.

20s are the best time of life imo. You don’t have a lot of cash, but if you’re mature enough not to obsess over money, 20s are prime living age.

 

[D60]

I’m not ancient yet at 36, but I got my first debilitating injury. A grade 2 muscle strain that is taking MONTHS to recover. I can’t do any strength exercises with my left leg. It’s been an excruciating experience that I believe would recover much faster if I were in my 20s.

20s are the best time of life imo. You don’t have a lot of cash, but if you’re mature enough not to obsess over money, 20s are prime living age.

My 30s were the best for me, although I too went through two years of near-invalid level of living due to a herniated disc. A microdiscectomy finally helped that.

Am I the only one surprised to learn ages in this thread? Many of the people here I assumed were hot-headed testosterone laden 20-year-olds based on their posts are old enough to know better. Really eye opening

 

[Tundragod]

Wish I had the best time.

 

[Kestas]

I'm 69 years old and retired. I still work on my cars and yard. It's healthy to get your butt off the couch and do stuff outside.

 

[BSeward]

I turned 75 today, and do my own oil, brakes, and general maintainence. I want it done right.

 

[Oldwolf]

I'm 68 and do the basic stuff myself. Oil changes, coolant changes, transmission fluid changes, brakes, etc. I let my dealer flush the brake fluid on my Sienna and Prius though.

 

[oilstained]

Chiming in to say I’m in my fifties, and still learning about Oil.

 

[Number_35]

Coming up on 68 next month, and still wondering how I got to be the same age as old people and who that wrinkly grizzled old guy in the mirror is.

But still doing as much in the way of maintenance and repairs as I can. The body is holding up well so far, but I'm sure it's coming.

 

[perkz]

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....

I am 68 and doing more wrenching than since I was 18. Good tools, high end creeper for the trucks. Bright lighting. Good work gloves like Ansell (Amazon Ansell Hyflex) better box fans. Good work coveralls. Knee pads if needed. Drink alot of good water (I live in the deep south). You can make it a lot more comfortable with the right equipment. Spend the $.

 

[bbhero]

I am 49… Strange to even think about that.,

I have multiple sclerosis which has made all things very hard at times in the past 26 years… crazy that I just passed that 26 year mark very recently. It was April 8th 1999 when I went to MCV in Richmond and I was going totally blind in my left eye.

I just did an oil change on my father in laws 2009 Toyota Camry 2.4 L. Felt really good physically doing it.

Every day I can see, walk and talk and work is a good good day. I’m very, very fortunate and blessed to do all what I have done in the past 26 years. I take things one day at a time. My life has been very, very hard at times. Which has helped make me so grateful for everything I can do and have done. And I’m so grateful for a good number of people who I have had the honor to have met in my life.

 

[bbhero]

65 here and have MS, so everything is difficult or impossible. I would take the pain, but I just can't get on the ground and stand back up. I feel for all who are struggling with their bodies not wanting to cooperate. Car maintenance was something that brought me great joy and satisfaction. A 4-post lift is the only thing I feel that would allow me to stay active in the vehicle owner world, but I have no room for one. If you can do it, do it. Remember, it could be worse. MS takes and takes without a cure.

Amazing I just happened to see this post right after I put mine on here… A whole, whole, whole lot of truth and wisdom in this post.

 

[D1dad]

I turned 75 today, and do my own oil, brakes, and general maintainence. I want it done right.

We share the same birthday. 52 and still getting it done. Unless I can’t do it, no one turns any bolts on my cars, outside of tire rotations.

 

[live_to_hunt]

I am 52 I have more tools than I did years ago but I sure have less drive to get under the car. I do take into consideration do I feel like making an appointment dropping the car and have to pay for it. Or suck it up get out there and just fix it. I usually always just fix it.

 

[Gus_Mahn]

Approaching 60 and still do almost all my own oil changes, tire rotations, and brake jobs. Until today I'd never paid for a brake job other than parts. I thought the front pads would make one last trip, and they started grinding 1200 miles from home. The parts and tires are heavier and the ground is further down than it used to be, but doing this work makes me feel useful, and it's hard to trust the quality of many shops. I find lighting and reading glasses are key for me now, and I can't lay on my chest for any period of time, but getting off the ground 15-20 times a day is pretty good exercise.

 

[ATex7239]

That’s not the case. Maybe you can be a real man and not work on cars, but you can’t work on cars without being a real man.

Sure you can. Women like my daughter can do it. I’ve been teaching her to work on her own car. And also I’ve known some really POS dudes who can work on cars.

 

[JunkdrawerDog]

69 years old here. I still do some of my preventive maintenance but I choose my battles carefully. I'll do oil changes, engine air and cabin air filters, tire rotations, wipers, bulbs. Anything more involved and it goes back to the dealer. I enjoy the easy stuff and don't see the point in paying someone else to do the fun parts. I also like to know that it's done correctly.

 

[Donald]

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....

Help me understand, you wife has not been wanting you to get under the car for 20 years or hasn't wanted to get under the car herself for 20 years?