Please Teach your Daughters Basic car maintenece.

[surfstar]

Originally Posted By: earlyre
her Outfit (scrubs) says to me that she probably works in some sort of medical office, and has probably had some post secondary education, IE not a dummy who can't learn stuff.

and the car wasn't too shabby either, Jaguar S-Type R. (not sure of the year, but it wasn't cheap)


That says to me that she has car debt in addition to school debt. Hopefully she married(s) a doctor.
She'll never need to know how to do anything car related.

 

[D189379]

I doubt anyone on an oil forum is going to run into issues with family members not being aware of proper vehicle maintenance.

 

[Smokescreen]

To me, there are pillars of our modern culture, car ownership and driving is one of them. You would do a serious dis-service to your family especially young-lings by not making them aware of basic operation and maintenance of these machines. Its a life long skill.

As a side note...IMO there is nothing more pitiful than a clue-less helpless woman in any regard, I absolutely detest prissy women that are afraid to do anything that might make them sweat or exert themselves, loathe them. On the flip side, there is something about a woman that has basic wrenching abilities, not afraid to work that really gets my attention.

 

[andrewg]

Sure, teach them how to perform basic maintenance stuff...good plan. But while you parents are at it, how about teaching a daughter how to cook, clean, and balance a checkbook? All forgotten skills these days for females especially.

 

[Andy636]

It does not boil down to sex, age or education. My dad is 62 and a doctor. He is the most mechanically challenged person I have ever met in my life.

Last week I had to change the belt in my mom's washing machine and after I was done he ask me what was wrong. I replied that the oxygen sensor was shot and that I replaced it. He was like: Ohh...I see...OK.

My mom was rolling on the floor at this point as she knows I usually poke fun at him or straight trolling him for his complete lack of interest about how anything mechanically/electronically operate.

He is the same with the cars...he just calls me when the thingy light up on the dash or the other thingy is squeaking.

I blame this on the fact that for him has always made more sense to pay someone to fix such problems than for him to try and learn how to fix/deal with such problems

 

[surfstar]

Originally Posted By: andrewg
Sure, teach them how to perform basic maintenance stuff...good plan. But while you parents are at it, how about teaching a daughter how to cook, clean, and balance a checkbook? All forgotten skills these days for females especially.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: Andy636
I blame this on the fact that for him has always made more sense to pay someone to fix such problems than for him to try and learn how to fix/deal with such problems

You have to admit, it kinda makes sense from his perspective. How many of us moonlight as doctors on the side? Instead we generally let the pro's diagnose what ails us, certainly leave the repairs to pro's.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: surfstar
Originally Posted By: andrewg
Sure, teach them how to perform basic maintenance stuff...good plan. But while you parents are at it, how about teaching a daughter how to cook, clean, and balance a checkbook? All forgotten skills these days for females especially.

Good skills for everyone. I have high hopes of expecting my kids to learn all the same skills. Or at least the ones I want them to learn.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Some people just have no desire in maintenance / operation of their multi-thousand dollar vehicle.

My friend with the Accord that had two flat tires. One was debeaded and fixed. The other he had a blowout from not inflating the tire. He is afraid of checking the pressure or even adding any because it might explode ...

He doesn't check the oil. No interest in getting the timing belt changed that is 2 years over due (not mileage yet).

Why do people buy high maintenance vehicles and not maintain them?

However, another friend of mine is getting interested in working on his car and saving money. I helped him replace the VVT solenoid actuators in his car this weekend. Showed him a few things on the car. That's a good thing.

My father being a "car guy" from way back when helped with me. I learned to do all of the things to fix stuff when they broke, proper maintenance. Brake jobs, transmission fluid changes, coolant changes ... everything except oil changes. My father never liked doing that.

 

[aquariuscsm]

That chick was probably just a front desk clerk at a doctor's office (don't even need a hs diploma or ged for that job,and scrubs are just their required uniform) and driving a daddymobile.

 

[javacontour]

Years ago, when oilBabe's kids were learning to drive, I had them and the neighbor boy whose dad was deployed to Afghanistan come over and learn to change a tire by performing the better part of a tire rotation.

We used the tools in the car and the full sized spare so we could swap a tire in.

They all took a turn and I then did the last two to get the spare back in the trunk.

Their presence is required when I'm working on their cars. The oldest has helped on numerous oil changes, battery replacements, etc. He even helped with the brakes recently.

The oldest girl is in college and called home about a flat. We said change it, if you can find the nail or other debris, take a photo and send it so we can judge if it can be repaired or you'll need a replacement.

She changed the tire, took it to Wal*Mart or some other shop and had it fixed for $10. We have given her a AAA card, but she knows enough that she's not scared should something happen.

Now my daughter is 15, she's changed a tire already, helps with oil changes. Like the others, she knows how to check the fluids, the operation of the lights, keep the washer fluid topped up. She will be 16 in 5 months and wants to drive.

I'm also teaching her to drive a stick

 

[earlyre]

Good on ya javacontour! That's what a "dad" should do!

I also agree with the previous poster that commented about girls that know how to wrench. It always makes the instantly just a little "hotter"...

 

[andyd]

I was remiss in this dept. Though my son can change a flat. I maintained my daughter's Corolla while she lived at home and used the car to commute to her evening masters program. I still change the oil now, just to see her. Her husband is a ship's engineer, and out to sea for 6-8 weeks at a time. I check the car whenever I see it, mostly for my own peace of mind. And to see the grands.

 

[rjundi]

I am amazed a girl had no experience with putting air in a bike tire as there is so little different between a car and bike. However I guess you need to find the schrader valve first.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Originally Posted By: D189379
I doubt anyone on an oil forum is going to run into issues with family members not being aware of proper vehicle maintenance.


I truly do not know if my sister could change a tire. I do know she's not the most diligent about maintenance.

 

[javacontour]

The bike could have a Presta Valve

On a more serious note, folks could figure it out if they needed to. After all, how hard would it be to use the smart phone and google, "how to add air to a tire?"

Originally Posted By: rjundi
I am amazed a girl had no experience with putting air in a bike tire as there is so little different between a car and bike. However I guess you need to find the schrader valve first.

 

[Volvohead]

Originally Posted By: earlyre
I'm probably Preaching to the Choir here, but Today I was working a shift at the Gas Station, and this young (mid 20's) Girl in Scrubs Comes in asking where/how to put air into her Tires. I go out to hep her, thinking it would be showing her how to turn on the compressor, etc.

nope.

She had absolutely no concept of how to actually add air to the tires. almost like she was afraid to even touch the tires. . .


Ha. At least she didn't come in with the red "add oil" light on. Seen that one once.

 

[Revving2Redline]

My parents ran synthetic in my cars in college, better reliability, and less worry over a high oci with dino. Glad to hear that adults are helping kids learn these skills. I think it also shows them values and responsibility. Being able to do work on your own car will alter whether you eat steak or spam. It all gives youth a chance to really understand the value of a dollar. Its a win-win.

 

[supton]

My 7 year old wanted to help this weekend (I pulled a wheel from the Jetta as I wanted to look at a rear shock). Obviously she was not going to break loose the lugs with an 18" wrench. Luckily I keep a 4' cheater around. She was quite happy to break them loose with that!

I question how much she retains, but exposure is exposure.

 

[pandus13]

Originally Posted By: supton
My 7 year old wanted to help this weekend (I pulled a wheel from the Jetta as I wanted to look at a rear shock). Obviously she was not going to break loose the lugs with an 18" wrench. Luckily I keep a 4' cheater around. She was quite happy to break them loose with that!

I question how much she retains, but exposure is exposure.

give her a wire brush or sandpaper block and have her have at it with your jetta rust problem???