So my Dad told me he never changed his coolant.
- Thread starter jigen
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jigen, my father in law is the same kind of guy, oil changes only, no oil level checks in between whatsoever.
He has a 2000 Toyota Echo, all fluids are original, oil changes only, at 200,000KM (120k miles) it's still going, although it drives like c!rap.
The funny thing is, he says that this car is the most reliable of all the cars he had in the past, I just laugh as 200,000 km is not a lot at all, but he thinks it is.
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Originally Posted By: jigen
I was over there on Father's day and we started talking about his truck. He has a 2000 S10 (2.2L, 5-speed)that has about 225k on it now. He was talking about how he never did anything to this truck maintenance-wise besides oil changes and that he is shocked it still runs so well. My dad is the kind of guy that since the truck has been running so well for this long, messing with maintenance makes him worried it will mess up the truck.
Fuel filter, spark plugs, differential and tranny fluid... all from the factory. He had the stock airfilter in there until he was having trouble starting the car. A CEL popped up and it turns out it was from the ridiculously clogged airfilter. He changed it at about 200k.
I then asked him about the coolant and of course, factory fill. I really want to drain the coolant for this man but he seems nervous it will screw things up since he went so long on factory fill. 
I just wonder what that dexcool looks like at this point. No true point to this story other than cars and trucks these days can obviously take insane amounts of neglect and keep on goin'.
If I drain this beast, I'll post pics. lol
I just wonder what that dexcool looks like at this point. No true point to this story other than cars and trucks these days can obviously take insane amounts of neglect and keep on goin'.
If I drain this beast, I'll post pics. lol
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I'd be worried about the brake fluid especially if you live in a humid climate.
Just have him change out all the fluids and spark plugs, it wouldn't cost more than $65 in parts, and he can go another 200k without any maintenance 
If the fuel filter is not changed,it puts a strain on the fuel pump and kills it when it is plugged up.I have changed fuel pumps due to plugged up fuel filters.The Chevy Chevettes were a piece of junk,my mother had one and was called a Shovette.
Intake gasket leaks did in more Dex-Cooled vehicles than anything. Nylon plus Dex-Cool means no more nylon.
Hey, start off with a fuel filter and a can of fuel system cleaner or two and move on up from there.
My Pa is the same way. He'll buy a car used at 20-30k miles, do NO maintenance except oil changes... bittch for a couple years about how much repairs are costing him, then trade the thing off at about 100-120k miles. I've tried for years to convince him that preventative maintenance is worth the time/money... but some people have this thing where once they're changed your diapers- they just can't quite take you seriously.
If it was me. I wouldn't touch that truck with a 10 ft. pole. If you do ANYTHING to it you will be the one responsible for whatever breaks.
Let your dad take it to a shop and let them handle it. Play the concerned son and tell your dad that you are very worried about him driving the truck in that condition. Ask him to please take it in and have services done. Like someone said above, I'd be very concerned with the brake fuid in that thing. With the old of a fluid in there the rubber break lines can't be in good shape either. Tell him it worries ou to think about him possibly being hurt because something major could fail. Getting hurt because of a lack of routine maintenence is just something that shouldn't happen but very likely could if something major gives up while he's runing down the highway.
so was he getting the oil changed at 3K? It's sooo much better for the tranny/brakes/suspension than waiting till 5K, maybe this is the post we needed for you non believers
Originally Posted By: Barkleymut
so was he getting the oil changed at 3K? It's sooo much better for the tranny/brakes/suspension than waiting till 5K, maybe this is the post we needed for you non believers
The Chevy Chevettes were a piece of junk,my mother had one and was called a Shovette.
That would be a "piece of Shovette"
At least with no maintainence (except oil changes)the truck hasn't been subjected to "mechanical malpractice"
No shoddy workmanship or cheap or wrong fluids added.
Originally Posted By: jigen
- As for the tranny. The fluid may need to be changed badly, but it is a 5-speed manual and I am pretty sure GM states that fluid is good for life. If the manual says that my dad would most likely not have it changed.
Either way I can probably talk him into a coolant flush. I am more interested in doing that than anything else, lol.
I have a neighbor who is an engineer who never seems to do PM on his car except oil. He never washes it, he leaves the pine needles and leaves on the cowl, doesn't change coolant, ATF or brake fluid and he rarely seems to have a problem. He had a '66 Mustang and he was hit in the rear on a local road and the car fell apart in the middle of the road from the rust. He will probably live a long life while I get a heart attack while waxing my car.
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Originally Posted By: jigen
I was over there on Father's day and we started talking about his truck. He has a 2000 S10 (2.2L, 5-speed)that has about 225k on it now. He was talking about how he never did anything to this truck maintenance-wise besides oil changes and that he is shocked it still runs so well. My dad is the kind of guy that since the truck has been running so well for this long, messing with maintenance makes him worried it will mess up the truck.
Fuel filter, spark plugs, differential and tranny fluid... all from the factory. He had the stock airfilter in there until he was having trouble starting the car. A CEL popped up and it turns out it was from the ridiculously clogged airfilter. He changed it at about 200k.
I then asked him about the coolant and of course, factory fill. I really want to drain the coolant for this man but he seems nervous it will screw things up since he went so long on factory fill.
I just wonder what that dexcool looks like at this point. No true point to this story other than cars and trucks these days can obviously take insane amounts of neglect and keep on goin'.
If I drain this beast, I'll post pics. lol
I just wonder what that dexcool looks like at this point. No true point to this story other than cars and trucks these days can obviously take insane amounts of neglect and keep on goin'.
If I drain this beast, I'll post pics. lol
An '86 Corolla LE was my first car. The body was definitely falling apart quicker than anything with the engine. I almost wish I still had that thing.
I think a lot of mechanics say changing fluids does more harm than good only because they don't want to be blamed for failure 10, 20, or 30k after they've been changed. People tend to come in about a tranny flush when they notice their trans dying out on them.
Originally Posted By: jigen
I think a lot of mechanics say changing fluids does more harm than good only because they don't want to be blamed for failure 10, 20, or 30k after they've been changed.
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