Spent it all

[oiltard]

Came into a very minor windfall, and it took me all of 12 hours to spend pretty much every penny of it on my 2005 Civic EX Coupe, with 56,000 miles. Just wanted to tell someone who'd appreciate it.

Dropped her at the tire place Sunday night. The Factory-installed 7+ year-old Bridgestone Potenzas went bye-bye yesterday. Think they were down to about 4/32s. Swapped for a shiny new set of slightly narrower LRR Michelin's. If nothing else, the 7 pounds/corner reduction in weight will save me an mpg or so.

Yesterday morning, called the local Toyota dealership to see if I could talk them into dealing on some 0w20. Last time, I was told there was no way to get a volume discount on oil. This time, the guy told me $4.99/qt if I buy a case.

Stopped on my way home from the tire shop and got 2 cases. Set for a while, although these will be shared by 2 other cars I service.

This morning, I decided to use my credit at the local Honda dealership along with a coupon that they pledged to match for a new battery. I couldn't have done it myself in the Wal-Mart parking lot for the $65 it cost me, and I have a 3-year non-prorated warranty.

Tomorrow I change the oil (only 3k on the ?w-20 that I didn't want in there, but I got the itch bad now) and D&F the ATF, even though I had a complete exchange just 8k miles ago when I had the trans cooler put in. Going to send a sample of ATF to Blackstone to see if there's any metals from the cooler install or other problems since switching to DW-1. Planning to request a TAN, unless someone convinces me it's a bad idea.

Then I'll run the Toyota SN 0W20 and a Wix filter for 200 gallons of gas usage, regardless of mileage and get a UOA with TBN when I do the next change.

That's it. Timing belt has been done, coolant and brake fluid both recently flushed. Brakes have some meat left on them, and I'll be out of reasons to get dirty under the car for a while. Feels good though.

 

[HerrStig]

And you are saving how much???

 

[racin4ds]

Good to know I'm not the only one out there with this "sickness" keeping my cars,ATV's mowers etc. maintained is addictive! LOL!!

I just got asked by the wife yesterday after changing the oil in my 2 kids 4 wheelers and my KingQuad, " is there ever going to be an evening when you don't work on something??" Of course I told her yea but I doubt it!

I drive my 94 Acura 100 miles per day to work, it still gets 33-34mpg and runs great! I meticulously check tire air pressure and change fluids so I think it must work!

 

[oiltard]

Originally Posted By: HerrStig
And you are saving how much???


By buying tires? Maybe my life and health. Old ones were used up and I'm getting a $70 MIR Debit Card from Michelin.

 

[HerrStig]

By changing oil that you just "didn't want in there".

 

[oiltard]

Originally Posted By: racin4ds
I drive my 94 Acura 100 miles per day to work, it still gets 33-34mpg and runs great! I meticulously check tire air pressure and change fluids so I think it must work!


Yup, the tire pressure constantly being checked, (coupled with the fact that a 1994 Acura is arguably one of the most solid cars ever built), sounds like it's doing the trick!

 

[oiltard]

Originally Posted By: HerrStig
By changing oil that you just "didn't want in there".


That was a whole 'nother thread. I already managed to stifle the itch to change it out for 3,000 miles, which is the interval at which I was changing oil in my pre-BITOG days anyway. I don't even know exactly what oil it is, just that it's a bulk 20-weight with which the Honda dealership accidentally replaced my 175-mile-old Toyota 0w20 when I had my timing belt replaced.

And if the volume of the stash I've accumulated doesn't promptly begin to decline, I'm going to have assert in a raised voice that a certain closet full of shoes is a far larger waste of apartment space than 4 neatly stacked cases of automotive fluids.

 

[oiltard]

Done deal. Tires are new and properly inflated. Battery is new. Oil replaced with Toyota 0w-20 SN. Filter replaced with Wix 51356. ATF sample goes off to Blackstone tomorrow.

Drives nice now with all its new bits and fluids. I'm sure it's mostly in my head, but that won't stop me from enjoying it while it lasts. No major projects in my near future and I'm glad.

 

[fdcg27]

That Civic should give you another 150K with the way you're caring for it.
You've made an investment in your car's long term durability and utility.
Run the Toy oil at least 5K, though.

 

[ledslinger]

Way to go tard!

 

[oiltard]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
That Civic should give you another 150K


I hope a lot more than that! It only has 56k on the clock now. I'd like to go 250-300k without major repair/rebuild if I can.

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Run the Toy oil at least 5K, though.


Planning to run it for however many miles I get with 200 gallons of gasoline. This time of year, that should end up between 8,000 and 8,500 miles.

No more spending $9/quart for boutique 5W-20 and changing it every 3,000 miles. Of course, all my savings are probably eaten up by oil analysis costs, but I won't keep doing those once I establish that my fluids, filters, and intervals are correct.

ATF and PSF should be ok with 1x/year (~20k miles) changes, even though I only get about half the fluid each time for those (PSF just gets turkey baster treatment). Tranny fluid was completely exchanged at 44k miles when I had a trans cooler installed. Another 2.75 quarts exchanged yesterday with only 7800 miles on the fluid. Drain plug was spotless. Hardly left a gray streak on the rag I wiped it with.

I may extend OCI a bit depending on UOA and TBN results. If I can establish that the Toyota oil is up to the task, I may try to stretch to 2 OC/yr. So far, the view through the fill cap is spotless, for whatever that's worth.

 

[hardcore302]

Got the itch! Good for you. Just don't change too early.

 

[mechtech2]

The permanency and good maintenance are better investments than a few nice dinners and some bar nights out.

 

[oiltard]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
The permanency and good maintenance are better investments than a few nice dinners and some bar nights out.


Good way to put it in perspective. As of today, I own the car outright, so aside from budgeting some of the money that was previously going toward payments for the eventual replacement (hopefully in the DISTANT future), maybe I'll be able to do both!