the owners manual....the Bible?
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Depends if I agree with the suggestions or not!!!
Originally Posted By: Steve S
Depends if I agree with the suggestions or not!!!
+1
Depends if I agree with the suggestions or not!!!
+1
For some things. Others, you're better off following your gut. Like ATF changes, for instance.
Originally Posted By: sciphi
For some things. Others, you're better off following your gut. Like ATF changes, for instance.
Exactly. A little common sense goes a long way when it comes to maintenance.
For some things. Others, you're better off following your gut. Like ATF changes, for instance.
Exactly. A little common sense goes a long way when it comes to maintenance.
In general, yes. I would think long and hard before skipping something it says to do. Chances are going beyond it has little payback. You seldom go wrong following it. I do run 5W-30 in my 77 truck that the manual says 10W-30. Maybe oils have improved since then?
Owners manuals show quite a lot of contempt for the reader. Like listing GM Optikleen (tm) instead of blue windshield squirter fluid in the "fluids and specs" section. At some point in the malarkey the average droid is going to get annoyed and chuck the book back into the glovebox.*
As a practical matter, how does one keep track of every other time for filter changes? Or save the $3 by just getting their oil changed?
When the olds achieva (grand am) came out in 1993 or so my dad called an 800 number for a free VHS tape. (He covered the erase proof tab so he could have a blank tape.
) Anyway we watched that stupid tape and they drove an achieva, a camry, and something else 24/7 getting only dealer service. They were bragging about how cheap the achieva was to run. Maybe they only changed the filter every other time!
*before they figure out how to disable the honk/alarm chirp when they unlock the doors with the remote
As a practical matter, how does one keep track of every other time for filter changes? Or save the $3 by just getting their oil changed?
*before they figure out how to disable the honk/alarm chirp when they unlock the doors with the remote
kcfx4,
I have enjoyed your questions and see that you are looking for affirmation for how you choose to maintain your stuff. I'm 54, have maintained a fleet of vehicles, ag. equip., and OPE equipment for 30 years, and I still wrestle with maintenance intervals and practices. Most of my equipment accumulates less than average miles/hours per year.
IMO, vehicle/equipment maintenance schedules vary so much between mfg. that it indicates that even they are not in agreement about what's best.
I use the manual as a bible under warranty, as a guideline after that. I adjust my maintenance schedules to fit my conditions.
Caravan - lifetime tranny fluid/filter? No way.
JD Tractor Hydraulic/Tranny Fluid - every 1200 hours, no time designation? I cut that in half (about 5 years) due to H20 condensation.
JD Air filters - change annually/no hours spec.? No way, thats only 150 hours for me.
In some cases I extend the intervals and others I shorten. There is no correct answer for everyone. As I accumulate experience with each piece of equip., I sometimes modify the intervals.....this, from a "cookbook/by the book" kind of guy.
I do tend to err on the conservative side, though. It's hard to justify pinching $10 or $20 dollars on a $25,000 dollar machine. I also don't change my tranny fluid every OCI like some here. Moderation......is the key to happiness in MY case.
Also, if no else likes or agrees with what I do, phooey on them....kind of.....I enjoy the respect I get for having a reputation of taking good care of my stuff.
I have enjoyed your questions and see that you are looking for affirmation for how you choose to maintain your stuff. I'm 54, have maintained a fleet of vehicles, ag. equip., and OPE equipment for 30 years, and I still wrestle with maintenance intervals and practices. Most of my equipment accumulates less than average miles/hours per year.
IMO, vehicle/equipment maintenance schedules vary so much between mfg. that it indicates that even they are not in agreement about what's best.
I use the manual as a bible under warranty, as a guideline after that. I adjust my maintenance schedules to fit my conditions.
Caravan - lifetime tranny fluid/filter? No way.
JD Tractor Hydraulic/Tranny Fluid - every 1200 hours, no time designation? I cut that in half (about 5 years) due to H20 condensation.
JD Air filters - change annually/no hours spec.? No way, thats only 150 hours for me.
In some cases I extend the intervals and others I shorten. There is no correct answer for everyone. As I accumulate experience with each piece of equip., I sometimes modify the intervals.....this, from a "cookbook/by the book" kind of guy.
I do tend to err on the conservative side, though. It's hard to justify pinching $10 or $20 dollars on a $25,000 dollar machine. I also don't change my tranny fluid every OCI like some here. Moderation......is the key to happiness in MY case.
Also, if no else likes or agrees with what I do, phooey on them....kind of.....I enjoy the respect I get for having a reputation of taking good care of my stuff.
doitmyself, my wife wishes i hadnt joined this sight, because im ADDICTED!! I enjoy a good debate and wow have i found it here. Truely im not trying to justify my practices, its what i do and will more than likely continue. But I'm trying to be open minded and learn the practices of others. And truely i'm trying to understand how one justifys this....I spent 20k (low side) on a new car, and i'll be [censored] if they get my $5 (low side) for that oil filter (example). To me thats mind blowing as you probably realize, but im trying to keep an open mind and listen/ try and understand.
You answered your own question.
I think owner's manuals are the best single source of information when they provide it. You just have to take into consideration that the specs and fluid types in the manual will go out of date, and that there may be better alternatives than what's listed. I mostly follow the manual for my truck, but not exactly. I use a universal synthetic ATF, which is supposed to meet Mercon V specs. I also use a slightly different fluid weight than OEM in the rear diff, and the PS pump now uses Mercon V instead of Mercon like the manual suggests. I'm also supposed to use two different spark plug part numbers, and I didn't do that either. The truck runs and drives great with 94K miles, so for me using the manual as a general guide and making my own trial and error changes from there has worked well.
The problem is that a lot of owners manuals suck, or may not give clear explanations. Coolant specs are an example...it's often not clear what exactly the car needs from the description in the manual...it's no wonder so many stores only stock all makes/all models stuff now. Some manuals are just disappointingly lacking in information. I had to remove the radio fuse in my friend's E46 323i because the head unit would not turn off or down and the sub was cranked up. The owner's manual had NO fuse diagram period. Nothing. It told you where the box was and how to check the fuses, but there was no description for what accessories were on each fuse. We found a diagram online, but that's something that I really believe is a must in the owner's manual.
The problem is that a lot of owners manuals suck, or may not give clear explanations. Coolant specs are an example...it's often not clear what exactly the car needs from the description in the manual...it's no wonder so many stores only stock all makes/all models stuff now. Some manuals are just disappointingly lacking in information. I had to remove the radio fuse in my friend's E46 323i because the head unit would not turn off or down and the sub was cranked up. The owner's manual had NO fuse diagram period. Nothing. It told you where the box was and how to check the fuses, but there was no description for what accessories were on each fuse. We found a diagram online, but that's something that I really believe is a must in the owner's manual.
Originally Posted By: kcfx4
audijunkie, i didnt ask the question as if im unmechanical nor unintelligent. i asked so ppl would post their comments/ideas.
huh? So rhetorical answers are out? I thought I was being helpful. Oh well.
audijunkie, i didnt ask the question as if im unmechanical nor unintelligent. i asked so ppl would post their comments/ideas.
huh? So rhetorical answers are out? I thought I was being helpful. Oh well.
Originally Posted By: kcfx4
i posted a question asking if or if not ppl reuse their oil filter, and age. since reading, with some ppls responce, i wondered if the owners manual is a car owners Bible or merely a suggestion? fyi-im not refering to warranty concerns
I do what has worked for me in the past. I may look briefly at the owners manual, but thats all.
i posted a question asking if or if not ppl reuse their oil filter, and age. since reading, with some ppls responce, i wondered if the owners manual is a car owners Bible or merely a suggestion? fyi-im not refering to warranty concerns
I do what has worked for me in the past. I may look briefly at the owners manual, but thats all.
Originally Posted By: Audi Junkie
Originally Posted By: kcfx4
audijunkie, i didnt ask the question as if im unmechanical nor unintelligent. i asked so ppl would post their comments/ideas.
huh? So rhetorical answers are out? I thought I was being helpful. Oh well.
So much philosophy, so little commonsense
Originally Posted By: kcfx4
audijunkie, i didnt ask the question as if im unmechanical nor unintelligent. i asked so ppl would post their comments/ideas.
huh? So rhetorical answers are out? I thought I was being helpful. Oh well.
So much philosophy, so little commonsense
What is your normal OCI? When I was doing regl'ar 3k mile changes, I would ocasionally skip changing the filter. If the engine is fairly clean inside, ..
Originally Posted By: kcfx4
Originally Posted By: Audi Junkie
Originally Posted By: kcfx4
audijunkie, i didnt ask the question as if im unmechanical nor unintelligent. i asked so ppl would post their comments/ideas.
huh? So rhetorical answers are out? I thought I was being helpful. Oh well.
So much philosophy, so little commonsense
I'm not sure there is a difference between the two, other than how it's expressed.
So then, maybe you can point out where I showed such a lack of common sense, seeing as how you've rocketed far ahead of me in that department.
The best example of lacking common sense was me replying to your post to begin with.
Originally Posted By: Audi Junkie
Originally Posted By: kcfx4
audijunkie, i didnt ask the question as if im unmechanical nor unintelligent. i asked so ppl would post their comments/ideas.
huh? So rhetorical answers are out? I thought I was being helpful. Oh well.
So much philosophy, so little commonsense
I'm not sure there is a difference between the two, other than how it's expressed.
So then, maybe you can point out where I showed such a lack of common sense, seeing as how you've rocketed far ahead of me in that department.
The best example of lacking common sense was me replying to your post to begin with.
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