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Servicing Your Car and other ways to cut expenses

B

budsmoker87

New Member
Well, this belongs here. Lots of us have vehicles I assume, and any vehicle's major components (and some smaller, often overlooked components) experience consistent wear and tear. We counter this wear/tear by replacing fluids & small parts along the way. What do LOTS of people do? Pay a mechanic, of course...exuberant labor costs (sometimes greater than the cost of the part/product) to "service" your car.


But the same amount of TIME is "wasted" whether you do it yourself or hire a mechanic to do it for you...and based on the common algabreic theory of time=money...you're losing in the short & long term.


Short term because you've spent possibly 3-4 times more than if you were to do it yourself

Long term because...well, not many mechanics are going to take the time to clean acid corrosion off your battery's cell connector...or slap some grease on your tirods. The little things that allow your car to be most efficient in performance and savings. Little things, as I've found, can create big problems if neglected/forgotten or otherwise overlooked



Yesterday I did a motor oil/tranny fluid exchange, installed new air, fuel and tranny filter w/gasket, topped off power steering fluid and engine coolant, and checked PSI levels in tires after greasing every moving part I could reach underneathe. I spent $36 to do it myself...compared to around $160 if I had hired a mechanic to do it.


I'm just learning this stuff and only wish I'd learned how to love my car sooner. My overall appreciation of my car has quintupled :)


I hereby pledge to seek to maintain my car through service and repairs to the best of my ability and seek answers by asking questions if needed.


Vegetable gardening is also a fun hobby that maximizes my savings

So........ let's get this thread going. How do YOU save cash? Let's get all ideas flowing
 
mygirls

mygirls

Medical Marijuana (MOD)
im a mechanic by trade. if you have a problem ask and i will try to help..


i do all my repairs myself, home, car, boat, bike. if i don't know how i sure will try..
 
Grumpy'

Grumpy'

Active Member
While being a shadetree mechanic can save yu a fortune, not everyone has the ability to do so. Sure, minor things like topping off fluids and tire pressure, but to get under it and know what to look for and where. A good or even mediocre vehicle service will actually grease all fittings as well as the basic oil change. They do it for a living so have the know how and tools (tools being another item not everyone has) to do it quickly and safely. My local oil change service station charges for parts and a nominal labor fee. For 36 bucks I leave my car and pick it up later, all greased, and topped off. For an extra ten they toss in a quick detailing on the interior.
I know that goes against what your topic was about, but needed to address that if your paying that much for an oil change, your being taken for a ride.
Shopping around for sales on everyday items, coupons (tons of money if extreme couponing), comparing unit price per lb or oz (not always cheaper in the larger size). Those big box stores (costco, sams club etc) aren't always best as they carry brand names, which smaller stores have generic versions of products that comparatively are cheaper.
Save a few empty milk jugs, fill them with water and keep them for when your fridge or freezer is empty. Filling the air space inside will prevent the fridge from running as often, saving wear and tear and power. Wrap all hot water pipes in insulation. Add a brick or quart milk jug filled with water to your toilet reservoir tank to save per flush.

Theres tons of ways to save. Every little penny adds up, in this, or any economy.
 
Sunbiz1

Sunbiz1

Well-Known Member
mygirls said:
im a mechanic by trade. if you have a problem ask and i will try to help..


i do all my repairs myself, home, car, boat, bike. if i don't know how i sure will try..
Click to expand...
I have a Chevy with 50K miles on it. This vehicle is notorious for needing new transmissions at around 90K. Other than regular servicing, is there any additive you would recommend to prolong its' limited life?.

TY for any advice!
 
mygirls

mygirls

Medical Marijuana (MOD)
Sunbiz1 said:
I have a Chevy with 50K miles on it. This vehicle is notorious for needing new transmissions at around 90K. Other than regular servicing, is there any additive you would recommend to prolong its' limited life?.

TY for any advice!
Click to expand...
i take it its an automatic. if so do you tow alot, regardless if you do or not i recomend having heavy duty cluchs in it.. get that thing to hit the gear a little firmer.. this will help with prolonging the life of the trany but as for your u-joint they will go bad sooner.. but then again they are a lot less expencive to replace..
 
Sunbiz1

Sunbiz1

Well-Known Member
mygirls said:
i take it its an automatic. if so do you tow alot, regardless if you do or not i recomend having heavy duty cluchs in it.. get that thing to hit the gear a little firmer.. this will help with prolonging the life of the trany but as for your u-joint they will go bad sooner.. but then again they are a lot less expencive to replace..
Click to expand...
It's an auto, never used for towing. There were quite a few shitty factory parts I have already upgraded, did so when the originals broke....mainly brakes and tie rod ends. I have a really good mechanic, been using him 4/years on 3 different cars. I haven't turned a screw since the days of carbs, so upgrading a clutch on my own isn't an option. I was thinking more along the lines of an additive during fluid/filter change.
 
J

jbsoriginality

Member
dang dude what kind of chevy do u have, my dad has a 94 silverrado with 267k on it with a rebuild on engine tranny 30k ago and its still going strong! a 77 c10 and its needed the usual replacements but it has about 300k and my 99 suburban has 160k and the major thing its needed is a water pump. the only problems ive had with chevy is the gm passlock system and that was on a chevy malibu 2002!
Sunbiz1 said:
I have a Chevy with 50K miles on it. This vehicle is notorious for needing new transmissions at around 90K. Other than regular servicing, is there any additive you would recommend to prolong its' limited life?.

TY for any advice!
Click to expand...
 
Ilovebush

Ilovebush

Well-Known Member
I kinda have mixed feelings about saving money this way. As mentioned, tools, time, and unforseen problems are all factors to consider. Lets say u do all ur homework and attempt something u never did b4, the result could cost u more in the end. I mix it up...I like working on my car and will do all the maintenance myself since I don't like to overpay on anything. I also have a great and fair mechanic who I trust completely for jobs that are more work than I'm interested in doing. This is key as u might know how to swap that tranny but may not be interested in spending the time. Whats cool with my mechanic is since my car is older...I source out the parts and just pay labour...that saves me money but many mechanics won't go for this deal. This is how I know my mech is the schiznitch! My conclusion, do whatever u can yourself since money doesn't grow on trees.
 
mygirls

mygirls

Medical Marijuana (MOD)
Ilovebush said:
I kinda have mixed feelings about saving money this way. As mentioned, tools, time, and unforseen problems are all factors to consider. Lets say u do all ur homework and attempt something u never did b4, the result could cost u more in the end. I mix it up...I like working on my car and will do all the maintenance myself since I don't like to overpay on anything. I also have a great and fair mechanic who I trust completely for jobs that are more work than I'm interested in doing. This is key as u might know how to swap that tranny but may not be interested in spending the time. Whats cool with my mechanic is since my car is older...I source out the parts and just pay labour...that saves me money but many mechanics won't go for this deal. This is how I know my mech is the schiznitch! My conclusion, do whatever u can yourself since money doesn't grow on trees.
Click to expand...
thats the only way i will work on cars, and thats if the costumer brings me the part.
 
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