american car user query

[lance4k]

In america, do people take their cars to get Serviced every 6 months like we do here in New Zealand? A service is getting spark plugs changed, oil changed, disc brakes checked, fuel filter checked, fluids topped up, battery level tested etc

Or what do americans do to maintain there car?Not everyone knows how to check fluid levels and change oils so there must be a auto repair place that has servicing or tune-ups or what is it called?

[Andydg]

Some people take them into the dealer or to a mechanic. Personally I try to do as much as I can myself because I want to learn...but there's only so much I can learn by myself, a shitty manual, and big hands.

[Black Lotus]

Originally Posted by lance4k

In america, do people take their cars to get Serviced every 6 months like we do here in New Zealand? A service is getting spark plugs changed, oil changed, disc brakes checked, fuel filter checked, fluids topped up, battery level tested etc

Or what do americans do to maintain there car?Not everyone knows how to check fluid levels and change oils so there must be a auto repair place that has servicing or tune-ups or what is it called?

Americans take their cars to the local villiage witch doctor. Three comely virgins (hard to come by lately) are sacrificed to the Great Gasket God, who lives in a volcano, to purify the tainted, used oil. We perform tuneups with a rock and a piece of flint like our Red Indian forefathers have always done. The Suspension Alignment Ceremony uses the jawbone of a buffalo and local villagers dancing the colorful "Alignment Spirit Dance" which drives out the evil Maladjustment Ghost Spirits, that normally live in crooked trees or the lower backs of older White Settler Devils.
I myself, am a 0.0056% pureblood Cherokee, and specialize in the Rain Cloud valve adjustment and the Prairie Fire paint job. Hope this helps.
As always, your faithful servant,
Barking Eagle.

[Mustangman25]

/\
Yeah, most people do take care of regular mantience, but not the full slew of things that you mention every 6 months, like plugs. Lots of people just take their car to the dealer or a garage that does almost nothing but mantience (Mr. Oil Change) for oil changes, plugs, top of fluids, etc. I prefer to do as much as possible myself (change my own oil, plugs, any other routine mantinence) to gain the experince, but also to save myself money.

[LancerZero]

Black Lotus: That was awesome.

Lance4k: Um, no. I mostly just pay attention to my odometer and use that as a guide, because the number of miles I drive varies widely. Sometimes, I'll only drive 170 miles a week, but for the last two weeks I've driven more than 350 each. Since I drive mostly in the city, I just take my car in for an oil change every 4-5,000 miles, rotate my own tires when needed (usually around every 10,000 miles), and periodically check the fluids, tire pressure, serpentine belt wear, and air filter. Do you really get your spark plugs changed every 6 months?! Seems a bit excessive . . . what kind of car do you have?

EDIT: Nevermind. Your profile says: 2000 Acura Integra, 2005 Alfa Romeo 164. Those vehicles shouldn't need their spark plugs changed every six months, unless you drive 150,000 miles a year. Your local service tech might be trying to rip you off.

[PBking82]

Originally Posted by lance4k

In america, do people take their cars to get Serviced every 6 months like we do here in New Zealand? A service is getting spark plugs changed, oil changed, disc brakes checked, fuel filter checked, fluids topped up, battery level tested etc

Or what do americans do to maintain there car?Not everyone knows how to check fluid levels and change oils so there must be a auto repair place that has servicing or tune-ups or what is it called?

So you're saying that everyone in NZ has the cash or the knowhow to keep their vehicles in tip-top shape. 9 out 10 people I know don't do shit to their cars besides put gas in them. The world is a small place. Think about it, if you had to get a tooth pulled you wouldn't go to a garage(at least i hope not) so If you need to get your car worked on you don't take it to a dentist you take it to a garage/shop/dealer/etc.. But, in America all cars made here run perfectly forever most of them don't even need gas (it's all those crappy foriegn cars that have to go to shop and get the oil changed every 3k(sheesh changing the oil!! whats up with that??) and need new brakes). Sorry but, stupid questions most deffinatly deserve stupid answears. Unless you believe as I do that there are no stupid questions, just lots of stupid people. Peace-

[147GTA]

By the way, there's no such thing as a 2005 Alfa Romeo 164.

[Moppie]

Originally Posted by Black Lotus

Americans take their cars to the local villiage witch doctor. Three comely virgins (hard to come by lately) are sacrificed to the Great Gasket God, who lives in a volcano, to purify the tainted, used oil. We perform tuneups.................. Prairie Fire paint job. Hope this helps.
As always, your faithful servant,
Barking Eagle.

Classic!


Thread closed on a funny note.

[curtis73]

Americans are stuck on a 3000mile or 3 month oil change; myself included. The 3 month part is almost never followed, and sometimes people go past the 3000 miles, but the lube shops cling to it like peanut butter on the roof of your mouth.

Most modern cars these days can go much longer. I have a 96 Chevy that recommends 7500-mile changes. I usually do it at around 5000 since I have a lot of stop and go city driving. I have a 66 Pontiac and a 73 Chevy that each get changed at 3000 miles because of their old technology and how I built them. My wife's Toyota holds off until about 6000.

So, to answer your three-month-old question The typical interval for lube service is stuck at around 3000 miles. Spark plugs are (for the non-mechnically inclinded) usually about the time they start failing and post their problem here Some plugs are rated for 100,000 miles as a sales technique, but my 100k platinums needed to be replaced at about 35k. For this reason, there is typically not a set interval for spark plug changes. Check them from time to time, and replace as needed.

There are several retail stores, all named appropriately: Jiffy Lube, Quick Lube, Lube Express, are three that I can think of. Pennzoil has a chain, as does Quaker state. They specialize in lube, oil, filter, top off fluids, etc. They don't make much money on the oil change, so they try to up-sell you to air filters, PCV valves, etc.

Some chain department stores have a service department, like WalMart, Sears. Usually, department stores with a large automotive section sells tires, and they at least have basics covered. They mostly are equipped for all the things a quick lube is, plus all the stuff needed for mouning and balancing tires.

If you need to get into things further, like plugs, water pump, or engine work, then you're looking for either an independent repair garage with general mechanics, or a car dealer's service department.

That's sorta how the hierarchy goes here.