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Originally Posted by rjnonnie
The other point that Topsider owners forget is that part of an oil change is to perform an inspection of the vehicle. I usually check for loose/worn suspension components, fluid leaks, condition of rubber parts, brakes (since I rotate the tires as well), tire pressure and check all fluid levels.
I sacrifice a messy oil change any day if I can catch a potential problem before it becomes an expensive problem.
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I agree wholeheartedly. While lying on my back changing the oil the old-fashioned way on my 300E, I noticed 2 tiny droplets of antifreeze. They weren't readily noticeable until I touched a white paper towel to them and analyzed the color. It was the start of my water pump going south. I kept an eye on it and just 3 days later was able to replace the water pump in my garage before it failed and stranded me somewhere on the side of the road.
The day I got the new pump, I jacked up the car and removed the plastic pan and there was a fair amount of coolant trapped in it. My pan, like many others on these older cars, was somewhat warped from gravity, heat, and vibration over the years. The slight warping was enough to make it so that the low point in the pan wasn't where the weep hole is. So there were no signs of coolant leak being left on my garage floor.
The point is, if I didn't change my oil the old fashioned way, I would have never been alerted to begin monitoring a potential problem. Convenience does sometimes have its drawbacks in my opinion.
With that said, the idea of being able to change oil in a suit does intrigue me...