I changed the oil for the first time yesterday, and am in the mood to slap some shoddy mechanic who worked on the car before I got it.

Here is why:

1. Use of black RTV on the oil filter housing lid instead of the proper o-ring.

2. The little o rings at the lower end of the tube that goes through the filter, each had a 1/4 piece missing from it, and appears to have not been changed in a very long time.

All has been cleaned and corrected now.

__________________
RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

91 W124 300D Turbo replaced, Pressure W/G actuator installed. 210K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

If you can find him, cut down the tree he's working under.

As you progress through other maintenance items, keep a close eye out for other items of a more serious nature that may have also seen his ham-fisted methods.

On my nissan, a "monkeylube" place buggered up the drain plug threads on my transmission casing and they siliconed the thing in place. I went to the dealer for some other service and they found the half-*ss fix in place. Luckily the plug had not fallen out.

Only go to a trusted independent or do the work yourself.

Since those days I have slowly built up my tool chest and my knowledge. I follow the service manuals down to the torque specs for every nut and bolt (well, for the ones that are documented!).

I guess that is why we are all here on this forum!

__________________
~shell
As of 2/2010:
2001 CLK55 0o\=*=/o0
13.6 @ 106mph
10K mi
1984 300SD
260K mi and going and going...
97 S600
46K miles
1991 Sentra SE-R (extremely dorked with)
www.se-r.net

I do my own work when I can, unless it is warranty work, or because I do not have the proper tools.

__________________
RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

91 W124 300D Turbo replaced, Pressure W/G actuator installed. 210K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K