So your in a hurry ?Got another ? 2? 3? MB babies screaming for attention! I just got back from my local K-Mart where I saw a six foot tall poster advetising a 30 minute (or the next one is free) Mobil 1 Synth oil change $39.99 (5 quarts included I think) If I give the wife a Mann filter she can do the job? Honey, how about a 30 minute shopping trip at K-Mart? Really! Honest! Just do me one little thing. If I pick a busy day and time by the time they figure out the where? what? and how? the 30 minutes should be up. If I put on the dip stick locking device and lose the key it ought to take 15 minutes to take the belly pan off! It ought to work out to be a two-for-oner at least once!!

Seriously, this doesnt seem to be a bad deal if an owner who doesn't want to or can't do the job could supervise the job. Just thought I'd pass the word.

Ha Ha, great post!

Do you think the lads at K-Mart could handle the filter change?

Boy, that makes me so nervous, I can't tell you.

__________________
Ed
1981 300CD (Benzina)
1968 250 S (Gina) 266,000 miles!
1983 Alfa Romeo GTV6 (Guido)
1976 Jaguar XJS-saved a V-12 from the chevy curse, what a great engine!
1988 Cadillac Eldorado (better car than you might think!)
1988 Yamaha Venture (better than a Wing!)
1977 Suzuki GS750B
1976 Yamaha XS 650 (sold)
1991 Suzuki GSX1100G (Shafty Gixser)
1981 Yamaha VX920RH (Euro "Virago")
Solex Moped
1975 Dodge P/U camper


"Time spent in the company of a cat, a beer, and this forum, is not time wasted!"

In the late sixties, right out of high school I had a beutiful, white '64 Ford Galaxie 500XL with a tri-power 390, leather interior and a four speed. I don't know which was more rare in this car, the tri-power 390, or the leather interior.

As a luxury to myself, I left it for an oil change and lube job at a local service station. When I picked it up, it had greasy hand prints everywhere. From that day forward I have had a real problem with anyone but myself and closely trusted friends doing any maintenance or repair to my cars. I can't even let anyone pump gas into them. This means that I have spent too much of my life worrying over keeping my cars running, to the point of doing my own engine overhauls, etc.

I could probably count on both hands the times in the last 30 years that someone besides myself have done anything to my cars other than warranty work, and there have been many nightmares from the dealers doing warranty work.

The thought of turning my car over to the third grade educated kid at KMart gives me a cold sweat. Changing oil is an extremely simple operation that, if screwed up, can have disastrous results. Probably the most common mistake is repairable, and that is stripping drain plug threads. But if it's left loose or something it can cost an engine.

If you use a 1/4" ratchet, an extension and an 8mm socket, you can get that belly pan out of the way in absolutely no time. Your oil changes are important, I suggest that you do them yourself, save money, know that it's done right and sleep well.

Have a great day,

I have horror stories about my ex's exploits at the oil change store (concerning her car) but they pale in comparison to this next one.

An acquaintance of mine took his 1978 Fiat 124 spyder into the local oil emporium. (Lovely cars these, and should be saved!)
He got it back and drove it that day until the transmission unexpectedly ground itself to a pulp. I don't remember how many miles, but it wasn't too many. The same day. He complained about a lack of power.

In checking out the car, he checked the engine dipstick for no other reason than he needed to do something in his distressed state... Well sir, it had plenty of oil in it-after all, it had just been changed. Oh yeah, it had pleeenty of oil in it.

To keep it short, the lads had pulled the readily accesible drain plug to the transmission, drained it, and "refilled" the engine.

I am surprised the engine ran at all with 12 quarts of oil in it!

If you can find a good indy, you are in. Find someone who works out of his house and is not rushed. I knew a guy who speciallized in Ferraris, tuning and maintenance only. And he wouldn't be rushed. If you couldn't leave you Ferrari with him for a week, along with a $1000-

Take it the lads at K-Mart! They need to learn on something!

__________________
Ed
1981 300CD (Benzina)
1968 250 S (Gina) 266,000 miles!
1983 Alfa Romeo GTV6 (Guido)
1976 Jaguar XJS-saved a V-12 from the chevy curse, what a great engine!
1988 Cadillac Eldorado (better car than you might think!)
1988 Yamaha Venture (better than a Wing!)
1977 Suzuki GS750B
1976 Yamaha XS 650 (sold)
1991 Suzuki GSX1100G (Shafty Gixser)
1981 Yamaha VX920RH (Euro "Virago")
Solex Moped
1975 Dodge P/U camper


"Time spent in the company of a cat, a beer, and this forum, is not time wasted!"