Do You Do Your Own Vehicle Maintenance?

[ChevyNick]

Hey guys. Today I drove my truck up to the local oil change shop due to a tight personal schedule this week. Fast forward to the oil change, they asked what tire PSI I wanted, I replied just leave them as they are. I watched the guy fill up my windshield washer fluid, and he overflowed it like crazy. Upon getting home, I noticed multiple motor oil fingerprints on my bug deflector (even after he "wiped" them off with a red shop rag (!!).

So, basically this got me thinking... since we are all pretty anal about our cars, do you do any level of maintenance yourself?

Typically I do my own oil change, rotate my own tires, clean K&N air filter, fill up any fluids which require it if needed, and everything pretty much. I guess it would be easier for me to say the only things I haven't done personally are:
-Power steering pump (Dealer)
-Transmission fluid change / differential change (Dealer)
-Miscellaneous electrical issue I had (Dealer)
-Obviously Discount Tire mounted BFG's on my wheels.

I think that pretty much covers it, so yeah, I just thought this could be an interesting topic. Sure, most of us clean our vehicles ourselves, but what about the rest of the things that need to be done??

[Murr1525]

Only the tie air pressure, washer fluid, and air filter for me....

[wifpd4]

Like Murr, except no air filter. Haven't been under a car or worked under a hood for decades.

[davey g-force]

Only tire pressures and fluids nowadays.

I used to get my hands dirty when I was younger but now that I can afford to get someone else to do it (plus I'm getting older), I just take it to a workshop.

I have found a shop that's quite good as far as looking after the car, but I typically I just count on having to detail it when I get it back.

[Detroit CC]

Having a car under a year old, the dealership takes care of any issues.
however, I'm a trained vehicle fitter and very anal about cars, I do thorough inspections of any work undertaken and won't drive the car away if I'm not happy.
its only been services and an idle speed control valve issue so far.

I'll take a look at friends cars if they're having issues but I tend to try and not get dirty these days.
too many rip off garages in my experience, so to help people out before they get fleeced is always a good thing.
Sometimes, I'll stand there and help the person fix the fault or service the vehicle themselves.
a little education (only the basics though, oil change etc.) as a little knowledge can be dangerous some times.

I myself have no issue in stripping a vehicle to a bare shell and then putting it back together.
its simple really,,just a big Lego kit these days.

[Marc08EX]

I do my own oil changes, transmission fluid changes, radiator fluid change, clean/replace air filter and cabin filter, rotate my tires, and replace brake pads/rotors. I try to do as much as I can. I only let the mechanic or dealer do something I cannot do.

[ChevyNick]

Hmm very interesting. I've gotta say I'm rather surprised for some reason.

[Meticulous-Detail]

I use to do my own , but not anymore. My two daily drivers are leases and have a maintenance pkges for the life of the lease. My Shelby is a PIA to change the oil and it makes a big mess, so I usually buy the oil and filter and have the dealer do it. I do check tire pressure and all the fluids periodically on all my vehicles.

[wifpd4]

Hmm very interesting. I've gotta say I'm rather surprised for some reason.

It's some kind of cycle of life thing. In high school, I drove a car that needed constant attention. In college, the motorcycle. In early married life, it was the beat up pickup truck. Now, I drive a hybrid and like a flashlight, ya keep the lens clean, put in new batteries every so often and you're good to go.

As davey said, I can afford to have someone else do it. In my case, someone more knowledgeable, skilled and with the right tools.

[BillE]

I still do it all. But with each passing year it does get harder and harder to get ambition to do it.

Only once have I required the use of 'a shop.' Fuel pump took a dive and I had a full tank of gas.

To be real honest, todays vehicles DO require MUCH LESS in the care and feeding area.

Bill (ex ASE tech)