DooMikE
Junior Member
Posts: 102
Registered: 01-08 |
Can someone who knows more about cars tell me what really is necessary?
Not in a non-roundabout way, but bear with me, the intention is only the best.
While reading this thread Dead Kennedys "Trust your mechanic" started playing in my head...
I don´t know much about American cars, but i do know my car-basics.
Concerning the engine-oil:
The expression "dipstick" is really not a dirty word. It´s a stick used to measure the level of oil in the engine and one you´re better off checking once every month or so. If you notice oil-stains under your car regularily, you´ll need to check it even more...regularily.
How to check: Car needs to be parked level, turned off for at least a half hour. Pull out dipstick and wipe in cloth/paper, push it ALL the way back in and ALL the way out again and read your score, hopefully between the min. and max. marks.
No need to put any oil in unless you´re below the minimum reading on the thing. And mind you, more than maximum is just as bad!
Oil needs to be changed "regularily". There are no exact rule of thumb, it depends on quite a few things like: the type of oil, how new is the engine, how are you driving and so on.
The best type of oil is the full synthetic -type, which "ought" to be changed after appx. 10000 miles, where a mineral -type or a blend between the two, gives you just 6-7000 miles. In some cases you can double those figures, but as mentioned that depends on "things".
You are actually able to see whether the oil is good: Take out the dipstick and wipe a drop off on a white non-absorbant surface, if it´s totally black and grainy and smelling "old" you´ll need to change it. Soon. (Edit: an old worn engine usually makes the oil look and smell "old" pretty fast, making it hard to "read")
To see the difference, do the same when the oil is new. It´s clear.
You ought to have the oil-filter changed every time you change oil.
The other engine fluids usually doesn´t need changing, just checking. Most are in semi-clear containers with visible min./max. markers and shouldn´t be messed with by other than professionals, ie: a mechanic.
Brake fluid: never touch it! Servo fluid: never touch it! Cooling fluid and alternate hydraulic oils: don´t mess with them!
If any of these types of oil needs re-filling, something is wrong with the system, as they´re all within air-tight, sealed systems and it´s probably going to cost a fair share of $$$ to fix, but it needs to be fixed to avoid a critical failure at a possible critical moment.
You can always get a second opinion from another mechanic, if you suspect a hustle is up...
Good luck!
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01-27-10 23:20 
