35
votes
Accepted
Should I perform my first oil change at 1000 miles, or when the manual says?
The 1000 mile oil change is a holdover from days of yore. It falls into the "my grandfather /father (add appropriate generation) said you should always"... Add what ever urban myth was part of the ...
- 19.9k
30
votes
Accepted
What is the point of changing coolant if it gets constantly replaced?
The logic behind replacing the coolant, rather than just topping it off, is to remove impurities.
If the reason you have to add to it is that there is a slow leak somewhere, you may get by with just ...
- 316
23
votes
What is the point of changing coolant if it gets constantly replaced?
You shouldn't be constantly replenishing the coolant - if you are, there's probably something wrong with your car!
Modern car cooling systems are designed to be almost maintenance free, so you ...
- 28.7k
18
votes
Should I perform my first oil change at 1000 miles, or when the manual says?
Do what it says in the owner's manual.
FWIW the manual said the first oil change from new on my current car was at 18,000 miles, not 1,000. I queried that with the dealer and the reply was "yes, that'...
- 2,954
14
votes
How do I tell if I screwed up my oil change?
Here's a "tip to make sure I got everything right" for the future. One that I use myself, and taught my Auto Tech students as well:
The very first thing is to take off the oil cap, and place it over ...
- 12.4k
12
votes
Accepted
Why is the ATF Level checked with the engine running?
There are two main things about tranny fluid:
Transmission fluid is checked when it's hot (up to running temperature). As the fluid gets up to temperature it expands. If the fluid is cold, it won't ...
- 153k
11
votes
Accepted
How important it is to drain all the oil when doing an oil change?
Old oil isn't poison to your engine or to the new motor oil you are putting in. When you are doing an oil change, whatever old oil is left behind (along with the particulates floating around) will get ...
- 12.2k
10
votes
Accepted
How do I tell if I screwed up my oil change?
I believe you just dripped some oil on your exhaust when drained it, don't worry, and your "paranoid" stuff is good - it means you care. Good job Snake! ;)
- 1,448
8
votes
Accepted
On a non-interference engine, do you have to replace the timing belt?
On non-interference motors there is no compelling reason to change out the belt on a schedule other than to ensure your vehicle does not leave you stranded at the most inopportune time. It will not ...
- 153k
8
votes
Accepted
Is the 16,000 km oil change interval for the 2016 Corolla correct?
To answer the question about what changed with vehicles requiring longer oil change intervals, the answer is that there are a number of factors. Internal tolerances have improved, oil quality ...
- 681
7
votes
Accepted
How can I remember when to service my vehicle?
Use a dry erase board (whiteboard)
I use a whiteboard in the garage. Low tech, but very effective. I track not only necessary service date/mileage, but also when they're due for government inspection ...
- 2,847
6
votes
How can I remember when to service my vehicle?
Go to the local parts store. They have small plastic stickers which remind you when to change the oil; in the USA, they're usually free, as long as you don't take hundreds. Get one for each vehicle, ...
- 8,672
6
votes
Why is the oil light on in my new Honda Pilot after 4000 miles?
According to this 2016 Honda Pilot Manual (pages 28, & 146-148), the information display is informing you that your oil has 30% of its life left. After the oil change has been completed, the oil ...
- 9,035
5
votes
Any truth to the "myth" about changing transmission fluid in older vehicles?
There is a lot of debate about late ATF changes killing transmissions. To find the real answer you would need a statistically significant number of vehicles for each transmission, and a same-sized ...
- 2,159
5
votes
Power Steering Service
I don't know which specific fluid VW uses for power-steering, but many manufacturers use automatic transmission fluid, or something closely related to it.
Unlike the engine and transmission, the ...
- 12.2k
5
votes
Rotating tires based on time or miles?
In a word: miles.
Time has an effect on the tires, but it will deteriorate the rubber all the way around at a given rate. A tire is good for many years (some longer, some shorter). It's the effect of ...
- 153k
5
votes
Why is a motorcycle's service interval more frequent than a car?
Service intervals are more of a function of tolerances and MTBF than anything else. There's extensive data available for passenger car longevity, not so much for motorcycles, so car manufacturers ...
- 4,129
4
votes
Prius - Maintenance costs over lifetime [0k - 200k]
The other answer failed to mention how long the battery typically lasts, mentioning only the warranty of the battery. Furthermore, the other answer failed to mention that there are actually two ...
- 14.5k
4
votes
Motorcycle Maintenance Tasks - Please Provide a List of Actions
Motorcycle Maintenance Tasks
These tasks occur differently based upon the requirements of each manufacturer, find out what the intervals are for particular make/model/year.
Cable lubrication - A ...
- 33k
4
votes
How do I tell if I screwed up my oil change?
So, to answer the more general question – how to verify that everything is OK with the oil change (TL;DR - If you were reasonably careful and aren't standing in a puddle of new oil, you probably didn'...
- 14.4k
4
votes
How do I tell if I screwed up my oil change?
I think you'll be OK. Drive it around a bit more, and that oil, which sounds like it's on the exhaust pipe, will burn off.
Your oil pressure sounds in the normal range - it's usually lower at idle (...
- 8,672
4
votes
How can I remember when to service my vehicle?
I make my own little paper tag. It has three things on it
Date of last oil change
Mileage at last oil change
Mileage at next oil change. (generally I use 5000 mile increments)
I write real small. ...
- 6,569
4
votes
Why is the ATF Level checked with the engine running?
This is specifically dependent on the transmission. There are some that require your vehicle running while you do this. There are some that require you lift the front end up a certain degree and some ...
- 3,343
4
votes
What happens if I use the wrong weight of oil?
Quite likely, nothing…
A higher viscosity oil, at the low end, would move a little less freely through the engine when cold. That could result in somewhat higher wear as the engine warms up, but over ...
- 14.4k
4
votes
What happens if I use the wrong weight of oil?
Up until a few years ago you likely wouldn't notice a difference. Many modern engines now use a variable valve train geometry design. Basically a low rpm the engine has a lower valve lift this ...
- 19.9k
4
votes
Accepted
Mayonnaise on tip of dipstick - new car, low miles, well maintained. What to do?
One cause can be head gasket failure as you say, but another cause is continuous short trips where the engine does not get properly hot - the 8 mile city trips can be an example of the type of use to ...
- 34.6k
4
votes
Accepted
Unsure what to repair first after 27 point inspection
In terms of priority:
1) top up engine oil
2) set tyre pressures & retorque wheels
3) change rear brakes
4) (linked to 3) replace brake fluid
5) belts, leaks, wipers & the rest
...
- 34.6k
4
votes
Unsure what to repair first after 27 point inspection
I'm going to give you a complete breakdown of each of the tasks, yet break them down into three separate categories:
Must Do Now (Safety)
Tire pressure set at 35 (If the "RF10" needs to be 35, these ...
- 153k
4
votes
Accepted
99 Honda Odyssey had brake fluid flushed 4700 miles (27 months) ago. Does it need to be replaced again?
Brake fluid replacement is not determined by the amount miles on the vehicle, but by the amount of time. That's because it is hygroscopic, which means it absorbs water. It does this through the rubber ...
- 153k
3
votes
What kind of service to get done on a car in its 4th year but having only 10k miles?
It is always recommend to get the vehicle serviced as per manufacturer specification. weather it is less kilometer or less time, It is because of the following reason.
If the vehicle exceed the ...
- 239
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible