Wouldn't trust very may shops I know. When I do it I know it is don e
correctly. I know any number of shops that take used oil and coolent so using
large plastic containers, I just take then and pour them into their vats----
I sleep better knowing I did it and it was done correctly.
---- editorgary@aol.com wrote:
=============
My Healey gets driven regularly, though only on short drives -- I go out for
coffee with the other local donut derelicts on Saturdays whenever I'm in town,
generally driving a long five mile loop on my way, and then it's only about a
mile home. However, I hadn't found time to do much else and noticed the other
day that the note on my garage white board indicated that the engine oil had
been changed most recently in June 2013, and that I hadn't changed the filter
or the tranny oil at the time. I couldn't remember the last time I had replaced
the radiator coolant. Then last week my car finally refused to start at all,
after being very reluctant during the past six months.
It was time go get some work done. I started out by taking out the old battery,
and dropping it off at the O'Reilly's and getting a new battery (when did
batteries start costing over $100?). At the same time, I picked up seven quarts
of 10-40 Castrol dino oil (specifically formulated, it said, for older
engines), three quarts of 30 weight ND, a spin-on oil filter, radiator coolant
and a pint of Water Wetter. I was ready to go.
Except that I had second thoughts. Jack and jack stands. Hot oil that would
have to be recycled. Radiator coolant and radiator flush that would have to be
disposed of.
So, this morning as soon as the local independent tire shop (Skips's Tires for
you NorCal locals) I called my buddy Sam there and asked when he could do the
oil change and radiator flush today. Two hours at the local shop, using my oil,
filter, and radiator fluid, and $60, with the oil and coolant in his hazmat
tanks, and we're all much happier. During that time I sat in his waiting room
with my lap top and wrote a piece for RM Auctions for which I'll be paid $150.
Though oil changes used to be the one thing that we shade-tree mechanics could
manage to do without screwing up, I really think in this day and age we should
look at comparative advantages of professional shops and technicians versus
amateurs in the driveway, and leave these routine tasks to the pros.
Gary Anderson
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