Car Maintenance RANT!!!

[kboehringer]

XS11 Friends,
I’ve got to blow off a little steam here and get your input on something that is bothering the heck out of me…….

Does anyone, especially those younger than us, know how to maintain a car anymore? Last weekend I performed what I refer to as “Grease Monkey Weekend” as a result this weekend will be “Car Wax Weekend”.

I’d been planning “Grease Monkey Weekend” for several weeks. I ordered hundreds of dollars of routine maintenance items for six different cars: Son Derek (’11 Mustang & ’99 Grand Am), Son Karl (’03 Accord), Daughter Sarah (’12 Accord), my daughter’s roommate’s (Jessica ’12 Ford fusion), wife Nancy (’12 Accord). My garage was FULL of RockAuto shipping boxes. I spent the whole weekend from Saturday A.M. to Sunday dusk changing plugs, filters, oils, brake pads, cabin filters, fuel filters, topping of brake & steering fluids, etc. I wanted to get all this crap out of the way so my kids could have a chance of keeping these cars in good shape for the summer months and so I wouldn’t have to do this in the hot ATLANTA summer heat.

PROBLEM #1
My daughter stopped at PEP BOYS to get the oil I specified for her vehicle and had an issue with the DUMMY at the counter. She asked for 0-20w as is specified by Honda for her car and they didn’t have any. The DUMMY at the counter told her it would be ok to put 5-20w or 5-30w in her car. Luckily, my daughter is smarter than the DUMMY and refused to buy it. She went elsewhere and found what HONDA specifies for her car. That got me just a little peeed off. Was he a HONDA engineer? DUMMY (I’d rather use other adjectives!)

PROBLEM #2
Everything went smoothly except I started noticing the condition of the finishes on these vehicles and aside from my wife’s car they all looked like poooop. Jessica’s car, was the worst and it looked like the jambs, under the trunk lid, and hidden hood edges had NEVER EVER been cleaned. I asked “when the heck was the last time you washed this thing”? “ Oh… I pay this guy $50 to “DETAIL” my car every month!” REALLY? “You’re getting ripped off!!!!!!” What the heck is detailing supposed to be anyway? “This jerk doesn’t even clean the insides of the door jambs? When was the last time this thing got any WAX?”

During the past week I’ve been polling my friends at work and NONE of them hand wash & wax their cars. I’ve also been noticing really nice & expensive cars with paint that looks like poop. My own son (Kurt, Jr.) has two beautiful and expensive new Toyotas that haven’t seen a hand-wash or wax since he’s owned them.

Does anyone wash & wax their cars anymore or does everyone just drive through the AUTO WASH and call it done? These vehicles are the 2nd largest purchase you are likely to make and you can’t wash & wax ‘em? Does anyone even know how?

I went to AutoZone yesterday and spoke to the Manager. We’ve known her for years and have a nice friendly relationship. I had some Turtle Wax in my hand and asked her “how much of this do you sell?” Her was response affirmed my suspicions: “I can’t remember the last time I sold one of those!”

$20k, $30k, $40k cars and we’re too busy to wash & wax ‘em?

As a result, this weekend we’re holding “Wash & Wax Weekend” for ALL THE CARS. When was the last time you did yours?

RANT OVER.

KURT

[aquamantx]

I have a fairly new highlander. With work and travel I don't have the time to do it properly. I Have set up a service contract with Toyota so my wife only needs to drop it at the dealer to have it serviced. We have a guy who comes to the factory( small business) and washes and waxes with his mobile unit. Wash every 2 weeks or so and wax about every 6 months.

[Gmac]

Well, primer...

Primer really is a bitch to wax.
I've never tried it as a matter of fact.

My '86 Celica ST has been primered for almost a year now as I gathered front and rear plastic for it and worked some of the dead paint off of it thanks to a poor paint repair job back in the 90's. My paint guy, Johnny Walker, is going to straighten it out, then shoot color and clear.

After the paint cure out in the summer heat here it will get monthly baths and waxed as needed. I suspect its one of those things that has become 'old school' as people now live in a throw away society.

FWIW, I used to keep it and my T-Bird washed and waxed as needed.

[Wildkat]

My paint guy, Johnny Walker, is going to straighten it out, then shoot color

Red? Or black?


We wash ours on a semi regular basis. Wax as needed. Older cars need love too... Firm believer in teaching the kids as much as we can about maintenance, including cleaning.

Wax on primer...
That's funny

[motoman]

XS11 Friends,
I’ve got to blow off a little steam here and get your input on something that is bothering the heck out of me…….

Does anyone, especially those younger than us, know how to maintain a car anymore? Last weekend I performed what I refer to as “Grease Monkey Weekend” as a result this weekend will be “Car Wax Weekend”.

I’d been planning “Grease Monkey Weekend” for several weeks. I ordered hundreds of dollars of routine maintenance items for six different cars: Son Derek (’11 Mustang & ’99 Grand Am), Son Karl (’03 Accord), Daughter Sarah (’12 Accord), my daughter’s roommate’s (Jessica ’12 Ford fusion), wife Nancy (’12 Accord). My garage was FULL of RockAuto shipping boxes. I spent the whole weekend from Saturday A.M. to Sunday dusk changing plugs, filters, oils, brake pads, cabin filters, fuel filters, topping of brake & steering fluids, etc. I wanted to get all this crap out of the way so my kids could have a chance of keeping these cars in good shape for the summer months and so I wouldn’t have to do this in the hot ATLANTA summer heat.

PROBLEM #1
My daughter stopped at PEP BOYS to get the oil I specified for her vehicle and had an issue with the DUMMY at the counter. She asked for 0-20w as is specified by Honda for her car and they didn’t have any. The DUMMY at the counter told her it would be ok to put 5-20w or 5-30w in her car. Luckily, my daughter is smarter than the DUMMY and refused to buy it. She went elsewhere and found what HONDA specifies for her car. That got me just a little peeed off. Was he a HONDA engineer? DUMMY (I’d rather use other adjectives!)

PROBLEM #2
Everything went smoothly except I started noticing the condition of the finishes on these vehicles and aside from my wife’s car they all looked like poooop. Jessica’s car, was the worst and it looked like the jambs, under the trunk lid, and hidden hood edges had NEVER EVER been cleaned. I asked “when the heck was the last time you washed this thing”? “ Oh… I pay this guy $50 to “DETAIL” my car every month!” REALLY? “You’re getting ripped off!!!!!!” What the heck is detailing supposed to be anyway? “This jerk doesn’t even clean the insides of the door jambs? When was the last time this thing got any WAX?”

During the past week I’ve been polling my friends at work and NONE of them hand wash & wax their cars. I’ve also been noticing really nice & expensive cars with paint that looks like poop. My own son (Kurt, Jr.) has two beautiful and expensive new Toyotas that haven’t seen a hand-wash or wax since he’s owned them.

Does anyone wash & wax their cars anymore or does everyone just drive through the AUTO WASH and call it done? These vehicles are the 2nd largest purchase you are likely to make and you can’t wash & wax ‘em? Does anyone even know how?

I went to AutoZone yesterday and spoke to the Manager. We’ve known her for years and have a nice friendly relationship. I had some Turtle Wax in my hand and asked her “how much of this do you sell?” Her was response affirmed my suspicions: “I can’t remember the last time I sold one of those!”

$20k, $30k, $40k cars and we’re too busy to wash & wax ‘em?

As a result, this weekend we’re holding “Wash & Wax Weekend” for ALL THE CARS. When was the last time you did yours?

RANT OVER.

KURT

Problem#1..........clearance tolerances are so tight on newer vehicles that using a heavier rated oil other than specified can result in galling of areas that can get really expensive. Stick with manufacturers specifications.
Last problem: Go to a reputable automotive paint store(no Wally World, Auto Zone, etc.) and purchase the higher quality Meguires polish/cleaner and the good polish for the clear coat that's on the paint.

[DiverRay]

OK, I'm on the other end. My car has 245K, bad paint, and is a throw away in my book. It gets washed, but not waxed. My wife's car is one year older, but only 210K and good paint. It gets washed monthly at least, and waxed every other month. My bikes get MUCH more attention.

[madmax-im]

Kurt...these days people with no real money lease all these high end cars and just drive them around...no maintenance whatever or cheaply done ...lots of folks driving BMWs and Mercedes on a lease when they otherwise wouldnt be in one at all... BTW I wash n wax my car myself...

[Jerry]

Two daily drivers, '01 Honda Accord and '04 Toyota RAV4. Both get washed pretty regularly, usually once a month or so. They get waxed and buffed out about twice a year using a high-quality carnuba wax. (Bike gets washed/waxed on about same schedule.) All vehicles are garaged when not in use and parking at work is covered. Lots of rock chips in the front of the Honda which just turned 384,000 miles commuting in this morning. RAV4 just got a Lebra put on after washing / waxing this past weekend in hope of helping keep the front end in better shape.

I don't know shat my neighbors do; I have never seen anyone changing their own oil and very rarely washing their own cars. No groups in the area sponsor a car wash as a fund-raiser.

I can't afford to change vehicles often so I keep all the maintenance up-to-date using recommended materials and high quality (normally Wix) filters. I like the cars to look good so I keep them cleaned and waxed. This just seems normal to me.

[trbig]

I don't know shat...

At least you're honest about it, Jerry! lol.


Sorry, couldn't resist.

[HalfCentury]

My daily driver is a work car. 2013 Ford Edge. It belongs to my employer. The first year I washed it regularly. No wax. It is being retired for a new model soon. I drive this car 23k miles per year for my job. I have had it detailed exactly one time in 3 years.

My 2006 Honda Accord was washed and waxed often when new. Not it mostly sits. It has a couple of deep scratches that need touched up or an entire paint job. I gets no paint love. Mechanically, it is in excellent condition. It gets everything it needs to be in excellent running condition.

My XJ1100 is in need of a paint job and a fuel tank restoration. No paint love here either. I am in the process of restoring every system to factory specs. I have rebuilt all the calipers. Rebuilt the front master cylinder. Adjusted valve clearances. Just finished cleaning the carbs. New stainless brake lines are awaiting installation. New intake manifold boots awaiting installation. I did perform the diet coke and aluminum foil rub down of the exhaust system. The results were gratifying. From a distance, the exhaust looks pristine.

My 2003 FJR is in fair condition. It will get some paint love this year.

My XJ650 was the pinnacle of Rat Bike. It had rust in many obvious places yet it ran like a scalded dog. I spent lots of time making that bike run well. Zero time on appearance.


Mostly I am not invested in vehicle looks. I do place value on driving or riding a vehicle that is in tip top mechanical condition.

[sethhope]

I wash and wax regularly. Mainly because my 85 dodge cant really make it through an automated wash without it's cb antenna getting ripped out...

[kboehringer]

A generational thing....

I have never seen anyone changing their own oil and very rarely washing their own cars..... SNIP..... I like the cars to look good so I keep them cleaned and waxed. This just seems normal to me.

I also NEVER see any of my neighbors washing or in any way maintaining their vehicles. I know there has been an EXPLOSION of "Car Detailing" services offered in this area and my few experiences (second hand) show MANY of them are a complete rip-off. There is a Chevy dealer near where I work that does a nice job for something like $50.

I was the only guy on my street washing & waxing last weekend! A complete and proper wash was followed by a 3-stage buff with 3M Finesse and a little of the Turtle. I've tried some of the more expensive offerings and saw little/no difference in the quality of shine or how long it lasted. I wash and wax my Hot Rods with the same stuff and they look just as good as the cars next to mine at any of the car shows we attend.

I guess washing and waxing your own car is a generational thing? I grew up in Philly in the '70s and it seemed everyone on the street was washing cars on the weekend. My dad tossed two or three bucks my way for helping. Today, as someone mentioned we're in a throw away society and most people would rather toss the car for another huge payment than spend a couple hours a month doing a nice clean & wax to maintain some of the value and reliability.

When my kids were growing up they had to wash one of the cars each weekend as a chore. Mommy's this week, Dad's next. I usually had to follow behind to get the missed stuff but they got some level of compensation for completing this (and their other chores). Do parents even give kids chores anymore?

KURT

[CatatonicBug]

I used to hand wash, but ever since SWMBO drove our '06 Saturn Ion under a driveway chain (the kind with the sign that says "Do Not Enter") and we got pummeled with hail, I gave up. I take it through a decent TOUCH carwash (the no-touch ones don't do a thing) about once a month to get the bugs and road grime off.

I do mechanical maintenance, but modern cars are designed to be throw-aways. Everything is plastic. It just passed 100k mi, and I don't see myself keeping it until it gets to 200k.

I try to wash the bike once a month, but sometimes, I can only afford the time to get the bugs off the windshield each week.

[mikubuilder]

I go through carwash regularly, hand wash in the spring, and if I want to have fun with kids....(they scratch the paint, so not too often ) , detail inside in the spring also (to get all that salt out is a pain...)