DIY Car Servicing - happy or dont touch?

[Neil.C]

I owned a tuning firm and garage years ago so I've done it all. Modern cars, apart from the basics often require computers/special tools and even changing a headlamp bulb can be a nightmare.

I've done my time messing about with cars and getting dirty so I let a friend of mine service and MOT ours.

I've better things to spend my time on.

[ralphy]

I like doing my own DIY on cars and motorbikes. Older vehicles (pre-ECU) are easier as they're more intuitive to diagnose and fix and for modern stuff a good OBD code reader is a great tool for identifing problems.

Older car example:



A Vauxhall estate that belongs to a neighbour and for which he was quoted over £200 to replace the roof aerial, I managed the job in two hours and less than £10 in parts.


Modern car example:



10 year-old car presenting multiple issues (16 in fact) but with OBD diagnostics, two hours spent and £60 parts it was all sorted.

R

[TheTigerUK]

What I can do service wise myself I will because apart from it saves a good chunk of money I think we do a better job on our own cars than a third party will do, for example I changed the plugs recently in one of my cars but while doing that I checked and cleaned everything I could get too in this part of the engine, a third party would have just changed the plugs, job done.

Last week I had two track rod ends fitted to my MR2, simple job but after fitting a wheel alignment is needed so these were fitted at a garage and a good job done but if I had been able to do the job myself I would of cleaned the area, treated any rust in reach, sprayed WD40 on nuts/threads and perhaps replaced any unimportant screws/nuts/bolts with stainless etc.

Plus doing it myself I find it satisfying and keeps the brain and hands going.

[adrianw]

What I can do service wise myself I will because apart from it saves a good chunk of money I think we do a better job on our own cars than a third party will do, for example I changed the plugs recently in one of my cars but while doing that I checked and cleaned everything I could get too in this part of the engine, a third party would have just changed the plugs, job done.

Last week I had two track rod ends fitted to my MR2, simple job but after fitting a wheel alignment is needed so these were fitted at a garage and a good job done but if I had been able to do the job myself I would of cleaned the area, treated any rust in reach, sprayed WD40 on nuts/threads and perhaps replaced any unimportant screws/nuts/bolts with stainless etc.

Plus doing it myself I find it satisfying and keeps the brain and hands going.

You can do it yourself, string it

[Dave+63]

What I can do service wise myself I will because apart from it saves a good chunk of money I think we do a better job on our own cars than a third party will do, for example I changed the plugs recently in one of my cars but while doing that I checked and cleaned everything I could get too in this part of the engine, a third party would have just changed the plugs, job done.

Last week I had two track rod ends fitted to my MR2, simple job but after fitting a wheel alignment is needed so these were fitted at a garage and a good job done but if I had been able to do the job myself I would of cleaned the area, treated any rust in reach, sprayed WD40 on nuts/threads and perhaps replaced any unimportant screws/nuts/bolts with stainless etc.

Plus doing it myself I find it satisfying and keeps the brain and hands going.

You do realise that WD40 is a penetrating oil, used to help loosen tight and corroded threads? It doesn’t protect against corrosion, grease in one of its many guises (normal/copper/aluminium etc) is what should be used in this instance.

[adrianw]

You do realise that WD40 is a penetrating oil, used to help loosen tight and corroded threads? It doesn’t protect against corrosion, grease in one of its many guises (normal/copper/aluminium etc) is what should be used in this instance.

Unless specifically waterproof, most greases are hydroscopic

[Mouse]

Unless specifically waterproof, most greases are hydroscopic

I think you mean 'hygroscopic'

[adrianw]

I think you mean 'hygroscopic'

Yes sorry

[TheTigerUK]

You do realise that WD40 is a penetrating oil, used to help loosen tight and corroded threads? It doesn’t protect against corrosion, grease in one of its many guises (normal/copper/aluminium etc) is what should be used in this instance.

Thats why I use it in preparation of replacing rusty bolts etc.

[Dave+63]

Thats why I use it in preparation of replacing rusty bolts etc.

My mistake, that wasn’t what I read from what you wrote.

[TheTigerUK]

Next time you can DIY and clean up stuff as much as you like.

Just count the turns as you remove the track rod ends and refit the new ones the same number of turns. Tighten up and either string track or take it to a tyre shop for tracking.

Track rod ends are a garage job for me as I want the alignment done right and I don't want to be faffing about with string alignment and I like it blob on :)

In the nice weather I will have the wheels off and clean and prep the area anyway so all not lost.

- - - Updated - - -

My mistake, that wasn’t what I read from what you wrote.

Never mind Dave.

[Enoch]

You do realise that WD40 is a penetrating oil, used to help loosen tight and corroded threads? It doesn’t protect against corrosion, grease in one of its many guises (normal/copper/aluminium etc) is what should be used in this instance.

Sorry to disagree Dave.🤓👍 It’s a moisture dispersal spray with some lubricating qualities. But as a penetrating oil it’s pretty poor. It’s a general purpose spray and will help in many situations, but it just doesn’t compare to a proper dedicated penetrating oil.

[adrianw]

Sorry to disagree Dave.邏 It’s a moisture dispersal spray with some lubricating qualities. But as a penetrating oil it’s pretty poor. It’s a general purpose spray and will help in many situations, but it just doesn’t compare to a proper dedicated penetrating oil.

Out of interest this has to be the best penetrating oil on the planet

https://htsupplies.co.uk/products/in...ck-oil-aerosol

[Enoch]

Having used it for many years I’m a fan of this one. https://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-146827-...ing-spray.aspx There are of course many flavours including WD40 brand, and folk whom use it will all have their favourites.

[Franky Four Fingers]

Out of interest this has to be the best penetrating oil on the planet

https://htsupplies.co.uk/products/in...ck-oil-aerosol

Dont use anything else.

[TheTigerUK]

Out of interest this has to be the best penetrating oil on the planet

https://htsupplies.co.uk/products/in...ck-oil-aerosol

I had never heard of that as I normally use WD40 or PlusGas, one ordered, thanks.

I hope this comes into the you get what you pay for category :)

Innotec Deblock Oil XS Aerosol £17.99 GBP 1 £17.99 GBP

Subtotal £17.99 GBP Postage and packaging £8.34 GBP Total £26.33 GBP

[Jeremy67]

Out of interest this has to be the best penetrating oil on the planet

https://htsupplies.co.uk/products/in...ck-oil-aerosol

The boys at practical classics speak very highly of:

https://www.lubricantsuppliers.com/p...1-bulldog-bdx/

...I would always go to a talented, competent, and able person...

Sadly, many of those working as mechanics are none of those things.

I do a desk job and love working on cars, both our daily drivers and classics, as a complete change in the evenings and at weekends.

The coil pack failed recently on our Zafira B. Halfords were (amazingly) the cheapest supplier and the job was done in about 20 minutes. I got a satisfaction hit and probably saved £100 or so quid.

I recently changed the thermostat on our Panda, a fiddly job that took a couple of hours but again I probably saved a couple of hundred and am still enjoying the fact that it gets properly up to temperature again.

[Neil.C]

What I can do service wise myself I will because apart from it saves a good chunk of money I think we do a better job on our own cars than a third party will do, for example I changed the plugs recently in one of my cars but while doing that I checked and cleaned everything I could get too in this part of the engine, a third party would have just changed the plugs, job done.

Last week I had two track rod ends fitted to my MR2, simple job but after fitting a wheel alignment is needed so these were fitted at a garage and a good job done but if I had been able to do the job myself I would of cleaned the area, treated any rust in reach, sprayed WD40 on nuts/threads and perhaps replaced any unimportant screws/nuts/bolts with stainless etc.

Plus doing it myself I find it satisfying and keeps the brain and hands going.

Next time you can DIY and clean up stuff as much as you like.

Just count the turns as you remove the track rod ends and refit the new ones the same number of turns. Tighten up and either string track or take it to a tyre shop for tracking.