Unsober1

To 7milesout. Nice replay above. We need to go party!

7milesout

I've been tapping my foot waiting, to see if anyone would notice. Got a friend coming into town shortly. Gonna go get fit-shaced. OK, Ok, ok, not really.

I'm the cheapest son of a gun to own an LS 460. But I love when I'm buttoning up a job, checking all my work, checking bolts to make sure they weren't missed, and the feeling of knowing it was done RIGHT.

Compared to the amount of time a dealer tech takes to check their work (probably 0 time), I just feel better doing it myself. The argument about "my time is worth xxx" has always been annoying to me.

What about the time I spend sitting on the toilet? How much money did I lose there? Doing my own oil change does not result in income loss. Aside from spending time with my boys, if I'm not at work, I'm better off maintaining my cars than I am sitting on the couch watching TV. And I suspect most of these guys who mention the value of their time is trading the value of laying on the garage floor to laying on the couch watching TV. Not that there's anything wrong with TV watching. I do my fair share of that too.

But my point is, I'm not making the argument that if it takes me 3 hours to do work on my cars, that my time is better spent taking the car to a shop and paying $300 so I can sit on the couch an extra 3 hours. That argument is annoying because IMHO, it doesn't hold water.

On second thought here, most people barely have enough cars. So when it comes time to do maintenance or repair, they have to pretty much bring their life to a stop and do the work. Or else they don't have time to do the work on the car, so they farm that work out. And in that case, a dealer or indy would get it done quicker and save them some time. Now that does hold water.

I guess it's a matter of perspective. I have a fleet of cars. So when one goes down, I work on it when otherwise I would be watching TV. Or I let it sit until I find the cheapest way to get it back in service. I.E. The thread going about my Corolla. It's just been sitting for almost 2 weeks now. I don't care, I'll drive something else.

7milesout

Devh

I also have this same sense of satisfaction when I perform my own maintenance and repairs. I don't need to rush the job and can take my time to do it right.
I don't have many of the after affects of those that got poor quality work like squealing brakes or oil that has dripped all over the under tray.
My car is due for an oil change and I got the best prices for everything I need off EBay where deals are made saving me even more from the dealer. I'm also replacing the cheap plastic oil filter housing with the upgraded metal one because more options are available then the dealer could possibly give me for real preventive maintenance instead of premature services.

7milesout

I wasn't aware that some of the housings were plastic. From memory, mine seemed like magnesium.

Devh

From what I recall a majority of them are the plastic housing variety. They are known to crack and leak. I noticed from my last oil change it was getting to that point where it was weakening so I felt the upgrade to the metal housing which is used on the Toyota trucks is the right way to go.

This is the part I bought.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-GENUINE-TOYOTA-Oil-Filter-Housing-Cap-Holder-15620-31060-/191046456368?fits=Make%3ALexus%7CModel%3ALS460&hash=item2c7b419430&vxp=mtr

roadfrog

Yeah...me neither. Mine is definitely metal.

Devh

I have the black plastic one. I know I'm not the only one because I read a post a while ago where someone described a oil filter housing that was weeping oil because it was cracked. It would seem that the tundra guys were having similar problems and with my last change it was evident that it was getting weaker.

roadfrog

Hmmm.....now you have me doubting myself. Maybe mine is plastic too. On my next change, I'll pay better attention. If it IS plastic, I think I'll change mine too. Are you replacing yours strictly as a preventative measure, or is yours leaking?

Devh

Preventive measure because I feel that it has weakened and may not be able to take another oil change.
Actually I think it's possible that there is nothing wrong with the plastic oil filter housing, just stupid people over tightening them. When I first got my car the oil filter was on supper tight, so tight that removing it weakened the housing..
Those of you that get your oil change from a dealer will be saddened to know that often the mechanic doesn't do the oil changes and it's given to oil change monkeys that are trying to change oil as fast as they can. They have no concept of having any finesse because it's not their car.

dlbuckls10

Whether its an oil change or major repairs most mechanics/techs take pride in their work. I've had my LS at the Lexus or Toyota dealerships and they always do an excellent job. However,
there have been a few occasions when some of the fasteners went missing or the silver engine cover was loose and oily fingerprints. I bring it to their attention and they always fix the problem. Those are minor issues for me. From Kia to RR dealerships there will always be sloppy work and let the service manager know.

Devh

There is an old saying that says you should never go into the kitchen of the restaurant you are eating at..
If you found missing fasteners or oily fingerprints on what is visible to you, imagine what is not visible like over tightened or under tightened bolts. These people are working off the clock however the only redeeming factor they have is experience but it doesn't mean much once they become complacent and take shortcuts.

7milesout

I want some of whatever you've been smoking. Some independents, maybe a large percentage of independents may take some level of pride. But NOT at dealer. They're only interested in your wallet and slamming out everything faster than possible. When (not if) their screw ups are noticed, if it's a high end dealer and the car is fairly new, they'll act surprised and make an effort to make good. They make casinos look like Sunday School classes. I worked for major oems and got a few behind the scenes looks. If a deep covert investigation went on and the truth came out about their business practices, I dare say a healthy fraction of dealership staff would see some time behind bars.

dlbuckls10

That's comes with the territory and it minor. I'm not trying to analyze their work or check every bolt, that what I'm paying the dealership to do. I've never gone by Sewell or other dealerships when they wasn't full or busy. I don' t see customers running way from Sewell Lexus. This is my choice, my Lexus, my money, and I'm satisfied with the work and that's what matters. I have no desire to DIY. The purpose of a business is to make a profit. Whether it's a Lexus dealership or independent shop, store, franchise, we're all being taking advantage in one way or another.
The "oil change moneys" will be around for a long time to come.

sdwtchlvr

iTrader: (1)

I'd say deal with confidence until there is a problem. And if there is a problem, it's all about how it's handled.

roadfrog

Exactly. Well said and that's how I go about things. Always worked for me.

I can say that my Toyota dealer (Valley Toyota in Chilliwack BC), is very conscientious and took care of me for the two or three times that I've use them.