DIY Car Servicing

[Goose]

I want to learn how to service my own car properly for the basic/interval services.

I have a TD pathfinder with the YD25 engine and it needs regular oil changes every 5000kms. At around $200 a pop its not cost effective paying someone else to do the minor stuff. I figure i can do this basic stuff myself once shown how to do it.

I am confident with simple 12v electrical, but I have no experience with the mechanical side of things, other than changing flat tyres, checking oil level, air filter etc.

There used to an 8-week course at my local community college to learn basic car servicing but they stopped it. Whats a good place to start learning?

[DannyG]

I can't help with courses, maybe your local TAFE can help but heres how I service our Patrol.


Warm engine so oil is runnier.

Crack open filling cap.

Undo sump plug drain and drain engine oil into bucket and allow it to drain fully.

Remove oil filters and put into bin.

Replace oil filters with new ones.

Put oil drain bung back into sump.

Refill engine with specified oil and quantity, in my case its 10 ptrs and what ever diesel oil was on special at the time.

I hope that helps

[fishfinder]

As what DannyG said but there maybe a bit more than just changing oil - you will need to change fuel filters check brakes change coolant power steering brake transmission diff fluids at certain stages - I am sure there are some basic workshop courses that can be done - or maybe organise a Myswag tech meet one weekend a few beers and a bbq with a few lads helping each other out.

[bushbandit]

Fishfinder has the idea .I have just purchased a Can Am Spyder and the forum i am on has organised Shed Days which involves a BBQ ,and working on the bikes.

[Glennp]

2 things I used to learn on how to do the same on my Hilux.

- service manual from the glovebox. It will tell you what needs doing, such as drive train every 5k on mine.
- $50 Gregory manual from SuperCheap. This will show you how to do the things the service manual in your glovebox tells you to do!

And if in doubt someone has probably done an oilchange on YouTube!

[prodigyrf]

I have a TD pathfinder with the YD25 engine and it needs regular oil changes every 5000kms.

Wow! Sounds like oils aint oils anymore because the cars we buy have 15000km or 12 monthly service intervals. Missus has a friend with a Mazda3 and does stuff all kms but Mazda reckon 10000km or 6 monthly so clearly they can't make cars like Mitsi or Suzuki or even the bils new Holden. That's nonsense of course but Mazda have just been too lazy to print another service spec for countries without snow and ice plus the greater kms we do in year vis a vis Japanese owners and the like.

I'm certainly not suggesting you get too slack/adventurous-
http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=23799.msg369172#top
but just bear in mind what modern QA engineering, oils and full flow filters really mean nowadays-
http://www.mercedes-benz.com.au/content/australia/mpc/mpc_australia__website/en/home_mpc/passengercars/home/service_parts/service_repairs/service-intervals.html

[Mallory Black]

Hi Prodigyrf
Extended service intervals have more to do with manufacturers being able to publish cheaper running costs because at the time cars weere leased where servicing costs were a part of the total lease package.

  or being able to comply with environmental impacts over the presumed life of a car.

Case in point.
Around 1991 or 92 Holden dramatically increased the service intervals on Commodores. Here's the kicker.. Same components, same metallurgy etc. Same oils. no difference, just someone diddling the figures to look good for the fleet and leasing markets and who cares what the car's like after 3-5 years.

Round the same time we started to see cars out of Europe and UK going even further with "sealed for life" transmissions and diffs. Again cheaper maintenance costs and lower enviromnental taxes mostly from Germany where they tax the manufacturer depending on how much the car will impact the enviromnent over it's life and including how much of the car is recyclable at the end.. stuff like that.

most Jap manufacturer's didn't quite buy that line and generally still have reasonable service schedules especially for the off roaders

nothing makes a modern hi tech car last longer than regular oil and filter changes my friend

[BurnsOil]

For the YD25 engine, select the appropriate oil as the stock standard Diesel oil is not the recommended oil.

[Goose]

Wow! Sounds like oils aint oils anymore because the cars we buy have 15000km or 12 monthly service intervals. Missus has a friend with a Mazda3 and does stuff all kms but Mazda reckon 10000km or 6 monthly so clearly they can't make cars like Mitsi or Suzuki or even the bils new Holden.

So its 10K intervals with an extra 5K interval if 'extreme' usage. The previous owner did all the 5K intervals and i am continuing that trend in the service book. We do about 12K/year so the servicing at 5K is about every 6 months or so. Of that 5K, about 1/5th is offroad/towing/dusty/alpine or a very steep incline. The other 4/5th is it being driven about 5 minutes to work, so no time to heat up. So i think the extreme intervals are justified but i appreciate that things may have 'over engineered' as you suggest.

I had a suzi too and it was 15K intervals but by the time that 15K came around the oil was well below halfway on the dipstick (and no leaks on driveway either) so i think it was burning through the oil and it did that from new.

But what i really want to know is how to learn this servicing stuff from scratch.

[Kit_e_kat9]

Buy the "manual" for the car.  Or get a dad to teach you.

I am a sheila and I can do most of my own servicing ... because my dad taught me to do stuff.  It's all pretty simple stuff really.

Kit_e

[Top.ender]

I can't help with courses, maybe your local TAFE can help but heres how I service our Patrol.


Warm engine so oil is runnier.

Crack open filling cap.

Undo sump plug drain and drain engine oil into bucket and allow it to drain fully.

Remove oil filters and put into bin.

Replace oil filters with new ones.

Put oil drain bung back into sump.

Refill engine with specified oil and quantity, in my case its 10 ptrs and what ever diesel oil was on special at the time.

I hope that helps

Agreed....with practice should only take approx 10/20 minutes...

[SteveandViv]

Buy the "manual" for the car.  Or get a dad to teach you.

I am a sheila and I can do most of my own servicing ... because my dad taught me to do stuff.  It's all pretty simple stuff really.

Kit_e

And from Forum knowing you for a while now Kit_e, I reckon you sure can  which is awesome.

[wiggo]

message sent

[dazzler]

Hi Goose

Good on you for considering giving this a go. 

The important thing is the engine oil and filters are changed regularly.  The issue with diesels is that the oil sludges up if the not changed regularly.

If I were in your shoes I would consider the following;

Change the oil and oil filter every 10k with a quality oil that matches the manufacturers viscosity. You can buy a pack of ten filters such as Sakura from ebay to save some dollars as well.

Check out the service book for the major services and what they change.  The biggies are the fuel filter and timing belt.  Timing belt is real important.  Have a dealership or service centre do these.

If you park the vehicle on concrete each day you will pick up whether or not it is leaking fluids.  If so get it checked out. 

Note in the service book the dates and k's that you changed the oils.

When you fill up the diesel tank check all the fluids under the bonnet and top up if you need to (get the stuff from the servo).

BTW have you blanked the exhaust gas recirculation off to slow oil contamination?


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[Mace]

Personally,I think recommended service intervals with modern vehicles are a con to ensure the dealer makes a few $$ along the vehicle life, apart from replacement major components like timing belts and the like.

That said, nothing looks more impressive at change over time than a consistent record of regular servicing for a well kept vehicle, so worthwhile continuing the trend with your tug.

Where abouts are you, I'm sure someone can give you a hand to do an initial basic service so you can see what exactly goes on.

 

[Kit_e_kat9]

And from Forum knowing you for a while now Kit_e, I reckon you sure can  which is awesome.

It does suck when you break a nail or can't get something to (&%$%* turn or come loose.  But I don't mind getting my hands dirty to get things done.  One thing I hate, is those tyre boys getting those horrid guns out to tighten my wheel nuts ... never get the blardy things off.

The last time I opened a manual was for the BF's ute ... a red light came on the dash and it was as simple as changing the fuel filter apparently ... but we bled the line first ... as per the book.

Kit_e

[prodigyrf]

What others have said re servicing tips on the net and Youtube, etc and be aware you can often pick up CD copy full workshop manuals (I got one for our Suzi SX4 for around $13) but OEM manuals are not for the faint hearted and Gregorys or Haynes are better for the novice.

Stick to the service intervals and lubricants specified for your vehicle and I always use genuine parts nowadays as there's too much rubbish about as well as OEM fakes on the net. Not much point changing your oil at 5000km intervals with a diesel if it isn't a dual stage fine micron filter like Toyota make or even Ryco (you'll easily feel the weight difference but do a search on cutting open filters and you'll get the picture) Filters aint filters-

Why Genuine Parts Toyota Oil Filter 2/6	Small | Large

( WARNING ) For You Fram Oil Filter Lover's.YouTube	Small | Large

Then there's the myth that you can tell when your oil needs changing by looking at it or by fixed mileage-

Busting Oil Change Myth	Small | Large

and increasingly the manufacturers are taking out of the hands of old mechanics and old wives tales with computerisation.

Be aware of what modern oils do and why and how they're rated-
http://www.racq.com.au/motoring/cars/car_advice/car_fact_sheets/understanding_engine_oil_designations
 http://www.api.org/certifications/engineoil/pubs/upload/engineoilguide_march2010.pdf

Most vehicles don't need fancy synthetics and much of that expensive oil technology is really to keep all the green Regulators happy as you can tell from those oil spec links (did I hear mention cutting off the exhaust gas recirculation?) My take is this with the oil change worryworts. The mileage a well serviced engine will achieve nowadays means they'll outlive the car's bodywork and running gear for most private users and increasingly sound running mechanical vehicles are going to the crushers because of their age with little or no resale value or haven't you noticed on our roads nowadays?  Cars are 10-12 yr propositions nowadays because they're relatively cheap and with adequately serviced motors that can easily achieve 200-300,000km depending on capacity and useage, how old is that at 12000km/yr or the average of 16000km/yr?