Topic: What did you do to your car today?

[tortoise]

The air filter should be checked every oil change.

Huh?  That seems excessive.  My TDi calls for a 100k km service interval for the engine air filter.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

The air filter should be checked every oil change.

Huh?  That seems excessive.  My TDi calls for a 100k km service interval for the engine air filter.

I didn't say changed.  I said checked.  You should be inspecting your air filter every oil change. 

[tortoise]

I know you said checked.  I still think that's excessive.

But why?  NO way am I going to open up the filter housing every oil change.  And my OCI is 15k km. MAYBE every 3rd oil change, but even that seems too often.

[Fobroader]

Took off the winter tires and put the summer ones back on this weekend...and I see now I need to get new pads in the back.  Which means I might as well replace the rotors, which means I might as well do all 4 corners.  Front pads are still closer to 100% than 50%, and that's with 197,000 km.  Back ones...hmmm...looking a little thin!

Anyone have any suggestions?  Stock or Cdn Tire/Piston Ring for rotors?  Any particular names to avoid and any that are superior?  Any Monroe Quickstrut equivalents to avoid?  Was thinking maybe Rock Auto, but kinda wondering if there wouldn't be some stupid tariff because "steel".  (my son ordered bolts for their pulling tractor in Engineering out of the US - they didn't ship them - 173% tariff; the nuts - duty/tariff free  Got those)

What kind of pads?  Always see those ones that are green or yellow...but I don't race so would I or my car benefit?  Don't want brake dust, and the stock POS's don't do that.  And I guess they did, or could last the life of the car based on my apparent driving style.  Huh...then again taking off quickly doesn't use brakes, and I'm never in a rush to slow down.

I don't know man, I've bought a crapload of parts from Rockauto and they are always cheaper than anything local. I try to go with Raybestos and have had really good success on all of our vehicles with them.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

I know you said checked.  I still think that's excessive.

But why?  NO way am I going to open up the filter housing every oil change.  And my OCI is 15k km. MAYBE every 3rd oil change, but even that seems too often.

On my Toyota, checking the air filter is listed as a requirement on every service.  Replace only as needed.  When I learned basic car maintenance, checking the air filter was one of those routine things that you do regularly at every oil change interval.  It doesn't cost anything, and it allows you to keep tabs on an easily serviceable item that has a pretty big impact on engine performance.

Doing it by mileage doesn't make too much sense.  Somebody who drives on a lot of gravel roads will require their filter to be changed far more often than somebody who does straight city driving. 

[tortoise]

Agreed about driving habits and environment making difference.

Looks like VW suggests I inspect the air filter every 30k km. I've been having the oil changes done at the dealer, though I don't think they're doing all the inspections.

[mlin32]

The 308 GT (petrol) has 1 yr/30k intervals for oil change and the climate control filter (which i'll tackle next). The first révision was done at my selling dealer, since I bought it 2nd hand with 1 yr/20k on the clock.

At the 2 yr mark, spark plugs, brake fluid, and engine air filter are also due. I plan to let the dealer do the oil change, révision checks, and brake fluid. The filters and spark plugs I've done.

Unlike most Germans (but like everyone else in the world), I do as much as I can myself; parts for Peugeots are easily available at the local parts stores (or in the case of wiper blades, the supermarket) because everyone has a 308. In France, at least lol.

Yeah driving habits affect the lifespan of filters and oil but I have a pretty standard driving regime. Drove it to the self-wash to use the pressure washer to try and rid the underbody of residual salt from the winter, the best I could.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

30k oil change interval, really?

[Fobroader]

30k oil change interval, really?

 

Oh hell naw!!!! Especially on something with a turbo on it.

[Arthur Dent]

Air filter, not oil from what I read.

[mlin32]

30k oil change interval, really?

Yes, for my specific drivetrain.

This actually shouldn't be a surprise. A lot of newer petrol cars, especially in Europe, run 30k on an oil change. It's timed for 1 yr/30k. My previous BMW E90 was this way too, as are most non-M BMWs. And VWs in Europe as well, where they have a variable maintenance schedule (disabled in North America).

The diesel variants are 20-25k on an oil change. The newer Puretech 1.2 litre petrol is 20k.

[Fobroader]

JK is under the knife getting her new clutch

[random006]

I will be brushing snow off of it later this evening prior to going out.  grr.   

[Seafoam]

JK is under the knife getting her new clutch

How many k did you get out of that clutch ?

[tortoise]

The Highlander got new lower control arms, ball joints and an alignment.

It drives sooooo much better. The bushings were toast and the steering was pretty sloppy.  There's now way more on-center feel and it's not all over the road.

[TheHire]

The S2000 is officially out of storage now. Plated, stickered, oil and filter changed, and I took it for a nice drive. Also got an S2000 CR shift knob on it, which is nicely weighted and the shift pattern is Rio Yellow, which matches the car's paint.

Aston is also now fully serviced and out on the road. Took it for its first highway run today, from my place in the suburbs to downtown Toronto for dinner and back. Drives beautifully on the highway, and makes lovely noises. The shifter isn't quite as precise as the S2000's, but feels very good and the clutch, while heavy, suits the car's personality nicely. It also seems to get some positive attention on the road. I feel like this car has more of a classy appeal that many appreciate, rather than the ostentatious nature of a Ferrari or Lamborghini.

Both cars are getting ceramic coated in the next week or so, and a full polish too.

[rrocket]

Both cars are getting ceramic coated in the next week or so, and a full polish too.

Hopefully the full polish comes before the ceramic coating.   

[ktm525]

The Highlander got new lower control arms, ball joints and an alignment.

It drives sooooo much better. The bushings were toast and the steering was pretty sloppy.  There's now way more on-center feel and it's not all over the road.

Awesome, nothing like a refreshed front end. I put some Philips vision plus bulbs in the Ridgeline. We will see if there is a difference over the original 8 year old bulbs.I kept the old ones as they were still functioning.

[tortoise]

Awesome, nothing like a refreshed front end. I put some Philips vision plus bulbs in the Ridgeline. We will see if there is a difference over the original 8 year old bulbs.I kept the old ones as they were still functioning.

Yeah, it's way more gratifying that say, a new timing belt.  Amazingly, despite the old bushings being toast there still weren't any rattles or clunks.

[random006]

The Highlander got new lower control arms, ball joints and an alignment.

It drives sooooo much better. The bushings were toast and the steering was pretty sloppy.  There's now way more on-center feel and it's not all over the road.

Awesome, nothing like a refreshed front end. I put some Philips vision plus bulbs in the Ridgeline. We will see if there is a difference over the original 8 year old bulbs.I kept the old ones as they were still functioning.

Tortoise:  Ditto on the front end work.  It's amazing what a difference can be felt when changing suspension bits and bobs.

ktm525:  I look forward to hearing your opinion, even if only to confirm my experience with bulb replacement.  I had tried several fancy and not so fancy replacement bulbs in my Sorento over the years that I owned the vehicle.  In the end, I found it wasn't really worth it.  The light was whiter but it did not go much further or wider as the geometry of the housing mattered more than the bulb technology. 

It was also quite expensive both at the cash and in terms of how short the lifespan was.  I eventually went back to fairly standard halogen bulbs for that vehicle.