Topic: What did you do to your car today?

[EV Dan]

Did the DSG service and an oil change on the GTI. Car just crossed 50K and no issues. Breaks are next on the to do list for maintenance.

At the dealer? How much for the tranny service including a filter ?

[jamie1]

 Also not sure I would want to muck around with the Audi, I'm sure the Germans must complicate things  .

I was a fun experience, even for an old guy like me .

Sometimes the better brakes are actually easier to work on.  My Porsches don't have sliders, they have pistons on each side.   To change pads you just punch out some steel pins, replace pads and put the pins back in. 
Easy to do in the pits while changing tires.

i can ALMOST guarantee you the Audi would have sliding pins. (of course, depending on the model, but most Audis seem to be sliding pin variety.)

and if that is the case, than i can ALSO guarantee, it won't be as easy, since you will need spinning brake piston pusher tool(caliper piston compressor) to reset the caliper pistons and they can be right pain in the a$$ without air/electric impact wrench.

Those spinning pistons are going the way of the Dodo and being replaced by smaller drum brakes inside the hub for e-brakes.
Dunno what's on a base-ish A4, but AFAIK most anything bigger, or an S4, will have opposed piston calipers

Actually most are going the other way with the more vehicles coming with electric park/emergency brake. Every maker seems to have a different way to disable that feature so the piston can be pushed back in.

I've wondered about those,  do they use the regular caliper?   Are they mechanical, hydraulic or electric?

3 of my cars use the smaller drums inside the hub.
I don't get to work on anything new, just my old junk

They use electric motors attached to the backside of the calipers.

[Bubba]

Did the DSG service and an oil change on the GTI. Car just crossed 50K and no issues. Breaks are next on the to do list for maintenance.

BRAKES

 

[Dante]

Did the DSG service and an oil change on the GTI. Car just crossed 50K and no issues. Breaks are next on the to do list for maintenance.

BRAKES

 

OK, OK... I got it... it's BREAKS....  Oh... Oops....  Not the preemptive keyboard again..... Let me try it one more time... BRAKES....  There you have it! 😁

[aquadorhj]

not familiar with SLK's so a couple of dumb questions:
 - if there's no dipstick, through what opening did you extract the oil?
 - how did you know that 7.5 liters was the correct amount to put back in? specified in the manual?
 - how do you check oil level?

There's still dipstick hole.   i think dealers actually have a stick to measure oil level quickly.
i took out 7.2L ish.    according to my slk forum research, oil capacity is 7.5 liters (or 8 quarts) with filter replacement, using extractor.  so i put in just under that.

the gauge cluster has option to measure oil.  but i have to run the engine and let it drain for 5 minutes before it tells me whether i have proper level of oil.   kind of sucks doing it this way.

Dang stupid no distick sh1t.   Cluster tells me I have overfilled oil.  AaaRgh.  Took out .2 ish liter, and it tells me it's good. 

I'm going to have to get a dipstick....

[PJungnitsch]

Interesting the aftermarket does seem to make them:

https://www.ecstuning.com/News/Mercedes_Benz_R171_SLK55_AMG_Class_Schwaben_Oil_Dipstick_2005_006_2007_2008_2009_2010/

So they literally have a place in the block for a dipstick, and just put a plug in there instead? Or is that where the oil level sensor goes?

[rrocket]

Interesting the aftermarket does seem to make them:

https://www.ecstuning.com/News/Mercedes_Benz_R171_SLK55_AMG_Class_Schwaben_Oil_Dipstick_2005_006_2007_2008_2009_2010/

So they literally have a place in the block for a dipstick, and just put a plug in there instead? Or is that where the oil level sensor goes?

Nicest dipstick I've ever seen.

Graduations on it are awesome!

[BWII]

I inflated the Sonic tires to 33 psi...wonder if it's too much.  Loss of traction easy peasey now.  (Un)throttle over-steer easily induced.  Kinda fun actually.

[EV Dan]

Interesting the aftermarket does seem to make them:

https://www.ecstuning.com/News/Mercedes_Benz_R171_SLK55_AMG_Class_Schwaben_Oil_Dipstick_2005_006_2007_2008_2009_2010/

So they literally have a place in the block for a dipstick, and just put a plug in there instead? Or is that where the oil level sensor goes?

Nicest dipstick I've ever seen.

Graduations on it are awesome!

That's what she said 

[Bubba]

I inflated the Sonic tires to 33 psi...wonder if it's too much.  Loss of traction easy peasey now.  (Un)throttle over-steer easily induced.  Kinda fun actually.

What does the door sticker say?

[Ex-airbalancer]

I inflated the Sonic tires to 33 psi...wonder if it's too much.  Loss of traction easy peasey now.  (Un)throttle over-steer easily induced.  Kinda fun actually.

Are they Hercules tires?

[rrocket]

I inflated the Sonic tires to 33 psi...wonder if it's too much.  Loss of traction easy peasey now.  (Un)throttle over-steer easily induced.  Kinda fun actually.

What does the door sticker say?

I'd be surprised if it was less. I bet it's more.

[BWII]

I inflated the Sonic tires to 33 psi...wonder if it's too much.  Loss of traction easy peasey now.  (Un)throttle over-steer easily induced.  Kinda fun actually.

Are they Hercules tires?

Close second - Aphrodite I believe.  They love snow.

What does the door sticker say?

I'd be surprised if it was less. I bet it's more.

They were all around 27-30, I usually run around 34 - door sticker: 38 psi cold.    I seem to remember a time when 32 psi was the norm.  Every time I'd get my car back from the dealer after an oil change, they'd take air out from my 34-35 and all be put at 32.  For a smooth no bump ride I guess. 

[Dante]

I guess it depends on the tire size. The dor jamb says 38 psi based on the stock tire size for your car which I suspect is 17-18" (?).  If you downsize for winter - let's say 16", you would go with 32 psi. This is what the dealership does I guess. They based it on what they know the standard wheel size for that car is.

[BWII]

15's on the Sonic, same size winter tires. 

On my truck, I have LT tires, usually run pretty good numbers for pulling the trailer...like 60-80 psi (high enough anyway) - get it home after an oil change....32 psi.  I don't think they can read, let alone believe they know what anything is based on.  Throw a wrench at it and call it fixed.  Charge you for losing their wrench.

[Dante]

In that case it's easy.... Set the pressure to whatever the door sticker says.  I always check and reset the pressure after a dealer visit as I know they set it to whatever value and many times is not even consistent on all wheels.

[Bubba]

In that case it's easy.... Set the pressure to whatever the door sticker says.  I always check and reset the pressure after a dealer visit as I know they set it to whatever value and many times is not even consistent on all wheels.

Yep, stick with the recommended pressure.  Maybe that's why your fuel consumption isn't what you expect: your tires are underinflated.

[BWII]

Nah...I don't think a few lbs of air would make that much difference...I have an idea though, I think I know what it might be...

[Bubba]

Post moved to 2010 Hyundai Sonata GL thread.
https://www.autos.ca/forum/index.php?topic=100441.msg1471984#msg1471984

[Arthur Dent]

Nice. That should upgrade the appearance nicely.