At what age do you stop meticulous maintenance?
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Sam_Julier
$50 Site Donor 2024
Originally Posted By: JLTD
Maintenance schedule is maintenance schedule. I keep the same schedule as long as I own the vehicle.
Amen brother. I love driving my cars and never think about trading them. So a detailed maintenance schedule = reliability and enjoyment. I never change the schedule for as long as I own the vehicle.
Sam
Maintenance schedule is maintenance schedule. I keep the same schedule as long as I own the vehicle.
Amen brother. I love driving my cars and never think about trading them. So a detailed maintenance schedule = reliability and enjoyment. I never change the schedule for as long as I own the vehicle.
Sam
I don't really stop...if anything I pay more attention as they get older. I also agree that buying a new vehicle should be done just because you want something new, it's rarely less expensive to buy something new. For example, when my Liberty needed a new transmission, it was going to be hard to find something for $5000 that I would've owned since basically new and knew the full history of it. Plus I just love the thing.
3 years ago and at 170k we had major work done that included all major maintenance since motor pullled. Since then just change oil every 4k and nothing else. It has 229k but in shop for oil leakage(1 qt per week) due to corroded rubber lines under manifold combined with clogging. I don’t plan on maintaining except for oil and safety.
2005 Legacy turbo wagom
2005 Legacy turbo wagom
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Most routine maintenance is cheap and easy and this would be the case with your aging Audi.
The coils might be a little costly but check RA as well as the large number of VAG specialist sites.
You're looking at maybe a couple of hundred in parts to keep this old Audi running for another couple of years.
Cheap enough.
The coils might be a little costly but check RA as well as the large number of VAG specialist sites.
You're looking at maybe a couple of hundred in parts to keep this old Audi running for another couple of years.
Cheap enough.
Why was motor pulled with less that 200K miles ?
Sounds like money should be spent on a newer vehicle.
Sounds like money should be spent on a newer vehicle.
Originally Posted By: Mr Nice
Why was motor pulled with less that 200K miles ?
Sounds like money should be spent on a newer vehicle.
Depends. $5k in repairs on a paid-off vehicle is less than a year of typical new car payments.
Why was motor pulled with less that 200K miles ?
Sounds like money should be spent on a newer vehicle.
Depends. $5k in repairs on a paid-off vehicle is less than a year of typical new car payments.
I turned 80 years old on Feb 25th and I'm not ready yet. Were you talking about car age? ED
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I stop when I'm shopping for another car. My car is driveable, but too many problems and rust. The scrap value is probably around $300
Originally Posted By: artbuc
Good timing on this topic. I replaced the brake fluid on my 99 Avalon every 2 years religiously since getting her new in August 1999. On last cycle I thought screw it. This morning I gave her a flush after 4 years. The fluid was disgusting and I feel like a real schmuck for letting it go. At least I have not slacked on replacing coolant every two years using only Toyota Red. Gotta keep the old girl feeling good about herself.
Have to admit, I gave the old Taurus a brake fluid Turkey baster job, but I don’t think I’d be flushing it. My hat goes off to you sir.
Good timing on this topic. I replaced the brake fluid on my 99 Avalon every 2 years religiously since getting her new in August 1999. On last cycle I thought screw it. This morning I gave her a flush after 4 years. The fluid was disgusting and I feel like a real schmuck for letting it go. At least I have not slacked on replacing coolant every two years using only Toyota Red. Gotta keep the old girl feeling good about herself.
Have to admit, I gave the old Taurus a brake fluid Turkey baster job, but I don’t think I’d be flushing it. My hat goes off to you sir.
Originally Posted By: Kira
1) The "Hey, the car ain't worth repairing" argument always hit me as incomplete as well. There are too many variables and the Cost of Replacement is never mentioned.
It's been gone over.
2) If your vehicle is old and you just want one which is newer, safer, more comfortable and shiny etc., then just get one.
Don't go the route of the verbose pseudo economist. That's childish in a way.
3) Donating cars of age is no longer worth it. Organizations are so "pretty" now-a-days they can't use an old vehicle. They have to auction it off.
4) Selling it is a good way to go for many but many DO NOT want to deal with the process. That I understand. Me, it doesn't bother.
Well said. Up here, if you try donate a car with frame or body rust to an organization like the Kidney Foundation, it goes straight to the wreckers, not the used car auction. Good point about safety. Who’s driving the 20 year old car? No side air bags, seat belts might be a bit sun damaged, was the air bag recalled etc. Also, good maintenance for safety is an absolute must. Having the water pump letting go while merging onto the interstate can be a lot worse than just being stranded on the side of the road.
1) The "Hey, the car ain't worth repairing" argument always hit me as incomplete as well. There are too many variables and the Cost of Replacement is never mentioned.
It's been gone over.
2) If your vehicle is old and you just want one which is newer, safer, more comfortable and shiny etc., then just get one.
Don't go the route of the verbose pseudo economist. That's childish in a way.
3) Donating cars of age is no longer worth it. Organizations are so "pretty" now-a-days they can't use an old vehicle. They have to auction it off.
4) Selling it is a good way to go for many but many DO NOT want to deal with the process. That I understand. Me, it doesn't bother.
Well said. Up here, if you try donate a car with frame or body rust to an organization like the Kidney Foundation, it goes straight to the wreckers, not the used car auction. Good point about safety. Who’s driving the 20 year old car? No side air bags, seat belts might be a bit sun damaged, was the air bag recalled etc. Also, good maintenance for safety is an absolute must. Having the water pump letting go while merging onto the interstate can be a lot worse than just being stranded on the side of the road.
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My answer is it ends when you don't want or care about the vehicle any longer.
I try to neglect my vehicles, but I can't.
The worst thing I've done is not change the oil or do any service to my new pushmower since I bought it three years ago. It keeps starting on the first pull every spring, and the oil looks eh, ok.
The worst thing I've done is not change the oil or do any service to my new pushmower since I bought it three years ago. It keeps starting on the first pull every spring, and the oil looks eh, ok.
Originally Posted By: eyeofthetiger
I try to neglect my vehicles, but I can't.
The worst thing I've done is not change the oil or do any service to my new pushmower since I bought it three years ago. It keeps starting on the first pull every spring, and the oil looks eh, ok.
[off-topic]
Have you heard Tig1 stories about Mobil2? (5k miles Mobil1 re-used...)
[/off-topic]
I try to neglect my vehicles, but I can't.
The worst thing I've done is not change the oil or do any service to my new pushmower since I bought it three years ago. It keeps starting on the first pull every spring, and the oil looks eh, ok.
[off-topic]
Have you heard Tig1 stories about Mobil2? (5k miles Mobil1 re-used...)
[/off-topic]
Why would you stop?
Yes there comes a point of repairs costing more than the vehicle is worth, but maintanance, no, keep doing it.
Yes there comes a point of repairs costing more than the vehicle is worth, but maintanance, no, keep doing it.
At what age do you stop meticulous maintenance?
When I am too old to do it myself, like in a nursing home.
When I am too old to do it myself, like in a nursing home.
Originally Posted By: blupupher
Why would you stop?
Yes there comes a point of repairs costing more than the vehicle is worth, but maintanance, no, keep doing it.
I think he means nick picking preventive maintenance, at least that's how I took it.
Why would you stop?
Yes there comes a point of repairs costing more than the vehicle is worth, but maintanance, no, keep doing it.
I think he means nick picking preventive maintenance, at least that's how I took it.
Originally Posted By: pandus13
Originally Posted By: eyeofthetiger
I try to neglect my vehicles, but I can't.
The worst thing I've done is not change the oil or do any service to my new pushmower since I bought it three years ago. It keeps starting on the first pull every spring, and the oil looks eh, ok.
[off-topic]
Have you heard Tig1 stories about Mobil2? (5k miles Mobil1 re-used...)
[/off-topic]
Don't think I haven't thought about it. The Valvoline Synpower that I drain out of my car is probably good enough for a mower. Maybe I could mix it with the oil from my truck and make a synthetic blend 10W-30 (5W-20 + 15W-40 = 10W-30?).
Originally Posted By: eyeofthetiger
I try to neglect my vehicles, but I can't.
The worst thing I've done is not change the oil or do any service to my new pushmower since I bought it three years ago. It keeps starting on the first pull every spring, and the oil looks eh, ok.
[off-topic]
Have you heard Tig1 stories about Mobil2? (5k miles Mobil1 re-used...)
[/off-topic]
Don't think I haven't thought about it. The Valvoline Synpower that I drain out of my car is probably good enough for a mower. Maybe I could mix it with the oil from my truck and make a synthetic blend 10W-30 (5W-20 + 15W-40 = 10W-30?).
Originally Posted By: 69GTX
When the cost to do the "details" starts to exceed the value of the car. For my last car it occurred around 200-220K miles when so many things started to pop up....and on a car worth no more than $500-$1,000. It would have cost thousands to keep up on all those things. The car was basically junked for $300 at 230K miles. It didn't help that the undercarriage was rusty and the paint, though intact, was very dull.
It's the cosmetics and the rust that take us out of our cars most of the time.
I decided my time was best spent with somewhat "ahead of the curve" mechanical maintenance and more careful upkeep of the appearance. At the 6 year mark the strategy seems to be paying off especially when you take into account that my inputs are pretty reasonable. It looks like the car will be obsolete or really and truly worn out before it becomes unpresentable.
When the cost to do the "details" starts to exceed the value of the car. For my last car it occurred around 200-220K miles when so many things started to pop up....and on a car worth no more than $500-$1,000. It would have cost thousands to keep up on all those things. The car was basically junked for $300 at 230K miles. It didn't help that the undercarriage was rusty and the paint, though intact, was very dull.
It's the cosmetics and the rust that take us out of our cars most of the time.
I decided my time was best spent with somewhat "ahead of the curve" mechanical maintenance and more careful upkeep of the appearance. At the 6 year mark the strategy seems to be paying off especially when you take into account that my inputs are pretty reasonable. It looks like the car will be obsolete or really and truly worn out before it becomes unpresentable.
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