Originally Posted By: JeffKeryk
Only 1 time could I not remove an oil pan plug. It was so destroyed. I think I could do it now, as I am older and have more tools. The car was an early Datsun B210. The dealer replaced the pan.
If you are gonna work on cars, get the right tools. I have 4 floor jacks. 2 are those small Harbor Freight models. They have served me well. And good jack stands are the only way to go.
One tool we have today is forums like this and Youtube. I have learned so much from the 'Net. Maybe you will make a video on your Subaru oil change one day?
If I made a video of me working on a car, it would be filed under comedy...maybe I could dress like a woman with a multicolored fright wig, run around the car screaming obscenities and waving my arms, and then make a million bucks off YouTube ads. My daughter knew a kid who made big bucks posting vids about solving video games, he had a pretty nice high performance Stang for a 16 year old.
I have certainly taken advantage of YT vids for the simple things I have done on my car, although I still manage to screw things up the first time I do them. Actually getting my hands dirty is the real education, but the vids are good prep.
Storage is the big problem for me when it comes to large tools, I already think it's a huge PITA to deal with having non-stackable ramps and one small floor jack. They end up getting stored behind the snowblower and then I have to fight with them when the flakes fly. The extractor will do for now when it comes to the Impreza and I'll ask to have the drain plug replaced next time it visits a dealer.
BTW, should have mentioned that I used PPPP 5W30 and a Mazda branded Tokyo Roki filter that appears to be identical to the 15208AA160 that came on the Impreza when it was new...I know it has the same bypass pressure specs. Not a big fan of the blue cans the dealers use in the US, I can feel them flex way too much while I'm putting them in and it freaks me out a bit...I won't bother to pull them off when the dealer uses them, though. I just prefer to go with the black Tokyo Rokis when I'm buying the filters.