Sef servicing of vehicles

That should be SELF - I would like an auto spell checker function!

Not sure what your after.

Do want to do your own servicing as DIY or arrange for a particular specialist, such as a brake shop do the brake fluid, tranmission place to do the trannie, etc.?

I sometimes do my own intermediate services (5000 km), which is an oil change. The whole thing costs no more than $30-40. The local tip has an oil reclaimimg tank so that's where I dump the waste on the way to work. I keep empty oil cans for that purpose. Takes about an hour. You can also buy empties at Supercheap which can return for them to dispose of the oil for re-cycling.

The other stuff I leave to the dealer service. Its not worth the hastle and running around.

Wizard
Gold Coast

I do the same.

I do the odd 5000k services, like 125,000, 135,000 and get a local mechanic to do the even changes 130,000, 140,000 etc.

I could do it, and sometimes do, as well as the gear box oil and diff oil every 50,000, and flush the radiator etc every year.

But I just like putting it into the mechanic as he does a check for me and lets me know if he sees something I may have missed. He also does a full trip check for me before a big trip. Well actually, we start about 6 months out and we draw up a list. Nick suggests I do some and he does the others.

If you want to give him a ring, Moorooka Automotive on the southside of Brisy, ring 3892 1153. He does a fair bit of 4wd work, Nissans, Toyotas. He has an older Hilux and his son who also works there competes in a modified patrol.

I have used them for 20 years. Not always cheap, but some one you can work with. And no, I won't make any money out of this.

Changing the brake fluid is not that difficult. I do it like this:
1 with the engine off and no one in the drivers seat to touch the brake pedal take the lid off the reservior and syphon out the fluid therein with some plastic tube. Keep the brake fluid off paintwork as it will damage it.
2 fill with new fluid.
3 now you need an assistant or a $3.95 one man brake bleeder from Go Lo or the Warehouse or Supercheap.
4 on the wheel furthest from the reservior usually back LH wheel get a split ring spanner or a ring spanner that fits the hex on the bleeder screw, take of the rubber dust cap if fitted. You may find it easier to take off the wheel or put the wheel up on a ramp or similar to get access to the bleed screw.
5 get the bleed screw loosened while the assistant sits in the drivers seat ready to press the pedal at your command. I find "down" & "up" work OK but each to his own.
6 give the command to press the brake pedal then after you hear a creak as the brakes are applied loosen the bleed screw and allow the fluid to escape. You can for convenience convey the fluid away via some plasic tube pushed over the bleed screw barb & collect in a container.
7 when the flow stops tighten the screw & give the command to release or raise the brake pedal.
8 repeat 6 & 7 untill clear new fluid is expelled. Make sure you tighten the bleed screws firmly but not to the point that you snap it off & replace the rubber dust caps. Refill the fluid reservior as if it gets to low air can be sucked into the system meaning that you have to start again.
9 change to the other rear wheel and repeat 6,7 & 8
10 change to the front wheels and repeat 6,7 & 8.

Job done...should take you no more than an hour tops & save you $$$, mind you if you are that FLUSH YOU CAN ALWAYS SEND ME THE MONEY & I will spend it wisely on wild women & song

Geez mate

At those prices you would want to do it yourself.

here in the sticks
$4.50lt for bleep s 15/40 so 10.5lt is $47.25
2 x ROF 9 filters @ $8.50 each is $17.00
Service charege $58 includes inspection, grease and air filter clean etc.

Sometimes I change the oil myself but always end up not knowing what to do with the old oil

regards

Just an aside, everyone should be replacing their brake fluid every 2 years and only ever topping up the reservoir with fluid from new bottles. Brake fluid absorbs moisture and it dramatically lowers the boiling point over time.

I've always serviced my own vehicles. It's the only way you know it will be done properly.

Like V8Diesel, I'll always service my own vehicles - been bitten by poor servicing in the past. Even the vehicles I've bought new are done by me. Always keep the receipts for the stuff when under warranty still.

And I buy the genuine coolant and brake fluid as I believe its important. Mixing different brand coolants is a recipe for a blocked radiator, and Toyota vehicles only like the old Dot 3 brake fluid. The cost of service items for Nissan and Toyota vehicles is pretty cheap.

I like to buy the better grade engine and trans/diff oils.