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:angry: Design… Northstar look at that engine for a design not meant to fail. A tightly packaged V8 fits in a small engine compartment. Just don’t try to repair it. Oil pan leak good luck, timing chain fun, now go find that starter motor. I’m sure it’s a great design from the manufacturers point of view. From my point of views it’s terrible 5-8 years out the cost of repair versus car value sends many of those cars to an early grave.
Ever try to get all the warning lights out at the same time on a Mini Cooper? Ack
I don’t think there is anyone in this world that can define the logic of the fucking retard that thought it was a good idea to put an oil filter in front of the engine, practically touching the exhaust manifold.
Because, you know…
Those people that like to drive their car into the ground for a solid 2 hours, then bring it RIGHT to the dealership for an oil change.
Not only do I have to put my hand on the smoldering-hot oil filter, I have to get burnt on the manifold too.As an engineer and as a car fixer I can see both sides of the issue.
At work, the bean-counters have veto power over almost every technical decision, and in addition they expect us to reduce costs 10% each and every year. Now you can be clever and trim costs, but eventually you’re down to making risky decisions and maybe using parts that won’t last forever and using rivets and screwing self-tapping screws into plastic parts that will only tolerate one initial tightening.
At home, I grumble about how it’s almost impossible to reach the alternator and how the rear three spark plugs are nearly impossible to reach. Yet those issues are partly my fault, because I wanted a sleek-looking car. There would be no problem if the hood was the size of the one on a 1975 Ford wagon, but I wouldn’t buy that, so I’m at least partially responsible for the inaccessibility of the parts.
From my understanding is that engineers don’t actually see the product as a whole. They specialize in a specific part or application. So when things don’t quite line up, it is not necessarily their fault. I understand that. But some car companies hire some people that have REALLY hard time putting things together as a whole.
Serviceability engineers are what have been missing from the older vehicles. Recently (in the last 5-10 years) there have been new jobs for serviceability engineers. These are people that have degrees and skills to become technicians and a 4 year degree. These are people that go into the final product and make sure you can take the starter out without disassembling the whole car. Great people. These guys have been pretty new to the industry and have made newer makes and models much simpler to work on. These are the guys that have field experience and have the engineering background to put the whole thing together. Thank you for all of your hard work.
I’m bringing back this zombie thread, as I have found what I feel to be the -DEFINITIVE- answer.
User Mumblix_Grumph over on JRITS (Just Rolled Into The Shop) said:
Why don’t manufacturers actually make this easy!?
Ok, here’s the deal: Kids who grew up to be engineers were mostly nerds who got shoved into lockers by kids who grew up to be mechanics and now it’s payback time.Need we say more?
-Hinoki
I was a Navy submarine sailor; after I got out and became an engineer went to work in a Navy shipyard doing mostly submarines. Everything in a submarine is packed together; the people get left over space; HOWEVER an important design concept in Navy stuff is “maintenance envelope.” Whenever something is designed to go into a submarine whenever possible space is allowed for disassembly and repair. Makes things more fun to work on, but adds lots of cost to the design process. Necessary; because sometimes in the submarine business you hear the phrase “Fix it or die.”
[quote=”Hinoki” post=114666]Yeah, but it was still pretty funny. 🙂
-Hinoki[/quote]
No. No it’s not. :angry:
😛
I still don’t get why they would think it was a bright idea to remove the oil dipsticks on BMWs and certain other makes(usually german makes). The sensor checks the level and the “oil life monitor” meters driving habits and conditions but when these systems fail what happens then? I guess its just a cost saving measure if anything after all 40 cents or so X 1 million cars really adds up. Still I would like to see the color and condition of the oil with my own two eyes without removing the drain plug!
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