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I commented on the video (this one) but I’ll say it here too.
I don’t see a problem with sponsored content that provides real information. Like I said on the video, all of that information you provided is genuine advice that would be good at ANY auto parts store. If a person dislikes AutoZone for whatever reason that can take that same advice and apply it at Napa, Advance, etc….
You weren’t recommending anything that was unnecessary or anything could only be done there. AutoZone happened to sponsor it, that’s the only difference.
There are lot of very critical people online that may not give the same criticisms face to face.
My guess is that the built-in GPS has the traffic avoidance feature that will warn you of heavy traffic or a wreck on the route you’re taking and I think that does use a cellular connection while the GPS is satellite based.
[quote=”gmule” post=172644]A long time ago I took my cousin out drinking for his birthday and he vomited all over he inside of my car I stopped at a car wash and hosed him down and the inside of my car with the spray wand but that was an extreme circumstance. That person might have a little or a lot of OCD going on.[/quote]
Two years ago my cousin and I went on a cruise and had one of the real fancy 5 course dinners with each course paired with a different wine and one withe Sake. He had a little too much to drink and the food was a little too rich. We were docked in the Bahamas at the time and we went out to get some fresh air on the promenade deck. He suddenly had to vomit so he made it to the rail and it just spewed out.
We were talking about it a couple of months later and he made the comment “At least it went into the water.” I said told him I wasn’t sure what he was talking about because we were docked and we were on the side of the ship against the dock, not the water and his vomit landed about 10 feet from a group of ships security and officers.
Nobody was hit with at and we did tell the guest services people what had happened and they thanked us for at least telling them so it be cleaned up instead of just letting them find it like other people have done.
[quote=”maxiitech” post=173274]The Maxima owners manual just says use double platinum but if you read the service manual it specifies NGK.
They are most likely referring to synthetic motor oil if they recommend every 15,000 miles. Why do you do it every 5000 then? are you afraid the seals will go bad?
Toyota recommends spark plugs every 120,000 miles and coolant an unbelievably longer length of time for the 2006 corolla.[/quote]I change it more frequently because Mini’s Condition Based Service system is not very accurate for oil life. The computer will tell you to change it after 15000 miles automatically and it also has some sort of sensor that’s supposed to activate based on oil level and condition. The problem is that by the time the sensor activates a lot of people are already 2+ quarts low on oil. The Mini S and John Cooper Works are turbocharged and they tend to run hot and use a fair amount of oil, which Mini considers “normal” In 4000 miles I have had to add 1.5 quarts of oil to keep it at the full mark on the dipstick.
My next project, after I get back from vacation, is going to be to have an oil catch can installed and then have the engine decoked and I hope that will make it run a little better and at least burn less oil.
Blackstone is the same company used so I will give them a try. I already sent a sample off from my Aunt’s car and should have the results soon.
I plan to do one on my Mini as a baseline as soon as the oil is due to be changed.
[quote=”college man” post=172068]Where is the video?[/quote]
Oh no! Sorry, I didn’t realize it didn’t post the video so I went back and edited it to include the link.
[quote=”451Mopar” post=171803][quote=”maxiitech” post=171732]Its not a stupid question because the parts stores put “improper” plugs on the market claiming they “fit”. They don’t function in the car properly and misfire.
The other thing about spark plugs is that they only really get changed every 100,000 miles. So it’s something you have to do without “over doing” it; Just follow the make’s engineer’s recommendations. if it doesn’t say anti seize then don’t add it.[/quote]
I agree on using OEM plugs, but check the owners manual for service intervals. Many cars recommend changing spark plugs more frequently than 100,000 miles. My wifes’ 2012 Kia Optima SX 2.0 Turbo recommends changing plugs at 45,000 miles, and the Denso Iridium plugs are around $13/each.
I don’t agree with the statement not to use anti seize. I use anti seize, just a bit on the threads, and make sure not to get it on the ceramic as it does conduct electricity.[/quote]Honestly the Mini’s Owner’s Manual has almost no information on servicing. It says what viscosity oil to use and that the brake fluid is DOT 4 and that’s pretty much else. They say the maintenance is determined by the onboard computer’s CBS (Condition Based Services) system. So I have the coolant flushed when it tells me to. They even say to change the oil every 15,000 to 20,000 miles when the light comes on but I am sticking to a 5000 mile interval with Mobile 1 (thinking of switching to Pentosin or Liqui-Molly but I need to research). I am going to have an oil analysis done by Blackstone Labs when I do the next oil change and may treat it with Cera-Tec.
The Mini has just under 87,000 miles on it so I am not in a rush to change the plugs but I want to make sure I have everything and know how to do it.
Thanks everyone for your replies.
The part’s stores list Bosch as OEM for the Mini but everyone I have asked has recommended the NGK Laser Iridium.
I did buy the 14mm 12 point spark plug socket with a rubber thing and magnet in it and ordered the NGK plugs to be here tomorrow. I asked the mechanic that I take the Mini to (he is a former BMW/Mini Master certified tech that now owns a shop specializing in BMW/Mini) and he offered to show me how to change them if I wanted but i’d feel really shitty (excuse the language) asking him to teach me how to do something that will basically be me doing it and not paying him to do it, if that makes sense.
The Toyota is my Aunt’s and I think my cousin and I will be replacing the coils and plugs so we’ll do that together.
The Fusion…ugh I don’t know where to start there. It has 144160 miles on the clock and had a few open recalls. I asked them to go ahead and do the 150,000 mile service so the tech would at least get some decent pay out of it. They called me and said something about both front control arms would have to be replaced because of a broken cover and and something being sealed and they can’t repair it. I take the blame for lack of details. I generally have an overnight schedule so when he called at 2:00PM I was asleep. They said that would be about $700 and a tire (rear) was dry rotted and I always replace in two so I asked for that. I had expected a total bill of $1200ish.
I went to pick the Fusion up about 7:45 this morning and was given a bill for $2,236.72. They ended up repairing the control arms [707.50] and doing the requisite 4 wheel alignment [169.95], mounted and balanced the two new tires [313.90] and as part of the “150,000 mile service” did a tune-up [143.79], complete fuel injection cleaning [189.95], oil change (1200 miles before it was due) [56.48], coolant flush [154.95], transmission flush (which I knew would happen) [214.95], replaced the cabin air filter [65.24] and the kicker I had asked them to install 2 new headlight bulbs I had bought because theirs suck. The labor for the headlights alone was $123.76.
So needless to say that was a little bit of a shock when I was given the bill.
I have to take it back to have the alignment redone because the car pulls to the left. If I get on a flat road, in the center of the three lanes (each direction) and take my hand off of the steering wheel I’ll be in the left lane within 50 feet. I’m sure they’ll redo that for free, since it has less than 20 miles on the alignment.
I know the prices are pretty high (like the $715.00 water pump I paid for last week for the Mini and the $370 pressure diverter valve for the turbocharger waste gate I had to pay the week before).
I’m hopeful now that all of the preventative maintenance and required repairs are taken care of for a while. I’ve been watching all of the ECTG and ChrisFix videos to learn some of the stuff so that I can do it myself. I’m a little limited for the under-car work because of a spinal cord injury but my cousin is really good about doing that part of it so I don’t have to try and get under the car and all of that jazz. When we changed my aunt’s oil he did the draining of the oil and changing of the filter and I poured the new oil in up top and checked the other fluids.
I have learned the process for the Mini oil change and it’s not too bad other than removing the coolant expansion tank to access the filter cap.
Sorry for the off-topic part.
At least I don’t have to worry about the spark plugs in the Fusion anymore lol
I do appreciate all of y’alls help and suggestions.
My car has the electric fan that stays on after the car is shut off and also has an electric auxiliary water pump that pumps coolant, at least to the turbocharged. Can you do something like that?
I may be completely wrong and off base with this, and if I am someone correct me, but I lost respect for Mr. Kilmer tonight when I saw a video he did where he did a ‘complete brake job from eBay’. He bought 100% of the parts and tools for that job on eBay.
I am in no way a mechanic/technician but I just cannot accept the fact that he put brakes from eBay on a car. When I was in high school and my uncle bought me my first car he told me something that I still believe in 100% today. He said when you have work done on your car you can always find a ‘cheap’ repair job and that you get what you pay for but NEVER have cheap work done on the brakes, steering or airbags and to always go to a reputable shop with people that specialize in those areas. Your life, and the lives of your family and friends, literally depend on that.
I just don’t see buying brakes from China or wherever on eBay as being a safe, quality repair by a professional.
If you pay to have your oil changed and don’t do it yourself then maybe consider going to a dealership for oil changes. On my Fusion I take it to the Ford dealer and pay jut under $50.00 for an oil change, tire rotation and multi-point inspection that includes measuring tire tread depth and brake pad thickness.
On my Mini they do an inspection anytime they touch the car and the computer (maybe not the most accurate) monitors break wear as well. For instance the car is currently showing a 36000 mile life remaining on my front brakes and 9000 miles remaining on my rear brakes.
I record all of my service info on http://www.Cargly.com (totally free) and it emails reminders of when something needs to be looked at or service be done.
I think the different YouTubers have different but intersecting audiences. Eric seems to have more thorough and detailed videos that are great for professionals and more advanced home mechanics.
ChrisFix has videos targeted mostly for novice home mechanics.
The problem I see with Scotty Kilmer’s videos is that he speeds through a ‘repair’ that some times are just a quick fix. His videos are not very good for those of us that don’t really know what we’re doing. I grasp the mechanical theory but don’t have much experience applying that theory. A bit problem with some of his videos is that he provides just enough info that makes it to where “you know just enough to be dangerous” as my uncle said a lot. Failing to point out risks and potential complications of a certain repair makes it too easy foe someone to get in to trouble.
I also can’t get over some of the ‘half ass’ repairs. If you’re going to teach someone to so something; teach them the proper way to do it, not the half ass temp fix way.
Thanks both of you for your replies. I bought one on eBay for less than $10.00 for an electronic copy. I’m not positive it’s the right one but it will be close enough for my use. I bought one advertised for all r56 Minis but this one seems to be for an 08. I have a 2010 which is still an r56 so I think it will work.
Thanks again.