When a dealer offers 10% off maintenance?

The OIL drain plug can require replacement after several removal/
replacements during oil changes.
So, perhaps the mechanic noted that the hex head was becoming a little
worn and relaced it. I replaced mine
on my 2001 Civic a few years ago for that reason, and am about to
replace it again. But I change my oil 4 times per year
due to the high miles I drive (110/day commute). But it is NOT on the
maintenance schedule to replace it.

 

eh? how are you damaging it??? if you're using the correct wrench,
that's not going to happen.

 

eh? how are you damaging it??? if you're using the correct wrench,
that's not going to happen.

 

The car now has nearly 300,000 miles on it and is

You Tegger are now MY wet dream

300K ? I love it!

G-Man

 

The car now has nearly 300,000 miles on it and is

You Tegger are now MY wet dream

300K ? I love it!

G-Man

 

I don't care who you believe. I am old

This was back around 1982 or so. I was young. Did I see it in writing?
No, but it is what I was told. This is when I made the decision to do my
own work. Up to a point. I'm not going to do a timing belt/water pump
change, but I do most of the other maintenance.

BTW, I just got a Prius after owning nothing but Hondas for the last 27
years. This is going to be a learning curve. I got it just for my commute.
I still have my '05 Pilot and my '06 Accord V-6 NAV. The Prius is a fun
little car. I'm averaging 55 Mpg.

G-Man

 

I don't care who you believe. I am old

This was back around 1982 or so. I was young. Did I see it in writing?
No, but it is what I was told. This is when I made the decision to do my
own work. Up to a point. I'm not going to do a timing belt/water pump
change, but I do most of the other maintenance.

BTW, I just got a Prius after owning nothing but Hondas for the last 27
years. This is going to be a learning curve. I got it just for my commute.
I still have my '05 Pilot and my '06 Accord V-6 NAV. The Prius is a fun
little car. I'm averaging 55 Mpg.

G-Man

 

wrote in

Not at all. If not abused, the drain bolt is good for the life of the
car.

The drain pan hole threads, on the other hand, have a tendency to expand
and make the plug fit loosely, eventually stripping the assembly
entirely.

A new plug can slightly extend the useful life of damaged oil pan
threads just because its thread peaks haven't worn off yet.

The hex head never wears out, unless somebody was inept or used the
wrong tool and rounded it off.

I change my oil six to eight times per year, and have done so for
thirteen years. This is a total of 78 to 104 removals and installations
of the drain bolt. The same drain bolt has been in use for those same 13
years and still torques up to 30 ft lbs with no leaks. The hex is
perfect.

Torque spec is actually 33 ft lbs, but I go a bit light at 30. This in
order to be gentle on the pan threads.

 

wrote in

Not at all. If not abused, the drain bolt is good for the life of the
car.

The drain pan hole threads, on the other hand, have a tendency to expand
and make the plug fit loosely, eventually stripping the assembly
entirely.

A new plug can slightly extend the useful life of damaged oil pan
threads just because its thread peaks haven't worn off yet.

The hex head never wears out, unless somebody was inept or used the
wrong tool and rounded it off.

I change my oil six to eight times per year, and have done so for
thirteen years. This is a total of 78 to 104 removals and installations
of the drain bolt. The same drain bolt has been in use for those same 13
years and still torques up to 30 ft lbs with no leaks. The hex is
perfect.

Torque spec is actually 33 ft lbs, but I go a bit light at 30. This in
order to be gentle on the pan threads.

 

Down boy!

Current mileage is 290,483. At the pace I drive, I figure it will roll over
by about late winter or early spring.

I post my odometer here:
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/misc/mileage.jpg

The local Acura dealer tells me they have two vehicles that come in which
have higher mileage than me: A '97 1.7 EL with 435,000 miles, and some
other car that has about 375K. I don't know the year or model. Original
engines in both. Both still pass emissions.

 

Down boy!

Current mileage is 290,483. At the pace I drive, I figure it will roll over
by about late winter or early spring.

I post my odometer here:
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/misc/mileage.jpg

The local Acura dealer tells me they have two vehicles that come in which
have higher mileage than me: A '97 1.7 EL with 435,000 miles, and some
other car that has about 375K. I don't know the year or model. Original
engines in both. Both still pass emissions.

 

My Toyota dealer has their std maintenance (15K, 30K, 60K...) prices
clearly posted behind the service desk. My Honda dealer offers a 1-
page list with the same info. A 10% discount means 10% off the posted
prices. They also will do 10% off any additional work they might
suggest; and they always suggest something additional. Nearly any work
they suggest will be included in their OEM shop guides that also list
the labor time for the work. They charge by those guidelines, that
provide PLENTY of time to do the work (and go for lunch and/or train
another tech. in the procedure). So, no, they don't jack up the
already excessive labor prices.

Gotta luv 'em.

On the other hand, your local dealership can't make it off new car
sales. They need a thriving used car and service business to turn a
profit.

 

My Toyota dealer has their std maintenance (15K, 30K, 60K...) prices
clearly posted behind the service desk. My Honda dealer offers a 1-
page list with the same info. A 10% discount means 10% off the posted
prices. They also will do 10% off any additional work they might
suggest; and they always suggest something additional. Nearly any work
they suggest will be included in their OEM shop guides that also list
the labor time for the work. They charge by those guidelines, that
provide PLENTY of time to do the work (and go for lunch and/or train
another tech. in the procedure). So, no, they don't jack up the
already excessive labor prices.

Gotta luv 'em.

On the other hand, your local dealership can't make it off new car
sales. They need a thriving used car and service business to turn a
profit.

 

ACAR wrote:

unless a dealer is utterly incompetent managing their franchise, that
simply can't be true. if you check company accounts for fleet
purchases, cars are bought in volume for prices as low as 50% of msrp.
if an end user can buy them that cheap, you can bet the dealer can too.

 

ACAR wrote:

unless a dealer is utterly incompetent managing their franchise, that
simply can't be true. if you check company accounts for fleet
purchases, cars are bought in volume for prices as low as 50% of msrp.
if an end user can buy them that cheap, you can bet the dealer can too.

 

While I've seen domestics that cheap, I haven't seen Hondas sold at
50%. And notice how the domestics are trying to get out of that
unprofitable practice.

 

While I've seen domestics that cheap, I haven't seen Hondas sold at
50%. And notice how the domestics are trying to get out of that
unprofitable practice.

 

but you said "your local dealership can't make it off new car sales".
it's the manufacturer that takes it in the shorts from deep discounting,
not the dealer.

 

but you said "your local dealership can't make it off new car sales".
it's the manufacturer that takes it in the shorts from deep discounting,
not the dealer.

 

Honda dealership - is that better?