web-log/container/site/content/posts/2024-04-car-maintenance/index.md

+++ categories = ["vehicle"] date = 2024-04-27T05:30:14Z description = "" draft = false slug = "2024-04-maintenance" title = "🚗 Car Maintenance - Oil, Filter, Engine Coolant" author = "nicholas" +++

Labor is expensive and tools are cheap. These are the premises upon which I figure I should change the oil and oil filter myself. And I like to do things myself sometimes, it is not always about the cost savings. Maybe one day my body will fail me or I simply will not want to do it anymore. I am not totally committed to doing everything myself all the time.

Engine Coolant

The engine coolant leaks constantly, from where I do not know, very slowly, on the order of maybe less than a teaspoon a day. All attempts at stopping the leak have failed, which includes replacing a couple different hoses and fittings (I did myself), as well as some "repairs" completed by an auto repair shop. To be fair to myself, the leak rate does appear to have slowed noticeably since the problem appeared, so my own repairs were probably not totally in vain. I find additional comfort in knowing that these components would have failed eventually and I have therefore performed preventative maintenance . Also, a professional auto repair garage failed to properly diagnose and solve the problem too, so how bad is everything? Not bad at all. It is far cheaper to continue to top up with engine coolant every month than it is to continue to waste time and money on diagnostics and fixes.

{{< image src="engine-coolant-reservoir.jpg" caption="Engine coolant low because it leaks slowly" >}}

{{< image src="engine-coolant-refilled.jpg" caption="Engine coolant filled" >}}

Supply List

{{< image src="oil-change-setup.jpg" caption="Oil change supplies" >}}

• 3/8" drive torque wrench
• 3/8" drive 15/16" hex socket
• 3/8" drive socket extender
• 10mm socket (or 17mm socket) *
• ACDelco PF2257Gr oil filter
• SAE 5W-30 OIL 5 qt.
• Funnel
• Oil pan
• Nitrile Gloves
• Car ramps (2)
• Wheel chocks (2)
• Flat head screwdriver
• Shop towels
• Vegetable oil jug (for spent oil)
• Engine Coolant

Getting Under the Car

Jack Stands

One issue with using jack stands is the potential for fatigue failure in the crimp welds. This type of weld is relatively weak – two pieces of sheet metal crimped together. Each time the car is lifted at the jack points, the welds are stressed and deform the metal. There is a finite number of times the jack point can be subjected to these stresses before dangerous cracks appear, and eventually total failure of the weld.

Another issue with the crimp welds that form the recommended jack points on the Chevy Cruze is its susceptibility to corrosion, especially in environments that would expose the welds to moisture and salt – they seep into the joints and cause corrosion over time. This issue is especially present in heavily-salted winter roads in the mid-west.

Car Ramps

I bought a pair of car ramps and wheel chocks. The reviews are great, no one seems to be getting crushed to death as a result of the product failing. It worked great. I was easily able to reach the oil drain plug, with enough vertical clearance for both the oil pan and the socket wrench.

{{< image src="car_ramp.jpg" caption="Car ramps product image" >}}

{{< image src="car_ramp_reviews.png" caption="Harbor Freight Tools car ramp reviews" >}}

{{< image src="oil-change-ramp.jpg" caption="Car ramp" >}}

Oil Change Procedure:

1. Pull out the dipstick to vent the oil reservoir and prevent vacuum during drain.
2. Place oil pan underneath oil plug.
3. Remove oil plug using 17mm socket, allow oil to drain for some time.
4. Remove oil filter housing with 15/16" socket. Use socket extender
5. Remove oil filter from housing (pull)
6. Remove old o-ring from filter housing
7. Replace filter housing o-ring with new
8. Install new filter in housing (press)
9. Install filter assembly. Torque to just snug
10. When oil is finished draining, replace oil plug (~6Nm)
11. Open oil reservoir cap
12. Use funnel to pour in ~3.5 quarts. Check dip stick.
13. Continue to add oil until dip stick shows oil between the hatch markings.
14. Replace oil cap.
15. Dispose of spent oil.

{{< image src="oil-change-plug.jpg" caption="Oil drain plug" >}}

{{< image src="dipstick.jpg" caption="Dipstick indicator" >}}

{{< image src="oil-change-old-oil-funnel.jpg" caption="Spent oil collected in oil pan" >}}

{{< image src="oil-change-old-oil.jpg" caption="Spent oil" >}}

Done.