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Auto Repair Blog

car repair: go pro or diy?

5/26/2019

9 Comments

 
Picture
by P Sanchez





​
Recently, a research conducted by
IMR Inc. shows the top 10 repair jobs that vehicle owners and car repair shops do to cars.

They are:


Oil and oil filter changed*
Wiper blades replacement*
Replace air filter*
Scheduled maintenance
New tires
Battery replacement*
Brake work
Antifreeze added*
Engine tune-up
Wheels aligned/balanced

Quite a few of the items on the list (the ones with the asterisks) are very doable DIY jobs which is great especially if you are trying to save a couple of dollars in labor. Plus, you can’t beat the sense of fulfillment of attending to the needs of your car like a bonafide grease monkey. 

But why have a professional do all the hard work for you? Aside from the huge convenience and the time saved on your part, I’ll present other notable reasons why DIY is not always the best way to go.

Oil and Oil Filter Change.

There are probably more than a dozen videos on Youtube showing how to change your car’s oil and oil filter on your own but here are some practical reason why you should let your auto shop mechanic do it for you

You’ll need special equipment. Unless your vehicle is a lifted off-road truck, getting under the engine bay where the oil plug is will be a challenge. Using the jacks that came with your car is great if you’re just changing a tire but it won’t cut it if you want to create enough room to work under your low slung sedan. You’ll need special jacks to raise the car and two jack-stands to safely hold the car high. Alternatively, you can also use a pair of wheel ramps. 

You’ll also need something like a very large oil pan to catch the dirty spent oil and containers to keep all of it. You’ll also probably need a special wrench specifically made to pry open the oil filter canister from the engine. Unless you’re a real automobile nut, it’s unlikely that you have jack-stands, wheel ramps or an oil filter wrench just lying around your garage. Sure, you can rent those types of equipment from specialty places, but that becomes a separate undertaking altogether.

Underbody inspections. Having your oil changed at the shop brings a rare opportunity for you to view the undercarriage of your car which is very difficult to do when the car is to the ground. Although most shop’s policy will disallow you from getting directly under your car when its raised high on the hydraulic lift, you’ll probably be allowed to do a cursory inspection from the sidelines. A quick look can reveal issues like leaks from the engine, transmission, shock absorbers or brake lines. It can also show the condition of the underbody, like corrosion or rust formation.

Not having to deal with the mess is the last practical reason why you should have your oil changed at the auto repair shop . Sure, you’re up to getting your hands and clothes dirty doing-it-yourself but what will you do with the waste oil? You can stock-pile them temporarily but you’ll have to eventually get rid of them and there are laws how you should dispose of used oil. Places that do oil changes can dispose of the used oil for you but if you’re planning to make the trip to the shop anyways, why not have them do the oil change in the first place?

(Note: The same can be said about having your radiator flushed and antifreeze changed: the pros have the equipment to do the procedure and the know-how to dispose of the used fluid. )


Wiper Blades Replacement

Something as easy as replacing your wiper blades should be done totally DIY, right? Just read the instructions on the manual and the process usually takes less than a minute with no tools necessary. So why go through the hassle of having a mechanic do it for you? For one, the place you bought the wipers from may actually do it for you for free as part of their customer service. Also, a reputable car repair service or a trusted mechanic can make your visit worth its while by providing a free check of your car’s other safety features such as the washer fluid level, tire pressure and thread condition, and the brakes. It’s not often that you’ll have to have your wipers replaced so why not have a mechanic have a go at your other safety systems?

(Note: The same reasoning goes for replacing the air filter. Sure, swapping air filters is easy to do: just make sure the new filter fits your car’s make and model and it’s just a drop-in procedure. But since a mechanic will be fiddling away in your car’s engine bay replacing the filter, he can also do quick checks with the other engine vitals like fluids and battery voltage. These checking services are offered free in most places. And if you're in doubt about unsolicited repair recommendations, you can always go for a second opinion from a car repair shop or mechanic that you do trust.)

Final Word

The biggest caveat here is finding a car repair service or mechanic that you can count on. The reality is that there will always be unscrupulous individuals who'll pounce on the chance to make a quick buck from unnecessary car repairs. But there are also people and places who take car repair as an honest vocation. So do your research, ask around, see which auto repair shop you can trust, whether it's for a complex undertaking such as an engine rebuild, or something seemingly mundane like replacing your windshield wiper blades.
9 Comments
Buster Palmer link
6/29/2019 06:12:43 am

Cars are important gadgets that have altered the way we travel every day. The reason behind buying a car is that nobody likes to take the stress of using public transport. But one thing every operative needs to remember is that- they have to keep their eye on the speed machine to prevent any malfunctions. Without knowing the tactic, if you try to resolve the issues by yourself, then it will cause more problems. For that reason, it is recommended to appoint a professional car technician. Doing car repairs by appointing a car mechanic is more convenient than doing repairs on your own.

Reply
Tyson Coolidge link
12/10/2019 07:12:15 am

I like what you said about getting your oil change done at a repair shop so that you don't have to clean up the mess on your own. My brother has been telling me about how his truck needs an oil change soon, and he doesn't know how to do it himself. I'll share this information with him so that he can look into his options for repair shops that can help him with this.

Reply
Alfred Simpkins link
4/6/2022 10:00:25 am

You’ll also probably need a special wrench specifically made to pry open the oil filter canister from the engine. I truly appreciate your great post!

Reply
Braden Bills link
6/7/2022 06:57:38 am

I want to make sure that I take good care of my car. It makes sense that I would want to get a car repair to help me out with this. That seems like a good way to ensure that I handle things properly. It would be amazing to get a repair specialist.

Reply
Mia Evans link
8/14/2022 09:51:31 pm

It got me when you said that a quick look from the professionals will identify issues that your car might have such as leaks. With that in mind, I need to find an auto repair service to check my car for me after using it for a year. It hasn't shown any issue yet, but I think I would love to get it checked for my peace of mind and safety before I drive to my parents' place.

Reply
Jessie Holloway link
9/30/2022 11:50:16 am

Thanks so much for talking about what you can do DIY and what you need a mechanic for. Thanks so much for the tips on how to find what's broken in your car when it won't turn on. My partner has an old car that needs repairs and we don't know where to take it. We don't know anything about cars so we don't want to DIY anything incase we make it worse. We've been looking into nearby mechanic shops that might be able to help us.

Reply
mechaanic works link
12/12/2022 04:36:07 am

Outstanding.. your outlook on that is amazing

Reply
Millie Hue link
1/3/2023 11:38:15 pm

Thanks for pointing out that a quick look under the car will be able to identify leaks and other issues with its parts. In that case, it would be a good idea to look for Mazda repair shops with complete tools and equipment. This will give me the assurance that every part of my car will be checked, so we know we are safe when we have a long-distance drive next month.

Reply
Justina link
1/25/2023 03:06:08 am

These Car repair tips are useful for every car owner.

Reply



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