Nothing Routine About Oil Changes

I want to start off this post by saying that until several weeks ago, I didn't even know how to change a flat tire! I'm serious! And I didn't own many tools. Just a few tools my dad gave me and a few I bought along the way. Nothing crazy. Mainly for home improvement jobs, like hanging pictures and shelves.

So, what brought on my change of heart? What captured my fascination and frugality? It took a few oil changes and bad news/recommended maintenance for Francis to do it. First instance. Picture it: Sunny August day (the 26th, to be exact) in 2011. We've only been in Austin a few weeks. My partner has a job and I am furiously looking for one. My savings account is quickly dwindling to nothing. And now I need an oil change. I mean...we did just drive over 2500 miles (with no air conditioning through Tuscon, Arizona, I might add). So, I took it to Goodyear Auto Service Center for a routine oil change.

Kids, there is nothing routine about an oil change. Especially on a 1996 Ford Ranger with 197906 miles on it. First off, it took forever!!! Luckily, I didn't have a job, so no problem. I had all the time in the world!! I got there at 9:40 AM and left at 11:30 AM. Almost two hours, watching the Discovery channel while strange men in jumpers poked, prodded, and drained my sweet little Francis. After two hours, the auto technician, James, comes out and says there are a few recommendations. Here's the breakdown of his list:

• Wiper blades
• Wheel bearing repack
• Front and Rear shocks
• Outer tie rod ends w/alignment
• Power steering fluid exchange
• Brake fluid exchange

I am just a lady with a simple lady mind. I had no idea what language he was speaking or what this all meant. But, I asked James for a few price quotes, just for funsies. Here was his breakdown:

• Wiper blades = $20 + tax
• Wheel bearing repack = $100 + tax
• Front and rear shocks = $460.76 + $95.71 recommended alignment + tax = $602.00
• Outer tie rod ends = $310.71 + tax
• Power steering and brake fluid exchange = $200

He said he could do it all for $1133.80, which included a small discount for getting everything done in one fail swoop. After apologizing for my guffaw, I politely declined and explained that I just moved to town and don't have a job yet to help pay for these costs. I asked if there was anything super serious for me to have done. He recommended a power steering fluid exchange (Ford Rangers are notorious for power steering issues, apparently) and brake fluid exchange. Again, I declined and paid the man for his services. Total cost of the oil change that day was $24.27 (with coupon). By declining his recommendations, I saved myself $1109.53, but paid greatly in my worry that my truck was on it's way to the junk yard and that I had purchased a dud in Seattle.

And then, as VH-1 "Behind the Music" programs usually go, disaster struck. But more on that in my next post. It's 10:00 PM and I have to be to work by 6:00 AM tomorrow. So, I must wish you a good night and happy mechanic-ing!