Marnet Commented,
“To get back to the original topic, I suspect the reason most people fail to check the oil dipstick, fluid levels or tire pressure is that most folks take appliances and utilitarian modern conveniences for granted. We expect to flip a switch to turn on the lights, turn a faucet and get clean water, hop in the car and go without thinking to do regular, frequent checks of the basic operating condition of these conveniences.”
I agree with that assessment. Evidence is found in questions we get on this site.
At one time people would begin a question by saying something like, "When I try to start my car, it won’t turn over (crank, fire, etcetera)… " .
More and more frequently now, I’ve noticed people beginning their questions with something like, "When I turn my car on, nothing happens… "
It’s a subtle language difference, but I believe it reinforces the idea that a car is like other appliances, like vacuum cleaners, hair driers, etcetera, that are just supposed to work when we “turn them on.” The concept of an oil lubricated, liquid cooled, internal combustion engines with an electric starting systems seems to be falling by the wayside.
But all I know is I don’t feel like waiting 1 hour to get one single sheet laminated.
They’re probably just using the oil change approach- you certainly wouldn’t want them to just laminate the sheet like you asked and send you on your way without also checking for other potential hidden problems would you? It’s an added service to their customers…
Just to be clear, this was in no way intended to be a dig at you or anyone else on the site. Just had this thought as I was reading your post and thought it was funny…
To be fair, I’ll continue shopping at that LOSER staples . . . the one that would have me wait 1 hour to get one single sheet laminated . . . but I don’t want any services from them. That means I’ll buy paper, pens, ink, supplies, etc., at the store. But I won’t ever go there for printing, copies, lamination, etc.
I even asked them at what time of the day I would have to show up, so that the wait would be short. My thinking was maybe the early morning is better, but they beat around the bush and didn’t really attempt to answer my question
"Apparently it isn't getting expensive for the vast majority. Else it would self correct."
…or perhaps a lot of people are slow learners who like to blame the car manufacturer, rather than looking in the mirror for the cause of their problems, and instead of spending some time under the car’s hood occasionally.
Failure to accept responsibility for one’s own actions (and inactions) is at epidemic proportions nowadays, and this character flaw extends to all aspects of the life of many people.
Some car owners inspect the oil dipstick (and tires), some don't. They have other people do it for them
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This, plus wanting to avoid getting oil stains on good clothes, they both make sense as reasons an owner might want to have somebody else check the oil dipstick for them. Maybe the problem is that newer car engines – presumably related to the desire to increase mpg – seem to use oil at a faster clip. Add to this, the manufactures are increasing the recommending service intervals. So if the owner doesn’t find somebody to check their oil dipstick for them, they may find the oil pressure light coming on before their next scheduled oil change service. And wonder where all the oil went.
I have known quite a few people who never check the oil and only add some when the oil pressure light comes on. One guy would do this and stop and add a quart each time it did this and just keep on driving so he was always low on oil. It was also burning quite a bit of oil from all the smoke you could see. He made it to close to 300k on this vehicle doing this before rust consumed the body. It was a Cherokee with the 4.0L so that says something about the durability of that engine. This vehicle spent lots of winters in Chicago so was rust city by the time it was done. You had to be careful getting in and out as the doors were about to fall off and you couldn’t put your feet down for fear of going through the floor. Somehow the engine still ran after all those miles of the oil pressure light just barely not coming on.
I know a woman who also did this. It was one of those Camrys known for oil burning and believe it was a 2007. She developed ring issues and the blowby blew out every seal in the engine and started leaking oil too. They traded it in largely because of these issues.
There was a recent discussion based on a link I posted about “Briggs and Stratton designing a small engine that never needs an oil change.” This is the same deal. Since the manufacturer knows that most consumer grade lawn equipment will never get an oil change, they try to account for this by designing something that most people will just trash in a few years.
I agree that engines and oil have gotten better, allowing for longer oil change intervals but it can’t be ignored forever. The other issue is with the thinner oils for greater MPG. You will start to use oil at some point, maybe from day one. I definitely think a level indicator as well as a pressure light/guage is a good idea.
From about 2002 - 2006, the 2AZ-FE had that problem where the threads stripped out of the block
From 2007 on, that problem was apparently eliminated, to be replaced with the severe oil consumption problem. Which was attributable to pistons and rings
Pathetic, in my opinion . . . considering that Toyota has long been known for excessive oil consumption, due to pistons and rings . . . long before that 2AZ-FE even existed
I suppose some manufacturers keep making the same mistakes over and over, for decades
I agree. There are some Toyota models that are very good but some that left a lot to be desired like these. I know people who wouldn’t drive anything else but don’t really get it myself. There are plenty of cars just as good if you ask me. I would pick a Honda over a Toyota personally.
I don’t have any cars without a dipstick but it is my understanding that they have sensors that monitor the level and such. You just drain and refill when the time comes. I guess it is all good as long as the sensors work well. I guess some actually monitor the oil and tell you when a change is needed while some take driving conditions into account over the interval and let you know when it is time. At least something will be flashing or beeping that the car needs an oil change. You can’t ignore it forever.
The BS mowers do say to check and add oil so I assume they have a dipstick. They don’t have a drain plug so you have to turn them over to change the oil if you do decided to change the oil. Most of my stuff like this has the drain block covered up by the deck/frame anyway so I don’t really care as this is how I have to do it anyway.
It does seem that more and more devices have “the hood welded shut”. This applies to cars without a dipstick, the previously discussed mowers, and computers where the casing is plastic welded together and not intended to ever by serviced internally in any way. Unfortunately we are a throw away society and getting more that way all the time. Cars may one day become like a toaster or coffee pot where you just junk them when something goes wrong but I think that is a long way off. Importing cheap disposables from China or India would still have to meet safety and emissions standards so that probably won’t happen.
So a new car owner, or no oil change B&S mower could have a gripe, “Crimeny I can’t even find my dipstick!”
Yup! The ones who are too lazy or ignorant to read the owner’s manual or ask about simple checks when they buy the car.
A late model Mercedes pulled up in front of the office, a man opened the hood and looked around the engine bay for a few minutes, and I went out to see what he needed. He asked if I could check the oil. I replied “Certainly, may I have your keys.” I got in the driver’s seat, sat there for 30 seconds while I pushed the appropriate button on the steering wheel, and then reported to him that the oil level was safe, not even 1 liter low.
As a funny aside, this man also owns a 65 Chevy pickup. One time he had the truck towed in because it wouldn’t start. We diagnosed and repaired some wiring to the primary side of the ignition coil. Approx a year later he called, said his right brake light wasn’t working, and was wondering if that might be under warranty from the ignition repair we did.
I hate those kind of people. You touch something they own and they blame you for an unrelated failure a year later. People are people. I see this with working on computers too.
I see this too! Let us say co worker, though not much co involved, had a computer issue, computer issue fixed, then that afternoon car would not start, blamed it on computer repair. Seriously!
That is really stretching it. Blaming the car problem on an unrelated computer repair. At least mine involves the same device. For example, when the power supply fails after I remove a virus, they somehow blame me.
I was talking to a mechanic and they said this was common. Another good one was the one where someone came in with an expensive car and it was getting close to needing brake pads. They declined the work and then came in a few months later all blaming them for the brakes failing and needing major work. They had a signed form that the person had declined the work and that was that.
You touch something they own and they blame you for an unrelated failure a year later. People are people. I see this with working on computers too.
There are, unfortunately, times when repair shops try to take advantage of unsuspecting customers. That’s just flat out wrong, but there are also times–that we don’t hear about as often–that the reverse is true. That people flat out lie to us or try to scam us for something.
A woman called and scheduled to bring her car in on a Monday because it failed emissions. Monday came and went, no show. Wednesday she calls, says that the car started stalling out and not restarting over the weekend and they haven’t been able to drive it, but now it seems to be running fine and wants to bring it Thursday.
Thursday we check out the car, I call and get the husband on the phone, explain what’s needed, and ask if he’d like us to look into the stalling problem as well. He says “No, that’s OK.”
They pick up the car, and an hour later he’s on the phone saying the car died on the road and won’t restart. An hour later it starts and he brings it back to us, saying we must have done something and the car never did that before. Some back and forth and I finally remind him "How would I know to ask you if you wanted us to check the stalling if the car never did that before?’
The majority of us also have to take out the garbage, clean our own homes, clean up after our pets, wipe ourselves after using the facilities (I truly hope), and myriad other chores that no one would do for fun or entertainment. Why don’t people just consider checking their oil to be in this category of necessary tasks and be done with it? Checking the oil is considerably quicker and less messy than any of the above items too. In addition to this, skipping any of the above tasks occasionally might make you kind of a slob and cause people to avoid your company, but are unlikely to suddenly cost you thousands of dollars like not checking your oil can do.
If it’s taking a half hour to check your oil, I have to wonder how you’re doing it.
