General Maintenance/Observations/Questions

[SHOinVa]

Greeting All,
So I've had my SHO for about six months now and I figured it was about time to establish a base line while doing my first oil change. Even though I was told on numerous occasions none of this needed to be done since the maintenance schedule did not call for it I went ahead an did it anyway. No one understands its a used car and I want to know what I have an set a baseline to move forward, but now I have some questions.

- First dealership prices where crazy, they wanted $185 to service the coolant, $240 to service the transmission an they didn't even have a price on the PTU an stated pretty plainly it did not and would not need to be done, (they where wrong). It may be better to take some things to the dealer but I hope that day never comes.
- I have a repair/tire shop that has been very fair with me and I trust about as much as I trust anyone so I decided to let them do the work, after they told me twice it did not need to be done which I guess is cool but it amazes me how you have to convince people to take your money.
- I was pretty clear on my work list to flush and fill the coolant an supplied them enough coolant to fill and empty system (12 Qts). When I got the car back they only use four Qts of coolant, I assume the only thing they did was drain the radiator and fill it back up. Not at all what I wanted but better then nothing I guess.
- I had them drain the transmission and re-fill it, if it was me I would have buttoned it up drove it around the block an done it again but I wasn't going to pay them to do that, my plan is to do it with all oil changes to keep some fresh oil in there all the time
- Lastly the PTU, First everyone was clear they didn't think it needed to be done and, they where all wrong, seems the oil was low and had metal in it. They didn't tell me how much metal and to be honest I don't really want to know since I'm going to run to failure. Funny part was they where very surprised when I told them I was not surprised what they found. If you look around out here its clear it happens enough that people are aware of it. Here is what I don't understand, I provided them a quart of of Royal Purple 75w/140w for an 8oz fill. I didn't get any of it back, when I asked they stated they had to use it to clean the machine before they filled it back up because they use the same machine for filling as they use to suck to old oil out. Does this make since to you guys and how does that work.
Anyway they worked on three of my cars in two days and I got about 70% of what I wanted so I can live with that, hope this was of interest to you guys, As always have a great day.
Charlie

 

[krewat]

Funny part was they where very surprised when I told them I was not surprised what they found. If you look around out here its clear it happens enough that people are aware of it. Here is what I don't understand, I provided them a quart of of Royal Purple 75w/140w for an 8oz fill. I didn't get any of it back, when I asked they stated they had to use it to clean the machine before they filled it back up because they use the same machine for filling as they use to suck to old oil out. Does this make since to you guys and how does that work.

That sounds about right - I would do the same thing.

But the rest, especially the coolant flush, I don't know... the coolant you had, was is necessary to mix it 1/2 and 1/2? Or was it premixed?

 

[SHOinVa]

You know its kind of funny if you think about it, some things we use OEM items for and others we use aftermarket parts. How each of us decides which is better in each situation is a story unto itself, LOL but I am off topic.
Also I took a close look at my bill for the first time, if I where to open a repair shop do nothing but break even and pay for the work I have done on my cars it would be worth it. How you can charge someone $80.00 to drain an fill a radiator is beyond me. But once again off topic.

Yes I used Motorcraft Orange which is what it calls for, it comes in either concentrate or already mixed, according to the manual the system requires a total of 11 qts. I purchased one concentrated and mixed it with a gallon of purified water and one 50/50 already mixed. My point with coolant is this, the car was not really taken care of, the interior was/is dirty and there where strange scratches all over the paint. I believe it to be mechanically sound but out of the box it was a lease and its clear someone in its past did not show it the same respect I do. My point is this how do I know someone didn't put gas station coolant or Flint Michigan water in it at some point. The manufactures have been clear for years that you should no longer use plain tap water. Now I am sure there is a good argument if that is really necessary, but I tend to keep vehicles for a very long time so I am extra cautious at times.
C/

 

[krewat]

Disposing of the used coolant can be expensive in and of itself

Your car sounds like my 2013 after I returned it at the end of lease - LOL - that thing had scratches all over it, a big ding in the roof when a branch fell on it at work, a few small dings in the trunk lid from that same branch, a dimple in the rear bumper where I backed into a fence pole (and the backup alarm didn't go off), a crease in the lower passenger-side door where someone hit it with a shopping cart, etc.

But in 40K miles, I never had to top-up the coolant once. So if the car was generally "ok" overall, it probably never had any strange stuff put in it.

 

[SHOinVa]

If not for the fact my car is a 2012 I would say I have your 2013, there was a dent on the A-B pillar above the driver side door along with deep scratches in the paint, (who does that) Anyway I say "was" because it bugged me and my OCD so I had it fixed and painted.
I am sure your right the coolant was fine but its what I wanted to do, lastly I know it cost a lot to run a shop an dispose of used coolant and if they had done what I asked it was worth the price BUT $80 to drain the radiator and fill it back up is just lazy and a little much IMHO.
C/

 

[krewat]

Oh, hey, I completely understand about the coolant thing - if it was me, I wouldn't have left happy either

 

[Majestic]

If not for the fact my car is a 2012 I would say I have your 2013, there was a dent on the A-B pillar above the driver side door along with deep scratches in the paint, (who does that) Anyway I say "was" because it bugged me and my OCD so I had it fixed and painted.
I am sure your right the coolant was fine but its what I wanted to do, lastly I know it cost a lot to run a shop an dispose of used coolant and if they had done what I asked it was worth the price BUT $80 to drain the radiator and fill it back up is just lazy and a little much IMHO.
C/

You are way too nice. A coolant system flush is just that. Not a radiator drain/refill. You need to chew some ass and get what you paid for.

 

[SHOinVa]

You are way too nice. A coolant system flush is just that. Not a radiator drain/refill. You need to chew some ass and get what you paid for.

They do a lot of work for me an for the most part have treated me fair, BUT Yes I will be having a chat with them next week, and point out this was not what I wanted an little much to drain the radiator, to be honest it was kind of point less if you don't flush the whole system.
C/

 

[rubydist]

Just another example of the old adage: if you want something done right, do it yourself.

 

[SHOinVa]

Just another example of the old adage: if you want something done right, do it yourself.

- So true but cars are a lot closer to the ground, and my knees are already shot to a point surgery is soon, so my days of rolling around on concrete are pretty much over. The messed up part is they laugh at my "work list" and the fact I supply my own parts/supplies but yet they NEVER get it a 100% right, I have come to hope for 70% passing from most anyone.