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Earned my Man Card - Oil Change

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It's cool if you do any work on your own. I don't any more, as I don't have either the time or the tools any more.

Owning a man card is a state of mind, not an action.

/adopts stance of dominance
 
Working on a car won't make you a man. Go down to your local repair shop and meet Ernie the toofless mechanic that sleeps in the back room. Ernie is real good with a wrench.
 
slashbinslashbash said:
I'm earning mine.... intake gasket replacement on my '96 Suburban 5.7L about a month ago. Now working on replacing the head gasket of my '99 Saturn. Once I get that done, I think I'll be ok. However the next step will probably be an imminent engine replacement on my wife's Saturn. Once you own an engine hoist, I don't think anybody can question your Man Card. 🙂
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My man card points:

Alternator (2x)
Spark Plugs + Wires
Oil (several times)
Front suspension - lowers, uppers (twice), tie rod ends, and sway bar links
Rear suspension - air springs
Interior: Front power window regulators (the tracks) and motor gearbox repair
Rear power windows gearbox repair

This summer:
Valve seals + springs
Transmission fluid change (not a flush - dangerous on older transmissions - just a drop and drain)
Transmission fluid external filter and cooler install

we'll see what else I come up with.
 
Zargon said:
I've built an engine so I am pretty sure I am safe
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showoff 😉

for me:

oil/filter change (car/bike)
front axle replacement (car, w/ help from brother)
HID kit install (car)
valve shim adjustments (bike)
carburetor teardown/rebuild (bike)
tire change (bike/car. harder on bike)
various switch replacements (bike)
 
Estrella said:
Changed my oil for the first time with the help of my friend.

If there was not plastic crap on the bottom of my 2005 A4 3.0L Cab, then it would have taken less than ten minutes.
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LOL.. my 40 year old sister changes her own oil and my 9 year old son can do it also, both on their own.

It'll take a hell of a lot more to earn your man card. Try something like rebuilding your transmission or changing the timing belt/chain on your car or something like that.
 
crazySOB297 said:
Question, my current residence does not allow me to work on my car, and I'm not driving back to the family house to do so... Does paying a local dealer to do it out of laziness revoke my man card?
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Couple things. Changing oil is not "working on a car". Thats performing maintenance on your vehicles. Its different.

2nd. No garage you can pull the car into and work on?

3rd. If you pay the mortage and its a house, work on it where you want. If you rent and just park in a parking lot, yeah, take it somewhere else.
 
punjabiplaya said:
I dunno, in today's metrosexual fashion Jon and Kate world, an oil change is pretty manly. There are more manly things, but I don't think any of us are Mike Rowe.
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All I'm going to say here is that sitting on your ass watching cable TV does not earn you a man card either.
 
slag said:
Couple things. Changing oil is not "working on a car". Thats performing maintenance on your vehicles. Its different.

2nd. No garage you can pull the car into and work on?

3rd. If you pay the mortage and its a house, work on it where you want. If you rent and just park in a parking lot, yeah, take it somewhere else.
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They've had to do a few more things than simply changing the oil lately 🙁

No, It's a high rise apartment building, and it specifically says we can not do work on our vehicles in the garage.

See number 2
 
Fenixgoon said:
damn. that's cheaper than what it'd cost me to buy the oil alone for my car 🙁
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$5.00 an oil change for my Z at the dealer, and they clean/vaccum + a wash. This is for life... :sneaky:

I can't even get the stupid engine cover off the bottom of the car in less than 10 minutes (20 screws and 4 clasps IIRC), so the oil change takes some time to complete, plus good luck getting 6 qts of oil for $5...

Edit: I don't think an oil change neccessarily earns a person a "man card" but understand it pretty cool for someone who never grew up around vehicle work at all (like me). I felt pretty bad-ass the first time I did an oil change, but now its not that different than cleaning my car out. Hey, it's a start though, and sometimes just changing the oil is enough to get you hooked on doing more with your car. 🙂
 
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ExarKun333 said:
$5.00 an oil change for my Z at the dealer, and they clean/vaccum + a wash. This is for life... :sneaky:

I can't even get the stupid engine cover off the bottom of the car in less than 10 minutes (20 screws and 4 clasps IIRC), so the oil change takes some time to complete, plus good luck getting 6 qts of oil for $5...

Edit: I don't think an oil change neccessarily earns a person a "man card" but understand it pretty cool for someone who never grew up around vehicle work at all (like me). I felt pretty bad-ass the first time I did an oil change, but now its not that different than cleaning my car out. Hey, it's a start though, and sometimes just changing the oil is enough to get you hooked on doing more with your car. 🙂
Click to expand...

Someone who gets the OP.
 
Zargon said:
I've built an engine so I am pretty sure I am safe
Click to expand...

This. (Mopar 440 for a 74 'Cuda - it made 450whp on a dyno)

I've also done the following:
rebuilt Ford V6 (x2)
rebuilt Oldsmobile V8
rebuilt numerous GM carbs
rebuilt a Ford master cylinder
dropped the gas tank and replaced the fuel sending assembly on a GMC Van (gas tank was full - gas is heavy!)
On my old Accord I've:
replaced the water pump (a bitch and a half)
replaced the 5spd (which had no 5th or 4th)
replaced upper and lower balljoints, pass and driver side
replaced hub on passenger side
replaced wheel studs on passenger side

and on my Freecar (98 Altima) I need to
do a full brake job front and read
replace the radiator and hoses
do a full tuneup.

My Man Card is pretty secure.
 
slag said:
LOL.. my 40 year old sister changes her own oil and my 9 year old son can do it also, both on their own.

It'll take a hell of a lot more to earn your man card. Try something like rebuilding your transmission or changing the timing belt/chain on your car or something like that.
Click to expand...

Who said car work is the only way to get a man card?
 
I salute anyone who takes on car work. Bashing a newb is pretty low. We all had to start somewhere, unless you were born with an ECU up your ass and a socket set in each hand.
 
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