I'm Gettin To Dang Old for this Stuff

[Hammer 4]

So, I put off changing my fuel filter on my 2003 Duramax Diesel long enough. Today I finally did it, better performance, and less smoke.

But, at my age (73) with a bad back, and slightly shaky hands (meds do that) and having to remove the front wheel, which weighs a ton, then having to slide in under the fender well to change the filter, btw, nice design GM..sheesh. After I was done, I felt beat, and beat up. Hands have a couple more battle scars, back was killing me. After all that, I think next time I'll break down and pay to have it done, only down side is labor is a minimum of $125.00 bucks, when takes them about 1/2 hr. to do the job, yeah, I thrifty like that..haha

 

Any of you gents that are 70 or older still do any maintenance on your cars or trucks. ? 

[GRiver]

My hats off to ya!
I hope at 70 I can still do that.

[Jig Man]

Nope I don’t and haven’t for a very long time.  I tend to break stuff and wind up with even more problems.

I am one of the reasons why God made mechanics.

[Mike L]

Me neither, not anymore. 
That’s why God gave me sons and grandsons!

 

 

 

 

Mike

[DaubsNU1]

@Hammer 4, you my friend, are a Bad_$$! I'm 54 and still doing all my own maintenance...it is sometimes a struggle.

 

The fuel filter on my 2019 Duramax is behind the transfer case...pretty easy to access and change. Rotating tires is a pain...d**n 3/4 ton rims and tires are heavy.

 

 

[Dwight Hottle]

Nope I would rather save my fleeting energy for catching fish. More power to you. 

[roadwarrior]

 

A man's got to know his limitations.

[volzfan59]

I'm 62 and rarely turn a wrench anymore. I've pretty much got every tool under the sun, floor jack's, jack stands, etc but these new vehicles are crazy to work on. I don't even change my own oil anymore. There's a garage in town that will do it for $10.00 if I supply my own oil and filter. It's worth $10 to me not to do it and I use premium filters and oil that he doesn't have.

[MN Fisher]

At just shy of 62, I still do oil changes, tune-ups, radiator flush/fills - but more major things that I use to do on my older vehicles I now have someone else do.

 

Luckily, the cross-street neighbor is a 'shade-tree mechanic' - his day job is mechanic for Sun Country, but he rebuilds ATVs, bikes, cars and SUVs as a side-line. So far for my '01 Silverado he's redone the rear suspension and given me a new brake system (master cylinder all the way down, including new lines) at a fraction of the cost of putting it in the shop.

[A-Jay]

Just a spring chicken myself #borninfiftynine

While I am still fairly capable at this point,

and do quite a bit of what needs to be done maintenance wise myself,

I certainly have & am well aware of my limitations. 

So I stay in my lane by working smarter not harder,

meaning I have no problem paying for whatever.

Better than jacking myself up as it takes forever to heal, if it even does. 

Can't put a price on whatever I have let.

Stay Safe

A-Jay

 

[Catt]

The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak!

 

Got 4 sons, one is a mechanic, threw him the keys, my debt card, & smile.

[GaryH]

Still do all the maintenance on the boat myself but the truck is a different story.

[Spankey]

I’m 62. I am electro/mechanical in heavy industrial. Sort of feel compelled to do as much as possible. But have more of a hatred toward doing my own stuff sometimes. This coming spring I’m retiring. But I’m looking forward to doing all the home and vehicle stuff. I’ll treat all the home stuff just like the job. Looking forward to it. Can’t wait. 

[Hammer 4]

Well, today I'm feeling the effects from yesterday. Feels like I semi pulled my left Lat muscle, and the carpal tunnel in my right hand feels like my hand is on fire.

BTW, 3/4 ton tires are heavy, mine happen to be 315/17 TKO's, so even heavier..  

 

Thanks for all the replies.

[DitchPanda]

I'm only 38 and I don't do my own maintenance. I've got ramps, oil filter wrenches all the stuff but I have a buddy whose a mechanic that will do everything for a reasonable price. A while back he did about $600 bucks worth of brake work for me for like $300. Because of that I take him both vehicles for everything...figure if he's gonna be good to me ill take him all my business even if I could do it myself and save a little money.

[J._Bricker]

I do commend you @Hammer 4for working on your truck. In my situation a decade behind ya, I find it’s less than fun getting upright off the creeper.  Long story short, I have been taking my vehicles to the dealership for a few years now, partly due to warranty compliance. I’ve got to say it’s done right, and there’s never a single spot of oil in the driveway the following day.

[Log Catcher]

I will be 70 in just under 3 weeks. I had to quit doing my own maintenance after I had knee replacement surgeries. Trying to get down on concrete and get back up doing oil changes is not a good idea for me now. 

[Hammer 4]

5 hours ago, Log Catcher said:

I will be 70 in just under 3 weeks. I had to quit doing my own maintenance after I had knee replacement surgeries. Trying to get down on concrete and get back up doing oil changes is not a good idea for me now. 

I can't even imagine trying to bend my knees even 90 degrees after surgery. Hang in there, hopefully you will have full range motion and no pain soon.

[tander]

At 70 I will leave all the work on my vehicles to the shop. I still like to work on my boat but major work is to the shop also.

 

[Captain Phil]

About twenty years ago I noticed I had pain in my hips and legs when standing. I first noticed it when fishing, then it crept into my everyday life.   It wasn't shooting pain, but a heaviness like I was carrying around an extra 200 pounds.  Ten years ago I went to an orthopedic surgeon and after a MRI was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, which is a narrowing of the spinal canal.  Being in my sixties at the time, I was told to wait to see how it progressed.  Two years ago it got so bad I had to hang on the sink when I made the morning coffee.  All my activities were affected.  I sold my boat. I couldn't work on or even wash my own car.  I couldn't stand anywhere without looking for a chair.  I took so much Advil, that I burned up my stomach lining.  I had no life ahead of me and I was sure I would be in a wheel chair soon.  I'm 74 and didn't want to end up like that.

 

I had TV surgeons tell me they could fix my problem with a laser.   These quacks are out to get your money.  If medicare won't pay for it, don't do it.    I went to the best Orthopedic surgeon in Florida and on March 1st of this year I had major surgery.  My surgeon performed a laminectomy and fused four vertebra. It was the first major surgery I had in my life.  My leg pain was instantly gone.  It has taken this long for my back to heal completely, but I can walk, fish and stand for over an hour.  I bought a new bass boat and am back fishing 2-3 days a week.  I am not supposed to lift anything heavy, but I was able to change the water pump on my 1955 Ford without pain.   This whole experience has changed my life.   Instead of having nothing to look forward to, I am looking forward to the future.  Getting old not for wimps.  I don't know what is ahead of me, but I know I can deal with it.

[Bankbeater]

I still do some maintenance like replacing the battery, and changing filters.  For oil changes and I take it in the shop.  I bought the tires at the same place and they will rotate them for free.

[huZZah]

On 10/12/2021 at 5:36 PM, J._Bricker said:

I’ve got to say it’s done right, and there’s never a single spot of oil in the driveway the following day.

I quit changing oil myself when I noticed it wasn’t really saving me money anymore. The place I go is really good. Not a drop anywhere when I leave. I was never able to keep it that clean. 

[Log Catcher]

18 hours ago, Hammer 4 said:

I can't even imagine trying to bend my knees even 90 degrees after surgery. Hang in there, hopefully you will have full range motion and no pain soon.

I had my surgeries back in 2019. I do have full range of motion. The problem is skin and flesh don't like being pressed between concrete and the metal parts in my knees. If I have to get down on my knees I put an old boat cushion down to kneel on. The place I take my vehicles now for oil changes doesn't cost that much more than me buying the stuff and doing it myself.

[TnRiver46]

I’ve got the health and ability but lack the knowledge. I always have to go through a list of friends and have them tell me What to do. Luckily I’ve got fishing buddies in all the trades 

 

I’ll change oil and tires and bulbs,  anything above that I need adult supervision 

[Black Hawk Basser]

5 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I’ve got the health and ability but lack the knowledge. I always have to go through a list of friends and have them tell me What to do. Luckily I’ve got fishing buddies in all the trades 

 

I’ll change oil and tires and bulbs,  anything above that I need adult supervision 

Similar for me.  I live in a very small town and the mechanic here used to be my neighbor, so he treats me right when I need things done, especially if I pay with cash if ya know what I mean.