Getting my car's oil changed is always an intimidating experience. Always. I'm pretty sure it is because of being a girl, and I hope other girls know what I am talking about. Whether it is because we just don't have that inbred intuitive understanding of what the heck to do with a car, or because we never wanted to climb under with our Dads and look at a car from the bottom up, like our brothers did, we are just not on equal footing. It is one of the most marked times that I know I have no idea what I am doing and there is nothing I can do about it.
So I pulled into the garage, aiming myself over the hole in the ground, the guy in the garage leading me forward and pointing this way and that so that my wheels are straight. He motions me to turn off the car, and I obey. Then to pop the hood... I reach down beside my seat...no that is the tunk, I reach forward and pull on the fuses...I panic and duck down and look and pull on the fuses again. I am the only car there at the time so about four employees with oily hands watched me until a an arm comes out of nowhere, calmly reaches in and pulls the lever high above the fuses, and pops the trunk.
"Now turn the key two clicks so that we can see the milage?" Once click. "Turn it again" Two clicks. The odometer lights up in amber orange. 70485. My car is getting up there, and they recommend a higher grade of oil. I search my memory for my Dad or my brother speaking of such a necessity and come up with nothing. I ponder for a moment, in the netherland of having no idea what to do, being afraid of being taken advantage of, and wanting to be a good steward of my car. It has been a great car. I will do everything in my power to keep it happy with me. "Ok, I'll take it..."
My air filter is still brand new they say, which increases my trust... I know that was just replaced last time. But then...the radiator flush...
The antifreeze is supposed to be a fresh orange color, pretty much like Tang. They show me a sample of mine. It is washed out and whitish. It is still a little bit orange, a bit peachy, but they recommend changing it soon.
"How much does it cost?"
"$69.00"
"I think I will wait... Well how soon should it be changed?"
"You'll want to get it changed before winter. It'll only take 10 minutes, and it probably has never been done before" It is the end of September. My car is 4 years old. Do I really want to come back and do this again if I can possibly avoid it. I look down at the 15% off coupon in my hand. Good for "Extra Services". Radiator Flush is first on the list.
"Ok, go ahead and do it." My consience is somewhat relieved seeing the brown sludgyness of the old fluid gurgling up out of my car, and the light sparkly cool-aid streaming in. I have done a good thing for my car. I have given it a refreshing beverage. I can imagine how it feels, cool and sweet going down the thoat. Yum.
I sign the dotted line for my credit card and pull out of the garage. I think there is a little more power in the engine as I pull out onto the road. I shift into second and third gears seamlessly and feel the smoothness of the road beneath the tires. "Very nice, money well spent" I think to myself and I turn the car for home. My car is happy? I think so, at least as far as I know.
Maybe someday...
1 comment:
So in my teenage years, I used to work at a Jiffy Lube. Never made it into the pit (by choice), but I did advance to "under-the-hood guy" the summer between my freshman and sophomore years of college.
I tell you all of this not to bore you, but rather to say that you did just fine the other day. You made wise choices.
And I bet you'll practice popping the hood before you take it in next time!! :)
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