I need help. Actually more along the lines of support to create a good arguement.

the car is 1 gas tank away from 90,000 miles so I will say 90k to make it simple

Topics:

SPARK PLUGS:
ME: After 90k miles it couldn't hurt for them to be replaced for once
THEM: tech said if they have lasted this long they must be platnium 100k plugs and dont need to be replaced

LOWER INTAKE GASKETS:
ME: they go bad early and we still have a coolant leak (after I finally got them to replace the upper intake)
THEM: they aren't the problem the coolant system is going to be preasure tested on thursday to look for leaks. If the gasket was leaking there would be coolant residue on the oil fill cap (all info from the one tech, (who I trust sometimes) )


MAINTAINCE:
ME: do it ahead of time so that stuff doesn't go bad and you dont get stranded. IT will also help the car last longer and run better
THEM: "we've been driving 30 years and I've (my mom) only been stranded once (ran out of gas)" so we don't need to do stuff before it dies

what really pisses me off is that this car has had maybe 1750 spent on it in maintaince over the PAST 9 YEARS!!! god damn it put some f**king money into the car. And I know one day it will be mine and they pisses me off even more.

hmm i wouldn't worry about the intake gasket til it starts leakin. Mechanics can screw up installing them anyway. Spark plugs? How do they look to you? If mileage and power is fine and they aren't eroded, leave em.

just my $.02. Everyone will have a different opinion

I haven't taken a spark plug out. But honestly it will look like a normaly spark plug with 90k and a heavy footed driver.


intake gasket til it starts leakin: I got the upper intake and gasket replaced (it was cracked parents didn't believe me on that one, but I was correct) I am almost positive that it is the lower intake gaskets that are leaking. 90k? many of the people here had terrible looking lowers at 70k!

Do the plugs yourself! Mechanics doing plugs = EXPENSIVE.

If I screw up basicly I am screwed. I dont have the money to pay to have the car towed and my possible mistake fixed. If I had enough money for new plugs (I know they are cheap) I would already have it done.

you dont have 12 bux? i got autolight platnuims last night at walmart for 12 bux.

I probably have 75k on $.99 plugs.. my car ran fine. Just because it works, doesn't mean it'* perfect. And yes, you can purchase a full set of plugs for $12.

As fas as the coolant leak goes, I have to agree with your parents.. even though it is leaking, I would still suggest leaving it until it actually does fail.

You think $1700 is not a lot spent?? My mom drove the car for about 5 years. I have every single receipt for all the mechanic work she has had done. $1500.. INCLUDING the $900 Rear air strut replacement. So, really only $600 spent on actual engine parts. And he charged her $30 for an oil change.. and trust me, he wasn't putting in Mobil One. No wonder she only gets her oil changed every 5-8k [incl. her new Beetle, which has 6k on this oil change, and the car only has 11k miles, and it has only had one oil change, bought new ith 72 miles.. and the majority of the first oil change was on our trip to FL, and 90% of the time the car was sitting at 4k]. My coolant ports have scale on them, nothing was ever cleaned on the engine. Not a single plug, O2 sensor, or wire was replaced on this car in the 5 years my mom had it. And this is a MUCH older car, that doesn't have Warranty work done [for free]. You don't have it as bad as you think.


-justin

I can see both sides of the arguement on the lower intake gaskets. Yes, I can be a miser sometimes too and wait until something breaks. And, yes, I much prefer to do preventative maintenance.

If the upper intake was already replaced and the lowers weren't touched, then you might as well leave well-enough alone. The time to do it was when the upper was being replaced.

For the record, my lowers were severly deformed at only 77K. On the other hand, yours might go well over 100K before you see another coolant issue. If you do, the lower intake gaskets should be your #1 suspect.

And, BTW, when you do find serious coolant consumption, drain that oil!

i paid $7 for my plugs... if ur car has 90k miles on the origional plugs u should at least take them out and have a look, and since u have them out, u should probly put new ones in...
Preventative maintanence is cheaper.

as for the lower intake let them pressure test they cooling system rather than taking the shotgun aproach.

Preventative maintainence is a MUST. i mean who waits till they have a major breakdown to change the oil.... Preventative maintainence is just how it sounds, preventative... it prevents all sorts of problems.

Is it leaking coolant on the outside, or is it mysteriously dissappearing?? (i missed the part where you said it leaks)