Car Repairs

[beaston]

To be fair, some of these oil filters for new cars/trucks can cost upwards of $30+ apiece.

I don't see how they're any better than the filters for older cars that cost < $10. I change my own oil and probably save at least $15+ each time. As long as you change your filter regularly, there's no need to have a filter wrench. The filter should be on snug, but not tight enough that you can't get it off with your hand. The only tool you'll need is either a wrench or socket in order to take off the drain plug located at the bottom of the oil pan.

If you live in a state like mine (PA) that requires inspections, stay away from the garages/dealers that promote super-low prices for inspection. 9 times out of 10, they're going to find "something wrong" with your car and want you to get it fixed for hundreds of dollars. Most all of the time, the stuff they find "wrong" with your car has nothing to do with what is required to pass the inspection....but of course they'll never tell you that.

Case in point - years ago I went to a garage that was offering inspections for $25, and they found so much stuff wrong with the car that they wanted $1,000 in repairs for it to pass inspection. I bought the car a month prior for $500. I took it to another place and paid the going rate that most garages charge for inspections, which was $75, and it passed without a problem.

The old saying still holds true: If it's too good to be true, it usually is.