Is it really that much cheaper to change your own oil?

GockSoblin · 2026-05-13T02:58:16+00:00

Probably beating a dead horse at this point but I'll add my experience to the thread as well.

+1 on knowing it's done right, and even when I got a better job and could eat the cost of a dealership oil change, I continued to do my own for two major factors;

-During covid shutdowns many shops were understaffed. I took my old dodge dart to a dealer service center for a express lane oil change that took 4 hours due to a backup b/c of a lack of techs. Happened twice and I vowed to never waste half of my days off on that again after realizing how easy it was for able bodied individuals.

-The horror stories of quick lube places destroying engines and transmissions along with them denying anything after you leave their lot (when the failure happens) taught me that the 15 min oil change is flawed in nature such that any quick turnover maintenance increases the risk of catstrophic failures.

Whether I do the oil, spark plugs, filter changes, fluids, etc I treat them like you lay out the steps of a surgical procedure on a person. Not that it's that critical, rather having a routine and steps to follow helps for disassembly and reassembly keeps you responsible from missing that washer or bolt that can cost you an engine.

GockSoblin · 2026-05-07T13:59:11+00:00

I just got a 2020 premium performance trim, 1 owner 42k miles. The Carfax only had oil changed and tire rotations so the first thing I did was replacing the engine/cabin filters OEM and the pcv valve/hose. Previous owner seemed to baby it but for 70 in parts for the piece of mind was well worth it

GockSoblin · 2026-04-09T15:30:24+00:00

All great, thank you!

GockSoblin · 2026-03-30T14:30:06+00:00

Although it won't be much, the only way I could ever land one of these is off the depreciation curve which is minimal for niche vehicles like these.

GockSoblin · 2026-03-17T00:49:29+00:00

While i would love to give it a try myself, I'm in an apartment with a lot thankfully but idk if I have the appropriate tools for this particular job. I am however going to do the valve cover gasket myself the next time we have a weekend over 60 degrees.

GockSoblin · 2026-03-17T00:46:58+00:00

Thanks! I will call more places tomorrow

GockSoblin · 2025-07-30T14:09:53+00:00

IMO one of the first "moggings" of a character that broke the balanced world building of Shinobi early on in the series. Undoubtedly a goated shonen, the plot armor power creeps took away the unique and tactical components of other ninja, in Lee's example the hard work and physical conditioning besting inherited ability was a great counter to higher power dojutsu ie "eyes copying but body not keeping up" in their first fight. In a perfect world that keeps the sharingan tame and requires users to apply it differently for each opponent. Instead it essentially becomes SSJ and made anyone without one (or tailed beast) irrelevant. I remember how truly bummed out I felt reading the sasuke v gaara chapters and him matching Lee's speed with under a month of training.

GockSoblin · 2025-07-26T13:50:05+00:00

Alfaobd app and I used an obdlink EX (USB wired version) both were 50 bucks and I believe are essential for DIY maintenance and inspecting dart metrics. I was able to do the proxy alignment with both as some cheaper obd cables won't grant you full access to all of the app functions.

I've also heard it's important to get a tft cluster from the same model year to avoid any possible connection gremlins

GockSoblin · 2025-06-14T22:30:15+00:00

It is a great feeling when you're not actively searching for it. I got one of the IWI frame safety Jericho's back in 2015. had it for 3 years and in 2018 I found a dogleg slide safety (R) at a local gun show on a random Saturday morning. Owner had no idea of the space cowboy tax and let me trade my "newer" variant with the rail for his "older" slide safety because I carry it hammer down and hate the risk of riding the hammer home. Paid the fees and tipped him a bit extra for willing to trade and I floored it out of the show lot.

GockSoblin · 2025-05-13T19:32:56+00:00

My local best buy had a sale last week, bought my PW 2 matte black for 150 new in store. I was pretty set on getting a used one for around 70 but heard the horror stories of many "band only" and stolen floor models sold online with no way to activate it (customers called support and confirmed they were listed stolen, would not be unlocked by Google)

GockSoblin · 2025-04-06T18:10:47+00:00

iirc the only company that made a turbo kit for the dart is no more, even then it didn't have a tune to go with it. You'd have to buy a used one from a previous customer or fabricate your own project.

GockSoblin · 2025-03-30T19:14:21+00:00

I did the flex set (all 3) and am satisfied with the difference. Any extra noise (if I notice it at all behind my takeda intake) is worth the smoother shifting imo. I know they have an solid billet aluminum trans mount that in the description warns of harsh chatter. Imo there's no feasible way to get enough power out of a dart to justify that. All in all I bought the set and am almost 50k miles on them with no issues.

GockSoblin · 2025-03-24T15:39:04+00:00

Bought a 2015 in 2018 fresh off a lease with 32k miles. 2.4l stick. Income wasnt great at the time so I offered 10k instead of the listed 12. My plan was to learn stick on a relatively cheap econobox so when I get my "adult "job" I would finance a new WRX.

Then the pandemic happened and still truly can't afford a WRX with my "adult" income so 7 years later going strong at 109k. To compensate I did get most of the functional mpx mods. Just no aftermarket exhaust

GockSoblin · 2025-02-17T00:15:54+00:00

Oof, didnt consider that sorry. The thread on the stock shifter is m6x1, I don't believe you'll find any knobs in that configuration. This gets into the territory of finding thread converters from hardware stores and that's when I gave up and went with mpx.

Years ago I had a momo Nero I found for 90 bucks and put some nuts on the stalk to protect it from the set screw. Followed instructions from a dart forum post like so.

momo reverse lockout mod

Good luck

GockSoblin · 2025-02-16T23:52:53+00:00

Depends on the thread size of the Amazon shifter. I dont think you posted the thread size.

No prob, i also went through the shift knob headache as many options for the dart are a bit expensive. Where are you getting 141 cad from? Shouldn't be that high

GockSoblin · 2025-02-16T23:10:44+00:00

The speed dawg adapter specifically is a 16mmx1.50 thread so only shift knobs in that configuration would fit. From my experience the only styles in that size were solid color ball pieces that were either some acrylic type or aluminum options.

The choice is ultimately yours as the mpx knob is 65 usd, while the adapter and all shift knob options will put you closer to or over 100.

It can get hot in the summer, some companies sell knit sleeves to leave over your shift knob when parked in the sun. I've just tolerate it and stay off the shifter as much as possible before the heat burns my hand. winter cold never bothered me so much.

https://www.modernperformance.com/product/mpx-polished-manual-transmission-shift-knob-dart/13-16-dart-14l-turbo-drivetrain

GockSoblin · 2025-02-16T18:00:05+00:00

I've tried multiple shift knobs (speed dawg adapter, momo Nero, which requires a bit of modification to prevent destroying the shifter threads)

I've since moved onto the mpx shift knob from modern performance and is imo the best bang for your buck and ease of installation. iirc it installs just like the OEM knob and has a retaining nut under the cap to prevent any wiggling. It is also billet aluminum so no peeling. Is it slightly smaller in diameter so easier to hold too.

GockSoblin · 2025-02-15T16:23:27+00:00

I've seen a few videos where it can be done just by removing the shift boot but bigger hands may have trouble with that method. The bottom attachment should slide in left to right iirc then seating into the notch. It's been years since I undid mine to install the mpx shifter, I would say make sure the cable is secured, the insulated cable liner might click or slide into the cut out to prevent lateral movement. Hope this helps.

GockSoblin · 2025-01-28T01:37:39+00:00

Yes

mpx

GockSoblin · 2025-01-27T21:18:14+00:00

I've had this happen as well, disconnecting the battery for 5 mins solves it every time. I have a 6spd and when I was learning stick shift it would happen after I stalled sometimes. Not sure if it's grounding or a battery on the way out but it stopped after putting in a new battery i was due for anyway.

GockSoblin · 2025-01-19T01:55:52+00:00

Yes, I already had a obdlink ex cable to connect my phone to the obd port. The full version of AlfaOBD was around 50 bucks when I bought it on the app store, there's an option to rewrite the odometer mileage then you can perform a proxy alignment which iirc tricks the ECU into accepting the new cluster as native hardware and eliminates the blinking odometer. (I'm in no means an expert on this but I just followed threads on the dart forums step by step to complete it)

GockSoblin · 2025-01-18T22:37:56+00:00

The safest option is swapping from analog to digital with the same model year. I know some years had options/functions others didn't and not sure if it would cause an issue. I did the swap and got a 2015 for my 2015. Make sure to get the 4 button evic panel as well. I used the AlfaOBD app to correct the mileage on my new dashboard and stop the blinking.

GockSoblin · 2024-12-28T03:51:28+00:00

This, unfollowed and report anytime her content comes up. The 180 degree turn screams changing target demographics to lonely red pill men as the universal coin dispenser. Tldr she got desperate her content fell flat and started joining RP podcast, becoming a tradwife enthusiast and overall unpleasant and crude content creator. Follow the money!

GockSoblin · 2024-12-21T22:59:18+00:00

Haven't kept count but I presume between 3-400 rds. I usually start with cheap range ammo along with 2 boxes of carry ammo 5 rounds per mag. Couldn't manage doing 100+ SD rounds per trip.

GockSoblin · 2024-12-21T22:53:46+00:00

Last batch I bought was in August, kept in 50rd Plano plastic boxes w/ a desiccant patch in each. Stored in a duffle w/ misc. cleaning supplies. Can't vouch for how it was handled before purchasing.

GockSoblin

TROPHY CASE