How many members do this???
 

This may sound a little weird but for years I have been in the habit of pulling the oil pan off of any used vehicle I have bought with over 100k on it. I like to see whats going on down there.Have found debris,chunks of metal,clogged oil pump pick up screens,inched of sludge and even a wedding band!!!! Most of the time I find a little sludge,clean it up and am good to go! Anyone else have this sort of weird ritual?

Depends on how easy it comes off......when its easy, yes I've done it...

That and more....I also clean the vehicle's vents, remove the carpet and shampoo/pressure wash it/replace it, I've even removed upholstery and washed that etc. I change All of the fluids and lube it MYSELF. I go through each auxillary component and check for proper operation/maintenance. I repack bearings....blah, blah, blah.

I don't like getting stranded. That happened to my dad when I was six or so. We were stuck in the California desert for hours.

Azimyth,now that you mention it I also do a lot of the things you mentioned. Probably what gets me into more trouble than anything is that all parts of the used vehicle must function as new.This has cost me mucho $$$ over the years! Don't even want to think of a total $ figure:(

Here's the way I look at it. I'm buying a used car for a reason.....usually it's a nostalgia thing. They don't make that car model anymore but I still want it to perform as new. So I take the time, buy the parts, and perform the work myself. It becomes a labor of love really, and I get to know the vehicle intimately enough that I have confidence it will not leave me stranded. I just need the patience to learn what I don't know yet.

I like the german cars because the engineering is still superlative even if they are ten or more years old. It's worth the time to semi-restore them. I would not do this to a hyundai.

Forums like the ones found on this site are the mother lode relative to specific knowlege and experiences shared by others. I remember ahving to do resorations BEFORE there was an internet.

Parenthetically, what did you do with the ring?

I agree with the getting to know your car/labor of love idea. I beleave that having something mechanical to work on is part of what keeps me sane! As far as the ring goes, I was able to locate the PO who told me the name of the original owner.I called him and told him I had a silver wedding band with certain initials in it and asked if it was his. I think he almost fainted!!! Boy,was he ever happy...........gave me a case of 15 year Mccallum scotch as a reward(he owned a few local liquor stores). Man, I need to find more valuable jewelry in my used cars!!!!

A big part of it is taking care of the car and maintaining it yourself. That makes it more fun and gives us something to do.

A wedding ring?? I wonder how that marriage made out?

I wonder how they explained losing that ring....I bet thats a story in itself...

Yes,a wedding ring! But not just any ring. It was his fathers wedding ring whom had passed away years earlier and had left it to him. He said he had the valve cover off one cold day and the loose ring must of fallen off his finger into the oil pan.He said he looked everywhere for months and months.The wife was very understanding because he was so tore up over the loss.

How many members do this???
 

"How many members do this??? "

I don't know, but if you keep it up you'll all grow hair on your palms...

That was awfully commendable of you to track the guy down and return it! I'll bet he's told the story of the "kind stranger" to all kinds of folks!

I to am married and wear my dead fathers wedding ring. I was happy to do what I did. I hope the kindness comes back to me someday...........

I am sure it will! Cheers!

Gee, I'd love to talk, but I have a few oil pans I need to pull off right now....

There was a gentleman I once casually knew (online) who claimed he bought a ferrari which at one time belonged to Dean Martin. This gentleman apparently has now passed on, so I can't double check the story. Anyway, the story goes that he was cleaning the car out and removed a piece of carpet and found a gold Rolex presidential. The kicker is that it was inscribed on the back,"Something, something, blah, blah, blah, Sammy Davis Jr."

I have no reason to disbelieve his story. It gets better though, He says he sold the watch on Ebay for more than the original cost of the Ferrari.:D

Typically for me, I've only found a few coins and old candy remnants which have sealed themselves to the car.