A bunch of Car Questions from a noob

[fz6r]

Originally Posted by NIN69

Didn't know to keep an eye on the oil level at fill up. With all of my previous Toyotas I never had low oil issues. Guess I better start with the FR-S.Thanks!

Its just a good practice. My GTI was DI and it would burn oil. Granted, it was turbo and this car is NA, but it's still better to check and make sure so you aren't running low on oil

[diss7]

Don't go to the dealership for anything.

They're just barely one step above doing nothing at all.

Services are not hard. And you will feel better having done it yourself. I feel better thrashing a car that I've changed the oil on, know the tyre pressures, know theres the right amount of coolant, etc.

[Rayme]

Keep an eye on oil level and tire pressure, everything else should be done at a good shop. It's a new car, there isn't much maintenance to be done really, the manual comes with what has to be checked at what time/KM required.

The only regular maintenance on the engine is oil and oil filter, and the air filter. Drivetrain oil and coolant has to be replaced once in a while but certainly not yearly, it's all in the manual too.

Washing the car yourself (microfiber mitt) is great as you'll see the condition of the body as the car ages and can fix it properly if anything is off. I wouldn't stress too much about "car detailing" unless you actually enjoy washing the car. At the minimum you should wax the car once in a while with some good wax (meguiar's / mothers), instructions on bottle. The dirt tend to stick less, it's easier to wash and the paint is a bit protected, and it just looks shinier.

Keep the inside clean, vacuum once in a while, and it'll look like new for a long time.

And the best way to damage your engine = Being lazy on oil changes

[Ghost147]

Rayme, good advice! That's just the kind of info i'm looking for.

[sklimo]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOB


lol the manual will tell you all you need

[n2oinferno]

Originally Posted by Ghost147

To make it simple, let's base all the questions on the FR-S:

How often should I get an oil change?
Follow the manual

What kind of quality oil should I use?
Follow the manual

How often should I do other general maintenance on the engine?
Follow the service intervals in the manual

How often should I get my brakes changed?
You can inspect the pad thickness while the wheel is off. If the vehicle feels a bit wobbly while applying the brakes, could be warped rotors. Otherwise, most shops will let you know when it's time since it's an easy sell for them.

Any tips on other general maintenance or tips in general?
Take care of the car and it'll take care of you. They can be little tempermental shits and everything has problems at some point, but in the end that's just part of being an enthusiast.

What are some common things that people do (like revving the engine constantly to show off) that could lead to a shorter-lived car in the future?
Not following maintenance schedules. Also, if you do get a stick, don't get into the habit of resting your hand on the shift knob. It puts wear on the fork and can cause premature failure.

Anything else I should know?
There are a lot of assholes on the internet.

Lastly, is there a huge benefit to Manual vs Automatic? (looks like fun!)
You gain like fifty e-peen points on various car forums from people that can't grow up. If it's something you want to know how to do, go for it, but don't let anyone tell you that you have to drive stick or (insert stupid reason here.) It's always personal opinion. I get more out of driving a car with a manual transmission because it gives a more raw feeling of connection to the car and its inputs, but I won't complain if I have to drive an auto either. Beyond that, manual transmissions in general are less expensive and have a lower cost to fix. Most importantly, get what you like and what you enjoy driving more. It's your car, after all.

I'm tired of knowing nothing! Hopefully some of you can help me out

I know you've gotten most of these responses already, but I just went ahead and filled my own in, in bold above.

Washing a car is a rabbit hole you either want to jump down or stay far, far away. Once you know to look for swirls and they start to bother you and stuff there's no going back.