Old Henry
Well-known member
I wish I'd had my video camera rolling. It was so entertaining.
I love to take Old Henry in to Jiffy Lube for an oil change and watch the folks work. Today, as soon as I pulled it in and opened the hood, 4 or 5 gathered around to look at the engine compartment. I brought my own oil and filter and provided the wrench for the drain plug and a diagram of the 18 zerks that needed grease. The guy underneath seemed to know what to do without much problem but on top was quite another matter. The girl that seemed to be in charge of the place took it upon her self to change the filter. After staring at it a while I came to her rescue and explained how she had to remove the plug on the side at the bottom of the canister to drain the oil out of it into the long funnel I provided into the drain pan underneath then went back in to watch through the window. She soon called for a selection of 11, 12, 13, and 14 mm wrenches from the guy down under. I stepped out and told her, "This is not a Japanese car. It has English size nuts and bolts. You know, 1/2" 9/16", etc. Not millimeters." She looked bewildered for a moment then said, "We don't do much with those here but I think I know where we have some that size." So she goes over in the corner and opens a tool box and pulls out a selection of end wrenches and brings them over to try. Can't get a one to work. Goes back to the box and pulls out this gigantic crescent wrench to take the little plug out with. I about stepped in to offer my sockets or end wrenches from the trunk but I was having too much fun. She finally got the plug out to drain the oil out. Then, removed the lid, got the filter out, put the new one in, worked the new gasket into the lid and put it back on OK. The fun part of that was the grimace on her face the whole time worried that she wasn't doing it right. She put the oil in then got in to start it to check for leaks. Watched her sit there trying to figure out how to start it for a while before going out to coach her. Showed her the kill switch up by the rear view mirror to turn on then said put it in neutral. Of course she had no clue about the "three on the tree" gear shifter. She had both the clutch and brake pedals to the floor so I reached in and put it in neutral for her and told her she could let those pedals up, which she did slowly and cautiously, then told her to push the starter button. It started right up, she let up on the button and wondered if it was really going it was so quiet. I told her it was going and to push on the gas pedal to speed the engine up. She didn't seem to be sure which of the pedals that was. I told her and she pushed it a bit to speed up the engine and yelled for someone to check for leaks. Then shut it off.
After a bit it looked like they were all done and expected her to come in and take my money and have me drive it out per usual but, instead, she was in the driver's seat again. I went out and she said, "The other guys just want me to pull it out so they can get a picture." She was moving the gear shift up and down trying to figure out how it worked. Well, actually, she thought she had it figured out. She put it up to second, "This if forward. Right?" Then down to third, "And this is backward?"
I relieved her of the job of pulling it out and did it for the photo session. Then went in and paid and drove away while they all watched with admiration.
Good time had by all.
I love to take Old Henry in to Jiffy Lube for an oil change and watch the folks work. Today, as soon as I pulled it in and opened the hood, 4 or 5 gathered around to look at the engine compartment. I brought my own oil and filter and provided the wrench for the drain plug and a diagram of the 18 zerks that needed grease. The guy underneath seemed to know what to do without much problem but on top was quite another matter. The girl that seemed to be in charge of the place took it upon her self to change the filter. After staring at it a while I came to her rescue and explained how she had to remove the plug on the side at the bottom of the canister to drain the oil out of it into the long funnel I provided into the drain pan underneath then went back in to watch through the window. She soon called for a selection of 11, 12, 13, and 14 mm wrenches from the guy down under. I stepped out and told her, "This is not a Japanese car. It has English size nuts and bolts. You know, 1/2" 9/16", etc. Not millimeters." She looked bewildered for a moment then said, "We don't do much with those here but I think I know where we have some that size." So she goes over in the corner and opens a tool box and pulls out a selection of end wrenches and brings them over to try. Can't get a one to work. Goes back to the box and pulls out this gigantic crescent wrench to take the little plug out with. I about stepped in to offer my sockets or end wrenches from the trunk but I was having too much fun. She finally got the plug out to drain the oil out. Then, removed the lid, got the filter out, put the new one in, worked the new gasket into the lid and put it back on OK. The fun part of that was the grimace on her face the whole time worried that she wasn't doing it right. She put the oil in then got in to start it to check for leaks. Watched her sit there trying to figure out how to start it for a while before going out to coach her. Showed her the kill switch up by the rear view mirror to turn on then said put it in neutral. Of course she had no clue about the "three on the tree" gear shifter. She had both the clutch and brake pedals to the floor so I reached in and put it in neutral for her and told her she could let those pedals up, which she did slowly and cautiously, then told her to push the starter button. It started right up, she let up on the button and wondered if it was really going it was so quiet. I told her it was going and to push on the gas pedal to speed the engine up. She didn't seem to be sure which of the pedals that was. I told her and she pushed it a bit to speed up the engine and yelled for someone to check for leaks. Then shut it off.
After a bit it looked like they were all done and expected her to come in and take my money and have me drive it out per usual but, instead, she was in the driver's seat again. I went out and she said, "The other guys just want me to pull it out so they can get a picture." She was moving the gear shift up and down trying to figure out how it worked. Well, actually, she thought she had it figured out. She put it up to second, "This if forward. Right?" Then down to third, "And this is backward?"
I relieved her of the job of pulling it out and did it for the photo session. Then went in and paid and drove away while they all watched with admiration.
Good time had by all.
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to park my car - any car!
