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Rationalizing My Automotive Ignorance
I took my 2001 Honda Civic LX into the dealer yesterday for its 90,000 mile servicing. That particular visit was a little more expensive than I was anticipating.
90,000 mile servicing: $336.63
Replace missing bumper spoiler: $40.42
Replacement front brake pads and machine rotors: $334.46
Top engine cleaning: $135.71
Throttle plate cleaning: $75.65
Total: $942.40
On the one hand, the car has performed flawlessly since I purchased it years ago. Unlike my prior cars, this beast has never left me frustrated on the side of the road, calling AAA and praying a tow truck might arrive before I retire.
Still, I always leave a garage with the vague feeling that I've been had. I'm all too aware of my lack of mechanical knowledge and inability to know if "throttle plate cleaning" is a valid maintenance function or just code for ripping off a customer too ignorant to know he's being robbed. I suppose it's possible it's a perfectly reasonable operation but my nature is to be suspicious, even paranoid, when I know the conversation is sailing over my head.
I suppose I could remedy this a bit by doing my own research and educating myself on all things automotive. There are two barriers: I don't have a chance to research "throttle plate cleaning" once they already have my car on the lift in the garage and are awaiting my approval --and I'm sure that's part of their modus operandi.
Further, it's not economical for me to spend too much time on these things anyway. Based on my current salary, my time is worth about $50/hour: if I work 17 hours, I gross enough to cover this tab. Since I'm sure I'd need more than that to be even marginally knowledgeable about cars and engines, it's financially better for me embrace my ignorance, pay the tab and spend the time on revenue-generating tasks elsewhere.
So why do I still feel like I participated in my own mugging?
90,000 mile servicing: $336.63
Replace missing bumper spoiler: $40.42
Replacement front brake pads and machine rotors: $334.46
Top engine cleaning: $135.71
Throttle plate cleaning: $75.65
Total: $942.40
On the one hand, the car has performed flawlessly since I purchased it years ago. Unlike my prior cars, this beast has never left me frustrated on the side of the road, calling AAA and praying a tow truck might arrive before I retire.
Still, I always leave a garage with the vague feeling that I've been had. I'm all too aware of my lack of mechanical knowledge and inability to know if "throttle plate cleaning" is a valid maintenance function or just code for ripping off a customer too ignorant to know he's being robbed. I suppose it's possible it's a perfectly reasonable operation but my nature is to be suspicious, even paranoid, when I know the conversation is sailing over my head.
I suppose I could remedy this a bit by doing my own research and educating myself on all things automotive. There are two barriers: I don't have a chance to research "throttle plate cleaning" once they already have my car on the lift in the garage and are awaiting my approval --and I'm sure that's part of their modus operandi.
Further, it's not economical for me to spend too much time on these things anyway. Based on my current salary, my time is worth about $50/hour: if I work 17 hours, I gross enough to cover this tab. Since I'm sure I'd need more than that to be even marginally knowledgeable about cars and engines, it's financially better for me embrace my ignorance, pay the tab and spend the time on revenue-generating tasks elsewhere.
So why do I still feel like I participated in my own mugging?
Nipped from the web
(Snipped from the web):
I talked to my mechanic friend about the trick of cleaning the throttle body for better engine performance. He gave me an education about this topic.
The throttle body gets dirty from the engine gas recirculation. There is a small hose that sends post combustion gases into the intake, I think for emission reason. This post combustion gas dirties the throttle body and the rest of the intake manifold. So when you clean only the throttle body, you solve only part of the problem. He said the old fashion carburetor cleaners also cleans the throttle body, and the rest of the deposits on the intake manifold.
So we pumped most of a can of gumout carb cleaner into the intake manifold. I also filled the tank with 89 octane gas. I was cheap so I always used the 87 octane gas. The combination of the two did wonders. The car got 200 miles for half a tank of 89 octane gas. Previously, I would get 160-ish mile on half a tank. I can't say how much either contributed to this drastic increase in mileage.
I did not lead foot the car much with this tank. I was interested in finding how thing effected the mileage. The next tankful, I will lead foot things.
Moral of the story: a bottle of gumout carb cleaner cost $2.00, and it might save you the work of removing and cleaning the throttle body. When you send the carb cleaner into the air intake, maker certain the little red straw is firmly attached. Mine shot into the intake. luckily, it was caught by throttle body.