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Step 9Mechanical Skills (Continued)
Topping up someone's tire pressure, making sure their spare is inflated, and changing their oil is an easy racket to get into. If you love working on cars but want to be semi-self-employed, this one's for you. A big plus is you don't have to answer to any boss, other than yourself.
An oil change is as easy as jacking up a car, putting it on stands, and loosening a bolt. Tighten that bolt, change a filter, pour in five more quarts, and you're done. Really, it's not that tough. This is another job that you can canvas fliers for, but I find door-to-door with a business card is far better.
But for some reason, people hate oil changes. People hate to go to the mechanic and leave their car with a stranger. They feel stranded. More often than not, the mechanic does nothing to put them at ease. To them, he is a greasy slime ball to be avoided, even if that means going to the dentist instead. This gives you, mein entrepreneur, an opportunity. Go to them. Do it in their driveway. They can watch from the comfort of their living room. They don't have to go out of their way. It costs a bit more than Grease Monkey, but you're no monkey. You're a sophisticated person who wants to make things more convenient for your fellow man. For a small fee, of course.
If you have an interest and ability in basic auto mechanics, a bicycle and a backpack or saddlebags, you have everything you really need. There are instructables about changing oil. It's far from perfect, but that 'ible has the broad strokes.
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-change-your-oil/
Some small changes:
READ THEIR OWNER'S MANUAL. WITH CLEAN HANDS! Ideally, you should ask them how many miles the car has. If it's high miles or they request a specific oil, get that specific oil. If it's high miles, tell them you'd like to use GTX High Mileage since it's over 75 or 100,000. Explain how much extra that will cost. Be informed. Be courteous. If they want Diamond Shamrock house brand from the gas station down the street, say "Okay." It is a good idea if you're carrying all you need with you to carry one or two sets of High Mileage or Q Performance, then if you find someone who wants regular oil or average synth, you can go get it real quick, but you don't need to go several miles if someone says to use the fancy oil.
Don't use a crescent wrench, they can have a nasty habit of slipping and damaging bolts. Be responsible and use a socket set. Bring both metric and standard sockets, but don't bring your spark plug wrench. The drain plug won't be huge, and it won't be teeny-tiny. Use common sense. A socket wrench will be easier to use anyway.
Salad bowls won't cut it to catch the used oil, although we've all done it once, right guys? Did your wife ever let you borrow the "nice Cool Whip set" again? If you're on a budget and don't have or want one of those newfangled oil catcher containers use two empty milk or water jugs and a funnel. Two. Not "I think it'll all fit in one." Two.
Do not dump used oil. It can be recycled at any auto parts store. Free. You can wait till you have twelve gallons the have your parents drive you.
Bring paper towels. A whole roll. Use them. Bring a plastic garbage bag. Put greasy things in there. If you spill any oil, get it off the engine. Lay out paper towels uner the oil pan before you get wrenching. Now don't count on them.
Surgical gloves are a good idea. They are cheap and will eliminate that "greasy mechanic look" which your clients will find off-putting.
You'll need two jack stands and preferably a hydraulic jack. The jack is optional since their car comes with a difficult to use screw-jack (So called because if you need it on the side of the highway, you're screwed). The jack stands are mandatory. You'll be jacking the front end (with the parking brake on!) and putting it on stands. never trust a jack with two tons of car and you under it, dig?
Be a good person. Be clean. Don't be nosy. Do your work well. These apply to any job you could possibly attempt.
Rishnai
An oil change is as easy as jacking up a car, putting it on stands, and loosening a bolt. Tighten that bolt, change a filter, pour in five more quarts, and you're done. Really, it's not that tough. This is another job that you can canvas fliers for, but I find door-to-door with a business card is far better.
But for some reason, people hate oil changes. People hate to go to the mechanic and leave their car with a stranger. They feel stranded. More often than not, the mechanic does nothing to put them at ease. To them, he is a greasy slime ball to be avoided, even if that means going to the dentist instead. This gives you, mein entrepreneur, an opportunity. Go to them. Do it in their driveway. They can watch from the comfort of their living room. They don't have to go out of their way. It costs a bit more than Grease Monkey, but you're no monkey. You're a sophisticated person who wants to make things more convenient for your fellow man. For a small fee, of course.
If you have an interest and ability in basic auto mechanics, a bicycle and a backpack or saddlebags, you have everything you really need. There are instructables about changing oil. It's far from perfect, but that 'ible has the broad strokes.
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-change-your-oil/
Some small changes:
READ THEIR OWNER'S MANUAL. WITH CLEAN HANDS! Ideally, you should ask them how many miles the car has. If it's high miles or they request a specific oil, get that specific oil. If it's high miles, tell them you'd like to use GTX High Mileage since it's over 75 or 100,000. Explain how much extra that will cost. Be informed. Be courteous. If they want Diamond Shamrock house brand from the gas station down the street, say "Okay." It is a good idea if you're carrying all you need with you to carry one or two sets of High Mileage or Q Performance, then if you find someone who wants regular oil or average synth, you can go get it real quick, but you don't need to go several miles if someone says to use the fancy oil.
Don't use a crescent wrench, they can have a nasty habit of slipping and damaging bolts. Be responsible and use a socket set. Bring both metric and standard sockets, but don't bring your spark plug wrench. The drain plug won't be huge, and it won't be teeny-tiny. Use common sense. A socket wrench will be easier to use anyway.
Salad bowls won't cut it to catch the used oil, although we've all done it once, right guys? Did your wife ever let you borrow the "nice Cool Whip set" again? If you're on a budget and don't have or want one of those newfangled oil catcher containers use two empty milk or water jugs and a funnel. Two. Not "I think it'll all fit in one." Two.
Do not dump used oil. It can be recycled at any auto parts store. Free. You can wait till you have twelve gallons the have your parents drive you.
Bring paper towels. A whole roll. Use them. Bring a plastic garbage bag. Put greasy things in there. If you spill any oil, get it off the engine. Lay out paper towels uner the oil pan before you get wrenching. Now don't count on them.
Surgical gloves are a good idea. They are cheap and will eliminate that "greasy mechanic look" which your clients will find off-putting.
You'll need two jack stands and preferably a hydraulic jack. The jack is optional since their car comes with a difficult to use screw-jack (So called because if you need it on the side of the highway, you're screwed). The jack stands are mandatory. You'll be jacking the front end (with the parking brake on!) and putting it on stands. never trust a jack with two tons of car and you under it, dig?
Be a good person. Be clean. Don't be nosy. Do your work well. These apply to any job you could possibly attempt.
Rishnai
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