OT: Spark Plug Replacement- Mileage vs. Time

Yah, just like doctors pushing unnecessary medical tests and pharmaceuticals. Obscene profit for BigHealthScare.

It's not like that at all. The biggest reason by far that doctors recommend tests that some others might say are unnecessary is the 0.1% chance the patient has some uncommon problem, and if he doesn't order the test to rule it out, he'll get sued

No one sues autoshops because the shop didn't change the plugs soon enough. They might get sued if they were supposed to chekc the steering on the 50,000 mile checkup, and either they didn't or they looked and did not see that a tie rod or something was about to break, and it did and people were injured. But how often does that ever happen?. Not at

And when they sell things that are not needed, the reason is not fear of getting sued but the desire to make money doing something even though it doesn't need to be done.

As to pharaceuticals, you'll have to say what you're talking about. If you mean you think vaccinations are not needed, we have heard that nonsense before. Measles is coming back because too many people are not geting vaccinated. And there was a case of Plague in Colorado very recently. Now very very few have been vaccinated against Plague, because we haven't had it here in my or I think my grandparents lifetime. but if it gets common, would you not want the vaccine maker to sell it? (I was vaccinated against Plague in 1970, but apparently if I were being exposed now, I'm 52 years late with my booster shot. Let's hope the case in Colorado is the only one.)

No, it's not vaccines. My primary has a questionnaire that is part of the Medicare annual wellness checkup. She says that despite a patient's medical history it is almost certain to recommend statins.

If the guidelines change suddenly 40% fewer people will be prescribed statins. Since about 47 million are currently on the medication that's not insignificant. I found this interesting:

"Nissen has been leading an effort in collaboration with AstraZeneca to make the 5-milligram dose of its drug, rosuvastatin, available without a prescription. He urged shared decision-making between doctor and patient, aware that busy primary care physicians may be pressed for time."

Nissen is a cardiologist and that fits in with my primary's opinion that cardiologists think everyone should be on statins from cradle to grave. Cui bono?

I am fortunate to have a primary physician who explains and discusses my options rather than automatically prescribing drugs.

My 5 year old Crosstrek had 4 recalls to dealer and I have it there for oil change and tire rotation which costs no more than elsewhere.

Several years ago I had a Forester head gasket go at 40,000 miles but out of warranty and paid for dealer repair. Ran into family friend that works at Subaru of America and told him and he told me to call SOA. They wanted service records and ended up rebating a third the repair cost. I had been doing my own oil changes but kept notes and that had sufficed. If dealer had done it they would have it all there.

One of the prime reasons I left private practice and joined the military was because of the pervasive conversations my colleagues had about methods to maximize profits when my colleagues were already netting what I considered obscenely high incomes. I didn't become a physician to get rich. My motivation was altruistic. At one point, I actually felt guilty at what I was reimbursed by one of my patient's insurance company for a simple 35 minute procedure. I actually called the insurance company's office and asked them about their payment and was told that what I received was the standard payment in my community for that procedure. They told me that if I refused to accept their payment, I would either have to accept no payment whatever or ask the patient to pay out of pocket (which was of course impossible because the patient's insurance was active and covered the procedure in question). It was the final straw for me. I left private practice forever very shortly afterwards and never regretted it.

It's called "defensive medicine." Don't get me started on the "ambulance chaser" lawyers and the malpractice insurance companies who force the doc to settle bogus suits for crazy high settlement payments because the green eye shades at the insurance companies calculate that it would cost much more to defend the innocent physician in a court case than the price of the settlement payment. Meanwhile, the innocent physician notches up another malpractice case that was settled rather than being exonerated. Just another reason why I quit private practice (although I never was sued).

(trimmed of spark plug talk)

Doesn't matter if you've had all the tests and know the results. I have odd bloodwork. I am sick and tired of getting called back

See, we are the odd ones but in a good way. We eat an actual truely healthy diet. Low on red meat and most meats are fish/seafoods. Combine this with good genetics. Where they fail, it's to look at the actual numbers. Only 2 of them fall outside of normal. My LDL (the bad guys) tends to 38 and my HDL (the scrubbing bubbles of your arteries) tends near 140. Mostly they are used to the reverse so they freak out and want me on cholesteral reducing drugs which is ludicrus. Don, husband runs the same though not as radical. He also had some issues so they did the 'camera thing up your arteries'. At 68 the surgeon said 'cleaner than most 35 yearolds' and 'no issues, keep up that healthy diet'.

I'm happy to get normal vaccines and get the annual flushots and Covid boosters.

Wish I could find one but I'm trapped by patient first and Tricare prime.

Yup. *you probably had a sad giggle over my LDL 38/HDL 138 and them wanting to put me and my husband on statins*.

It makes a little sense to protect against law suits but we aren't all shaped right for the proverbial cookie cutter. Here's a really common one. Telling everyone to go low sodium. Results are in from a long scientific study and 49% react to higher sodium while 51% do not.

Don does but mildly. I don't. I also run low sodium and get told to up my salt intake (surprise!). Don's is controlled with just aiming at

My brother had one like that.

The only way TIME has anything to do with changing plugs is that on SOME cars if you leave them in for more than 3 years you'll never get them out in one pice (here's lookin' at you Ford Triton!!!) That said, waiting for a missfire before changing plugs pretty much guarantees you will be changing coils too - and if you keep driving when the CEL starts to flash, a catalytic converter as well. As a mechanic (retired) I'd reccomend plugs be removed and checked at about 50,000 and if OK put back in for another 50,000. Sometimes at

Some of these new plugs are VERY PRICEY!!!!! (double platinum and iridium tyoes) Cheaper plugs CAN be used but then you are back to changing every 12000 again.

As a former dealer service manager I can tell you the SMART ones do NOT over service or overcharge. The salesman in the showroom sells the customer ONE CAR. If the servive department screws the customer that is the LAST car the dealership sells that customer (or any of his circle of friends). If the service department keeps the customer happy the dealership keeps selling that customer new cars and gets the chance to resell the customer's well maintained used cars - and THAT my dear friends is where the dealership makes the big bucks!!! A good service manager is a dealerships BEST salesman!!!!

A properly operated service department will keep the doors of the dealership open and the bills paid without selling a single car - the profit of the dealership comes from the sales - actually an absorption rate of 115% (parts and service pays the bills plus 15%) is a healthy target which I met and exceded many times. and that requires a good retention rate. A 60% retention rate is a lofty target. (60% of vehicles sold in the last 3 years returning for service at least once a year) I routinely trounced that - often acheiving over 100% by servicing the vehicles sold by other dealerships - who were not happy with their service. \ You only get the chance to screw a customer once - or twice - but you get to service customers for years if you treat them right - and you put money in the salesman's and sales departments pockets while you are at it as they, and their friends anf aquaintances keep coming back buying new cars, trading in their old ones, and getting their cars serviced - even "off brand" vehicles (servicing non Toyota vehicles owned by customers and their friends contributed significantly to the bottom line!!!)

Sadly your cynicism is all too often well founded, Ed.

Hey, it's prime. That's better than the others, or it wouldn't be called prime, primo, first-class, primitive... wait.

Just returned from a month in Zambia (and Zimbawe and Botswana).

Billboards stating "TB CAN be CURED!!" and all kinds of HIV AIDS Public Service Announcements - that you never see here. Without big Pharma you would see the same (or similar) here.

Some independents are as bad or worse. I'm active on a couple of auto forums and there are some horror stories even on simple things like oil changes.

A couple of people drove off and the oil was never put into the engine. One though, had the opposite. They never drained it but managed to add

Most people have little knowledge of the mechanics of their investment and are easily taken advantage of. When I lived in PA, state inspection was mandatory twice a year. I could write a book about the abuse there.

Both sides of that one. PA inspection stations could take you for an expensive ride or certify a total deathtrap.

QuickLube style oil changers - when the Tercel first came out - inline front wheel drive - we had several come in with 8 liters of oil in the engine and no oil in trans and diff. Most of the time it was nothing nefarious - just total lack of mechanical sense and training!!!

There are thousands of medical tests that can detect disease early. Everyone should take them all at least once per year...just in case.

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner.

And I might add I can buy a car anywhere...even online. Finding a competent mechanic, not so easy.