Fiat Spider neglect...

[nicktheviking]

I took the day off from work yesterday to work on my spider. I did a handful of things: removed 3 of the bumper shocks, sun visors, a ghetto stereo that had been installed by a PO, a few trim pieces, and got 4 new tires mounted, changed air filter and oil/oil filter.

A couple of nasty surprises: The air box had NO air filter. That's right, it was empty. I shudder to think what the motor has been sucking up for god knows how long. Impossibly, the engine seems to run fine. I wonder what the valves look like.

When I emptied the old motor oil, there was probably only 1.5 quarts in there. Sad.

I don't understand why people don't adhere to at least the most minimum of auto maintenance schedules. I bet a lot of cars in America meet early ends because their owners are too lazy and/or ignorant to care.

[So Cal Mark]

I see this fairly often. Most people think that performing an oil change will reverse the effects of no oil changes for 15000 miles

[mbouse]

too much oil adds too much weight. slows the car down.

air filter actually reduces air flow, therefore slows the car down.

if maintenance were a test for the privilege of driving, most people would walk.