On this week’s episode of Grease the Wheels, we talk about those jobs that used to be easy- until the engineers got involved! The problem that this industry has is it’s blistering rate of change, and nowhere is that more evident in some of the insane ways that engineers have packaged these vehicles to resemble 10lbs of manure in a 2lb sack! Exhibit A: Changing the spark plugs on a N55 powered BMW X3. Exhibit B: Same thing, but a 5.4L Ford V8. Jobs that could have taken 10 minutes on the right vehicle 30 years ago have turned into all day affairs in some cases. This is nothing to say of the parts that WE KNOW are going to break during the repair because the materials that they are made out of don’t really like the thermal cycles incurred by being 3mm away from a raging exhaust manifold. Also we get totally medieval on the BMW N63 V8, and explain why it’s still around and in basically everything- hint: class action lawsuits aren’t cheap. 

Also Uncle Jimmy is extremely unflattering to the Germans and wants to know: what are the worst mechanical obstacle courses that you have to do? 

This episode is distributed by The Wrenching Network. Whether you're a technician, a mechanic, or someone who just loves the car scene, The Wrenching Network is a place that you have to check out. They have all sorts of great content, gear, and snacks to keep you turning wrenches in whatever capacity you do it. Also if you see us over there, make sure you say hi and leave a comment with what you think about the episode! Also make sure you check out the Curien N2 Neuron Bluetooth Automotive Graphing Meter- this thing kicks ass and takes names!