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how often do you change your oil?

My old primary used Blazers he never changed oil or filters just added new oil daily.
reminds me, a few years ago someone on here said his truck leaked and burnt oil so bad, he was getting free used oil to put through it.. had to park on the road so customers wouldn't complain about the oil stain after walking a package to the porch :(
 
reminds me, a few years ago someone on here said his truck leaked and burnt oil so bad, he was getting free used oil to put through it.. had to park on the road so customers wouldn't complain about the oil stain after walking a package to the porch :(
I vaugly recall that!

anyways:
92 mile route, almost 500 boxes (don’t remember # of stops)
02 explorer, and 06 expedition. I TRY getting oil changed 4-5k on them. I’ve got 2 sets of tires (on seperate rims) for each of them. Studded snows, and all season (rather aggressive sets) for summer. All 4 sets are 10 ply. My snows have lasted me several years (finally wore out the expeditions snows last winter), but generally have to replace both vehicles all seasons once a year. Generally 2 sets of brakes a year on both.
explorers transmission let loose last February or March, expeditions let loose last may. Used 3 weeks al waiting on tranny for explorer (because expeditions tranny blew) while expedition is still waiting for me to get the $$ to get her tranny replaced. (It should be ordered, but I haven’t been able to catch my mechanic the past few weeks)……. On top of expeditions tranny, she’s gonna need new studded snows put on when tranny gets done……. It’s been a rather expensive year for my povs this year. 😪
 
I vaugly recall that!

anyways:
92 mile route, almost 500 boxes (don’t remember # of stops)
02 explorer, and 06 expedition. I TRY getting oil changed 4-5k on them. I’ve got 2 sets of tires (on seperate rims) for each of them. Studded snows, and all season (rather aggressive sets) for summer. All 4 sets are 10 ply. My snows have lasted me several years (finally wore out the expeditions snows last winter), but generally have to replace both vehicles all seasons once a year. Generally 2 sets of brakes a year on both.
explorers transmission let loose last February or March, expeditions let loose last may. Used 3 weeks al waiting on tranny for explorer (because expeditions tranny blew) while expedition is still waiting for me to get the $$ to get her tranny replaced. (It should be ordered, but I haven’t been able to catch my mechanic the past few weeks)……. On top of expeditions tranny, she’s gonna need new studded snows put on when tranny gets done……. It’s been a rather expensive year for my povs this year. 😪
I think I got about $15k or $16k in EMA.... but gas, oil, brakes, tires, insurance, titles, registration and plates, etc., etc.... takes most of it.... then comes trannies, engines, etc., etc.... does EMA really cover it all???? :unsure: 🤷‍♂️👉🤑:oops:(n):poop:
 
I think I got about $15k or $16k in EMA.... but gas, oil, brakes, tires, insurance, titles, registration and plates, etc., etc.... takes most of it.... then comes trannies, engines, etc., etc.... does EMA really cover it all???? :unsure: 🤷‍♂️👉🤑:oops:(n):poop:
It does if you do your own work. My fuel, oil, and repairs over the life of my jeep only come to an operating cost of 27 cents a mile. I clear an extra 85 bucks a day or so profit off ema 🤑
 
It does if you do your own work. My fuel, oil, and repairs over the life of my jeep only come to an operating cost of 27 cents a mile. I clear an extra 85 bucks a day or so profit off ema 🤑
Are you required to have commercial insurance To be covered for everything? My state does require it it’s a big cost factor for me.
 
Are you required to have commercial insurance To be covered for everything? My state does require it it’s a big cost factor for me.
No, when I was a truck driver, commercial insurance was a couple grand a month, hopefully you aren't paying that! My shelter policy was only a couple bucks more a month for being a rural carrier. But I also only have liability because I drive a 28 year old jeep with almost 400k miles.
 
No, when I was a truck driver, commercial insurance was a couple grand a month, hopefully you aren't paying that! My shelter policy was only a couple bucks more a month for being a rural carrier. But I also only have liability because I drive a 28 year old jeep with almost 400k miles.
No not near that much but it’s 350 for both my vehicles. Cheapest I could find around that covered everything state requires while not having full coverage vehicle wise. Without needing that commercial normally only is 100$ per month for both vehicles.
 
90 mile route 300 stops 44k jeep jk 2017 nissan nv200 converted. When the oil minder says so on the jeep about 6 to 7 k nv about every 5k
 
It does if you do your own work. My fuel, oil, and repairs over the life of my jeep only come to an operating cost of 27 cents a mile. I clear an extra 85 bucks a day or so profit off ema 🤑
Obviously, fuel is usually the biggest expense.... I figure that's ~$6k or so a year, then once I start adding up insurance, title and registration fees, tires, brakes, oil changes, etc., etc.... it takes up most of the EMA.... certainly, anybody who has car payment is likely not covering all expenses.... maybe that's why we see lots of folks still driving 1990 vehicles.... including USPS with LLVs.... I always wonder what the TRUE TOTAL costs for the Metris Vans are.... pretty sure EMA wouldn't cover those costs.... when engines or transmissions go, usually that's something above and beyond what EMA covers as well..... :unsure: 🤷‍♂️👉:oops:
 
Obviously, fuel is usually the biggest expense.... I figure that's ~$6k or so a year, then once I start adding up insurance, title and registration fees, tires, brakes, oil changes, etc., etc.... it takes up most of the EMA.... certainly, anybody who has car payment is likely not covering all expenses.... maybe that's why we see lots of folks still driving 1990 vehicles.... including USPS with LLVs.... I always wonder what the TRUE TOTAL costs for the Metris Vans are.... pretty sure EMA wouldn't cover those costs.... when engines or transmissions go, usually that's something above and beyond what EMA covers as well..... :unsure: 🤷‍♂️👉:oops:
Now, dont get me wrong, im not saying that ema is enough. Anybody that has a payment or has to pay people to repair their vehicle is almost certainly losing money. And you are right about those metrises, they would have to last a long time before they amortized the upfront cost. By then they would be way in the hole on repair costs; but honestly I don't think they will ever last long enough to make the post office ever save a cent over simply paying ema.
 
Now, dont get me wrong, im not saying that ema is enough. Anybody that has a payment or has to pay people to repair their vehicle is almost certainly losing money. And you are right about those metrises, they would have to last a long time before they amortized the upfront cost. By then they would be way in the hole on repair costs; but honestly I don't think they will ever last long enough to make the post office ever save a cent over simply paying ema.
Factoring in the purchase price of the Metris vans, I'm pretty sure EMA would take a LONG time for them to ever break even.... and whenever they do maintenance, especially at POs far from VMFs, they spend a lot of $$$$ sending a couple of peeps out with a couple of vehicles, and shuttling them back and forth to the VMF.... so, what do the VMF salaries add to those costs???? all the gas shuttling the vehicles back and forth.... then there's the other typical costs, fuel, oil, tires, brakes, accidents, etc., etc..... so, to me, that's what we should be comparing.... what does it cost the USPS to operate a Metris versus EMA..... also, way back when, somebody did a breakdown of where EMA is typically profitable mileage-wise.... I'm thinking once you get up to 75 or 80 miles per day or above, then it's typically easier to make due on EMA....probably not as easy for 50-, or 60-mile routes tho.... :unsure: 🤷‍♂️👉🧐
 
It does if you do your own work. My fuel, oil, and repairs over the life of my jeep only come to an operating cost of 27 cents a mile. I clear an extra 85 bucks a day or so profit off ema 🤑

Don't know about you but my time ain't free. That "profit" is just you paying yourself to be a mechanic.

However you want to spin it, EMA is usually a break even deal.
 
I had some qualified mechanics on my route, who would do work for me after I was done on Sat or Sun when I was off. Unfortunately, that was not always the case. I would get the oil changed every 4-5 k miles on 2015 wrangler and I would add oil weekly because it was burning oil (shocker).

Providing SUITABLE vehicles would help the PO immensly but, rural carriers are a low priority as we all know !
 
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Don't know about you but my time ain't free. That "profit" is just you paying yourself to be a mechanic.

However you want to spin it, EMA is usually a break even deal.
Break even IF you're lucky.... and, as you said.... if you're doing your own work, you're likely not getting a very high hourly wage with the leftover EMA.... :unsure: 🤷‍♂️👉:oops:(n):poop:
 
Don't know about you but my time ain't free. That "profit" is just you paying yourself to be a mechanic.

However you want to spin it, EMA is usually a break even deal.
You get TIME on the clock for fueling a Gov't Vehicle.... no such thing with POV.... :unsure:🤷‍♂️👉:oops:(n):poop:
 
It does if you do your own work. My fuel, oil, and repairs over the life of my jeep only come to an operating cost of 27 cents a mile. I clear an extra 85 bucks a day or so profit off ema 🤑
you like to tinker and work on your stuff. but lets say you hated it, and charged yourself $125 an hour... this job is made for the shade tree mechanic with ema... i hear these carriers talking about $900 for a pair of control arms or $600 for front rotors and pads and just cringe
 
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