Diesel or Auto Mechanic

dsmdion · 09-10-2008

Well I have decide to save up and head back to school this spring semester, but I can't decide for what. At first I was thinking Auto mechanic all the way. But then I started to think diesel/ heavy equip. mechanic. The thing is I Love cars and would enjoy working on them, but I also think I would enjoy working on other things as well. My grandparents own a towing service (they dont work on vehicles just tow them), so I could probably get hooked up with a job in either field. I also noticed that diesel mechanics get paid much more than auto mechanics

I guess I am leaning towards diesel mechanic because

1 I dont know how much joy I'll get working on other cars other than my own

2 Diesel mechanics make more money. ( not that Im all about money, but I do have to make a living

)

3 If I am a diesel mechanic, I will probably have enough mechanical knowlege as well as my own knowlege to do some work on cars.

anyway, this is just what I'm thinking, I dont know what do you guys think.

EclipseGST · 09-10-2008

Mechanics sucks... Use to be a hobby, then it turned into a full time job and took the fun out of the hobby.

Besides the body aches and pains. But its your life, you choose what you want to do.

2bar1g · 09-10-2008

I was in your position this spring/summer. I was enrolled to go to wyotech, thinking I wanted to have a career working on cars, but I realized I would ruin an infatuation that I loved. Put it this way, you go to work, wrench. Come home, wrench some more on the project(s) you have sitting around. Pretty soon you lose motivation to complete the projects, start a part out thread and lose money in the process. You then don't really enjoy your job as much as you thought you would, start to slack, and eventually get sick of the career. And now you want to go into a different field, but you can't because it's just not possible to go back to school.

At least this is what I thought might happen to me. Now I’m getting my generals done at a community college and figuring out what I really want to do as a career.

Just don't spoil a passion that you have.

RichardBBY · 09-10-2008

Quote:

Mechanics sucks... Use to be a hobby, then it turned into a full time job and took the fun out of the hobby.

Besides the body aches and pains. But its your life, you choose what you want to do.

^i couldn't agree more, being a technician totally killed that hobby for me. I still enjoy working on my own car, but I hate it when people always want you to fix there shit boxes.

Being a diesel tech just means everything is much much larger...which equals more aches and pains.

Would? · 09-10-2008

Diesel.

dsmdion · 09-10-2008

Damn LOL, just when I thought I had shit figured out you guys went and fucked it up LOL. hmmm I still thinking of going diesel. I dont care about the aches and pains, but this does kinda open my eyes. I dont want to get sick of working on my ride.

sleepydsm · 09-10-2008

I too agree. I got used to love working on my car, now I do it everyday for the past 4 years. It really makes me NOT want to wrench on anything outside of work, even my own car lol. If fixing up your car is a hobby, don't do it as a career.

Luckily, I didn't go to school for it!

INTRIGUED · 09-10-2008

My dad is a diesel mechanic, He seems to like it. You don't have to deal with the nagging soccer mom that can't tell you whats wrong with the mini van. Working on the big rigs is has its pro's and con's I'm sure.

**Goat Blower** · 09-10-2008

My first real experience was as a diesel mechanic. Enough things cross over where you learn plenty about working on your own ride. The tools are just a lot bigger for diesel stuff.

9guy9 · 09-11-2008

Like others have said being a mechanic sucks. It kills your passion for cars.

I never wanted to be a mechanic, and now I am. It has made me not want to deal with my own car. When I'm not at work I don't want anything to do with cars.

Swifty1638 · 09-12-2008

I have worked at many a auto shop, private, 3 dealerships, performance, etc. I can say that you will hurt from time to time. You will pay for many tools, and you will face layoffs (especially at dealerships). Pay can be good, depending on if there's hours turned or whatnot. I can also say that even with a finished schooling at an auto school, you will still be taught many things at a specific place you work, so they can "mold" you. I didn't finish dunwoody for this reason, and I still get paid as much as the others out there. Also, don't expect coming right outta school you will get a job off the bat, let alone a job as a journeymen (full-out mechanic). You will most likely start out lower in the shop, and work your way up, as I have been doing.

-A. Swift

john · 09-12-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepydsm

I too agree. I got used to love working on my car, now I do it everyday for the past 4 years. It really makes me NOT want to wrench on anything outside of work, even my own car lol. If fixing up your car is a hobby, don't do it as a career.

Luckily, I didn't go to school for it!

THis is the main reason I got out of the DSM game a couple of years ago and bought my current car. It seemed that I was working on it/upgrading it more than I was driving it. I liked learning in the beginning but ~10 dsms later, got tired of it.

I want to go out and be able to enjoy my car, not have to work on it.

Back on topic, my friend went to UTI for diesel mechanics, got the diploma, and said fuck it. He is now going to Normandale.

I considered the auto industry but decided that when I get 50 years old, I didn't want to have to go out and crawl under cars. Body wouldn't like it.

I would go diesel as you would be more "specialized." You won't be working with people who are in high school and should make more money. You could probably be an auto mechanic aswell with the training you learn.

gofastman · 09-15-2008

I love working on cars even now that im a mechanic, it does suck sometimes but so does any job, if i could do it over again i would

Jon Michael · 09-15-2008

I have thought about the same thing you are now. But, it doesn't always kill your love. I loved computers, and worked in a computer warehouse and fixed them for over 4 years...I still love my computer and building computers with friends.

I have a few friends who are mechanics, and they all still have their love of cars. Look at Mark, he works on cars all the time and he still spends most of his free time doing stuff with his cars.

RichardBBY · 09-18-2008

Don't get me wrong...I still love working on my car...Its other peoples that i dont want to touch.

dsmdion · 09-18-2008

My love for cars isnt going anywhere. I've been around raced, and helped work on cars nearly my whole life. if my passion was gonna die It would prolly be dead already.

blackrosenova400 · 09-21-2008

Still thinking about it?

Ive been a diesel technition for two years and also just finished my schooling and recieved my A.A.S Degree, so if you have any questions dont be afraid to ask.