Playbooks

Beginner · short stepsExpert · spec · code · mm

Pick the situation. Read the left column. Say that at the window.

Twelve owner scenarios. Beginner script + genius measurements. SaferCar patterns — not a pirated TSB book.

WhoAudience: Owners in a named jam — brakes, noise, a light, a quote.Anyone who wants both altitudes on one card.
ClickControl: A playbook card. Then the beginner script.Playbook → steps. TSB desk and counter card live next door.
SayCounter: The left-column sentence. Then ask for the number on the right.Measurement first. Campaign lookup second. Parts last.

Playbooks · Oil · Daily owner

The cap beats a heuristic

Oil viscosity at the cap

If the bay missed the catalog, the card is a guess labeled HEURISTIC — not Motor, not OEM TIS. Walk to the cap. 0W-20 on a 2013 Accord is not 5W-20 on a 2004.

A lube shop already has the drain plug out. They asked “conventional or synthetic?” You need viscosity and spec, not a brand pitch.

Beginner steps

What you do

0 / 4 beginner steps

01Read the oil cap and the under-hood labelPhoto both. 0W-16, 0W-20, 5W-20, 5W-30, 5W-40 plus an OEM number (dexos1, WSS-M2C, VW 508 00, Honda Genuine). Viscosity alone is not a VW or BMW spec.Say: The cap says [viscosity]. Put that on the ticket, not whatever is on the barrel.
02Ask whether they matched this VIN or guessedOur garage card stamps CATALOG or HEURISTIC. A miss is a starting point. The cap is the close-out.Say: Did you look up this VIN or grab the common 5W-30? I want the cap spec.
03OEM filter number or the box applicationHonda 15400-PLM-A02 vs a “fits most.” Fram/Wix/Purolator interchange is a pamphlet, not TecDoc.Say: What filter number is going on? Show me the application on the box.
04Capacity with filterA 5.3 EcoTec3 is ~8 qt. A 1.5T Civic is ~3.7. “Five quarts” on a Silverado is a short fill.Say: How many quarts with the filter for this engine, not this bay’s default?

Do not

Do not let a heuristic card authorize a pour.
Do not copy last year’s Civic ticket onto a 1998 Civic.
Do not treat “Euro 5W-40” as VW 502 00 unless the bottle lists the number.

Expert notes

What the number means

Heuristic miss
If the spec sheet is stamped HEURISTIC, we do not have this YMM in the JSON book. That is not Motor. That is not OEM TIS. Do not pour from the guess.
0W-16
Toyota Dynamic Force caps often say 0W-16. 0W-20 is an emergency fill on some years, not the spec. The cap still wins.

Open a live desk

SaferCar buckets this card answers: engine · not CR

Related patterns

Common failures by symptom. SaferCar pointers — not pirated TSB PDFs.

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