Vehicle Oil Changes: Are you a DIY'er?

[lakeroadster]

I refuse to let anybody change the oil on my vehicles other than myself... which got me to wondering: How many other folks still change their own oil nowadays?

I usually put the vehicles up on my 2 post lift... and the oil change is enjoyable.

Not so much this time: We moved earlier this year & my barn isn't done yet. The attached garage is full (of stuff that goes into the barn). So I changed the oil in the two daily drivers in our gravel driveway, using wooden ramps, surrounded by snow.

I admit that the experience took me back. Last time I was doing maintenance on a vehicle in the winter, on my back, in a driveway, was 1978.

 

[paulsomlo]

Can't imagine letting someone else do it.

I was driving with a friend about 10 years ago, oil light comes on. We're on a dirt road, she pulls over, I get out, there's a wet streak behind us. I look under, there's no oil plug. I walk a few hundred feet back, there's her plug. She just had the oil changed at Grease Monkey, or some other place.

I use a floor jack and stands in my driveway. I time things around warm weather. By the way, where's central Colorado?

 

[jomobco]

Did my Dodge 6.7 today. Easy peasy with a lift.

 

[goodysgotacuda]

I'm still a DIY'r. I don't save any money, but I get it done correctly and in my schedule. VW TDIs are pretty specific on the oil specifications to keep the DPF alive, I'm near certain most oil change places [other than the dealer] have that oil on-hand.

 

[lakeroadster]

.... By the way, where's central Colorado?

a.k.a God's Country: http://centralcolorado.com/

 

[gjz30075]

Yep, DIY'er here. There was a time I couldn't do it and had to take it
to the dealer. As per my routine, I checked the oil after about 1k miles.
WTF! I'm a quart low. This car never uses oil.

Next oil change I'm able to do myself and, as usual, check the level after
1k miles. Right on the full mark.

I'll bet that D&^^*!!M dealer shorts everyone a quart to save money!

 

[kaymccampbell]

Yup. My current daily driver came with 5 years of oil changes, but the rest of the fleet rolls onto the lift every 3-4K.
I remember rebuilding the engine on a Marquis Estate, in January, in 1984, under a tarp, held up with 2x4's, while the house was still under construction. Gives me a chill just thinking about it.

 

[matt_i]

My system is this. I buy the advanced additive full synthetic purportedly good for 15k miles. I change the filter at 5k, and change the oil and filter at 10k. Seems to work well across 5 vehicles and save some money.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Yep, I do my own. I changed it on the truck last night. In the process, broke the filter wrench then proceeded to drop the filter in the drain pan. 18" fall into 7 quarts makes a helluva splash.

 

[velillen01]

I do all my own. Fumoto valve on the car and truck make it super quick and easy. I also do the other "checks" like fluid levels and air filters while its draining. Cost wise I do the mobil 1 rebates they have been doing twice a year.

 

[ajchien]

I do it myself. Jack, jack stands, and wheel chocks. 20 minutes if I'm in a hurry....2 hours if I need a break away from the kids.

I'm not sure it's any less expensive doing it yourself, but it's sure less stressful.

 

[jonjon1]

I buy a case of filters at a time for each vehicle I own, I also buy oil by the case... It adds to the savings.

I keep service records and have the little static stickers that shops use when they change your oil, in my service notebook, I write...
miles- Date- which filter, oil, and amount. Then which oil wrench, which oil filter tool, funnel(I number my funnels), etc...

It makes it so easy and fast, so I can pull my wifes car on the lift, as I am lifting it my son is in the notebook getting all the supplies and tools ready, we have a lift oil catcher, drain, change filter, then drop it and throw the oil in, takes us about 10 minutes...

Teaches teh kdis to do things for themselves and saves me $40 or so...

 

[exranger06]

I do all maintenance and repairs on my vehicles myself, and that includes oil changes. I hate other people working on my vehicles.

 

[Doug B]

I do my own,but probably only because on nights and weekends I can use the lift in the shop where I work . Most likely wouldn't be rolling around in the driveway or on the garage floor anymore.

 

[lilredex]

Have always changed my vehicle's oil...since the beginning, in 1958. Also grease them too at the same time (every 5000 KM), and change the ATF at regular intervals. And, fix all the exhaust when needed. You know it is done right!!

 

[SweetD]

I'm still a DIY'r. I don't save any money, but I get it done correctly and in my schedule.

That's why I change the oil on our vehicles myself. I'm not a mechanic, but it's certainly one of the things I can easily do myself, and I rather enjoy it.

I can get under both vehicles (Tacoma 4x4 and Forester) without having to lift either, so that is nice...

 

[ProTinkerer]

Change my own oil except for 2 changes ago. Was in the middle of a move, all my tools and ramps were in storage who knows where. Moved into new house with new concrete driveway. Started seeing small drips. Took it to a shop and they looked it over. Found out that the oil filter was loose so I have about 30 drips on driveway and about 10 drips in the garage. Still sick over it. Tried pressure washing them up but couldnt get it. Now I have streaks where I hit it so hard with pressure washer.

Lesson learned.

 

[SweetD]

Change my own oil except for 2 changes ago. Was in the middle of a move, all my tools and ramps were in storage who knows where. Moved into new house with new concrete driveway. Started seeing small drips. Took it to a shop and they looked it over. Found out that the oil filter was loose so I have about 30 drips on driveway and about 10 drips in the garage. Still sick over it. Tried pressure washing them up but couldnt get it. Now I have streaks where I hit it so hard with pressure washer.

Lesson learned.

That *****, but time will heal those wounds. Think of it like getting that first scratch on a new car...almost relief!

Also, welcome to the forum - !



Dave

 

[Steevo]

There isn't a vehicle project that I won't undertake, be it ball joints, differentials or engine overhauls, but - I never change my own oil. There are low cost places that do that for a living, and even the dealership (for my wife's Subaru) is a better option than me doing it and then having to deal with oil and filter recycling.
I'm sorry, but this is just too easy to outsource, with little or no ramifications.

 

[stihlntime]

DIY Er here, money is not the reason, peace of mind is. My wife had a oil change place leave an old filter gasket on the block double gasketing the vehicle. Needless to say engine was replaced by their insurance, I've done it ever since. At least the shop was honest and admitted the mistake and stood tall on the engine. .

 

[Badattitude]

There are low cost places that do that for a living
......................
........................

with little or no ramifications.

 

[justanengineer]

Most of the time nope, the wife does it herself in a few minutes. Nice to have someone trained, willing, and capable.

 

[jumpstart]

Pretty much do all of my own vehicles. Just heard too many horror stories of people having issues at shops. Piece of mind....
Can dispose of the old oil and filters at my workplace, so not too difficult one way or the other.

 

[creativecars]

Always, and taking the time to show my son. He now does it by himself, with me following up to make sure everything is correct.

 

[Ray916MN]

I don't change the oil in my daily drivers. I hate changing oil. I always make a mess. I have a local shop do it.

I do change the oil in my 15 motorcycles and play convertible. I do them once a year at the same time I winterize them. Make a mess for a few days once a year. I'm contemplating buying oil in small drums. The local shop takes all my used oil and coolant.

 

[Clik]

A mechanical shop owner, yes OWNER, changed my oil once and dropped a nut from the oil jug into the engine which spit it through the timing cover when it got caught in the Cummins diesel's timing gears.

Had time to kill one day and was over due for an oil change. Stopped in Jiffy Lube. They were so inept that I had to help change the oil. They had no funnel and were dripping oil all over my fan belts, so, I fabbed a funnel for them using an old oil bottle. Then they didn't have the right size wrench and were using a round-'em-off. I loaned them the proper wrench. Then they tried to send me out 4 quarts low on oil because they didn't realize that a diesel holds more than six quarts. Then when I refused to pay more than the price quoted the owner threatened to assault me. I rolled down my window and told him "I'll take a shot to own your Jiffy Lube". What assholes. This was in Waldorf, MD back in the late 80s or early 90s. I bought my own lift and do all my own fluids.

 

[Catamount]

I DIY, and here's why: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...to-take-your-S4-to-an-instant-oil-change-shop

(it's a great read!)

 

[goodysgotacuda]

Agreed. I've worked in high-cost shops that had their share of dry starts and double filled crankcases...I couldn't imagine the quick lube places.

 

[taumac]

There isn't a vehicle project that I won't undertake, be it ball joints, differentials or engine overhauls, but - I never change my own oil. There are low cost places that do that for a living, and even the dealership (for my wife's Subaru) is a better option than me doing it and then having to deal with oil and filter recycling.
I'm sorry, but this is just too easy to outsource, with little or no ramifications.

I agree with you there. I take my truck 10 mins away to Ford dealership.

 

[Bryan Burns]

Change my own oil except for 2 changes ago. Was in the middle of a move, all my tools and ramps were in storage who knows where. Moved into new house with new concrete driveway. Started seeing small drips. Took it to a shop and they looked it over. Found out that the oil filter was loose so I have about 30 drips on driveway and about 10 drips in the garage. Still sick over it. Tried pressure washing them up but couldnt get it. Now I have streaks where I hit it so hard with pressure washer.

Lesson learned.

Paint thinner and steel wool removed the oil stains from my garage floor. You might want to give it a try.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I started changing oil on my family's cars since before I could drive almost 50 years ago. In that time, I have only paid someone else to change my oil maybe 2 or 3 times.

 

[ford33]

I normally take it to an oil change shop.

But not last week. I had to change the engine starter on my 1995 Pontiac. The oil filter had to come out to get to the starter. I knew it would leak oil before the filter came out and since I was not used to oil changes, I took my time. I didn't want to have an oily mess on my garage floor so I put a puppy training pad down on floor. The puppy training pads absorb oil and have a plastic backing so it can't soak through the pad to the floor. They are cheap at $0.38 a piece. Amazon sell them, "Four Paws Wee-Wee Super Absorbent Dog House Breaking Pads". $15.18 for forty pads that are 24" x 24" size. I changed the oil, filter and cleaned off some of the engine grime without any oil on the floor.

 

[Bryan Burns]

I went back to it after about two decades of using quick lube shops because I want a specific oil and filter and don't want to wait and poor quality service from the shops. One time a lube place overfilled my engine by about a quart which I understand can cause the oil to foam and I brought the car back. The tech was so blase and unapologetic, it pissed me off.

I use Rhino ramps.

I'm 56 and physically fit but I wonder when I'll be to old. I'd be interested in knowing the age of the next members to post.

 

[James-W]

I still change the oil on both of our vehicles. Problem is, the arthritis in my hands and wrists is not getting any better, it only gets worse, so I am not sure just how much longer I will be able to do stuff like this.

 

[EShield]

No, I don't. I drive it over to local Backyard Bob's home garage and have him do it, since he is better than me at it.

 

[TonkaJoe]

Anything that I have needing to be done on my truck is repaired or maintained by myself.. The only time I'd take my truck to a shop is if I needed a specialty tool and didn't have the proper one required for the job. On occasion I've took the truck through to Jiffy Lube when I am too busy with work to get the oil done myself, I ALWAYS stand right there and watch them do the job though, I've heard some horror stories!.

 

[ProTinkerer]

Paint thinner and steel wool removed the oil stains from my garage floor. You might want to give it a try.

I will try this, it has been there a good month. Are these time sensitive products in your experience?

 

[Bryan Burns]

I will try this, it has been there a good month. Are these time sensitive products in your experience?

I was able to remove stains that were a year old. Surprised the heck out of myself because I had always thought that nothing was more effective than TSP (trisodium phosphate).

 

[ProTinkerer]

I was able to remove stains that were a year old. Surprised the heck out of myself because I had always thought that nothing was more effective than TSP (trisodium phosphate).

Thank you.

 

[kerryt1]

I've let other people do it in 2 circumstances: when I lived in the dorm in college, and the period of time when my wife drove an E60 BMW (knew 2 techs at the dealer). Everything else, I've done.

That said, I could go either way if I could find someone to trust.