Vehicle Oil Changes: Are you a DIY'er?

[Squddle]

I always change it myself. I enjoy doing it and I can use all synthetic oil and filter usually pretty cheaply buy buying it at Walmart.

 

[gearhead1]

Always do my own. I started with Dad since before I could drive. I've had grinds with the horror stories from quick change places. It doesn't take me long even on my back, and I buy oil/filters on sale. For me it ends up being cheaper and faster with no stripped drain plugs etc.

 

[Browning1]

I pretty much do it all myself. Buy filters by the case or when carquest has filters on sale I buy enough to last a year. Oil is either bought by the bucket tractor and diesel trucks, or buy it by the case for gasoline motors when on sale at tractor supply for less than $2

 

[G McKay]

Yep!! I do my own!!

 

[Ponchoguy]

I always change it myself. I enjoy doing it and I can use all synthetic oil and filter usually pretty cheaply buy buying it at Walmart.

+1. I'll be doing exactly that this weekend on my nephew's Mustang. They have the Motorcraft filters quite cheaply.

 

[ShakinLM7]

In the decade I spun wrenches professionally I saw at least half a dozen times where a FWD/AWD trans or diff was drained instead of the engine by DIY'ers, only once did they stop and have it towed in before significant damage was done. Not sure why but it always seemed to be a Subaru and ironically, sitting here ~3 miles from the Subaru plant I know of at least one instance since of it happening locally.

I made that mistake on the first oil change I did on a new to me FWD Ford probe. I might have been 17? Anyways ended up doing my first trans fluid n filter that day too after I nearly had oil coming out of the dip stick tube. Thank god I had a couple mechanics I could call!

 

[pablo94sc]

How long does it take from *** on couch back to *** on couch to go there to have this done? Compared to DIY?

I suspect it takes longer to go out to get it done.

*15-20 minutes to run to the store, buy the stuff, and get home.
*60 minutes to jack the car up, remove the 9 screws holding up the engine under tray while it's falling on your face, do the oil change, fight to get the damn tray back up, lower the car, put up the tools, wash your hands, back the car up, and clean up any spills that happened. I'm estimating here based on time it took to do our old Supra since I'll never do it on the Focus.
*2-3 minutes pouring the old oil into a container to take to the recycling place and cleaning up the new spills from said pouring.
* 10-15 minutes to drive to the store, drop off the old oil, and come home.
* 10-15 minutes showering to get the oil off your face, arms, hair, and everything else you touched while you had oil all over your hands.
* Remember you forgot to rotate the damn tires...

Or...

*Drop the car off at Ford on my lunch break
* Watch them use the drive-thru alignment machine before they drive it to the bay
*Walk to the Mexican place in the strip mall next to the dealership
* Eat fajitas and watch soccer in Spanish. Smile when the announcer yells GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!
* Walk back to the dealership
* Sit in the waiting area for 10-15 minutes surfing GJ on my phone and drinking free coffee, soft drinks, or juice.
* Pay the $45 charge before coupons, rebates, rewards offers, and CC cash back deals. My last OC was free, I have another free one lined up, and I have about $9 in rewards on my account.
* Pick up car with new oil, rotated tires, a status sheet on things like brake linings and belts. When it's open, I even get a car wash.
* Go back to work after an 1.5 hour lunch.

All in all, about the same amount of time spent.

 

[shortykorte]

Was doing my own at last home. Haven't been fully set up for it lately. With two vehicles that are costly oil changes plus having my lift installed this week, definitely DYI. It also helps me keep an eye on other items on the vehicles.

 

[Ponchoguy]

*15-20 minutes to run to the store, buy the stuff, and get home.
*60 minutes to jack the car up, remove the 9 screws holding up the engine under tray while it's falling on your face, do the oil change, fight to get the damn tray back up, lower the car, put up the tools, wash your hands, back the car up, and clean up any spills that happened. I'm estimating here based on time it took to do our old Supra since I'll never do it on the Focus.
*2-3 minutes pouring the old oil into a container to take to the recycling place and cleaning up the new spills from said pouring.
* 10-15 minutes to drive to the store, drop off the old oil, and come home.
* 10-15 minutes showering to get the oil off your face, arms, hair, and everything else you touched while you had oil all over your hands.
* Remember you forgot to rotate the damn tires...

Or...

*Drop the car off at Ford on my lunch break
* Watch them use the drive-thru alignment machine before they drive it to the bay
*Walk to the Mexican place in the strip mall next to the dealership
* Eat fajitas and watch soccer in Spanish. Smile when the announcer yells GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!
* Walk back to the dealership
* Sit in the waiting area for 10-15 minutes surfing GJ on my phone and drinking free coffee, soft drinks, or juice.
* Pay the $45 charge before coupons, rebates, rewards offers, and CC cash back deals. My last OC was free, I have another free one lined up, and I have about $9 in rewards on my account.
* Pick up car with new oil, rotated tires, a status sheet on things like brake linings and belts. When it's open, I even get a car wash.
* Go back to work after an 1.5 hour lunch.

All in all, about the same amount of time spent.

If you consolidate trips and maybe hit (insert store of choice) before you do the oil change, you'll have it "in stock" before the job at hand. Also, the Mrs. could get what she needs at the same time.

Also, for me, the disposal of old oil is within walking distance at a local gas station.

I believe you could cut the DIY timeline down significantly with some planning.

 

[paranoid56]

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.

Same here, i just pay the 20 buck (cheaper then buying my own stuff) and let them do it. i just keep an eye on them when doing it also.

 

[pablo94sc]

If you consolidate trips and maybe hit (insert store of choice) before you do the oil change, you'll have it "in stock" before the job at hand. Also, the Mrs. could get what she needs at the same time.

Also, for me, the disposal of old oil is within walking distance at a local gas station.

I believe you could cut the DIY timeline down significantly with some planning.

First, I don't typically shop at places that sell oil... unless you count canola oil. Second, I'm happily single. Third, I have no desire to ever change the oil in my cars again. Fourth, I already cut the timeline down significantly by planning on having the dealership change my oil while I'm on my lunch break. Now I waste none of my free time doing something I can pay someone a tiny fee to do for me. See how awesome I am at time management?

 

[Todd.Brock]

I'm not a DIY'er oil changer anymore The dealership sends coupons for $28 semi synthetic oil change. Plus the dealer is open until 10pm every week night

 

[Jimmygrrr]

I do ALL the work on my old cars ( with some help from a buddy sometimes) , but nothing on anything past 1975 unless it was my old jeep. That way working on old cars is still fun and not work. Plus I like to know if I have any metal in the oil coming out of the old flathead.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Yes on my Saturn Sky because I am afraid they will put in the wrong oil and mess up the body lifting it. No on my Nissan Rogue because it is pretty hard to screw it up!

I honestly hate changing oil. Messy and you have to dispose of the oil. My Sky has a Fumoto valve and a top side oil filter. I do not even need to lift the car, just shove a pan under it and flip the lever, swap filter leaning over the open side (the whole hood flips up making access easy). Still have to dump the old oil though.

 

[nikerret]

I bought my 2013 Silverado in June of 2013, 2,440 miles used; saved $10,000. The dealership policy is to change the oil whenever they take a vehicle on trade. I changed it at 5,000, but didn't reset the OLM. The first four oil changes (or two years) were free, but they will only change it when the OLM is 20%, or less. We just hopscotched and I changed my oil in between. I got my fourth oil change in January of this year-within a few days of the original purchase. I did its eighth oil change at 25,000 miles, last month. A lot of changes, yes, wasteful, probably. Part of the reason I changed them so much was the dealer uses synthetic blend. I prefer full synthetic (Mobil1, for this vehicle).

At 25,000, I got to use a lift. That's the way to go. Before this vehicle, I did all my own; except Aug 2006-June 2007, when a local shop would do Royal Purple oil changes with high end filters for $50. I usually use ramps, but sometimes, I just pull the passenger side wheels onto the curb to free up some space.

I keep all my used oil in containers and a friend, who works in a shop, comes and gets them in the work truck and returns them cleaned out.

Our CARQUEST just closed and I scored two jugs of Mobil1 Advanced Full Synthetic for $20, each. Since switching to synthetic that I pay for, I do 5,000 mile changes. It's just so easy to remember when. I have thought about waiting until the OLM says to change next time, but I don't know if I can let myself pass the 30,000 mark.

I'm not picky about filters, I've used Napa Platinum, Royal Purple, and now, Fram Ultra, on the Silverado.

 

[Boudin]

I still do our fleet of 4 vehicles myself. They all get driven regularly. I feel like I'm doing oil changes every month but have gotten really quick with them. I use Valvoline Synthetic ( got suckered in with the engine guarantee) because I like their online system of registering oil changes. Purolator Pure 1 filters on 2 and OEM Toyota cartridges on the other. I usually send off a sample from each every other year to Blackstone to check engine wear and OCI suggestions. I could never let anyone else do my oil changes, even if it's cheaper, just don't trust anyone to treat my vehicles as I do.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[Saleen4971]

Using Blackstone is key. I wouldn't let a filter be used for more than 3-5k (nothing to back thay up beyond personal preference)

Use Blackstone (or other oil analysis) suggestions, I know folks going 15k, almost 20k with nothing more than filter changes and topping off (obviously good synthetic oil)

Fram filters are total garbage. Don't use them. Ever.

I do everything to every single one of my vehicles. Doesn't hurt that I do this **** for a (mediocre) living.....

 

[PC PaiN]

I do alot of my own repairs but get the oil change done at the dealer. Ford dealer is across the street so its just too easy.

$40 for an oil change, once over, lubed, tires rotated, windows cleaned, and floor vacuumed. No need to do it myself for that kind of money. The past two times they've done it for free including wiper replacement, cabin filters, and a full detail. I have no idea why they keep doing it for free and don't really care LOL

 

[mike_dmt]

I do my Dodge Ram, and the wife's BMW X5. Mobil 1 synthetic.

But my work truck is an Isuzu NPR, 5.2 diesel that holds 3 gallons. I run out of storage for that much oil, and its a PITA to crawl around under. And then bring my own burgers to the BBQ, so to say, and let the kids at the lube shop change it out. $20 is well worth it for change and disposal for that one.

I buy all of my oil at Costco. All of my filters at NAPA. All on coupon or when NAPA has a gold sale on filters.

I still do the shop floor, creeper, jackstands, and splashed oil on me routine.

Everyone has heard of lube stand horror stories. I don't know of anyone personally to experience one of any kind, except to have to watch Judge Judy in the waiting area...

It's the instant information age. Social media can hurt those businesses almost overnight. Not so much 15-20 years ago...

Just my .02c

 

[Roberts210]

358,000+ miles on my '95 Dodge/Cummins. I've changed the oil myself over 60 times. I've always changed my own oil in all my vehicles. That way I know it's done right.

Here's a picture of my truck towing my hillbilly RV.

 

[anndel]

I change my own oil buy Mobil 1 High Mileage oil for our cars with more than 75,000 miles and Mobil 1 for our 2014 truck. I buy OEM Toyota filters and if not, Wix from Wal-Mart.

 

[Parkershop]

I was pretty excited when I looked under the hood of the Outback I bought last year to see the filter sitting right on top of the engine in front. The easiest oil change of all my vehicles.

But mainly, it only takes 20 minutes, I get an idea what condition the engine is in, and no yahoo tries to upsell me on services he doesn't even understand. Plus any excuse to use the HF creeper I got during one of their sale weekends.

 

[steveo3002]

always diy here , never paid anyone to do a job i can do myself

 

[Ponchoguy]

I still do our fleet of 4 vehicles myself. They all get driven regularly. I feel like I'm doing oil changes every month but have gotten really quick with them. I use Valvoline Synthetic ( got suckered in with the engine guarantee) because I like their online system of registering oil changes. Purolator Pure 1 filters on 2 and OEM Toyota cartridges on the other. I usually send off a sample from each every other year to Blackstone to check engine wear and OCI suggestions. I could never let anyone else do my oil changes, even if it's cheaper, just don't trust anyone to treat my vehicles as I do.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

I do that with Quaker State on their warranty. They usually have a $7 or $10 (or more) rebate going too. It's the cheapest Dexos1 approved oil for my Chevy Sonic, except now that Supertech has Dexos1 oil as well.

 

[Ponchoguy]

First, I don't typically shop at places that sell oil... unless you count canola oil. Second, I'm happily single. Third, I have no desire to ever change the oil in my cars again. Fourth, I already cut the timeline down significantly by planning on having the dealership change my oil while I'm on my lunch break. Now I waste none of my free time doing something I can pay someone a tiny fee to do for me. See how awesome I am at time management?

Single here as well. Actually, you're wasting your free (lunch) time having them do it, so it comes at a cost . (just saying). I can do the oil change in my G6 faster than the dealer on your lunch hour and I know it's done 100% right, at my convenience, when I feel like it.

There's a Walmart on virtually every corner of America (although we do not have them in New York City, only in New Jersey), so I can consolidate a trip there as I will be doing tomorrow. I literally will stop for 10 minutes to pick up what I need. I might spend a little more time and browse around for other auto supplies I need or running low on. By us, the Autozone (or you name it) is in the same plaza as the Stop and Shop. My uncle needed wiper blades. So, I dropped of my mother who had to do some grocery shopping at S&S and I went into AZ, got the blades. Met her back in the store, swung by my uncle's, put the blades on and done .

I don't believe you can/should factor time management per se into DIY in the strict sense of the word, but that's me. I know if I net out what I make (as well as others), you'd come out "negative" with doing virtually anything DIY.

The first time I do something, I might be at "negative" time wise, but after that, I gain time and "economies of scale" in doing it. I have oil changes down to a science.....I've been doing them over 30 years (even before I was driving like many here).

 

[Dragfluid]

I bought my 2013 Silverado in June of 2013, 2,440 miles used; saved $10,000. The dealership policy is to change the oil whenever they take a vehicle on trade. I changed it at 5,000, but didn't reset the OLM. The first four oil changes (or two years) were free, but they will only change it when the OLM is 20%, or less. We just hopscotched and I changed my oil in between. I got my fourth oil change in January of this year-within a few days of the original purchase. I did its eighth oil change at 25,000 miles, last month. A lot of changes, yes, wasteful, probably. Part of the reason I changed them so much was the dealer uses synthetic blend. I prefer full synthetic (Mobil1, for this vehicle).

At 25,000, I got to use a lift. That's the way to go. Before this vehicle, I did all my own; except Aug 2006-June 2007, when a local shop would do Royal Purple oil changes with high end filters for $50. I usually use ramps, but sometimes, I just pull the passenger side wheels onto the curb to free up some space.

I keep all my used oil in containers and a friend, who works in a shop, comes and gets them in the work truck and returns them cleaned out.

Our CARQUEST just closed and I scored two jugs of Mobil1 Advanced Full Synthetic for $20, each. Since switching to synthetic that I pay for, I do 5,000 mile changes. It's just so easy to remember when. I have thought about waiting until the OLM says to change next time, but I don't know if I can let myself pass the 30,000 mark.

I'm not picky about filters, I've used Napa Platinum, Royal Purple, and now, Fram Ultra, on the Silverado.

You sure the hell should be! It's just as important as the oil!
Fram has had some major issues for the past several years. Stay away.

 

[redmondjp]

You sure the hell should be! It's just as important as the oil!
Fram has had some major issues for the past several years. Stay away.

Don't overreact. Your engine won't blow up if you use a Fram filter. My dad used them for 30 years and never had a problem. Are they the best? Heck no, but OTOH, people make too much of a big deal out of the oil filter - cars didn't even have oil filters at all until the 1950s.

 

[Ponchoguy]

Don't overreact. Your engine won't blow up if you use a Fram filter. My dad used them for 30 years and never had a problem. Are they the best? Heck no, but OTOH, people make too much of a big deal out of the oil filter - cars didn't even have oil filters at all until the 1950s.

Yes, but the engines weren't like they are today. An older engine might be more forgiving than today's engines. Have I used Fram? Yes, if my sister bought the supplies before I went up there to do an oil change, she probably got them at WM. Now I tell her what to buy.

As for Fram I find a little more valve train noise when using them over a better quality filter. The OEM filters have come down in price so that it's almost not worth buying the aftermarket ones.

When I was in the aftermarket in the 1990s, the OEM aftermarkets (Delco and Motorcraft in particular) were making big pushes and price drops to match the aftermarket. The theory was that the "professional" shops/parts stores/WDs weren't open on Saturday and the aftermarket was more "friendly" to the non-dealer personnel.

The aftermarket OEM guys put out an aggressive marketing campaign and changed the game again.

 

[nikerret]

Fram filters are total garbage. Don't use them. Ever.

You sure the hell should be! It's just as important as the oil!
Fram has had some major issues for the past several years. Stay away.

This is the first Fram I've used, since around 2002. The regular Frams have a bad rep, but the Fram Ultra has overall high regards from all the boards, that I've seen. Can you show me where the Fram Ultra has lead to any failures? If you can, please share!

Everything I've seen has put the Ultra up with the other quality synthetic filters. I haven't taken this one off, yet, only 400 miles since last change, but I have no reason to believe it isn't doing as well as the Napa Platinum or Royal Purple filter I've used, previously.

If these are all **** filters, please point me in the right direction, Dragfluid.

 

[redmondjp]

Yes, but the engines weren't like they are today. An older engine might be more forgiving than today's engines. Have I used Fram? Yes, if my sister bought the supplies before I went up there to do an oil change, she probably got them at WM. Now I tell her what to buy.

As for Fram I find a little more valve train noise when using them over a better quality filter. The OEM filters have come down in price so that it's almost not worth buying the aftermarket ones.

When I was in the aftermarket in the 1990s, the OEM aftermarkets (Delco and Motorcraft in particular) were making big pushes and price drops to match the aftermarket. The theory was that the "professional" shops/parts stores/WDs weren't open on Saturday and the aftermarket was more "friendly" to the non-dealer personnel.

The aftermarket OEM guys put out an aggressive marketing campaign and changed the game again.

Have you heard that some of the OEMs use different sources for their factory-supplied and dealer-supplied oil filters? Some of the car forums I am in have discussed this. I recall reading that the American Honda dealers were being supplied with filters made by the same company that makes Fram filters. So apparently a Honda filter is not always a Honda filter - it depends on where you get it!

 

[bczygan]

Of course I change it.

Can't you tell by the big oil spot on the street in front of my house?

Bill

 

[vetron]

I used to change the oil in my 10 Silverado until I pulled the plug and oil ran down every component underneath the rig, missed my drip pan and fell in my uh lap. Whoever designed it to do that should not be allowed to procreate.

 

[cajunfirehawk]

YEP, long time gear head who used to work at several car dealerships and knows friends that own oil change businesses, so I have seen it all. Do my own, makes me feel not so old, @ 53, climb under the cars for a lil longer until my lift goes up in my new shop (see below) rhino ramps work fine, longtime BITOG member too and if yall are real oil change aficionados you will understand what this actual is other than bottles of oil...

 

[GRX]

Yes.

 

[sberry]

longtime BITOG member too and if yall are real oil change aficionados you will understand what this actual is other than bottles of oil...

What would they be other than oil??
My neighbor girl uses that. Its probably the best, She changed oil 50 times in her truck,,, engine blew up. I change 10, mine is still running,,, who woulda thunk it.

 

[Dragfluid]

What would they be other than oil??
My neighbor girl uses that. Its probably the best, She changed oil 50 times in her truck,,, engine blew up. I change 10, mine is still running,,, who woulda thunk it.

Possibly epeen?

 

[sberry]

Good thing she put an extra grand in oil thru it and had extended warranty and changed it again the week before trade in.
I read some from BITOG, every mechanic should read it. It pretty much confirmed what we thought we were seeing, we could extend a lot of changes and that the dino oil had got way better and synthetics have their place.
Beyond that all the noise doesn't help much, there are a few problematic cases, we took some samples and they came back way better than we thought.

 

[sberry]

Its no skin off GM's *** to have you change oil more than it needs even today.
When I started we had engine reman work going constant. I should have had valve grinding then or found someone sideline but at the time there were a couple local shops and as they went out the price went up.
But I havnt reman a production car engine for 20 yrs really. Now a guy puts a gasket in one on occasion.
I just changed one in an old car that I did due to the fact I had it there and felt sorry for it. I drove it about a 1000 miles since. I have a 2005 Ford with 150 on it has seen its last change most likely. We had been stretching it and last time it came out near clear at 15 or so.

 

[Dragfluid]

Working in a Chevy store, you get to see a lot of "extended" oil changes. GM in their infinite wisdom started having the oil change reminders programmed to come on at 7,500 miles. So what that did was let the guy that let his go on an extra couple thousand stretch it out to 10,000 miles. Not good, especially with the "displacement on demand" components. Everything gets all gummed up, and excessive wear. So they had us reprogram everything so the reminder comes on at 3000 like it always was.

 

[sberry]

I was a pusher for a trucking company. The owner didn't know much about trucks but these idled a lot but the engines really lasted, even worn out ones with changes way over book due to the fact they were in a heated building.
I fussed over the fuel a little but we had local trucks with 12K on and 400 hrs per service then and still running when they were discarded.
The operators wanted to do service which was a good and bad idea. They got to implement some of their own great ideas such as maybe we shouldn't grease steering or ujoints so they wont have dirt stick to them. They pounded dirty filthy wet backroads, one ruined a new truck and had it in a ditch after I left and wasn't reaching around on occasion and punching a shot of grease in on occasion.
I had my own shop as well as theirs and I had their charge at the store so one day I bought a new tire ga, about 40$ and the owner was there, says who's ga is it??? I said,,,, its yours and you paid for it, I am going to check truck tires till I find one seriously low and add air,,, then its mine.