Vehicle Oil Changes: Are you a DIY'er?

[packpride85]

Most dealerships and shops that charge low rates for oil changes make little to no money on them. To break even the tech has to do it in less than 30 minutes. They generally use this time to find other problems with your car they can profit from.

I used to bring my own oil and filter to the dealer when I didn't have time to bring the ramps out or the weather sucked. I told them "here is 6 quarts, it should take exactly 5.5." Two times they did it right, the 3rd time they dumped all 6 quarts in a gave me back the car with oil well over the full mark on the dipstick.

DIY from then out every time.

 

[Garanok]

I used to do it myself. However, for me right now I take it and have it done.

I have access to an old school mechanic with his own shop. He's damn good at what he does and charges a fair price. (Once, at work, I went out to leave, turned the key and the battery was toast, Wouldn't jump etc.. Called him and he sent a battery, and the tools with my father-in-law so I could get home. Told me to come pay him for the battery and return his tools later.)

When he retires, or if I move I'll go back to doing it myself.

 

[BearsFan315]

Do my own on most of my vehicles... using my ramps, no lift here

Only one I do NOT do is the 2015 which the dealership does all service and maintenance on for free the first 3 years. so they take care of it all.

 

[Cannonball]

Do it myself.
Is it to save the $20. after buying the supplies that the dealer makes. Hell no!!
Is it because I am sick and tired of having to come home and grease the chassis yet again because they didn't. Yes.
Is it because the tech lied to my face at a previous dealership that he had greased it and didn't or that he double gasketed the oil filter. Yes.
Is it because I need a new $95. air filter after having 3k miles on pavement with the one I just installed. Yes.
Is it because apparently a drain plug normally gets rounded off and needs replacement at $18 because it's a wear item. Yes.
Same issue with a different dealer with $200. in lug nuts when they were the only ones who rotated the tires.
As far as I am concerned dealerships can screw them selfs. As someone stated earlier they just use the oil change to do other work that often is the result of their poor work in the beginning.
Glad I am off warranty on all my vehicles now, so that I don't have to support the incompetence of the dealerships. Really wonder if they understand how their service (or lack of service) comes into play when someone goes to purchase a new vehicle. Won't go back to any of these place.
Sorry for the long rant. Feel much better now.

Hate to say it but all my bad experiences have been at the domestic dealers.
Latest new vehicle is european and didn't have any issues with dealer maintenance.
At least when I do my own service work I know it's done right.

 

[dave*99]

I really value the opportunity to inspect everything under the car when I do the oil changes. Beyond the peace of mind in doing the job right, I always check the brakes, CV boots exhaust, tires.

 

[taumac]

I also have had stripped drain plugs and **** happen to vehicles at the quick change oil places. Hell, one time someone put wrong filter on my in laws mini van. She hit a speed bump and knocked the fucker right off. Engine 1 gone. Next one they never checked the water blew head gasket Engine 2 gone got rid of van. I heard all the horror stories about quick lube places but dealerships doing a oil change I havnt and I havnt since going there. I went to autozone got filter and good oil and the home to change. It cost more time and money that route. NOW when it comes to doing other work on my vehicles I don't like anybody doing that. Sounds weird I know.

 

[HaroRider]

I do my own oil changes as well as all my other work myself. I hate doing oil changes though.,but like mentioned it gives me a chance to give things a once over under the car.

 

[Ponchoguy]

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.

DIY here. The only time the oil was changed by anyone else was if it was into the dealer for a warranty (free) repair. Even then, I changed it fairly soon thereafter on my own.

I have stock of oil, filters and tools. I have no fewer than two cases of PF61s for the G6 and I'm running low on PF4457Gs for the Sonic so I'll have to order more.

I time them for the good weather, although we have been having mild weather in NYC now. I don't care if it's "cheaper" (it's not) to have someone else do my oil changes. I do them right, better than the dealer and I know what's going into them.

 

[Lugnut64052]

I always do my own. Almost everything here gets Mobile 1 and all get Wix filters.

Same with me. Mobil 1 (of the appropriate viscosity) in every vehicle, every 10,000 miles. Wix filters. I just let the odometer be the mileage record; it's easier that way.

 

[Lugnut64052]

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.

Yeah, I suspect it does too. By the time you go out, get in line, sit around in the waiting room looking a two year-old magazines, etc, etc, etc, you've killed quite a bit of time.

I'm 56 and can do an oil change in 15 minutes, inspect the half-shaft boots, the brake hoses, eyeball down the length of the underside....all while waiting a couple of minutes for the oil to drain out before slamming the plug back in. It's an easy way to keep tabs on what your vehicles are doing.

 

[jerseykat1]

I DIY because i am a auto technician by trade and i can do it at work. But if i had to do it on the ground i would just pay to have it done. Not worth the hassle of doing the job on my back.

 

[sberry]

We have a full shop and my Dad gets his done Ford, 26$ and they do a good job. If I was a suburb guy with a couple cars would pay for that.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I'm sorry, but this is just too easy to outsource, with little or no ramifications.

Apparently you are a very lucky person. Every person I know who has ever taken a car to a jiffy lube or even the dealer, has had issues after that. Loose drain plugs that fall out, Differentials left empty (or standard transmissions), engines overfilled with oil, underfilled, filters left loose. I've heard, and read, of all the horror stories.............

Never have allowed anyone to change my oil, (neither did my dad) in the 45 years I've been working on cars. I put my used oil in my used oil heater's fuel tank, but prior to that, didn't have any issue with taking it to the auto parts place to dispose of it.

Charles

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Same with me. Mobil 1 (of the appropriate viscosity) in every vehicle, every 10,000 miles. Wix filters. I just let the odometer be the mileage record; it's easier that way.

I do the same for the miles, even 5,000's and 10,000's (or 20,000's for the Ranger's stick shift). If I change it short, or over, the next one is still due on the even miles.

Charles

 

[Backpack Hunter]

Change all of mine myself. Takes 15 minutes or so to run the car on ramps, drain, change the filter, refill, get off the ramps, and put tools away.
It's cheaper, faster, I know it's done right, and gives me the opportunity to give everything a once over.

 

[Ponchoguy]

Apparently you are a very lucky person. Every person I know who has ever taken a car to a jiffy lube or even the dealer, has had issues after that. Loose drain plugs that fall out, Differentials left empty (or standard transmissions), engines overfilled with oil, underfilled, filters left loose. I've heard, and read, of all the horror stories.............

Never have allowed anyone to change my oil, (neither did my dad) in the 45 years I've been working on cars. I put my used oil in my used oil heater's fuel tank, but prior to that, didn't have any issue with taking it to the auto parts place to dispose of it.

Charles

Here in NY, it's a law, shops/stations have to take up to 5 gallons a day per person. The Mobil by me has a barrel outside the shop, so I take it there and dump it right in. In NJ when I visit my sister, same thing a local station has an outside tank and I bring it there to dispose of. I even put the jug in the recycling container at home.

With our registration renewals that come in the mail (or did), there was always an insert with the paperwork that explained this is the law.

One time years ago, I had a guy in NJ near my sister refuse to take it back (actually two). One guy showed me a letter saying he'd have to charge and I said, "Since LORCO is your collection company, I know they don't charge. They come to NYC for free to get the oil in the shop I work in". He shut up. Another guy told me he have to test the oil, blah, blah. I said, "You do that. And when you realize that it's from a 1996 Jeep (at the time), you can rest assured that I was right. Until then, why don't you hold it? LOL"

 

[Iroc-Z]

I do them myself but it's hard to beat a dealer doing it for 30 bucks. On a side note. I worked at a shop since I have been 15 years old. I would change oil at work. I no longer work at a shop and for the last two years I have been doing them on my back. What I have noticed is my cars are slowly starting to have multiple issues that will pile up. When I had it at work on the hoist I could shake it down, rotate the tires, and give a thurough inspection of everything. Can't really shake down the front end of a vehicle on ramps. So when I found something loose or broken I would address it immediately. Just my 2 cents. I will be in much better shape when I get my lift up.

 

[bottom feeder]

I've always changed it myself, in carports, out in the open, and now in my attached 2 car garage (which was one of the reasons for building the garage). Always used ramps except with pickup trucks since you can roll under them without ramps. It's at least an 80 mile round trip to the dealership so that's a non-starter, and anyway I refuse to make an appointment and sit in a waiting room for something I can easily do myself. Hope to one day have a lift so I can give the creeper a well earned retirement.

 

[stevenhs]

I work at the dealership as a shop helper. So I am lucky to use all the shop equipment to change my oil.

 

[Ilikeike]

Wife's cars go to the dealer,since there always in warranty.
I always change my vehicles,and spend time inspecting under the car while it's draining.

 

[bwringer]

I've only had an oil change done by someone else a few times -- a couple of times when I was recovering from injuries, and a couple when there was too much snow and ice to make it worth messing with.

It's always nerve-wracking. Generally I take our Toyotas to the Toyota dealer -- I figure they're bound to at least use the right filter.

 

[over40pirate]

In 51 years of driving I had my oil changed 2 times.
1st time was when traveling around the country in a van, and in arizona it was 103 degrees.
Went to a place and had it done.
25 miles down the road, there wasa fire in the engine compartment. The AH left an oily rag on the manifold.
2nd time I bought a used car, and figured if I had a LOF done on a lift I could take a good look under the car.
Glad I was there. he lowered the car to fill with oil, and never checked the diff. or trans. oil.
Since 2002, I have had a Fram oil change fitting on the drain pan. Makes draining right into a disposal jug easy.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BQY82E/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[ct03911]

I do my car, truck, bike and tractor myself.
The wife's car and family van I have the dealer do.
Maybe when my lift is installed I'll just do them all.
One of the reasons I do them myself is to take oil analysis samples on my track car and truck.
Years ago I caught two quick lube places putting in the wrong oil.
From then on its been a dealer or myself.

 

[1949 caddyman]

Yes, all 4 vehicles

 

[sleepy127]

Do all of my maintenance unless I'm deployed and then the wife takes it to a local place. Don't have a lift and usually do it in the weather. Maybe one day I will be able to afford a lift.

 

[WhiffySpark]

Here in NY, it's a law, shops/stations have to take up to 5 gallons a day per person. The Mobil by me has a barrel outside the shop, so I take it there and dump it right in. In NJ when I visit my sister, same thing a local station has an outside tank and I bring it there to dispose of. I even put the jug in the recycling container at home.

With our registration renewals that come in the mail (or did), there was always an insert with the paperwork that explained this is the law.

One time years ago, I had a guy in NJ near my sister refuse to take it back (actually two). One guy showed me a letter saying he'd have to charge and I said, "Since LORCO is your collection company, I know they don't charge. They come to NYC for free to get the oil in the shop I work in". He shut up. Another guy told me he have to test the oil, blah, blah. I said, "You do that. And when you realize that it's from a 1996 Jeep (at the time), you can rest assured that I was right. Until then, why don't you hold it? LOL"

You realize testing the oil is a legit reason, right? If there's anything besides oil in it he can get in big trouble with the collecting company. I've heard of people having to pay to have the tanker cleaned out after they saw antifreeze in the tank

 

[Casey69]

i do mine. even w/ a jack/jackstands/creeper, it's a <30 minute job that costs me ~$15 for oil & filter. plus, i'll add washer fluid & do a quick check of other things while i'm under there.

don't have to schedule an appt, don't have to wait in line, don't have to deal with any upselling, & get to save some coin in the process.

 

[Randy in Maine]

I buy the oil filters (NAPA Gold) 4 at a time and the 5 quart jugs of Mobil 1 5-30 ($26) at Walmart and do it myself at home. At least them I know it is done correctly.

 

[Shea]

Yep, I do my own. I got tired of the cartridge filter in one of the cars and just replaced it last week with a spin-on conversion kit. I had a 6" aluminum Duracell flashlight from my tool box wedged up where the splash pan bolts up to give me some extra light while I was making the switch. Dang thing fell in the oil pan when I bumped it with the torque wrench. I just left it in there till I was done and drained the old oil from the pan.

Wiped it down with a rag and then gave it a bath in some hot water with Dawn detergent. Looks good as new, works great, and it's dry as can be inside!

 

[pacemade]

I worked at a shop and figured it would be a good idea to get my oil changed there. My wife brought the car down and waited 4 hours before getting ahold of me and letting me know it still wasn't done. I walk over to the pro lube side of the building and the guys had an empty dust pan sitting on the box and a dirty piece of paper next to the oil. I didn't realized until I changed the oil myself, it took three oil changes to get all of the dirt out of my crankcase.

 

[jabin]

I change my own oil in my driveway, any season. My wife's family doesn't understand but I drive my cars 200k + or 20yrs.

 

[Springerf8]

I change my own as well in the driveway/garage. 2011 Silverado. Mobil 1 and an AC Delco filter everytime. Usually just use a creeper and hand tools. Cost usually comes out around 40 bucks (6 qts and filter) depending on the oil costs at the time.

 

[sberry]

The beauty of extended and synthetics is that in cold climes can go a winter before it needs service and aint got to do it in a snowbank.

 

[december45]

I let walmart change oil for me ONCE they stripped the drain plug, cross threaded it. That was the first and only time. The worse part was the cranked it down and never said a word about it. This was many years ago in Sierra Vista AZ at the walmart. So disappointing
It goes without saying I change my own ever since.

 

[Cannonball]

To funny.
All this oil change talk and I just received a $15. off certificate from the dealer that I use to go to.
Funny part is the acknowledge that "you probably have had your oil changed else where".
I wonder if their shoddy work has finally caught up to them and they are noticing a decline in business?
***** to be them. Even with a discount I wouldn't go back.
Nor will I when it's time to look for a new truck.

 

[Ipassgas]

It takes me an hour and some change, 2 special order filters and 11+ quarts of Mobil 1 0W-40 on one of mine. No way, no how am I trusting some dipstick at speedy lube to do it, or do it right. The dealer is hours away and wants $400. That's not happening either.

If I have to do one, I'm going to do them all. Also, I have heard way to many stories about screw ups by "professionals".

Ain't nobody got time for that!

 

[soj]

Just for perspective, read # 4 on this page to see how Ralph Lauren handles his oil changes.

More/similar info is on this page.

 

[Cannonball]

Hmmm....
I wonder if they will change the oil in the Duramax??

 

[lynnbilodeau]

I would never let anyone else change oil on one of my cars. I have some odd balls, so the quick lube places can't even do it.
83 745i factory turbocharged car (grey market). The oil filter is a ***** to get out. Not a spin on, and has to be done from underneath the car. The same year 733i filter is accessible from on top.

49 Studebaker farm truck. Think they have a filter for that?

63 Vanden Plas Princess limo (it's British). Guarantee they don't have a filter for that.

My wife's V12 Twin Turbo Mercedes? Yeah, I'm going to let Moe and Larry down at the quick lube get right on it. Dealer? I just laughed.

69 Z/28 that just turned over 28k miles. No way am I letting one of those little snot nosed kids lean over that black lacquer fender to add oil.

I even change oil on my daughter's Nissan Sentra. Takes less time for me to change the oil than for her to drive somewhere and get it done. And I don't have to worry about some genius cross threading the drain plug. Plus, I know it is getting a GOOD filter.

Point is this: no way can I get the oil changed on ANY of our cars (or our 5 kids cars) faster by taking it somewhere, even assuming there is no wait. And while I don't do it just to save money, it does save money. Oil change on the wife's car is $120. I do it for $60 and it is a breeze (much easier than my Bimmer).

As long as I am set up to change oil, it just makes sense to do the kids cars and our more mundane cars.
As long as I can buy the filters in bulk (and I do for all the cars) I know I am getting a good quality filter, Mann, Purolator, Wix, Baldwin, etc. And I am paying way less than the quicky place is going to charge for a cheaper filter. Can almost guarantee you the quick lube place is using the absolute cheapest filter they can find.

I can also buy the oil I need at WalMart. I use synthetic in everything. I also put in about 1/4 bottle of GM EOS in the Z because of the high lift flat tappet camshaft.

Glad someone posted the Audi story. I was getting ready to go look for the link.

 

[NewShockerGuy]

I change my oil in all our cars. Have fumoto valves on everyone of them and it makes oil changes almost mess free with the exception of getting the oil filter out. I like doing it plus like others mentioned I can't imagine having someone do it. My sister goes to a shop because she doesn't know how to.

My uncle who owns 100+ cars takes it to a place. His rational is that he wants to give someone a job. He works hard to buy his cars to enjoy them, not work on them... that's someone's job to maintain and do work on them...lol

My dad used to do oil changes but at the rate my parents drive their cars the oil only gets changed once a year and he takes it to the dealer. Again... he doesn't want to mess with it and would rather have someone do it because that's their job.

-Nigel