Take them to the auto parts store, most have am oil recycle bin you either pour your old oil in or leave your used oil cans by.
Changing oil yourself
- Thread starter Formerly Rockymtnole
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Take them to the auto parts store, most have am oil recycle bin you either pour your old oil in or leave your used oil cans by.
yup. giant oil depository in the back of Autozone, Advance, O'Reilly, etc. completely free.
I do everything myself except work on cars and some plumbing work. I have never paid somebody to clean my house or car and actually enjoy waxing my cars. I have a good friend that manages a Pepboys and he makes sure my stuff is done right. I use Valvoline synthetic in engine and transmission, K and N air filter that I clean myself. I have no desire to change my own oil especially as cheap as it is. Pepboys is always giving me discounts.
Who changes their oil at the Jiffylube recommended interval instead of the auto manufacturer recommendation? The quick change oil shops say you should change your oil ever 3K miles, but the auto manufacturer is roughly double that. I will stick with the automaker because they don't have a vested interest in getting you to the shop as often as possible to sell you crap.
I get my tires rotated and oil changed at a tire store every X miles. It's just easier that way and the schedule is about the same. Who rotates their own tires? I never wait. Just leave the car and pick it up later.
Synthetic oil costs no more than standard oil if you consider that it lasts at least twice as long.
The last oil change place I went to insisted that they could not perform an oil change unless they flushed the oil system. This sounded fishy to me and I called my mechanic friend who told me to refuse that because it could break lose a piece of sludge that would trap against the oil screen and block the system. I told the oil guy I was leaving. He closed my hood and I drove off. When I left and turned the corner I heard a banging sound like something fell off my car. I turned around, parked my car and looked around the street to find my oil tank cap lying in the gutter. Asshole didn't even bother screwing it back on before I left the shop.
I get my tires rotated and oil changed at a tire store every X miles. It's just easier that way and the schedule is about the same. Who rotates their own tires? I never wait. Just leave the car and pick it up later.
Synthetic oil costs no more than standard oil if you consider that it lasts at least twice as long.
The last oil change place I went to insisted that they could not perform an oil change unless they flushed the oil system. This sounded fishy to me and I called my mechanic friend who told me to refuse that because it could break lose a piece of sludge that would trap against the oil screen and block the system. I told the oil guy I was leaving. He closed my hood and I drove off. When I left and turned the corner I heard a banging sound like something fell off my car. I turned around, parked my car and looked around the street to find my oil tank cap lying in the gutter. Asshole didn't even bother screwing it back on before I left the shop.
Is like to know what kind of oil or car you have that you can get it done for $19.99 these days? Even at the quick places it cost me $40 for a 2012 Chevy.
I have a 09 Honda 4 cyl. The dealership typically charges around $26.99 for oil, tire rototation, wash,vacuum and inspection. However,they accept coupons from any competitors which includes the handful of places that only charge $19.99 for their oil change special. They also have a nice waiting area with free Tim Hortons coffee, donuts,muffins and bottled water or cans of pop, which is free.They also have a big lcd tv mounted on the wall. It's not like going to the oil change shop sitting on top of other people waiting on your vehicle.
I do it myself on my Vette because it is very simple and I enjoy it. I have it done on my diesel VW mainly because it was included for the first few years and I like to have the consistency of service records.
My wife is a meticulous record keeper and when we sold her 7 year old Honda Accord we got about $1k above blue book because she had the paper work for every single oil change and factory service item performed on the vehicle in chronological order. So whatever money she spent getting the oil changed she made back in the end.
My wife is a meticulous record keeper and when we sold her 7 year old Honda Accord we got about $1k above blue book because she had the paper work for every single oil change and factory service item performed on the vehicle in chronological order. So whatever money she spent getting the oil changed she made back in the end.
Hubby takes care of all of our cars, including changing air filters, tune-ups, new brakes, etc. he also added a cold air intake and new exhaust on to one of his cars. His dad was a mechanic so he learned a lot of it growing up. Saves some money and it's not a bad skill to have. I want him to teach our boys when they are old enough. Some things he will wait until we visit his parents to have his dad's input/help, but for the most part he does all of the upkeep.
I can't, haven't and never will change my own oil.
But it's hard for me to believe that there is that much judgment toward someone doing it themselves. Obviously, on some level you like to do it, whether you actually like it, or like the peace of mind of doing it yourself.
Not something I'm interested in, but I routinely make dinner, when I could buy Taco Bell for less money and have it take less time.
But it's hard for me to believe that there is that much judgment toward someone doing it themselves. Obviously, on some level you like to do it, whether you actually like it, or like the peace of mind of doing it yourself.
Not something I'm interested in, but I routinely make dinner, when I could buy Taco Bell for less money and have it take less time.
Good analogy @Nole Lou . Same goes for yard work, handy work, etc. Some do it to save money, some do it because they enjoy it or because they want it done a certain way. Somewhat surprised some see it as a waste of time or money doing it yourself.
Add to that you may only change the oil a couple of times a year (especially if you use full synthetic), it seems like it doesn't take much time "wasted" regardless.
As for tracking vehicle history for DIY regular maintenance (as @FreeFlyNole brought up), there are ways of reporting these items you do yourself, if you feel like taking the time to report them for resale purposes.
In the "old days" before CarFax, people would typically keep track of those things within the actual paper owners manual for the car. Could do that as well.
What year is your Vette? I did the 1966 myself when I had it but my C5 is so low and has the level drain requirement so I take it in.
Now that neither of us drive to work anymore, I only have to change the oil once a year in all of my vehicles.
The ease of an oil change (based on location of oil filter) can really vary depending on the vehicle. I've changed my own oil for the last 20 years on several different vehicles, and hardly ever had to lift the car to do it so I was always done within 20 minutes. But if the oil filter was a pain to reach (even with lifting the vehicle), I would rather just have it done.
no but that would be a helluva price for 5 gallons of Mobil 1.What, your car doesn't hold 5 gallons?
I drive an F250 diesel, the truck takes 15-16 quarts of oil. I go to Advance Auto, by the Rotella and K&N filter then drive a 100 feet next door and have the Valvoline quick shop guys do the work for $25. They do not do all the other stuff with fluids, vacuuming, tire pressure etc., I do all that myself. That money is well spent in the hassle of disposing of all the old oil and filter alone.
I watch them intently to make sure they do everything correctly. The biggest mistake they could make would to not pre-fill the oil filter before they install it, that thing holds a quart by itself.
I watch them intently to make sure they do everything correctly. The biggest mistake they could make would to not pre-fill the oil filter before they install it, that thing holds a quart by itself.
Im a heavy equipment mechanic, and aside from tires I do all of my work myself.I find it much easier to come out on a Saturday morning and go through both of my vehicles then to have my wife run it to an oil change facility during the week.
I can understand people not doing oil changes, but those 19.99 oil change specials are crap. They use the cheapest oil and filter possible, and you'd be surprised at the lack of contamination control that goes on at most of those places.
As far as filling an oil filter before installing, that's a huge no, no for contamination purposes. Any oil that goes straight into the filter, never actually gets filtered. May not seem like a huge deal with fresh oil, but I would never allow someone to fill an oil filter then reach up into a dirty engine bay to install it.
I can understand people not doing oil changes, but those 19.99 oil change specials are crap. They use the cheapest oil and filter possible, and you'd be surprised at the lack of contamination control that goes on at most of those places.
As far as filling an oil filter before installing, that's a huge no, no for contamination purposes. Any oil that goes straight into the filter, never actually gets filtered. May not seem like a huge deal with fresh oil, but I would never allow someone to fill an oil filter then reach up into a dirty engine bay to install it.
even a Jiffy lube wants $120 to change the oil in my car (2005 c230)..Screw em - I ordered the thing on amazon that extracts the oil from the top and I'll change it this weekend. Paid $50 for the extractor pump, the synthetic will cost me about $43. Filter $12. I'm ahead even on the first oil change.
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All this talk of oil changes and buying off Amazon, I gave it a try.
Ordered two (2) 5-quart jugs of oil ($27/each) of full synthetic Castrol Extended Performance motor oil and a Fram filter for $4. Placed order on Saturday. Box arrived yesterday. Started oil change around 11PM, finished around 11:25PM. Took longer to drain the oil out than I expected (at least 5 minutes). Wasn't a big deal, though, as I had 2 oil pans. used the other to remove the oil filter while the final bit of old oil drained out. Poured the used oil back into the empty jugs, cleaned things up and packed them up to drop off at Autozone on my lunch break. Not too shabby.
Truck took just over 5 quarts of oil. Took it for a test spin, sounds great. It was definitely time for an oil change, even though service record showed that oil was changed last in January at only 3,500 miles ago.
Based on driving around 600 miles per month average, technically shouldn't have to change the oil for another 2 years (Full synthetic guaranteed for 15,000 miles between oil changes). will probably check it in a year or so and see how the oil looks.
Ordered two (2) 5-quart jugs of oil ($27/each) of full synthetic Castrol Extended Performance motor oil and a Fram filter for $4. Placed order on Saturday. Box arrived yesterday. Started oil change around 11PM, finished around 11:25PM. Took longer to drain the oil out than I expected (at least 5 minutes). Wasn't a big deal, though, as I had 2 oil pans. used the other to remove the oil filter while the final bit of old oil drained out. Poured the used oil back into the empty jugs, cleaned things up and packed them up to drop off at Autozone on my lunch break. Not too shabby.
Truck took just over 5 quarts of oil. Took it for a test spin, sounds great. It was definitely time for an oil change, even though service record showed that oil was changed last in January at only 3,500 miles ago.
Based on driving around 600 miles per month average, technically shouldn't have to change the oil for another 2 years (Full synthetic guaranteed for 15,000 miles between oil changes). will probably check it in a year or so and see how the oil looks.
Just remember, filter manufacturers don't recommend going over 5000 miles without a filter change. While the oil may last that long, the filter will surely become plugged with dirt and will cease to do it's job. You would be better off changing the filter every 5k miles and adding a little bit of oil back into your motor.
Good call, easy enough to do too. My filter is easily accessible and sits up high so shouldn't drip much, will probably still swap it out every normal oil change time. My car warns me every 3500 miles anyways, so I have to reset it when that time comes. Might as well put in a new oil filter when checking the oil condition.
Don't think you could pay me to use a Fram oil filter. If you can't find original equipment, get a Purolater filter.
I never had problems with them in the past, but did just look it up for my truck and saw that the Fram could cause problems. Will pick up an OEM filter ($4) when I drop off the oil tomorrow. Thanks for the heads up
Bosch, Mobil 1, NAPA Gold, and Wix are all premium filters. The more expensive Fram filters are pretty good too.
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