DIY oil change? Or do you bring it to a shop?

A Mityvac sucks the oil out of the pan, no need to ever touch the bolt, get under the car, worry about stripping the bolt.
 
WaxAddict said:
The shops don't allow proper drain time, and they tend to overfill the oil and over-tighten the filter. The dealer does a good job but charges $200. Yep, DIY.
Click to expand...

The dealers around here have learned to use it as a loss leader so they can get the car in the shop. They can usually find something else they think you should fix.

The places I do not trust least is the quick lube places. I think they are more prone to mistakes (off brand filters) and you see reports some do not do what they charge however I know there are good ones.

It is like many things if you find a place you trust and does good work you should expect to possibly pay a little more. Things can go wrong and the better shops will step up such as when they fixed the rear end of my Dakota 2 times because there were issues. The first was the pinion failed quickly and the second time was they did not use a new crush washer fixing the pinion.
 
As I now sit at the Nissan dealer getting my Pathfinder PA state inspection & emissions tested, I'm reading this thread and have that "bad" feeling in the pit of my stomach...

I don't let anyone touch any of my cars for anything, period - unless I have to. Obviously I can't legally do PA state inspection at home...And I don't have like 10 grand to spend on a tire mounting and a balancing machine. So, for this stuff I have to trust someone.

But, anything I can do at home - is done by me. Maybe I'm leery because I used to work as a flat rate tech at a new car dealership for years, but the dudes' working on your car are just trying to "make eight" (8 hours under the flat rate pay system)...

They are in a hurry and compromises will be made. If there is a faster way to do something - they will do it. This is why oil levels are consistently WRONG when you get your oil changed. For the most part, after the oil is refilled, the tech won't even check the fill level because he knows he just dumped 5 quarts (or whatever amount) in there and that is about what he engine holds. Checking the oil takes time - and they could be on to the next job.

Jiffy Lube and similar?

Are you serious ???
 
I take mine to a trusted shop and I bring my own oil and oil filter (Royal Purple or Amsoil). I also know EXACTLY how much my car takes so I know they get it right. My thought is, I know and trust them and they can do it in half the time I could do it in.
 
I would do it myself, but I get free oil changes for the life of my car at the dealership I bought it from and it's leased, so I just go there.
 
PPLd said:
I dont have the tools to change oil myself,

So i take it to my frd who is a mechanic...
Click to expand...


What tools? Ramps and a wrench? Doesn't cost very much.

EVERY time I've gotten my oil changed by a mechanic they get oil all over my hood and bumper. Pisses me off.
 
I DIY oil changes and other routine stuff on my vehicles. With the VW the nearest dealer is 1.5hrs away and charge $100 for an oil change and with my small rural area, German cars are rare. The local mom and pop shops scratch their head when they see one come in :lol: I bought a set of ramps, torque wrench, and oil filter tool (Hazet 2169 for the VW, $40 ouch!) for less than $150 so I will actually save labour cost in just a couple changes. I keep stock of filters for the vehicles along with my oil stash, so I rarely have to go on store runs. Believe it or not dealers are cheap on their OEM filters (VW for example $12 at autoparts store, they were $8.75 at the dealer in Hagerstown, MD), so I stock up when in the city. Walmart has excellent prices on oil; I use Rotella T6 5w40 in the VW which is only $20 a gallon on sale and Rotella T5 10w30 I use in the Chevy is only $16 a gallon on sale. Whenever there's a sale there is some coming home with me. At one time it looked like WM's oil isle in my garage, but right now it's down to the minimum.
 
I do all of my own work (if I can) (even warranty things) including oil changes. I can easily afford to to pay for it, but an oil change in the convenience of my own garage, at my convenience, rather than an appointment, hour at a dealer sitting in some waiting room, appeals more to me. Plus, it is that added feeling of accomplishment. Now that all of my cars have the oil filter on top, I just use an oil suction method, and never even have to get under the cars. Just sit and watch and have a beer.
 
skibik said:
I think those days are gone. Not sure my new car even has that in the maintenance section.
Click to expand...

Actually, I just ordered new sway bar links from Amazon and they happen to come with zerk fittings. Something to do while my oil is draining.
 
Dogfather said:
Actually, I just ordered new sway bar links from Amazon and they happen to come with zerk fittings. Something to do while my oil is draining.
Click to expand...

All decent quality replacement parts (sway bar links, tie rod ends, etc. etc.) come with zerks.
 
Ronkh said:
So do you change your own batteries? (guess that would be similar) :cool:
Click to expand...

Yes I have as of late. Toyota batteries are crap and both of our (bought new) 2008 RAV4 V-6's are on their third battery. The last ones being definitely NOT Toyota brand. The OEMs split and leaked acid which the dealer replaced after powerwashing the mess. Replacements lasted almost two years and I replaced them with Autozone Gold with a 3 year over the counter warranty + pro rate.
Fortunately both crapped out right in my garage within two weeks of each other so I could take the "good" car to go buy a battery for the other......then do it again two weeks later.

Batteries don't last long in South Texas heat. My longest so far is 37 months (Honda) which was one month out of warranty, of course. It was at the dealer for an alignment when it conked and a hurricane was coming so I pretty much had to pay them the bend over price for another of the same ilk.
 
I have made friends with a local perf shop that does Vette work. He is great about putting the car up on a lift and letting me change it for $25. With my old back, I prefer changing "standing up". I highly recommend Eric at Lashway Motorsports in Fort Lauderdale if you are looking for a straight shooter. I don't engage in the Oil wars, I use Mobil 1 as it's good and cheap as hell at Walmart in the 5.1 size. I have an "oil minder" system in the Vette but ignore it, and change every 5000 or 9 months, which ever occurs first.
 
glen e said:
I have made friends with a local perf shop that does Vette work. He is great about putting the car up on a lift and letting me change it for $25. With my old back, I prefer changing "standing up". I highly recommend Eric at Lashway Motorsports in Fort Lauderdale if you are looking for a straight shooter. I don't engage in the Oil wars, I use Mobil 1 as it's good and cheap as hell at Walmart in the 5.1 size. I have an "oil minder" system in the Vette but ignore it, and change every 5000 or 9 months, which ever occurs first.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the recommendation. I have family in Ft. Lauderdale and visit often so I'll keep that in mind.
 
Alright I decided to let someone else have the fun after watching a youtube video on how to change the oil on my car. I went to my local Jiffy Lube and received amazing customer service. As soon as I stepped out of my car I was greeted by a friendly employee who even opened the door for me and offered me a cup of coffee out of their Keurig machine. After I handed him my keys and watched him pull my car around, I watched three employee walk around my car with grins on their faces. One of them came back in and asked me if I just waxed the car :D:D I told him I detail it regularly. I used a $5 off coupon I found online and left with a big smile on my face. The "damage" that was done wasn't too bad. With the regular oil change, they do offer to clean your glass and vacuum the interior, but I declined both.

IMG_0862.JPG


Random smudges around the hood and door handles.

IMG_0863.JPG


Small stain on the drivers seat.

IMG_0868.JPG


But it wasn't anything a quick wash couldn't fix.

IMG_0882.JPG
 
I changed the oil in my MKZ with over 85k miles yesterday. I used Motorcraft 5W-20 and a Wix oil filter. The valve train through the oil filler looks clean - no varnish, etc.

If you use ramps, it is easy to do an under body inspection to check on any loose items or damaged CV joints.
 
DIY all the way for oil changes, the last time the DEALER changed my oil, they left the cap off. I found out 2 days later when getting gas, I went to check my fluid levels and found oil all over the engine and the cap missing.
 
I changed the oil in my house generator yesterday. Generac specs 200 hrs or 2 yrs but did it in 1 year anyway. I used Shell Rotella 10w-30 and a Generac filter (for warranty reasons). Generac makes it so easy with a long drain hose with a screw cap.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top