Do you change your own oil?

[Stopsignhank]

Depends on what car. My daughter takes her in and has it changed. I used to take mine in, but my car takes synthetic and there is a $60 surcharge for synthetic oil so the bill was over $100. I said F that and change the oil there now. My wife's car we will probably take to the dealer for the first couple of changes.

 

[evident]

The only thing I still do my own oil changes on these days is my mower.

It is a hassle trying to find a place to take the old oil / not make a mess transporting it, etc. As mentioned several times, it is also cheap and quick enough at the dealer or Walmart that I don't worry about the extra few dollars twice a year.

it really isn't that bad. I use old cardboard boxes, windshield wiper fluid bottles to transport oil. I stock up on oil deals that i find and have about a 3 oil change supply. I dont mind doing it by myself. I realize that everyone always fucks something up on my cars. The last time I took my wife's car in for any work they torqued the lugnuts so tight that It stripped the lugs on half the bolts, and bent my spare tire wrench in half before i used a blow torch to get them off. When i took my honda in for work they did the same thing as well.

 

[Raizinman]

I am on retainer for two major quick oil change franchises. If you would see the problems that they have on almost a daily basis you would never let them change your oil. Putting the wrong fluids in the wrong places. Over-filling and Under-filling. Not tightening the oil filter and drain plug. Using inferior parts or totally wrong parts. Skill level of technicians to that similar of about an 8 year old.

So, to answer your question, yes I always change my own oil. For people who ask me where to take their vehicle to have an oil change done and cannot do it themselves, I always recommend their specific dealer. Too often for $29, you can't justify the time, dirty clothing, waste fluids, and having all the correct parts and fluids on hand.

 

[Spacehead]

Not anymore.
Dealership i go to is maybe $10 more than doing it myself. No hassle getting rid of the oil & filter.

 

[Pens1566]

Nope. Free synthetic at dealer.

 

[thomsbrain]

Doing it myself and the resulting opportunity to personally perform visual checks on things like brake pads, hoses et cetera has taught me just how much nearly all mechanics (even those with excellent reputations) make stuff up that "needs" to be fixed or replaced.

 

[z1ggy]

If you run synthetic I think it is. Most places near me charge up to 65 bucks for a full syth oil change, but I buy it plus a filter at Walmart for 30.

Plus you don't need to deal with those clowns telling you xyz is wrong and oh your radiator needs a full flush for 250 bucks.

 

[desura]

How do you guys dispose of the oil?

 

[z1ggy]

Autozone or any commercial car parts store.

 

[HarryLui]

Nope. Both cars have free oil changes for life from the dealer (synthetic in both as well).

May I ask what cars?

How do you guys dispose of the oil?

Autozone will take it, so are other auto parts store. There is usually a big tank in the back you just dump the oil in.

 

[velillen]

How do you guys dispose of the oil?

Take it to the local auto parts store. Both the oreilys and autozone accept it and filters too. For transporting just buy a 3gallon oil container at Walmart. It take 5 minutes at the store for them to empty (if that). The local transfer station will also take oil but it's further away. But it's easy to store it then when you go to buy oil and filter for the next time bring it with you.

The auto parts store does want my name, address, and what I'm disposing of but that's either a country or state thing (might be company policy too).

I like the thick plastic storage containers over old oil bottle or other stuff cause it's a bit more friendly to heat. I like to change the oil when the oil is warm and I've had other bottles deform from it

 

[HeXen]

I used to back when I couldn't afford to have it done. Now that I can, I realize changing your own oil is for poor suckers. I used to be lazy and dumped the oil, so it's probably for the betterment of the world that I pay to have it done.

 

[ControlD]

I keep saying I need to get a set of ramps and start doing my own oil changes. Somehow I just never get around to actually doing it.

 

[sontakke]

My indi does it cheap, allows me to hang around inside the shop and chat with the technician, allows me to provide oil/filter if I want to. Why would I bother doing it myself then?

 

[ghost recon88]

When you have a truck that takes 2.5 gallons of synthetic oil, and clearance isn't an issue, it's much cheaper to just change it yourself.

 

[nk215]

I DIY on all of my vehicles. One of which still goes to dealer for once/year oil change but I change the oil myself after @3K miles. The only reason I bring this vehicle to a dealer is because I don’t want any issue with warranty paper work in case I ever need to file warranty claims on engine work.

One of my car has under body covers that are a pain on the behind to remove in order to get to the oil filter/drain plug. I still DIY because I want to make sure I know the job is done right.

Over all, it’s quicker to DIY than to drive it to a shop to have it done. My local shop wait time is ridiculous.

 

[Raizinman]

How do you guys dispose of the oil?

Many people use the old oil as grass killer. Probably better than the poison people use for grass or weed killer now. You can put it around fence posts or such to avoid weed eating later on.

 

[Raizinman]

My indi does it cheap, allows me to hang around inside the shop and chat with the technician, allows me to provide oil/filter if I want to. Why would I bother doing it myself then?

Really?! An independent shop that will allow you to bring your own oil and filter on a service that is basically a loss leader? Not to mention if his insurance agent saw customers in the service area standing around, his policy could be canceled or raised. What would happen if you tripped on some oil and fell and broke your leg? What would happen if the filter you brought in leaked and damaged your engine?

By the time you go to Walmart, purchase your filter and oil, you will easily have almost $20 into the oil change. The Indie would need to charge you just $10 for labor to make it come out the same as other shops charging $29.95. Shops that allow customers to bring in their own parts run very big risks in liability besides losing money on parts. There is a reason why we have been seeing a decline of the independent shops.

 

[Torn Mind]

Many people use the old oil as grass killer. Probably better than the poison people use for grass or weed killer now. You can put it around fence posts or such to avoid weed eating later on.

Motor oil vs hericides that decompose quickly? I'll take the herbicide.

I'd think even dumping sodium hydroxide at a concentration that is not totally ridiculous would be a little more enviro-friendly because the hydroxide ions will eventually find organic material to "eat". Or you dump a lot of vinegar to neutralize the soil.

Motor oil, and the nasty accessory chemicals.. "are forever".

 

[LTC8K6]

Many people use the old oil as grass killer. Probably better than the poison people use for grass or weed killer now. You can put it around fence posts or such to avoid weed eating later on.

That's very bad, and almost certainly illegal.

 

[SearchMaster]

I do on my cars (my wife goes to quick lube).

It's a convenience thing for me. I live somewhat in the boonies, so it's a good 20 minute drive to a quick lube or 40 minutes to the dealer, and the local trash dump where I can dispose of the oil is 5 minutes. Plus I know it's done right and with quality oil and filter. My wife took it in for its first oil change and they correctly put in quality synthetic oil and some craptastic generic filter - no thanks. Walmart carries my Motorcraft synthetic for $28 for 5L so it's not that expensive.

 

[zerocool84]

I used to on all the cars I own but can't at my current apartment. Some neighbors have called the landlord for someone working on their motorcycle in their parking space.

 

[Denly]

Yes I still do it on all my cars.

do you guys keep the belly pan? They're PITA to get it on/off and I never bother to put it back on my VWs and never have any issues with ice and snow.

 

[jlee]

Yes I still do it on all my cars.

do you guys keep the belly pan? They're PITA to get it on/off and I never bother to put it back on my VWs and never have any issues with ice and snow.

My MR2 and Speed6 didn't have one when I got them - I haven't bothered to find replacements.

Sometimes, I put bigger ones on... :awe:

 

[Zor Prime]

Yup, do all my own work outside of tire mounting & balancing. Even began rotating my tires.

I could totally pay someone to do whatever, but I'm particular.

Friend recently took his ride in and marked the tires and the oil filter. They were to change the oil, oil filter, and rotate the tires.

Arguably, they changed the oil. They didn't change the oil filter nor rotate the tires.