YACT: changed my oil for the first time today

[thomsbrain]

I've done a few small maintenance jobs before (new alternator, small electrical stuff), but until today I've never changed my own oil, mostly for fear not doing it right and having the oil all leak out.

Anyway, $100 in tools and supplies, 2.5 hours, 2 trips to the auto store, 1 trip to the hardware store, 10 billion cuss words, 1 big oil spill, two filthy hands and arms, and 5 empty oil bottles later... i changed my own oil! :roll:

whew. i'm not sure its worth it. of course, next time, i'll only need to spend $10-$15, and i'll know the oil shoots FAR and FAST. but it will take like 15 changes before i make my money back. there is something to be said for spending 10 minutes having someone else do it and not getting filthy or having to worry about recycling.

 

[rbV5]

but until today I've never changed my own oil, mostly for fear not doing it right and having the oil all leak out.

LOL, thats kinda why I do it myslf.

 

[radioouman]

I do it because it forces me to get under my car and look for other signs, such as leaking coolant, transmission fluid, or worn belts.

I stock up on oil and filters when they go on sale, and I never empty my oil container until it is full. I have three vehicles, so I save quite a bit over the quick change places which I don't trust anyway.

 

[Fern]

Takes me less time to change it than drive 5 miles to the nearest oil change place. But I've been doing for it years. Not sure why it would require $100 in tools either?

Fern

 

[iamwiz82]

$100 in tools?

A socket and socket wrench costs $10 at the local auto store.

 

[FoBoT]

hopefully you'll get better, it shouldn't take more than 10-15 minutes

 

[Zysoclaplem]

$100 dollars?
What all did you buy?

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
$100 in tools?

A socket and socket wrench costs $10 at the local auto store.

That's what I was thinking.

Maybe $10 for the set, $25 for a set of ramps & stop blocks, and then another $5 or so for an oil filter wrench.

But $100? Yikes.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
$100 in tools?

A socket and socket wrench costs $10 at the local auto store.

That's what I was thinking.

Maybe $10 for the set, $25 for a set of ramps & stop blocks, and then another $5 or so for an oil filter wrench.

But $100? Yikes.

I didn't know Monster Cable was starting to make tools! :laugh:

 

[rbV5]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
$100 in tools?

A socket and socket wrench costs $10 at the local auto store.

That's what I was thinking.

Maybe $10 for the set, $25 for a set of ramps & stop blocks, and then another $5 or so for an oil filter wrench.

But $100? Yikes.

I didn't know Monster Cable was starting to make tools! :laugh:

They have for quite awhile under the "Snap On" brand.

 

[UCDAggies]

Do people still change oil from under the car. Every oil place I have been though has removed the oil from under the hood.

 

[vi edit]

I have to say though, a lot of times it's easier just to kick it off at the stealership and have them do it for $25. No messing with left over oil or worrying about spills or drips on my garage floor.

Plus I get a free car wash and interior cleaning with the visit..so that's a nice bonus.

 

[Looney]

I did it once and only time as well. It was right after watching The Notebook by myself and crying.

 

[thomsbrain]

i needed a jack, stands, socket wrench set (didn't know what size the plug was, and none of my wrenches were big enough, so i couldn't easily find out), filter wrench, drip pan, gasket, filter. my car is too low to not lift it up, and you can't reach the plug or filter without lifting the car. by the time i bought all that crap and paid tax on it, it was nearly $100.

in retrospect, i should have bought ramps instead of the jack and stands. they were a pain in the ass and cost more.

 

[radioouman]

Originally posted by: UCDAggies
Do people still change oil from under the car. Every oil place I have been though has removed the oil from under the hood.

The drain plug is always on the bottom of the engine. They probably remove the oil from underneath, in the trench.

 

[biggestmuff]

Originally posted by: UCDAggies
Do people still change oil from under the car. Every oil place I have been though has removed the oil from under the hood.

bwahaha. Stop going to Jiffy Lube and the Wal-Mart auto center.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: UCDAggies
Do people still change oil from under the car. Every oil place I have been though has removed the oil from under the hood.

Eh? Oil pans/plugs are on the bottom of the engine block. You really can't reach it from the hood. You still have to get under there one way or another.

 

[UCDAggies]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
i needed a jack, stands, socket wrench set (didn't know what size the plug was, and none of my wrenches were big enough, so i couldn't easily find out), filter wrench, drip pan, gasket, filter. my car is too low to not lift it up, and you can't reach the plug or filter without lifting the car. by the time i bought all that crap and paid tax on it, it was nearly $100.

Why did you use a drip pan. Isn't that old fashion. I don't know of any place here that uses a drip pan to change oil. No one goes under your car around here when they change your oil.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Changing your own oil used to be on the list of things you were supposed to know before you left home along with how to read a map, laundry, iron, tie a tie etc.

 

[UCDAggies]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: UCDAggies
Do people still change oil from under the car. Every oil place I have been though has removed the oil from under the hood.

Eh? Oil pans/plugs are on the bottom of the engine block. You really can't reach it from the hood. You still have to get under there one way or another.

Not really. I have seen them do it. They use a machine that sucks the oil out of the car.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: UCDAggies

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
i needed a jack, stands, socket wrench set (didn't know what size the plug was, and none of my wrenches were big enough, so i couldn't easily find out), filter wrench, drip pan, gasket, filter. my car is too low to not lift it up, and you can't reach the plug or filter without lifting the car. by the time i bought all that crap and paid tax on it, it was nearly $100.

Why did you use a drip pan. Isn't that old fashion. I don't know of any place here that uses a drip pan to change oil. No one goes under your car around here when they change your oil.

from what i understand, they do make pumps to try to siphon it up, but you're not getting all of it, and you're not changing the filter, so what good does that really do?

 

[Jahee]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain

Originally posted by: UCDAggies

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
i needed a jack, stands, socket wrench set (didn't know what size the plug was, and none of my wrenches were big enough, so i couldn't easily find out), filter wrench, drip pan, gasket, filter. my car is too low to not lift it up, and you can't reach the plug or filter without lifting the car. by the time i bought all that crap and paid tax on it, it was nearly $100.

Why did you use a drip pan. Isn't that old fashion. I don't know of any place here that uses a drip pan to change oil. No one goes under your car around here when they change your oil.

from what i understand, they do make pumps to try to siphon it up, but you're not getting all of it, and you're not changing the filter, so what good does that really do?

Exactly, far easier to just undo the plug and let it drain!

 

[UCDAggies]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain

Originally posted by: UCDAggies

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
i needed a jack, stands, socket wrench set (didn't know what size the plug was, and none of my wrenches were big enough, so i couldn't easily find out), filter wrench, drip pan, gasket, filter. my car is too low to not lift it up, and you can't reach the plug or filter without lifting the car. by the time i bought all that crap and paid tax on it, it was nearly $100.

Why did you use a drip pan. Isn't that old fashion. I don't know of any place here that uses a drip pan to change oil. No one goes under your car around here when they change your oil.

from what i understand, they do make pumps to try to siphon it up, but you're not getting all of it, and you're not changing the filter, so what good does that really do?

You don't have to go under the car to change the filter.

 

[UCDAggies]

Jiffylube here doesn't go under your car, they use a machine to suck it out.

 

[QueBert]

I'm not a car expert by any means, but I have changed the oil on my car, there is no way in hell you could possibly change the oil filter on my ford Taurus without going under it, I have yet to see a car where the oil filter was anywhere but underneath. Care to fill me in on how exactly I can change mine without going under?