how long does it take you to change your oil?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joined
Nov 29, 2009
Messages
9,529
It always seems to take me about 2 hours from start to finish changing my oil. Now my truck does take a bunch of oil and I have to take precautions to make sure I don't end up with a bunch of oil all over the driveway. Probably 30 of that is waiting for it to drain. It takes that long for it to go to a drip. I always seem to take a long time to do things but they do get done correctly. IE pre filling the oil filter, oiling the gasket and wiping off the oil pan and cleaning the drain plug.
 
Last oil change/rotate I did - it took me 2 hr start-to-finish, as I was trying to explain each step to the owner.
 
Everybody thinks i'm crazy for changing my own oil but i've had bad luck with taking it to the quick lube places.
 
With a a hot engine 20 minutes. Pull the plug and filter, wait 30 seconds until most the oils out to a small dribble, look at other things under the vehicle to look at potential problems, then go to the top of the engine and check othe fluids and filters. By the time I do that all the oil is out so back in goes the plug, then the filter, then the oil. Start up for a few seconds and then check the oil a little later.
 
Last edited:
30 minutes in the Cruze, and about 40 in the Fit. It can get done a little faster if needed. Most of that is waiting for the MityVac to suck oil out after I'm done changing the oil filters.
 
My last one on my Pathfinder, drained cold, took about 45 minutes to an hour. I prefilled the oil filter, greased the driveshaft, and replaced the oil drain plug with a magnetic one too, but all of those took maybe five minutes more time combined.
 
The Jeep 4.0's have got to be the easiest oil changes. When I change mine, it's only about 20 minutes tops. But I also get the oil hot so it drains fast.
 
I took it easy and slow doing oil change.

With a fluid extractor, Mityvac 7201, I can complete an oil and filter change in less than 25-30 minutes, but I do it slow and with the steps I think will extract most oil from the engine, therefore it took me 45-60 minutes to finish the job, but it is done to my liking and no drop of oil is on the engine or on the garage floor.
 
I can do it in 10 minutes, but i like to let it drain out as much as possible. I usually take 20 minutes. I wipe the dry filter threads clean, prefill with oil , have a cup of coffee while it finishes draining.
 
Like an hour maybe but I also start draining it and usually wander off for lunch while it drips away, lol.
 
about 1/2hr including checking the tire pressure, fluid levels, a once over of the lights and quick checks. thats a full shop with 2 post lift though haha
 
I have done it in 10 min or so when I was in a huge hurry, but normally I let it drain for a while, listen to the radio, check battery voltage, check any number of other things, put the clothes in the wash, forget about the car in the garage, then finally remember and put oil in it and replace the filter. Who knows how long. Hours.
 
2 to 8 hours is normal for me. There's always that "Oh, I can just do this too while it's dripping" issue. I think the quickest was maybe 20 minutes outside because there was a lot of wind blowing sand around. A weekend-long oil change happens sometimes.
 
My S2000 is pretty easy, but the Tundra and 4Runner have skid plate removal to deal with.

From start (getting recycle stuff out, jack, jack stands, tools)to finish (test drive, clean-up, everything put away) I probably average about 4 hours. I usually let it drain for a couple of hours though. If I do other components while I'm under there (diffs, t-case, grease, brakes, clutch, PS), then it could take all day!
 
I'd say I average about an hour per vehicle.

My car takes 30 minutes to do very carefully. The service vans and pickups I usually spend a moment looking them over.

Our Savanas have a virtual FOREST of zerks all over the place! They can take 20 minutes just to grease them!
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom