How much do you pay for an oil change?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Originally Posted By: skylinegtr
I'm curious to know how much you guys pay for oil change weather it's from the dealer or independent shop. Do they just drain your oil and refill it?

I work at a Toyota dealer as a tech and they charge $34.95 for a oil change. When a car comes in for oil change we check the entire car out. Tire pressure is checked and adjusted if needed. All fluids are topped off. An inspection sheet is filled out and given to the customer later. As for the oil we use Mobil Clean 5W-20 and 30. If a car uses 0W-20 the customer would pay a little extra cause it's a synthetic oil.

So I'm wondering how's your experience with your local dealer or independent shop?


I buy my own oil & filter and bring it to the dealer( Dodge )where I bought the truck. They charge me $10 to do it and as you talk of they set tire PSI, check and top off all fluids, and give me an inspection sheet for the vehicle. Now, that $10 is because of a special running when I bought the truck for standard maintenance items( labor part of a reduced OC charge ). A normal walk in customer would pay more( $15 or $17 last I knew for just OC labor ).
 
Last edited:
I do my own changes and will never bring another car to the dealer for any maintenance, unless it's free. And even then I don't like making appointments and waiting for an hour for a simple oil change, I did that few times when my car was brand new, but I learned that I can do it better, faster and cheaper using premium products, so no more dealers for me.

All these "inspections" and check sheets are nothing more than a feel good service, that almost never catch any serious problems. Usually after few OCI's they will try up selling something else, like $100 fuel injection cleaning, or something similarly simple yet grossly over priced, some people will decline, but most will just accept, that's how they make real money.


For example, Mazda 3 with the 2.3 engine has the infamous plastic cartridge oil filter housing that can crack when over torqued. There are countless blown engines because of this, a lot of them had nothing but dealer service, and not one case (at least that I am aware of, reading various mazda forums) was caught during a routine service by one of these "inspections", most owners either caught it on time by themselves or found out the hard way, when their engine died or developed a severe knock or lifter tick. JMO.
 
I do my own.....5 qt jug of PP and a NAPA Gold filter.....works out to just a little less than $27 with tax.
 
Originally Posted By: finalyzd
Originally Posted By: nfs480
Wow, I work at a Valvoline Instant Oil change location and people are constantly screaming at me about how our $34.99 is way too expensive (as if I decide the prices).

I hate that. Then I explain our service and they calm down. Some people are just rude. Also hate the customers that try to tell u how to do your job. "Make sure that filter tight, you have to hand tighten it". I just don't say anything and smille



I know of a "quick lube center" that was caught only draining about half the oil and reusing oil filters on unsuspecting customers. Of course the customers were charged for a full oil and filter change.
 
Originally Posted By: 38sho
Originally Posted By: finalyzd
My aunt takes It to my shop :) she pays 38.95 for castrol gtx and a champ filter. Also top-off all fluids including gear boxes if low. Vacuum,wash windows.battery test, set tire pressure, check all lights,filters,belts and hoses grease any fittings. Takes about twenty min.


[censored] how much do you make off an average oil change ticket, have many repeat customers?


We don't make a lot off a regular oil change. Due to our cost on castrol oil is high. Maybe ten bucks? Most of our money is made in repairs,brake job,diagnostics,smogs. And we have a lot of repeat customers
 
Originally Posted By: klt1986
Originally Posted By: finalyzd
Originally Posted By: nfs480
Wow, I work at a Valvoline Instant Oil change location and people are constantly screaming at me about how our $34.99 is way too expensive (as if I decide the prices).

I hate that. Then I explain our service and they calm down. Some people are just rude. Also hate the customers that try to tell u how to do your job. "Make sure that filter tight, you have to hand tighten it". I just don't say anything and smille



I know of a "quick lube center" that was caught only draining about half the oil and reusing oil filters on unsuspecting customers. Of course the customers were charged for a full oil and filter change.


Dam quick lubies. Why just drain half the oil? And not change a $2 filter. Its stupid
 
Last time I had a quick-lube change the oil in the van it was about $32 if I remember.

I do 95% of them myself though.. costs between $13 and $16.
 
Originally Posted By: finalyzd
Originally Posted By: klt1986
Originally Posted By: finalyzd
Originally Posted By: nfs480
Wow, I work at a Valvoline Instant Oil change location and people are constantly screaming at me about how our $34.99 is way too expensive (as if I decide the prices).

I hate that. Then I explain our service and they calm down. Some people are just rude. Also hate the customers that try to tell u how to do your job. "Make sure that filter tight, you have to hand tighten it". I just don't say anything and smille



I know of a "quick lube center" that was caught only draining about half the oil and reusing oil filters on unsuspecting customers. Of course the customers were charged for a full oil and filter change.


Dam quick lubies. Why just drain half the oil? And not change a $2 filter. Its stupid


It's all about the manager, luckily I work for a very honest manager. But I have heard some horror stories from techs from other shops, frankly I won't take any of my cars to any quick-lube except the one I work at since I know that our quality of service is good at least.
 
Originally Posted By: Shannow
I do my own. Nissan, $30 for OEM filter, and $65 for oil.


What kind of Nissan do you have that uses a $30 OEM filter? And how much and what type of oil do you need/use that costs $65? $95 for doing your own oil is a lot of money. It must be something special.

My costs are along the lines of jeepman's posted earlier. I watch the sales and rebates and stock up when there's a really good deal. For example, right now Advance Auto Parts has 5 quarts of Valvoline SynPower and a K&N filter for $26.99. I use the $10 coupon and get it for $18 with tax. And then there's the Valvoline $25 MIR when you purchase 10 quarts. So that comes out to $11 for 2 oils changes using SynPower and a K&N filter!
 
Local Firestone runs a coupon special for $19.99. 5 qts Kendall dino and a filter. They also top off fluids, and check tire pressure/ air filter/ etc.

I just did an $16 oil change on my MPV with 6 qts PZ Plat (after rebate price) and a Motorcraft filter.
 
Originally Posted By: KrisZ
I do my own changes and will never bring another car to the dealer for any maintenance, unless it's free. And even then I don't like making appointments and waiting for an hour for a simple oil change, I did that few times when my car was brand new, but I learned that I can do it better, faster and cheaper using premium products, so no more dealers for me.

All these "inspections" and check sheets are nothing more than a feel good service, that almost never catch any serious problems. Usually after few OCI's they will try up selling something else, like $100 fuel injection cleaning, or something similarly simple yet grossly over priced, some people will decline, but most will just accept, that's how they make real money.


Not all dealers are crooked. The one I use( family has been dealing with them since the late 60's )is very honest and straight forward. The tech's do a great job on my vehicles and the service guys( especially the manager )are great.

The inspection sheets they give out while nothing special certainly don't hurt. I am no longer able to do a lot of work on my vehicles because of illness so I actually find those sheets helpful. They let me know when something may have worn out a little early and it ensures that belts, hoses, tires, brakes, fluids, etc... are checked on a regular basis.

Yeah, sometimes I wait an hour for it all to get done but it is no big deal to me. For $10 and all that gets done it is well worth it IMO.
 
very lucky for you. I knew there was a good dealer SOMEWHERE.

Just not around here!

I changed 3 Savana 3500's today. Cost was 30.00 each plus an extra quart, let's say less than 40 bucks for lube oil and new filter.
Using Mobil One with M1 filter due to extreme sale last month at autozone!
 
Originally Posted By: barlowc
Originally Posted By: Shannow
I do my own. Nissan, $30 for OEM filter, and $65 for oil.


What kind of Nissan do you have that uses a $30 OEM filter? And how much and what type of oil do you need/use that costs $65? $95 for doing your own oil is a lot of money. It must be something special.


Nissan Navara (Frontier over there), with the ZD30 3.0 litre direct injection turbodisel.

Nissan OEM filter over $30, got 5 on ebay for $100. Chinese Ryco $22.

Thing holds 7 plus litres. When I was using M1 0W-40, it was $86 for 5 litres, now closer to $100.
 
Cheapest here is a local tire shop chain. They use bulk Agip oil and charge $19.99 (if you use the coupon they put in the pennysaver every month). Otherwise I think it is $23.99 and a few bucks more for trucks/suvs.
 
Originally Posted By: finalyzd
Originally Posted By: 38sho
Originally Posted By: finalyzd
My aunt takes It to my shop :) she pays 38.95 for castrol gtx and a champ filter. Also top-off all fluids including gear boxes if low. Vacuum,wash windows.battery test, set tire pressure, check all lights,filters,belts and hoses grease any fittings. Takes about twenty min.


[censored] how much do you make off an average oil change ticket, have many repeat customers?


We don't make a lot off a regular oil change. Due to our cost on castrol oil is high. Maybe ten bucks? Most of our money is made in repairs,brake job,diagnostics,smogs. And we have a lot of repeat customers


no not how much profit you make an oil change, whats the average price of an invoice the customer walks out the door when he intially came in for an oil change?
 
There is a Ford dealer near me who does $5 oil changes with MC syn blend. Needless to say when you read reviews on this place a lot of unhappy customers who were tricked into doing unnecessary work. The worse one was where it was found that they had cut the rubber protecting the cv boots.

I've used 2 Ford dealers including this one for their low price oil change specials and the check sheets have been wrong and the work they suggested did not need to be done. They are actually more bother than they are worth because you then spend time getting another opinion on your brakes and tires etc.

I now just pay $30 labor to an honest mechanic who will properly check over the car, top up fluids and change the oil correctly. I supply my own oil but they charge less than retail for the filter so I don't worry about that. Last 2 times I have done this with 2 different mechanics and everything checked out fine on the car. All they said was to change the wipers.
 
Originally Posted By: 38sho
Originally Posted By: finalyzd
Originally Posted By: 38sho
Originally Posted By: finalyzd
My aunt takes It to my shop :) she pays 38.95 for castrol gtx and a champ filter. Also top-off all fluids including gear boxes if low. Vacuum,wash windows.battery test, set tire pressure, check all lights,filters,belts and hoses grease any fittings. Takes about twenty min.


[censored] how much do you make off an average oil change ticket, have many repeat customers?


We don't make a lot off a regular oil change. Due to our cost on castrol oil is high. Maybe ten bucks? Most of our money is made in repairs,brake job,diagnostics,smogs. And we have a lot of repeat customers


no not how much profit you make an oil change, whats the average price of an invoice the customer walks out the door when he intially came in for an oil change?


65 to 80
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

IcarusLSC
Mom wants me to start doing maintenance/oil changes on her car (2017 Kia Forte 2.0L)
2 3
Replies
46
Views
2K
Carlostrece
M
How much difference does oil really make?
4 5 6
Replies
106
Views
5K
cheesepuffs2
D
Oil change interval Mitsubshi Mirage 2024
2
Replies
20
Views
2K
Triple_Se7en
A
Are Turbos Hard on Oil?
7 8 9
Replies
173
Views
8K
cryptolyme
D
Jalopnik Tells You How to Determine if Your Oil is Bad.
2
Replies
27
Views
2K
chris719
Back
Top Bottom