Oil change events for charity

[Deadwood]

Free Oil change event for charity

Has anyone ever arranged a free oil change charity/church event for the elderly, single moms, poor folks, etc? Other ideas, concerns, other input?

How hard is this to pull off with the following considerations:
- liability
- bring your oil & filter(s)
- location, ramps, tools, staffing
- oil & oil filter change (nothing else?)
- waste oil collection & disposal
- used oil filter collection & disposal
- sponsorships?
- fund raising opportunity instead?
- gatekeeping to keep freeloaders not qualifying out
- how to qualify the truly needy

 

[duck__dodgers]

<<<cranky old man alert>>>

I would never suggest an oil change event. All it takes is one disgruntled customer, who even if they are proven to be 100% in the wrong, creates a ton of time costs and legal fees (depending on your jurisdiction).

If someone wants to do something like this, it shouldn't be a public event but a referral service. IMO. and have lots of waivers handy, lol.

and/or set up a full-blown car maintenance 501(c)3 charity....it'll be paperwork but give liability to the people involved (if you take the right steps)

Your heart is in the right place though!!! (another nice thing we can't have....because we are devolving into a low-trust society)

 

[Zee09]

Blueovalfitter here used to do it with some woes. He passed away a few years ago though.

 

[skyactiv]

Googled it out of curiosity. I think @AutoMechanic could get some phone numbers from single chicks if his church had such an event.
https://www.redeeminggracepittsburgh.com/events/event/25/free-oil-change-event/2025-05-31

 

[dnewton3]

One way this goes well. 27 ways it goes wrong. Hence, too many risks for too little reward.

Perhaps, a better idea would be to get some local business involvement. Get a few local stores to kick in some sponsorship money, then find a quick-lube place that wants to broaden the customer base. That way none of the liability is on you directly.

 

[walterjay]

Maybe work out some kind of deal with a quick lube. Buy some oil change gift cards and pass them out.

I thought a lot about that in the past but the liability is onerous.

 

[Ursatdx]

I knew the man who coordinated this event.

The documented record for the most oil changes performed by a Jiffy Lube location in a 24-hour period is 1,609 vehicles, achieved by the Deer Park, New York, Jiffy Lube. This occurred when they surpassed the previous record of 1,144 cars set by a different Jiffy Lube in West Springfield, Massachusetts. The accomplishment resulted in a $4,218 donation from Jiffy Lube to the Stony Brook University Hospital Burn Center.

 

[rstcso]

Regardless of how you choose to help, know there will always be some who will take advantage of your generosity. It will eat you alive from the inside out if you can't accept this and be willing to let it go. The needs are great and your gift of time and/or money will be a blessing to those less fortunate.

 

[JavierH19]

I see what you're wanting to do and it's a nice thing but not only will that be tricky there's way too many things that can go wrong and get you in trouble. You'll be blamed for anything and everything that you didn't do and i bet some will have a stripped drain bolt or rounded bolt head or the filter is welded on. fresh oil clogs a screen that's on you and you'll get lambasted as a bad guy.

 

[PF52]

Months from now you'll get blamed when the car's radio quits working. "But you're the one who touched it last!"

 

[Deadwood]

Yeah, even though a local church has done this in the past (don't know anybody there; no interest to join), I see too many ways now for this to go south. Thanks for the good ideas and perspectives. This has enlightened me again to certain realities of our current culture. It's a nice idea on paper, but that's where it starts and stops for me. I'll probably still do it for a few friends, neighbors, and acquaintances...or even hand out gift cards in the future. That's good enough for me for now.

 

[duck__dodgers]

OP, if you have the time and willing to round up a posse...

you should seriously think of the 501(c)3 route. Filing the paperwork is relatively cheap and easy.

The tax deductibilty of donations will make people and businesses open their pocketbooks.

the hard part is having a reliable posse who can help with paperwork, organizing donations, serving as a board of directors etc.

but it would be a great way of getting young people who might have a community service requirement for school involved.

but honestly, just giving out $10 gas cards can be a life saver until pay day.

 

[97prizm]

Free Oil change event for charity

Has anyone ever arranged a free oil change charity/church event for the elderly, single moms, poor folks, etc? Other ideas, concerns, other input?

How hard is this to pull off with the following considerations:
- liability
- bring your oil & filter(s)
- location, ramps, tools, staffing
- oil & oil filter change (nothing else?)
- waste oil collection & disposal
- used oil filter collection & disposal
- sponsorships?
- fund raising opportunity instead?
- gatekeeping to keep freeloaders not qualifying out
- how to qualify the truly needy

I'd do it for a church or local group, and yes waivers to the hilt. If they can't afford an oil change what else has been neglected? Even so called "people in need " may take advantage of this.

 

[eljefino]

When I was a teenager my parents' church suggested the youth group and myself should go do a "serve-a-thon" for poor people.

While well meaning, we came up with a contest where kids held their hands behind their backs, and ate donuts hanging from strings. Their parents then harangued us to let them use their hands to catch the donuts. We relented and let them catch the donuts "when they're just about to fall off." The parents then refereed our refereeing and declared barely eaten donuts to be "falling off."

In hindsight the contest was possibly more demeaning than it had to be. And people got crabby and nasty over us putting in our best effort to do free stuff for people.

You'll get someone with a vehicle in terrible shape who'll think you're a "master mechanic" and well could you also (insert tear jerking tragedy here)?

 

[Kira]

The considerations listed in post #1 are all obviated by the "quick lube oil change gift cards". <<GOOD IDEA

Doing this in a parking lot would be clumsily duplicating services already in existence. It's not a good idea right out of the box.
A noble and helpful idea, sure; a practicable one, no.
With proper 501(c)3 filing, you're moving a lot of paper to change some oil.

The Deer Park Jiffy Lube (post #7) donated $2.62/vehicle for their efforts...ironic that oil change $ went to a burn center.

 

[We're Metals]

No good deed goes unpunished.

 

[ATex7239]

I’ve done things way more “risky” than an oil change for churches and charities. I don’t think this is any different than home builds or digging wells in Africa. I think it’s a good idea - go for it.

 

[Deadwood]

I’ve done things way more “risky” than an oil change for churches and charities. I don’t think this is any different than home builds or dig

I'll still be doing a a few free oil changes for family members, friends, neighbors and acquaintances this side of Africa. If enough other people would do exactly the same, there should be no need for free oil change "charities" I'm guessing.

 

[TheOilWizard]

I'll still be doing a a few free oil changes for family members, friends, neighbors and acquaintances this side of Africa. If enough other people would do exactly the same, there should be no need for free oil change "charities" I'm guessing.

Your heart is in the right place, so not tryin to be negative here.

The difference between doing oil changes for friends and family is that you are not exposing yourself to the public. If you do those oil changes and something goes wrong (your fault or not), you could be held liable. Stuff happens.

Secondly, regarding building homes, etc. Those are normally under some type of charity organization. I'm not going to pretend to understand how all that works, but I assume the charity organization is insured and would take on the liability for most matters.