I've heard so many horror stories of overtightened drain bolts and cross-threaded ones. I prefer to do oil changes myself. I usually do them right before dark after dinner and it takes less than half an hour. I can see other situations where it is easier and smarter to let a dealer do it for the warranty guarantee.
The $100 Oil Change
- Thread starter Passport1
- Start date
I do my own oil changes too, but nobody ever includes time in their calculations. My time is certainly not free.
I find I can do it in my driveway in less time that it takes to drive to the shop, get checked in, wait. wait. wait. get checked out and drive home.
Fair enough. My local stealership charges $135/hr, so perhaps $67.50 on a bad day? I find it relaxing and worth while.
That's a fair point, it is definitely faster at home compared to a dealer. Maybe not compared to quick lube for the average joe though, who is getting it done while running other errands anyway.
VW dealer charges $90-$110 for our 2.0T 2018 Tiguan. It costs about $70 in parts I can find for VW spec 508 x 6 quarts.
I’ll pay the dealer every 10k miles instead.
I’ll pay the dealer every 10k miles instead.
If you own a Subaru that does a lot of highway miles, be prepared to change bearings. I consider them consumables @40K mi a year just to my job.
Mike B
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2022
- Messages
- 221
NAPA: Castrol 5w20 full synthetic quart $7.49 x5
Ace Hardware: Fram Oil Filter $4.99
Performance Shop Oil Change: $24.99
Total: $67.43
Note this is for just an oi change, with means having to remove the skid plate, drain the old oil, replace the skid plate etc.
I'm able check and top off all other fluids myself.
Also, the owners manual says that the 2.0L I4 needs 4.8 quarts of oil. The shop filled the level to 4.5 quarts.
I check the level and add any after the van has sit for 24 hours.
The van (40K Miles) is due for another oil change (every 5k-6K miles) after we return from our visit with Hotchkis.
Avoid the Jiffy or Lube places. Do the oil change yourself and have the means to dispose of the oil afterward
Ace Hardware: Fram Oil Filter $4.99
Performance Shop Oil Change: $24.99
Total: $67.43
Note this is for just an oi change, with means having to remove the skid plate, drain the old oil, replace the skid plate etc.
I'm able check and top off all other fluids myself.
Also, the owners manual says that the 2.0L I4 needs 4.8 quarts of oil. The shop filled the level to 4.5 quarts.
I check the level and add any after the van has sit for 24 hours.
The van (40K Miles) is due for another oil change (every 5k-6K miles) after we return from our visit with Hotchkis.
Avoid the Jiffy or Lube places. Do the oil change yourself and have the means to dispose of the oil afterward
Last edited:
For my diesel BMW and my 2022 Corvette, $100 would be a bargain. Both specify oils priced in the $10 per quart league, and require a lot of it.
A lot of mb dealers only do “service a or b” not oil change only. Not worth the techs time. That’s why they cost what they do most cases
If I spend an hour changing my oil, that's an hour taken away from watching TV, or napping. The exercise and fresh air is probably better for me anyway.
Or insurance , service writer , office person, cleaning , utilities etc. It costs lots to run a business.
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2021
- Messages
- 335
Ford dealer charged me $87 a week ago. Motorcraft 5W-20 blend oil and Motorcraft filter on a 3.5L. Included four wheel rotation, brake pad thickness record, topping off all fluids and scan for codes. A year to the week ago same service was $57. Worth it. In/out in less than 45 minutes. Tires should be rotated when oil is changed (my opinion) and that increases the complexity for at home servicing to the “don’t want to do it” level for me.
The joy of owning a German car.
I had a hard time believing this until I took our company Ford Escape in today. $117.95, which included a tire rotation.
Northland Oil was used, so nothing boutique or fancy. It reassured me I’ll be changing my own oil for a long time.
It was a good thing I had this trip and checked it before leaving. The car has 10k miles total on it and was a quart down with tar for oil. I was assured it had been taken in for a change once already. If so, it didn’t actually get changed. There was no sticker in the window either. I had to wrestle the dipstick out of the engine, as if it had never been pulled out before.
Northland Oil was used, so nothing boutique or fancy. It reassured me I’ll be changing my own oil for a long time.
It was a good thing I had this trip and checked it before leaving. The car has 10k miles total on it and was a quart down with tar for oil. I was assured it had been taken in for a change once already. If so, it didn’t actually get changed. There was no sticker in the window either. I had to wrestle the dipstick out of the engine, as if it had never been pulled out before.
Similar threads
