Those Who Don't Change Their Own Oil, Check In

[buster]

To each, their own. It is a messy job, I agree with that. Changing the oil every 3,000 miles just makes no sense to me but we've discussed that before.

I use the Fumoto drain valve and it makes changing the oil extremely easy and not messy. I prefer to go at least go 7-10k miles on most oil, depending on the car/engine type etc. of course.

 

[opus1]

Debating.

Right now I'm still changing the oil myself on the Dakota and Ranger. The Cobalt is low-mileage and synthetic oil so it's had one oil change so far, and at the dealer's. The DIC says I still have 89% life left and my year since the last change comes up in October. I have filters and oil for it, but haven't decided if I'm ready to take the plunge yet. Shouldn't be a big deal due to the Ecotec's filter set up, I just don't know if my ramps will clear the lower front-end of the Cobalt.

The Sonta has had one change so far, at the dealer's since I usually do the first change there. I figure, let them deal with taking things apart that are factory-tight. I'm debating contining taking it to the dealer's since they are doing $19.99 changes right now. A Hyunda factory filter runs about $6 and they were quick to do the change and washed the car for me. $6 for the filter and $5 for a wash at the place I usually go to leaves $8.99 for oil and labor, and I don't have to then make the trip to the state's disposal site to drop off my used oil. So we'll see...

 

[MoparDak05]

Originally Posted By: cryption
My oil usually doesn't even make it to 5000 miles because I get bored and want to do it lol


I have the exact same problem. I often find myself making up excuses in my head to justify changing it early.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: K20FA5
Originally Posted By: cryption
My oil usually doesn't even make it to 5000 miles because I get bored and want to do it lol


LOL that is me too! It is SO hard to wait for the Pilot to hit the 15% mark on the OLM. I have had to change it early and reset the OLM at 50% a few times!

I guess I'm worse, as I have been doing mine every 3,000 miles.

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: K20FA5
Originally Posted By: cryption
My oil usually doesn't even make it to 5000 miles because I get bored and want to do it lol


LOL that is me too! It is SO hard to wait for the Pilot to hit the 15% mark on the OLM. I have had to change it early and reset the OLM at 50% a few times!

I guess I'm worse, as I have been doing mine every 3,000 miles.


Well,thats a hard habit for me to break too. After changing my own oil for 30 years.

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: StevieC
BITOG MEMBERSHIP NEEDS REVOKING...

I was thinking the same thing! Being a DIYer is a requirement for a card carrying member.

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: bretfraz
I have to pay shop labor rates to have my oil changed, but it's nice just to drop off my truck and have it done instead of me crawling under and getting all dirty and sweaty.



+1

The older I get, the further down and harder the garage floor gets.

 

[Johnny]

The auto manufactures have taken all the fun out of changing for me. The only car I change the oil in is my 1956 Crown Vic. You can darn near get under the hood with the engine. I have been taking my personal cars to the dealer along with my oil for years and it works out just fine for me.

When I joined BITOG back in 2002 I saw no pre-qualification that said you had to change your own oil to be a member and I don't believe that has changed.

 

[Sayjac]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: sayjac
If I have to stand over the guy doing the work, defeats the purpose IMO.

But I don't have to get my hands dirty!

Wait, I thought this was Bob is The Oil Guy, not Bobbi is The Computer Programmer.

Never afraid to get my hands dirty, even some used oil. Cheap Nitrile gloves can easily eliminate that.

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: sayjac
And your prices, are generally promotional and neglect the oft written fine print "plus shop fees". Can generally find promos using oil and filters I know and want for the same price or frequently less.

No shop fees in California.
Not everyone lives in Cali, shop fees becoming rule rather than exception in many areas. And it doesn't change the promo prices, lack of product choice with promo, and short drain time/refill practices.

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: sayjac
Since you aready said you "hate changing oil" doesn't sound like an issue to me.

There are certain auto repairs that I simply do not enjoy doing. I still enjoy doing other auto work-- I just did a complete front brake rebuild, serp belt, belt tensioner, water pump and motor mount(s) at my parent's house several weeks ago. But for some reason, oil changing just isn't of interest to me. I just wanted to see if there are others on this board who enjoy auto repair, but despise doing oil changes.
But didn't your hands get dirty?

There will come a day when regretfully, I'm not physically able to DIY OC, until then unless it's free (or a great value product promo deal), it's DIY. But to each their own, if you hate it, you hate it. Having it done is better than not doing it.

fwiw, since coming to Bitog and dumping the 3months/3k practice, I'm having to do less of them.

 

[HTSS_TR]

With Mityvac oil extractor I can change the oil and filter for E430 and S2000 with getting under the cars. For the LS400 I would change dino oil with 6mo OCI using the Mityvac, the filter is changed on second oil change at my local shop for $10 labor and I provided oil and filter.

 

[Drew99GT]

If you can find an honest shop to do the job correct each and everytime for a fair price, I can see the advantage do going that way. There's a chain of shops around our area called Brakes Plus; I've used them a few times for alignments and they seem quite honest and have a good reputation. They are affiliated with Advance Auto Parts and Valvoline - they do All Climate plus a Purolator filter for $19.99; Maxlife + a Purolator filter for $29.99, and Synpower is like $45 bucks. Really not a bad deal, and might actually be cheaper then buying the parts alone at full retail price.

 

[rationull]

Originally Posted By: sayjac
Wait, I thought this was Bob is The Oil Guy, not Bobbi is The Computer Programmer.

Hey! I'm a computer programmer who gets my hands dirty changing my own oil, you insensitive clod!

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: rationull
Originally Posted By: sayjac
Wait, I thought this was Bob is The Oil Guy, not Bobbi is The Computer Programmer.

Hey! I'm a computer programmer who gets my hands dirty changing my own oil, you insensitive clod!

1. Computer Programmer

2. Use of "You insensitive clod."

In Soviet Russia oil changes you.

 

[jdh]

i do my own in a 92 toyota pickup 2006 corolla and 2006 dodge cummins. when i met my fiance she was paying 50 bux for a synthetic oil change with synpower and a [censored] no name filter, and now i change it with pp 5-30 and a napa gold filter for less than 20 bux!
same with my dodge 65bux with valvoline 15w40 and a valvoline filter, i do it myself with rotella 15-40 and a fleetguard stratapore, with a fuel filter every time for 50 bux. plus i know better than to tighten the drain plug with a breaker bar.

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: jdh
i do my own in a 92 toyota pickup 2006 corolla and 2006 dodge cummins. when i met my fiance she was paying 50 bux for a synthetic oil change with synpower and a [censored] no name filter, and now i change it with pp 5-30 and a napa gold filter for less than 20 bux!
same with my dodge 65bux with valvoline 15w40 and a valvoline filter, i do it myself with rotella 15-40 and a fleetguard stratapore, with a fuel filter every time for 50 bux. plus i know better than to tighten the drain plug with a breaker bar.



now i change it with pp 5-30 and a napa gold filter for less than 20 bux! Just curious,why didnt you stay with the Synpower?

 

[Shuttler]

$10 will change your oil in any town that has taxi, shuttle and livery service. Bring your own oil + filter. $10 for a rear diff and $40 for AT full change on Panthers.

 

[ArBee]

I have to fess up as well - I no longer change my own oil. When I was younger, I found it a simple, enjoyable job. But as someone said earlier, nowadays that floor is a long way down. And when you're down, it's a long haul back up. Besides, I like to visit with the fellows at my neighborhood garage.

 

[ottotheclown]

Cannot change my oil, co-op rules, but found a guy that lets me stand right there so it is almost as good as me doing it myself, and they replace washer and do it just like I did when I owned a house and was paying 7,000 dollars tax a year. Will not go to the stealer with Pennzoil Ultra and sit in a waiting room eating a bagel while Mongo fills it with bulk oil and takes it home Ultra, for Mongo garage.Sorry I stopped trusting people when I turned eight years old.Sad in a way, but I do not live in an area you can trust many. IMHO

 

[3putter]

I used to change mine all the time. The glamor has worn off, and as the original poster stated, for $20 you can get quality oil and filter and a watch 'em do it experience. For another $5 I go to Walmart (collective gasp !!!) and get my tires rotated and balanced for free due to their Lifetime Balance package which is dirt cheap. They've a1ays done quality work and if you hit em right at opening time, you're in and out fast.

 

[fdcg27]

Perks?
Well, the top-offs are meaningful for a Saturn, but how many will they do before they tell you not to come back?
Also, cheap clearance oil of any weight is fine to top off a Saturn, so I'm not sure how much having to drive to a shop for a quart of added oil is actually worth.
A paint-scratching dealer wash job is also not on my list of must-haves, although probably okay for a Saturn.
Tire rotation is absolutely not needed with each oil change, either.
The perks don't sound like much.
It is so easy and inexpensive to do an oil change that I can't imagine paying someone else to do one, and I haven't in more than thirty years.
Still, if you don't like changing oil, then you may as well spend double bucks for someone else to do the deed. The cost is still pretty low.