What's the main reason you change your own oil and filter?

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dawgn86

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For me, I just like wrenching on them! I have a system where when I take the drain plug out, I put new crush washer on and tighten it back up. I know it's tightened to specs. Same with the oil filter; never had one to leak. I get the chance to look around for any leaks, check hoses, etc. I know my oil level is right and double check everything before I drive it again.

have had my share of " quick lube" places leave the drain bolt too lose...oil filter too loose, etc.
 
Exactly for the reasons you stated. Except for the last sentence. No one but me has ever changed the oil in any vehicle I have owned.
 
Quality of work done for the price so I know exactly what gets put in, and know the drain plug threads aren't trashed. A respectable indy shop will charge around $70 for an oil change on my car with good oil and filter without wrecking stuff. For half that price I can get the same or better oil and filter of my choosing with similar peace of mind. Another good opportunity to inspect underside and catch a sample now that I've started doing UOA.
 
Cheap and convenient. I also have my wife cut my hair at home for similar reasons.
 
80% of my life had changed my own … bought a 2002 Dodge 1500 new … at 30k had a Shell quick lube change the rear end oil while I did other stuff …
Just past 60k the rear end was shot, ring, pinion, spiders, pins … fluid dumped out like water but smelled like gear oil …

Used rear end (had 80k) was $1800 … did 100% of my fluids since that … and like to hunt oil bargains these days …
 
Convenience and for fun, mostly- although I usually let my dealer change the oil in the 2er; with my CCA discount it's only a little more expensive than if I did it myself- and I like having another set of eyes checking it out every 10k miles.
 
When I was 16 and got my first car, the main reason I did it was to save money, but these days I do it because I want to make sure it's done right, especially on the Corvette. GM dealers have a terrible reputation of messing up oil changes on these cars, either by cracking the rocker panels (improper lifting techniques) or by overfilling (especially on the dry sump equipped engines)
 
Originally Posted By: dawgn86
......have had my share of " quick lube" places leave the drain bolt too lose...oil filter too loose, etc.


This is why I change my own. One too many bad experiences with others changing my oil. And I've heard too many horror stories from others who have done much the same. Now that I'm retired, I change it twice a year. I try to time it so it's at Spring and again in the Fall. That way it's not too hot or cold when I do it.
 
To avoid the upselling of unneeded services and unnecessary work. There are times I just want someone to change my oil but I don't want someone to touch my filters, fluids or to clean the interior for me.
 
Originally Posted By: mjk
I know it has been done correctly.


+1. My son went just one time to a quick lube. I had to torque off the fill plug and now the filter is “welded” to the block. Not saying every place is like that but depends on the what’s waiting for your car down in the pit.
 
trust. I know that I am using top quality parts and that I am doing it correctly. I will never strip my own oil pan.
I have used "free" oil changes from the dealer and:
- I have had change stolen from the car
- the nissan dealer took a shortcut - they did not reinstall the wheel well liner keepers, or did not install them correctly. now the wheel well in the Rogue is loose.
 
MB = $300

ME = $40

MB installed xW-30 when xW-40 is required. No need to think further about it. I change my own oil.
 
my daughter lived in Texas for a year or so and when we moved her in, I bought her 4 oil changes from the Dodge dealer there ( Jeep Cherokee ). I figured they would do it right and it seems they did ok except for the drain plug. When I changed it a few weeks ago, I had to get a small pipe to break loose the drain plug! Makes no sense.
 
Originally Posted By: dawgn86
my daughter lived in Texas for a year or so and when we moved her in, I bought her 4 oil changes from the Dodge dealer there ( Jeep Cherokee ). I figured they would do it right and it seems they did ok except for the drain plug. When I changed it a few weeks ago, I had to get a small pipe to break loose the drain plug! Makes no sense.


First change on our Cruze was like that … had a little ‘safety stand down” … went to town to buy a spare plug and long handle six point wrench …

BrocLuno has mentioned that you just need to get under your vehicle … just a few days ago while doing oil and ATF on Fusion Hybrid … found two of the main flange transmission bolts about to fall out …
 
Originally Posted By: PimTac
By changing my own oil, I know exactly what is in the sump and I know that the job was done correctly.


+1.
 
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