When you don't feel like DIY oil changes anymore

O

Oillover

Joined
Sep 30, 2020
Messages
2,339
Recently I've been contemplating taking my daily into a quick lube for a change, simply because I don't feel like the hassle anymore.
I have an oil extractor, but the time to take everything out and clean up, just seems to be not worth it.

Reading Yelp reviews from a local "Mr.Lube" franchise in my area, is not only entertaining but enlightening and motivating!
While some negative reviews appear fake/malicious, others have grains of truth and humor to them.
https://www.yelp.ca/biz/mr-lube-north-vancouver?osq=mr+lube

🍻
 
If you can find a good shop to do it, great. Just find a good place. Avoid Jiffy Lube and Pep Boys :sneaky:

Honestly, Walmart isn't the worst place to go for an oil change, either. They don't do much beyond oil and tires, so they have nothing to upsell. They also use proper torque :)

The biggest reason people do it themselves is so they know it's done right, and when you're under the car, you can see problems before they become real problems :D
 
I have contemplated it a few times, especially when shops advertise some pretty good pricing. But there are two reasons why I can't do it yet.

First and foremost, I don't want to get lazy and old. As long as I can get on the floor and crawl under my cars to change the oil, diff fluid, brake fluid, etc., I'm going to do it. I worry the day that I stop is the day I start getting ready for the care center.

Second, even when I decide that I can put #1 aside, and could just give up some maintenance, I get scared that I would not know how the job was done. Did they torque the drain plug? Did they cross thread it? Did they use the oil I asked for? Did they change the o-ring on the filter housing? Is the level correct? Did they inspect the suspension, check cv boots for tears, look for leaks, check the underside for damage?

Then I think, well I guess I could check a few of these things after a shop does the work. But if I have to check up on someone else's work, then why not do it myself in the first place?

slacktide_bitog said:
Honestly, Walmart isn't the worst place to go for an oil change, either. They don't do much beyond oil and tires, so they have nothing to upsell. They also use proper torque :)
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That is definitely one opinion. A previous employee of mine, who had the inside rim of aluminum wheels ruined after the tech hit the wheels on the ramp, and found the drain plug so loose it was about to fall out, all after taking his F150 to a Walmart lube shop, would definitely not agree with you.
 
Eddie said:
I'm 87 and it takes both mental and physical energy but, I still do it. I have a challenged grandson 30 yo, that I might teach.
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That is awesome. Not that you are 87 and still doing your own oil changes. Well, yea, that's awesome. But I think it's awesome that you are planning on teaching your grandson. I hope that you are able to help him grasp it well enough that he can succeed at it.
 
I would if I no longer have a bunch of cheap oil I got at $2/qt back then. I wouldn't do my own oil change if I am paying $5/qt retail price. It is just oil change not baking a turkey on Thanksgiving.
 
GenSan said:
Oil almost always overfilled, Upsell after Upsell, scratches everywhere (just getting out of vehicle the scuff plate on door sill truly gets scuffed), lowest bid bulk oil, oil filter overtorqued, on and on.....
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Agreed.
I have a younger employee that trying I'm to do a bit of pay forward. He had an oil change done at our dealership. In doing the OC after that one, a few things didn't sit right. Oil was overfilled by about 1/3 quart, on a Corolla. The drain plug washer was a thin copper one, not the quality Toyota washer. Drain plug was tight. Oil filter coming off was a Wix, it fit my cap wrench, same filter as I use on my Rav4, but it took quite a bit of force to get it loose.
Some may say these are minor issues, have no effect on engine life span, but they are detail things that annoy me.
Mobil 1 Extended Performance 0w20 went in, Toyota OE filter with drain proper plug washer went on. He paid for the parts only. And the employee got a look at how to do a proper oil change, each step explained, demonstrated and the reason for it. Every step was checked for understanding so that there was confidence it was done correctly.
 
When I get lazy, my mechanic will do an 8 quart 0w-20 change and a filter for $69.00

Whatever the oil is, it comes out of a 55 gallon drum. I'm not overly worried as I only run it 5,000 miles anyway.
 
VW-Audi-Subas etc I like
Top filter and extraction
I saw a new electric extraction unit today that charges via USB so I get it tomorrow
Trying it on a lathe tomorrow- I like the idea for remote areas
 
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