Why change your own oil?

[radiometer]

I do my own oil and filter changes because I can choose exactly what I want and I know for sure what went into my cars. From my boyhood I would take down the bearings of my bicycle and lubricate them, which none of my friends did to theirs. So that kind of care started quite early and I've kept it up from my early teens till now. So, there is never a reasonable question about my doing maintenance myself on my cars and using exactly what I select for the job.

 

[Aichiguy]

I've had to use a hammer and chisel to get the oil filter base off the car. I've had to clean grease off the steering wheel, console, door handle, etc. I don't even use the free initial oil changes when I buy a new vehicle. It's not convenient and I don't trust them.

 

[glen e]

I have a great middle ground for changing your own oil. I have a muffler shop a mile from my house. They charge me 30 bucks, I bring my own oil , bring my own filter, and stand next to the guy while he does it. It’s a perfect situation.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

My grandson brings the oil and the Oil Shop uses their own filter for $25, while we watch.

 

[TurboZedd-R]

I do all of the FL5 changes myself, but let Mercedes do my wife's Amg when its in for inspection.

 

[53' Stude]

This is why changing your own oil is important. My last oil change was full synthetic for a 2002 Ford explorer 4.0L V6. The oil filter was incorrect. See the oil filter I removed sitting in the box of the correct oil filter.



View attachment 230172

Filter is NOT incorrect obviously! It’s a direct “alternative” filter to what is specified. Total misinformation by you and false info and statements. I’ve changed oil long enough to know a heck of a lot better. Google is your friend.

Don’t like filter a shop uses: don’t whine #1 and #2: do it yourself and don’t whine here!

Think I just got dumber and killed brain cells reading your garbage.

 

[53' Stude]

This is the oil filter, i haven't cross reference it yet.

View attachment 230176

Obviously you won’t either

 

[MavRick]

Obviously you won’t either

Why the attitude? I did cross reference it and it's not considered compatible. Just because it can screw on doesn't mean it's accepted as a replacement by Ford. I'm kind of shocked how people seem to be bothered by the fact I want a recommended part and not just accept what a shop chose to use.

 

[MavRick]

One thing I haven't mentioned is for the first time in this explorers history an oil related red light flashed concerning oil. It was at highway speeds in 110 degree weather. Slowing down helped. I've had this car for 21 years in all weather conditions and never had that happen. Is it the smaller oil filter? Possibly. I also noticed that they put 5w20 in it as written on the label when the oil cap clearly calls for 5W30. Maybe that's also contributed to the issue. Either case if you want it done right do it yourself or find someone you trust.

 

[Bighorn2500]

One thing I haven't mentioned is for the first time in this explorers history an oil related red light flashed concerning oil. It was at highway speeds in 110 degree weather. Slowing down helped. I've had this car for 21 years in all weather conditions and never had that happen. Is it the smaller oil filter? Possibly. I also noticed that they put 5w20 in it as written on the label when the oil cap clearly calls for 5W30. Maybe that's also contributed to the issue. Either case if you want it done right do it yourself or find someone you trust.

I prefer to do my own so I can select the filter & oil, check to ensure the old filter gasket doesn't stick to the filter mount, cross thread the drain plug, etc.

So, after everything you've learned you'll either pay closer attention and provide your preferred filter of choice or do it yourself to your chosen standard.

Quick lube stores primary concern is to ensure the filter thread size matches and the bypass valve setting falls with the same range as the vehicle engine requires. Lube shops buy filters in bulk quantities that fit an array of engines. Filter manufacturer/distributor provides listing of cross-references. You may not always get the exact size as OE, but the filter still does the job it was intended to do till the next change. It's pretty straight forward, technician goes and reviews a book or computer to verify which filter to select from the shelf to install. You pay for the "quick" convenience of having someone else do the labor and provide the materials and disposal of used oil.
@53' Stude, correct me if anything has really changed in thirty years since my uncle owned a shop where I worked PT during the summers?

 

[SC Maintenance]

Anything I can do myself, I try to do myself.

More often than not when I pay the expert I am disappointed.

 

[Chumango]

I also noticed that they put 5w20 in it as written on the label when the oil cap clearly calls for 5W30. Maybe that's also contributed to the issue. Either case if you want it done right do it yourself or find someone you trust.

My vehicle was in the shop recently for some work, and as part of that work they changed the oil. They filled it with 5W-20 even though the fill cap says 5W-30. I took it back to the shop and they drained the oil and filled it with 5W-30. At least they said they did. It is a reputable shop, and they stood behind their work even though they weren't certain that a mistake had been made, that it might have actually just been a clerical error.

 

[cptbarkey]

I've been changing my own oil since my first car at 16 in 1995. I find it fun, satisfying and oddly relaxing, assuming nothing goes awry. A few years (99-01) I was doing 2 hour round trip commutes and used Jiffy Lube every 3-5k, but when that wasn't necessary I went back to DIY.

 

[MavRick]

My vehicle was in the shop recently for some work, and as part of that work they changed the oil. They filled it with 5W-20 even though the fill cap says 5W-30. I took it back to the shop and they drained the oil and filled it with 5W-30. At least they said they did. It is a reputable shop, and they stood behind their work even though they weren't certain that a mistake had been made, that it might have actually just been a clerical error.

I should have checked but who expects such easy mistakes? It's interesting the same oil and oil filter they used on my hybrid 2L 4 they used on the Explorer with a 4L V6. I think that's how it happened as i took both vehicles in at the same time. The hybrid had the correct filter and oil

 

[Barkleymut]

Since I twisted on the filters this time, I'm hopeful I'll be able to hand remove them next time. I think oil changes places over tighten plugs and filters. I don't know why they don't use torque wrench for the drain plug.

Why would they? They will probably have a different job by the time you come back 6 months later

 

[Jpc1623]

I change my own oil because its
1) inexpensive
2) easy
3) I find it therapeutic

 

[MavRick]

My Dad taught me to always change the oil every 3000 miles back when oils and engines weren't as good as they are today. He always worked on his own cars and ended up getting into stock car racing. His influence contributed to my obsession with oil. This site scratched that itch when I joined over 21 years ago. But the research led me to extended oil changes. I thought 3000 mile changes for my type of driving was just wasting money so I settled on around 7500 with high quality oil and filters. My explorer has 217k miles on it and is the same vehicle I joined this site for. The motor is strong as ever and always passed CA emissions tests with ease.

Now after having joined back after many years to this site because I'm going to be getting a new vehicle (keeping the Explorer) I need to know how to properly care for it. I found out that on a Maverick the dealer will charge a lot of money ($400) to service the PTU and RTD. So I'll be servicing those myself as well. I appreciate all of the shared wisdom on this site which provides confidence in knowing the vehicle will be well maintained at a reasonable cost.

 

[jeepman3071]

I change my own oil because I care more about my vehicles than the person being paid minimum wage to care about them does. I also enjoy driving older vehicles, so an oil change gives me the opportunity to look around underneath and monitor the condition of everything and spot potential issues before they become a problem.

I've worked on small engines and ATVs since I was a teenager, but oddly enough brought my first few cars to the dealer or a shop for maintenance, because that is what my parents did. A few mistakes made by those shops had me searching the internet with the "this can't be that hard to do myself" mindset back when forums just became a thing.

 

[Bill7]

One important reason to change your own oil is to avoid the Group I (Bulk oil in the drums) that most mechanics/dealerships/quick lube places use.

The 5 quart jug full synthetic oil of your choice from Walmart will be better and cheaper than getting an oil change where they use that cheap bulk oil that increases the oil change place's profits.

The high efficiency oil filter that you buy at Walmart will be better than the super cheap low efficiency $2 filter used by the oil change places.

 

[bovine1]

Ive changed mine since I started driving in 1974. My first ride was an IH pickup that my dad put on propane. Coldest natured vehicle I ever had even worse than a Plymouth I had in the 70's. We farmed and all our pickups then were on propane. I changed oil in tractors, semis, whatever my father had at the time. I see the advantages now as:1. I like doing it. I use synthetic 5W30 and RA filters and it cost me $22ish for a change. 2. I hear my coworkers horror stories about chain shops including 1 filter blowing off stud on way back to work. Gal asked me to check her car because her oil light came on. Filter came completely off. Threaded hole on filter too big for stud. 3. I can check under the car for leaks etc.. I recently found a leak in the power assist steering boot.