Why change your own oil?

[Jetronic]

I do it because nobody does it better so why pay for it?. Going to a garage takes more time as well.

 

[Leroybrown]

Changing your own oil just isn't an option for millions of people living in big cities.

 

[Hootbro]

A lot of drama over a standard practice of oil change shops that have done alternate downsizing for the last couple of decades.

 

[Jpc1623]

I live in an apartment building with our own parking lot. The Crosstrek gets oil extracted and oil filter is on top…nice and easy. My equinox 1.5 gets extracted in the winter and ever other filter change. The filter gets wrapped in a gal freezer bag…. No drip, no mess.

 

[wavinwayne]

For me, doing oil changes is a stress reliever, it's meditation, it's my Zen.

 

[Wylie6G72]

It's an opportunity to poke around and look for anything amiss....like the weeping transfer case input shaft seal on the Canyon that GM already replaced twice.

 

[MavRick]

How did it not leak? The mouting surface must be massive if it can accomodate a filter that much smaller.

The face is wide and it would work but there is part of the face exposed and the area around it is clear it can handle a larger filter.

 

[bvl]

I just serviced my neighbor's daughter's Odyssey. The plastic shroud around the oil filter uses 3 push pin fasteners; 2 were missing and 1 was broke.

Oil plug was not over-tightened but the cheapie oil filter was. One thing I kinda liked was the reusable plug gasket; the one with the rubber center. I gave it a new Honda warsher torqued to 29 lb/ft.

This. I have a new Integra Type S which includes 2 'free' oil changes. I figured once a year I will visit dealer, establish a little relationship. After 10K miles the SM pops on, in I go.

Besides the unprofessional behavior from the 25yo service 'advisor' who was more interested in tiktok then listening to the customer and writing it down (I also needed some other things done):

1. 2 of the 4 fasteners to the small pan cover were left off
2. Oil filter way over torqued
3. drain plug over torqued to the AL pan
4. Over-filled oil (6qt put in to a 5.7 service number)

Hey, I tried and they let me down. You understand the pressure/time work at a quick-lube but you expect a modicum of professional work when you are paying 150-200 hr rates at a dealer.

 

[Torrid]

Very alarming what automotive shops and oil change places screw up these days. I will change my own oil until they pry the wrench from my cold dead hands.

Whether or not they do a good job, there's peace of mind doing it yourself and knowing it was done right instead of guessing or double checking their work.

My GTI is the easiest oil change I've ever done. Extractor through the dipstick tube and the filter is on the top of the motor. To be honest I usually only pay for oil changes during the warranty period and it's done at the dealer for record keeping purposes without proving receipts after the fact.

 

[buster]

There are some things I've very particular about and want done right. That's the only reason I do it myself. I know quick lubes are driven by volume so you're not guaranteed things will be done as good as they should be.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Changing your own oil just isn't an option for millions of people living in big cities.

MityVac for the win.

 

[MavRick]

MityVac for the win.

Can you explain how this would help? In big cities there is the drain issue - where to drain. And there is also disposal issues - where can it be recycled.

 

[CarlB]

Can you explain how this would help? In big cities there is the drain issue - where to drain. And there is also disposal issues - where can it be recycled.

He's saying you can extract the oil with the car on the ground. No need to drain.

For disposal, the extractor can put it right back into the containers, then you take to a place selling oil like a parts store or Walmart.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Can you explain how this would help? In big cities there is the drain issue - where to drain. And there is also disposal issues - where can it be recycled.

The MityVac extractor does not work on all vehicles, but most. I swap the oil filter every 2nd (or even 3rd) 5K mile oil change service. At that time I perform things like tire rotation.

But for the others it is simply get the oil warm, remove oil cap, pull dip stick and stab the plastic tube. Pump it 10 times, then a little more over a 5 - 10 minute time. You can fish the tube around to find the low spot and get out as much oil as possible.

Fill 'er back up, expel used oil into container and take it to wherever. You can take your car to your regular oil change place for the filter swap services.
GS350 oil change; the MityVac works very well on this car.

 

[Leroybrown]

MityVac for the win.

This works if you can access the filter under the hood. It's not a solution If you have to lift the vehicle to get to the filter.

 

[alcyon]

Because I cant even trust workshops to jack the car up at the proper locations.

 

[Jpc1623]

#104

 

[JeffKeryk]

This works if you can access the filter under the hood. It's not a solution If you have to lift the vehicle to get to the filter.

I swap the filter every 2nd or even 3rd service. 5K (or less) intervals. Even then, it is so easy (and clean) to use the extractor.
But as you say, top side oil filter is pretty nice.

When I swap the filter, I do a tire rotation, etc.

 

[KrisZ]

Changing your own oil just isn't an option for millions of people living in big cities.

There is always an option.
I used to change my oil in Walmarts or a shopping mall parking lot with one wheel parked on a curb. That was when I was a student with little money.

I’m not recommending people do what I did, but there are options for those that seek them. A fluid extractor was mentioned by @JeffKeryk, which is an excellent idea, even if one has a garage at home.

 

[Patman]

There is always an option.
I used to change my oil in Walmarts or a shopping mall parking lot with one wheel parked on a curb. That was when I was a student with little money.

I’m not recommending people do what I did, but there are options for those that seek them. A fluid extractor was mentioned by @JeffKeryk, which is an excellent idea, even if one has a garage at home.

I live in an apartment but I drive over to my father’s house to do all of my oil changes and I just keep my ramps there. So for other people who might think that they don’t have any option because of where they live, there is a good chance that they have a friend or relative who has a space for them to do oil changes.