Oil Change - DIY or pay someone? (brake, engines, costs)

[KellyKdros]

I have been able to change oil since I was a teen before I was even driving and my dad taught me. I would change the oil on our family cars or my brother would.

Then when I started driving and working after a while I would take my car to Jiffy Lube or some oil change place like that. Usually it was around $25 or it was even like $20 with a coupon that I could find for most places. Well for a few years I have been getting it changed the prices crept up and now I realized I can't find a place to do it for less than something like $33 plus tax so it's over $35.

So I invested in ramps for my car for like $40 and started doing my own oil changes again and it never costs me more than $20, so the ramps have been paid for after 2 oil changes. Plus it takes me as long to do this as it used to take me to go to the oil change place and wait so there is no time lost.

So what are you doing these days? Anyone else switch from paying to have it done to doing it themselves?

[gman6974]

I have always changed my oil and always will. I do any mechanical work I can myself unless it's too big or I don't trust myself. Then I take it to my cousin who builds engines all day long and is ASE certified. No need to pay $35+ for an oil change.

[ShelbyGirl1]

Our oil has never been changed by anyone but us, no matter what car. No...I'll take that back...there was ONE that was a near impossibility with our lift...Dealer did change the oil on that one

[Professor Griff]

Light work such as oil changes, tune-ups, brake pad/rotor replacements, sensor replacement (depending on where), are done by me. Oil changes aren't hard, but take your car to Big Lube and see how easy it is for a 16 y/o to f--- it up. If you do take your car to a mechanic, see if they will allow you to bring your own oil and filter.

[Deez Nuttz]

I've always changed my own oil. Easier, cheaper and at least I know I'm doing it right.

Jiffy Lube = "Well round off the head on your oil drain bolt and then we'll not even hand tighten your filter."

[yo vanilla]

I do all of my own car repairs. I haven't had anyone else change my oil in probably 10 years, and that was because I lived in an apartment and the lanlord would give me a hard time about working on the car in the lot.

[Tightwad]

Originally Posted by KellyKdros

I have been able to change oil since I was a teen before I was even driving and my dad taught me. I would change the oil on our family cars or my brother would.

Then when I started driving and working after a while I would take my car to Jiffy Lube or some oil change place like that. Usually it was around $25 or it was even like $20 with a coupon that I could find for most places. Well for a few years I have been getting it changed the prices crept up and now I realized I can't find a place to do it for less than something like $33 plus tax so it's over $35.

So I invested in ramps for my car for like $40 and started doing my own oil changes again and it never costs me more than $20, so the ramps have been paid for after 2 oil changes. Plus it takes me as long to do this as it used to take me to go to the oil change place and wait so there is no time lost.

So what are you doing these days? Anyone else switch from paying to have it done to doing it themselves?

Are you capturing the waste oil and recycling it? Or do you pour it on the ground?

The capturing the oil is the easy part but many folk's don't have a place to take the oil that will accept it so they dump in on the ground to leach into the water table. THAT is the single most important reason to let a garage do your changes..........RECYCLING OF THE WASTE OIL.

[KellyKdros]

Originally Posted by Tightwad

Are you capturing the waste oil and recycling it? Or do you pour it on the ground?

The capturing the oil is the easy part but many folk's don't have a place to take the oil that will accept it so they dump in on the ground to leach into the water table. THAT is the single most important reason to let a garage do your changes..........RECYCLING OF THE WASTE OIL.

I just open the drain pan and let it dump out onto the pavement then I hose it into the grass and sewer. It's convenient because while I'm spraying the oil away I also dump out other household chemicals, paint, etc. and spray it away too. This mehtod also works excellent for antifreeze, transmission fluid, brake fluid etc.

[drjones96]

I just started back changing my own recently.

I had a shop that I trusted to do it (as well as perform other services) when I was in TX. It was the kind of place that I wouldn't be hesitant about sending my wife to get her oil changed if I wasn't available to do it. I knew they wouldn't gouge her and get her to do unnecessary stuff.
But since I moved to KS I haven't been able to find another place like that (haven't looked that hard to be honest). So I just started doing it myself.

[Tightwad]

Originally Posted by KellyKdros

I just open the drain pan and let it dump out onto the pavement then I hose it into the grass and sewer. It's convenient because while I'm spraying the oil away I also dump out other household chemicals, paint, etc. and spray it away too. This mehtod also works excellent for antifreeze, transmission fluid, brake fluid etc.

Polluter! I hope you like your water contaminated with oil.