Poll: Do you change your oil in your car yourself? (live, costs)

[bigtrees]

I grew up in a Montana family where my father always changed the oil in his car himself. I do it as well, even though it is a messy job and I hate doing it. But it saves $20 or so and I really like saving money.

So I'm curious: How many Montanans change their oil and how many have people do it for them?

[AQHA]

No reason to change it myself when it can be done at the shop so cheap. Also, at the shop they will grease all the zerts and things that I can't easily reach. Heck, they even adjust tire pressure and blow out my air filter.

[grizzfan]

I used to do this when access to the oil pan and filter were convenient. Try to find them now without removing a couple of access panels and without 4 skinned knuckles!!!

Furthermore, it's a messy job and the oil must be properly disposed of and not placed in the garbage, storm sewer, etc.

Best to go to Jiffy Lube or your dealer.

[bigtrees]

Changing my own oil really has a lot to do with my family values - grandparents in my family lived in Montana through the Depression and it left a big impression on them. Many of the siblings of my grandparents moved in with each other to make ends meet and life was hard. So now it seems wasteful to plunk down $45 to do something that is easy, takes me about 1 hour, and costs me about $10.

I hate dealing with the used oil and oil filters. It's an absolute mess to deal with and hard to dispose. I'm lucky - where I'm at now the recycling truck takes it away with the curbside pickup. But that's not Montana.

[Joe Doer]

If you are paying $45 for an oil change, you may want to check around. That is too expensive.

[mtboy]

well, not really depends on what you have. My truck cost me $70 to change in the lube station. Always need 3 gallons of oil ($30), oil filter ($10), and air filter ($15) usually need to change everytime I change the oil usually about 5,000 (I drive a diesel). I can save about $20-30 doing it myself, plus you get outside, and you could use the time to bond with your son/daughter/friend/wife.

FYI, your not supposed to "blow" your air filter out, this causes damage to the filter and if your filter falls apart and gets pulled into the engine, good luck. I can see $45 for a small truck or car oil change. 2 gallons oil probably $20 and filter $10 and then labor is always about $10-$15. Does depend on were you go, but around 40 does not seem unreasonable to me.

[Gman2007]

Always have changed my own oil and always will. Although, the smaller the cars are getting, the harder it is to get the job done!

Our local dump takes all our used oil - just pour it into the storage tank.

[rangerider]

Pretty much do everything mechanical here, but have to draw the line on newer vehicle engine, transmission, and driveline teardown. Tuneups, brakes, oil/fuel filters, the average stuff is easy enough, but bigger things require too much in expense for specialty tools and electronics, not to mention knowledge. Not worth it anymore.

Like working on my bikes and 'ol '74 Ford, tho.