Oil change experience

[JOHNNIE36]

All of you talking about changing your own oil crack me up. You have to be physically able to do that sort of thing, have the right tools and knowhow, have the ability to get under the car or jack it up, live in a area where car maintenance in the driveway is allowed and lastly, like to change oil. I get mine done when the local Goodyear tire dealer is running a special for $19.95 that includes the oil, filter, free tire rotation and top off all fluids. For $20 I wouldn't even think of doing it myself.

[jimnjana]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nords Lately I've been blowing that off for five years or until after I get caught in a heavy rainstorm, whichever happens first. Haven't been able to tell a significant difference.

Is that a benefit of living in Hawaii? We had been putting close to 20K miles a year on the Highlander, changing the wipers 2x year on average.

[nafddur1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOHNNIE36 All of you talking about changing your own oil crack me up. You have to be physically able to do that sort of thing, have the right tools and knowhow, have the ability to get under the car or jack it up, live in a area where car maintenance in the driveway is allowed and lastly, like to change oil. I get mine done when the local Goodyear tire dealer is running a special for $19.95 that includes the oil, filter, free tire rotation and top off all fluids. For $20 I wouldn't even think of doing it myself.

I guarantee that for $20 you aren't getting good quality (full synthetic) oil, nor a good quality (with an anti drainback valve) filter. Those are imperative in any car I own - likely why my cars last as long as they do.

More importantly, doing it yourself avoids the horror stories (wrong fluids put in, under/over filling, stripped drain plugs, other car damage, etc.) that result so often when someone else does such a simple job for you.

Granted, one has to be motivated somewhat to change his own oil and not afraid to get his hands dirty, has to have a couple simple tools, and has to be a little nimble to get under a car to remove a drain plug. But some of us just like to do this sort of work. Even considering disposal of the old oil, it still takes less time than taking your car to someone else to change it. It also provides a good opportunity (twice a year in my case) to rotate my tires and get under the car to do a thorough inspection.

To each their own. Considering all the advantages, I just don't get why more people don't change their own oil.

[brewer12345]

I am capable of changing my own oil, but have no interest in doing so. I have been taking my vehicles to my mechanic for years and the regular oil changes he does are also an opportunity for him to spot any problems that have developed that I might not notice.

[Nodak]

Quote:

Originally Posted by samclem You had an XKE too? Three side-draft carbs to synchronize and rear disk brakes (located next to the differential and directly beneath the fuel tank) that dragged and glowed cherry-red. Drop the rear end to change out the disks. Woo-hoo! But, the most beautiful car I'll ever own.

I had an old Jag also, it was a lovely car. Then I realized I didn't make enough money to support it.

[TromboneAl]

Thanks for resisting, MichaelB.

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Originally Posted by jimnjana I will change my wiper blades though.

If you sand them down a bit with fine grit sandpaper or steel wool, they'll be as good as new. Even cleaning them with windex on a paper towel makes a huge difference.

They are just a strip of rubber, after all. Perhaps they deteriorate more in an environment with more heat and sun that ours.

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That "you'll have to sign this liability form" is a very clever lie. I've encountered it elsewhere as well.

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On a somewhat related issue: many gas stations now charge 75 cents for air for your tires. In California, there's a law says that it has to be free if you buy gas there. I found a solution to this Saturday, when I discovered one tire was very low: I bought $1 worth of gas, then got my free air.

[nafddur1]

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Originally Posted by TromboneAl many gas stations now charge 75 cents for air for your tires. In California, there's a law says that it has to be free if you buy gas there. I found a solution to this Saturday, when I discovered one tire was very low: I bought $1 worth of gas, then got my free air.

1/4 gallon? Unless you (unfortunately) happen to live right next door to the gas station, you probably used way more than that just driving to get your `free' air.

Even decent air compressors aren't very expensive. For around $100 (if I remember correctly) you can just plug your own compressor in, wait a minute or so for the tank to fill up, and top your tires off yourself in your own garage or driveway. Now you have a lifetime supply of air at your constant dosposal.

[Dimsumkid]

When I was a teenager, I worked at a new car dealership that sold Porsche/Audi/Saab/Subaru. When you brought your car in for an oil change, they advertised oil change specials with 2 grades. The stuff was setup in pressurized hoses and connected to 100+ gallon tanks. It was name brand oil, like Castrol,IIRC, but it was the really cheap stuff, so cheap that none of the people that worked there used either grade that came from the tanks. They would go to the parts dept and get the 1qt bottles you find at the auto parts stores instead.

[73ss454]

About 10 years ago when DD was away in college I told her to take her car and get the oil changed as I couldn't do it being 1200 miles away. As she was driving home she called me and told me the car was bucking. I had her call the dealership and have the car towed in to see what was wrong as this was a 1 year old car.

Turns out the person doing the oil change drained the transmission and added 5 quarts of oil to the oil pan. So DD had 10 qts of oil in the engine and no transmission fluid.
Most cars don't have transmission pan drains but this car did.

This is why I do it myself.

[73ss454]

Dimsumkid is correct. I spent many years working in a car dealership and the oil they use is the cheapest garbage they can buy. The mechanics would never use it on their cars. Dealers buy it in 50gal drums for a song.

[JOHNNIE36]

For the record, I'm not knocking changing your own oil. Having it done by a car repair place you can trust is just an option. My new Honda will go to the dealer for service when needed. My golf course car, a 1998 Ford Escort with 179,650 miles, doesn't warrant anything better than the $20 job. I really wish I had the physical ability to change my own oil. Even then, don't think I would do it. Some things are best left to others.

[KingB]

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Originally Posted by 73ss454 This is why I do it myself. Work is something you do to get enough $ so you don't have to....Me.

[eytonxav]

I have actually heard of problems going the other route, you run your car on dino oil for thousands of miles and then switch to synthetic only to find it leaks out the seals.

[73ss454]

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Originally Posted by DFW_M5 I have actually heard of problems going the other route, you run your car on dino oil for thousands of miles and then switch to synthetic only to find it leaks out the seals.

I changed the gear lube my old chevelle's 4 speed transmission to synthetic. In no time I had synthetic gear lube coming out of every seal of the transmission.

[nafddur1]

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Originally Posted by 73ss454 I changed the gear lube my old chevelle's 4 speed transmission to synthetic. In no time I had synthetic gear lube coming out of every seal of the transmission.

That's a GMC for you. I put Redline (MT-90) synthetic gear oil in my Maxima at 207K a couple years ago, and it's been perfect (nary a leak) ever since. It felt great to get the Dino transmission oil out and switch to synthetic, even though it did take some searching to find GL4 rated oil.

As for engines prone to seal problems, that's all the more reason to get synthetic in them as soon as possible - before the damage starts. And some synthetics these days have additives in them to make them compatible with higher mileage engines.

[Bestwifeever]

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Originally Posted by nafddur1 ...More importantly, doing it yourself avoids the horror stories (wrong fluids put in, under/over filling, stripped drain plugs, other car damage, etc.) that result so often when someone else does such a simple job for you.....

I'm pretty sure all of the above happened the one and only time DH and I decided to change our own oil to save $5.

[M Paquette]

Ask to see the torque wrench they'll use for tightening the drain plug, and what torque they'll apply.

A quizzical expression or attempt to BS is a cue to leave...

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nafddur1 That's a GMC for you.

Yep, those damn American, Japanese, German, Korean, British, cars are just trash...

[eytonxav]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nafddur1 That's a GMC for you. I put Redline (MT-90) synthetic gear oil in my Maxima at 207K a couple years ago, and it's been perfect (nary a leak) ever since. It felt great to get the Dino transmission oil out and switch to synthetic, even though it did take some searching to find GL4 rated oil. As for engines prone to seal problems, that's all the more reason to get synthetic in them as soon as possible - before the damage starts. And some synthetics these days have additives in them to make them compatible with higher mileage engines.

I like the most of Redlines oils, both engine and transmission. Used it exclusively in my Vette which had a 475 HP stroker motor in it.

I definitely agree with changing your oil yourself, aside from $ saving, you can avoid the shop under/over filling or not tighening your drain plug (have experienced all of those problems over the years).

73ss454, I have a big soft spot in my heart for chevy's, especially my 67 which was preped by Motion Performance. I ate goats for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

[73ss454]

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Originally Posted by DFW_M5 I like the most of Redlines oils, both engine and transmission. Used it exclusively in my Vette which had a 475 HP stroker motor in it. I definitely agree with changing your oil yourself, aside from $ saving, you can avoid the shop under/over filling or not tighening your drain plug (have experienced all of those problems over the years). 73ss454, I have a big soft spot in my heart for chevy's, especially my 67 which was preped by Motion Performance. I ate goats for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I grew up on LI about 8 miles from Motion Performance and knew Joel Rosen during the day. I once had my 66 Chevelle dyno tuned there. Still have my Holley 3 barrel in the garage that I bought from Motion in 1968.