Change your own oil!

[bac]

Originally Posted by lefat1

do you have some mechanical aptitude? if not do not attempt!

Really? It's 1 screw and 1 (screw off) oil filter.

... Brad

[krmcg]

I purchased my own oil and filter (Mobil1 synthetic 0w-30 Advanced Fuel Economy) and took my car to Jiffylube. Even with my insistence not to overfill the crackcase, they added too much oil. ( We apparently did not wait long enough to check it before I left the shop) After checking the level at home afterwards and seeing the oil line above the top "dot", I went back and had them drain some out until it was about and eighth of an inch below the top mark.
It was an expensive proposition, and I may go ahead and do it myself next time. I will at least only give them the 3.5 quarts, so that they can not overfill it.
Kevin McGonagle

[icarus]

For DIY oil changers out there, I discovered a great idea. Use a small hand vacuum pump to suck the oil out instead of pulling the plug. I was very skeptical at first until my independent shop guy showed me that that is what they use on all the high rent cars. I bought a pump at Boaters World for ~$30. Stick the hose in the dipstick hole, pump the pump a few times, and sit back and wait. Takes about five minutes to suck ALL the oil out of the pan. To be sure, I pulled the plug anyway, and got not one drop to come out of the drain! Pull the filter, spin on a new on and away you go. Way less mess, no risk of stripping the drain plug, no hassle of remembering to get a new gasket for the plug. I'm sold! Works great on small engines as well.

Icarus

[yams69]

An alternative to the vacuum pump approach is the Fumoto oil drain valve, discussed here previously. Installed mine during my first oil change this weekend. Just flip the lever and the oil drains out - no fishing the drain plug out of the used oil anymore! Of course, as easy as it is to drain the oil now, it's a piece of cake for a knowledgeable person to screw up my car. Guess I'd better be nice to everyone....

The oil filter, on the other hand, was pretty tricky to access, even with the car up on Rhino ramps. I added a few extensions to my ratchet set to make it a bit easier next time.

[hammy]

Imagination or not my Commute mileage dropped by 6 MPG this past week with 3.9 Qts. My driving technique or route did not change. I just drained a half quart out and I am interested in the results.

[bac]

Originally Posted by icarus

For DIY oil changers out there, I discovered a great idea. Use a small hand vacuum pump to suck the oil out instead of pulling the plug. I was very skeptical at first until my independent shop guy showed me that that is what they use on all the high rent cars. I bought a pump at Boaters World for ~$30.

Hey Icarus. Is the pump something like this?

Amazon.com: SeaChoice Oil Change Pump: Sports & Outdoors

... Brad

[okiebutnotfrommuskogee]

The last time I was at the dealer's for my "free" oil change I told the service writer (or what ever they call them nowdays) to put a notation on the ticket that said "do not overfill"

When I got the car back I checked the oil before driving away. It was right at the top mark. I didn't really read my copy of the invoice when I got the smart key back because it was no charge anyway.

At home when I was putting the invoice in my Prius book I took time to read what it said. He had really typed in "do not overfill - customer will check oil in parking lot"

I have one more "free" change to go and then will probably go back to doing my own oil changes using Mobile 1, but still go to the dealer to buy my filters and drain plug gaskets so that there will be a trail for warranty purposes.

Believe it or not, going to this dealership is kinda fun. They have a cafe with some free goodies for customers. The more expensive stuff costs. At one end of the large showroom is a soothing waterfall. It is really a neat place and worth a trip even if you are not going for service or to shop for a car.

[TheDrGene]

My Dealership wanted $95 to change the oil. It was part of a whole "package" that included oil and filter as well as tire rotation and a fuel additive to the tank.

I opted to change my own oil, Mobil 1 and filter was $22 and I then took my wife out for a nice dinner with the change!

[kohnen]

Originally Posted by TheDrGene

My Dealership wanted $95 to change the oil. It was part of a whole "package" that included oil and filter as well as tire rotation and a fuel additive to the tank.

I opted to change my own oil, Mobil 1 and filter was $22 and I then took my wife out for a nice dinner with the change!

4 Quarts of Mobil 1: $18
1 Oil filter: $4
1 Bottle of Techron: $8

Taking your wife out to dinner with the $65 you saved by skipping the package "deal:" Priceless

[doubleg2005]

what i like is when i took Pablo in for his scheduled 25,000 mile check-up and asked for synthetic oil. you would have thought i asked for liquid diamonds.
"you know that stuff's like $7 a quart, right?"
after a few minutes, i quit trying to reason with the man about how synthetic lasts longer than dino or blend, isn't contributing to the middle east, and how i get better fuel economy with it. he just shrugged and said, "whatever. I suppose next you're going to ask me to fill up your tires to the sidewall rating and not to overfill the oil?"
"why, yes I am! 50/48 on the tires and 3.5 Q will be fine"