Comments on: Is Changing Your Own Oil Worth It? http://cashmoneylife.com/change-own-oil-worth-cost-savings/ Money Management, Small Business, Career Wed, 23 May 2012 21:16:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Frank http://cashmoneylife.com/change-own-oil-worth-cost-savings/#comment-38860 Frank Tue, 15 Nov 2011 23:55:03 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/?p=1524#comment-38860 I got screwed up twice by the mechanics. One time, they stripped the oil pan screw, but didn't tell me. I found it out when it was leaking, and fortunately it was just leaking - the plug was barely there - you can easily pull it out. I can't imaging what would be if the plug fell off on a freeway. The second time, they messed up the fitting that connects the transmission liquid, and the liquid was leaking; I should have gone back to have them fix it (if I was lucky it might be free); but that week I was soaked with important meetings so I decided to go back on Saturday. Wrong. The transmission was burned out. It cost me merely $2000 to have it rebuilt. From that time on I would take my car to the dealer ONLY if it is absolutely necessary. It is not just saving some $$ (about $30 for a synthetic), it also saves me about 2 hours, a round trip to the shop, and most important of all, you take good care of you own car. I got screwed up twice by the mechanics. One time, they stripped the oil pan screw, but didn’t tell me. I found it out when it was leaking, and fortunately it was just leaking – the plug was barely there – you can easily pull it out. I can’t imaging what would be if the plug fell off on a freeway.

The second time, they messed up the fitting that connects the transmission liquid, and the liquid was leaking; I should have gone back to have them fix it (if I was lucky it might be free); but that week I was soaked with important meetings so I decided to go back on Saturday. Wrong. The transmission was burned out. It cost me merely $2000 to have it rebuilt.

From that time on I would take my car to the dealer ONLY if it is absolutely necessary. It is not just saving some $$ (about $30 for a synthetic), it also saves me about 2 hours, a round trip to the shop, and most important of all, you take good care of you own car.

]]> By: Will http://cashmoneylife.com/change-own-oil-worth-cost-savings/#comment-32213 Will Tue, 26 Apr 2011 23:06:08 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/?p=1524#comment-32213 I change my own, for reasons others have mentioned. I only use synthetic so for me it is cheaper to do it myself, and i can be sure that the job is done right. I have heard so many stories about the filter not being changed because someone was lazy, or from personal experience, the mechanic leaving items in the car, getting home and finding a rag or a wrench left under the hood(score!). Bottom line is yeah it may take longer for me to do it and the savings may or not be that much, but I own the car and I am the only one I fully trust to work on it... I change my own, for reasons others have mentioned. I only use synthetic so for me it is cheaper to do it myself, and i can be sure that the job is done right. I have heard so many stories about the filter not being changed because someone was lazy, or from personal experience, the mechanic leaving items in the car, getting home and finding a rag or a wrench left under the hood(score!). Bottom line is yeah it may take longer for me to do it and the savings may or not be that much, but I own the car and I am the only one I fully trust to work on it…

]]> By: mike http://cashmoneylife.com/change-own-oil-worth-cost-savings/#comment-27966 mike Mon, 13 Dec 2010 08:10:03 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/?p=1524#comment-27966 If the coupons are only for 5 quarts or less and your truck takes 6.2 then you will save at least $12 for conventional and much more money if you go synthetic. Sometimes you save alot of time too, i've had places tell me they werent busy on the phone only to make me wait an hour and a half to get to the job. I suppose getting your vehicle done at a walmart or bj's while you shop would be a time savings though. If you need ramps and can cut wood then several 2x10 of various lengths nailed on top of each other make stepped ramps that work better and cost half of the commercial ramps. All the other tools you might need cost less than $20 total at harbor freight. I have a fumoto valve, lifetime investment and quick and clean oil changes. Many towns around here will pick up used motor oil with the curbside recycling . The rest of us wait till we go shopping at a walmart or autoparts store. I transfer my waste oil to the empty containers the new oil came in then write a W on them so I remember they're waste oil. If the coupons are only for 5 quarts or less and your truck takes 6.2 then you will save at least $12 for conventional and much more money if you go synthetic.

Sometimes you save alot of time too, i’ve had places tell me they werent busy on the phone only to make me wait an hour and a half to get to the job. I suppose getting your vehicle done at a walmart or bj’s while you shop would be a time savings though.

If you need ramps and can cut wood then several 2×10 of various lengths nailed on top of each other make stepped ramps that work better and cost half of the commercial ramps.

All the other tools you might need cost less than $20 total at harbor freight.

I have a fumoto valve, lifetime investment and quick and clean oil changes.

Many towns around here will pick up used motor oil with the curbside recycling . The rest of us wait till we go shopping at a walmart or autoparts store. I transfer my waste oil to the empty containers the new oil came in then write a W on them so I remember they’re waste oil.

]]> By: Rick http://cashmoneylife.com/change-own-oil-worth-cost-savings/#comment-26486 Rick Fri, 12 Nov 2010 04:03:44 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/?p=1524#comment-26486 A few years ago, I would have said to have your oil changed at an oil shop. You used to be able to get an oil change for $20-25. Nowadays, it cost's almost $40 to get your oil changed at Jiffy Lube! This is now ridiculous. On top of that, you never know if they are doing a good job. Also, the oil they use is garbage! I can get a much better oil, and a better filter, and do the job myself for $25. That's $15 savings per change. We aren't talking "just a few dollars savings" over the life of your vehicle. The money really adds up. Also, any Auto Zone will gladly take your old oil at no charge. It's nice to see places that promote DIY projects offer services like this. So, if you were to ask me now, I would say change your own oil, and enjoy being a man for little while! A few years ago, I would have said to have your oil changed at an oil shop. You used to be able to get an oil change for $20-25. Nowadays, it cost’s almost $40 to get your oil changed at Jiffy Lube! This is now ridiculous. On top of that, you never know if they are doing a good job. Also, the oil they use is garbage! I can get a much better oil, and a better filter, and do the job myself for $25. That’s $15 savings per change. We aren’t talking “just a few dollars savings” over the life of your vehicle. The money really adds up. Also, any Auto Zone will gladly take your old oil at no charge. It’s nice to see places that promote DIY projects offer services like this. So, if you were to ask me now, I would say change your own oil, and enjoy being a man for little while!

]]> By: Lou N http://cashmoneylife.com/change-own-oil-worth-cost-savings/#comment-26305 Lou N Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:31:46 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/?p=1524#comment-26305 I live in a suburb of NY, and own two vehicles. I use synthetic oil on both vehicles. A local lube shop charges 84.95 for a full sythetic oil change, plus 20.99 for tire rotation. For 2 cars every 6 months thats $212 excluding tax. I can change the oil for 60 myself. and i found a mavis which charges 11.99 for tire rotation. I am saving 264 a year I live in a suburb of NY, and own two vehicles. I use synthetic oil on both vehicles. A local lube shop charges 84.95 for a full sythetic oil change, plus 20.99 for tire rotation. For 2 cars every 6 months thats $212 excluding tax.

I can change the oil for 60 myself. and i found a mavis which charges 11.99 for tire rotation. I am saving 264 a year

]]> By: Ryan http://cashmoneylife.com/change-own-oil-worth-cost-savings/#comment-25023 Ryan Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:29:11 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/?p=1524#comment-25023 jasers, there are a lot of places that charge around $30 - usually the quick stop oil change places. It all depends on where you live and the competition. Where we live there are quite a few places with standard prices of $25, and they almost always have coupons in the $17 range. The oil filter for my car costs around $8, and it takes roughly 5 quarts of oil. I would rather pay someone because I don't see much savings doing it on my own. I also take it to the same place where I purchased my tires so I have them inspect and rotate them so they remain under warranty. It works for me, but I understand why many people want to change their car's oil instead of taking it to a shop. jasers, there are a lot of places that charge around $30 – usually the quick stop oil change places. It all depends on where you live and the competition. Where we live there are quite a few places with standard prices of $25, and they almost always have coupons in the $17 range. The oil filter for my car costs around $8, and it takes roughly 5 quarts of oil. I would rather pay someone because I don’t see much savings doing it on my own. I also take it to the same place where I purchased my tires so I have them inspect and rotate them so they remain under warranty. It works for me, but I understand why many people want to change their car’s oil instead of taking it to a shop.

]]> By: jasers http://cashmoneylife.com/change-own-oil-worth-cost-savings/#comment-25020 jasers Mon, 09 Aug 2010 05:21:59 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/?p=1524#comment-25020 I would have to disagree that it is only a $5 savings at best. Maybe double that and even more. I've seen crazy places where an oil change is like $30 or more. I would have to disagree that it is only a $5 savings at best. Maybe double that and even more. I’ve seen crazy places where an oil change is like $30 or more.

]]> By: Michael http://cashmoneylife.com/change-own-oil-worth-cost-savings/#comment-23346 Michael Sat, 24 Apr 2010 20:06:32 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/?p=1524#comment-23346 I pick up boxes of 12 for between $11 and $15. I buy "generic" at a regional department store. The maker is Citgo, and it's the same oil they're selling for twice as much under their own brand at the same store. I agree that the savings are much more than $5. I pick up boxes of 12 for between $11 and $15. I buy “generic” at a regional department store. The maker is Citgo, and it’s the same oil they’re selling for twice as much under their own brand at the same store. I agree that the savings are much more than $5.

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