Who does your oil changes?

[Thalasso]

Re: Who does your oil changes?

I do mine myself now. Used to take it back to the dealer and then went to the oil change places. Not a one of them would grease three fittings on the drive shaft even after i told them i will check them when i rotate the tires. Now i do it myself. I really don't like doing it, but now i know it gets done right. As mentioned above about the skid plate, the oil change place broke the bolts off and used wire ties to hold it on.

 

[sublauxation]

Re: Who does your oil changes?

I always do my own. I used a quick change place twice. Immediately after the first time a couple weird things went wrong. Who knows if it had anything to do with the oil change but it was suspicious enough that I didn't go back. The second place I tried only because the previous owner over tightened the filter and I couldn't get a good grip to get it off. The tech told me the filter came right off but it still took them 45 minutes and I'm pretty sure they put in the wrong anitfreeze when they "topped it off." I can do both my cars in that time and save about $15 total, plus I don't have someone harping on me to change every other fluid. I still go back to that shop regularly since by state law they have to accept all used oil and they get mine. They told me a horror story about how they once took in some contaminated oil and it cost them a bundle to get rid of the entire tank.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Who does your oil changes?

Local mechanic does oil changes for $11.99. It's a loss-leader for him. Cheaper, easier, and quicker then me doing it myself. I do always feel guilty not doing it myself though.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Who does your oil changes?

Used to do them all myself until I got lazy about 5 years ago. Now I use the same local quick change shop all the time for both vehicles. Decent price, decent service and no sales pitch for other services unless you specifically ask about them. It's so easy doing it this way I would never go back to doing it myself.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Who does your oil changes?

Beefer, what brand of oil and filter do you get for $11.99?. Local lube shops here are $14.99 to $30+ for oilchanges.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Who does your oil changes?

Lol... good question. I never looked. I have it done every 3k, so I've never worried about it. It is a reputable shop though, and the $11.99 is a coupon they run every month.

 

[1973Chieftain]

Re: Who does your oil changes?

I generally do my own since it is so much cheaper.

 

[204 Escape]

Re: Who does your oil changes?

Use to use the local Quick Lube Shop. Didn't like the guy's attitude. For example. If you didn't buy wiper blades everytime, he got grouchy. AND, he changed the transmisssion filter in a Dodge truck that I oncce owned, and when I went to the garage the next day, there was fluid all over the floor !!! His help didn't get all of the bolts tightened up !!

I now buy my own oil, and take it to the local FORD shop. They change it for $11.40 every time. Fill the fluids on everything, air up the tires, if needed, etc. They have done it for a long time. I can't change the oil, and dispose of the oil, and filter properly, for that amount of money. PLUS, if I change it at home, I still have to drive to a place to dispose of the oil/filter.

 

[tomdinwv]

Re: Who does your oil changes?

I do all the oil changes on our vehicles myself. It's not a big deal to do and it gives me a chance to check everything out under my truck and my wife's car. I worked for an auto parts retailer for years and also worked as a mechanic for many years. I still do everything myself unless it is a warrenty job. I even take on any repairs that need done around the house. Very rarely do I have to pay anyone to do any work on my home, vehicles or toys.

 

[windshield_time]

Re: Who does your oil changes?

I personally don't have a place a to it myself all year round. So I use a quick lube. I use the Valvoline down the street from me and they do the job well. I know they want to up sell services and filters etc, so I politely say no cause that I can do on my own. I will say however that if I get a real good coupon for someone else I will use it if I can. The boat I do myself. Actually I think it would be funny to bring my boat to a quick change, just to see the reaction on their faces. Also I use synthetic oil which of course costs more. I don't think if I got a garage I would do it myself unless I had it had a lift, I'm getting too cranky for busting my knuckles in order to save a few bucks.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Who does your oil changes?

Since oil is oil as long as it's certified for use in my vehicle, I take it Wally World and let them deal with it for $21.95. It?s hard to buy the oil and filter for that price let alone figure in my time to change it then run the old oil and filter down to the recycling center.

 

[Av8nBill]

Re: Who does your oil changes?

I know I could get it done cheaper at a Quik Lube or something, but I change it myself anyway. Even if it says "Valvoline" or "Pennzoil", etc. on the side of the building, you won't convince me that's what they're pulling out of the bulk tank and pumping into my rig. It also gives me a chance to look around and check for leaks, loose pieces, etc.

 

[zopperman]

Re: Who does your oil changes?

STS (my mechanic who my family has been patronizing for 20+ years) charges upwards of 60 bucks for synthetic (8 qts + filter + labor) so I do it myself if I have time.. however, my dad HATES my doing anything to my truck and he has final say.. and also, STS usually gives me a discount or does it for free when they do other work (like changes the cam position sensor like they just did) I used a quick lube place once.. 20 bucks... 10 minutes and they put in a busted filter and I had an oil leak. Never go back to one of those places again.

 

[littlebookworm]

Re: Who does your oil changes?

I change the oil and filter on my boat myself. I used to do all our cars - we had five cars when the kids were living at home- but now I bring it to a local oil change shop. At 67, it's a little too difficult to slide under the car to save $10, especially in cold weather. I change oil every 4500 miles, about every 6 months for my wife's car and every 2 months for mine. I just traded in my last car, a 2005 Toyota Solara, with 145k miles on it. It didn't burn a drop of oil and ran like a top.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Who does your oil changes?

Have always done my own with wally world oil & filters....saved a ton of money over many years and will continue as long as my health allows. I use the old oil in my chainsaws and also use it to treat fence posts.

 

[veritas honus]

Re: Who does your oil changes?

I do my own oil changes. Auto Zone always has some kind of top grade oil on sale for under $20.00 with some kind of free premium oil filter. There's plenty of room under my truck. It takes me about 15 minutes without hurrying.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Who does your oil changes?

I used to be a faithful JiffyLube customer with all my vehicles. However I got tired of all the upselling (I read my owner's manuals and know what's actually required and when) and them screwing stuff up (not resetting the oil life monitor, wrong or uneven tire pressures) so now I do all my own. I usually use Mobil 1 and Wix filters from Rockauto.com. Wish you could buy oil online too.

 

[canoemang]

Re: Who does your oil changes?

I change my own oil in both vehicles, I also do ALL of the mechanic work.

I know of 2 buddies who have had there oil changes done by a "professional" and there drain plugs fell out within 100 miles causing the engine to seize. one of them is currently in a court battle over it (with one of the above named places) and the other one won his and they replaced his engine.. he didn't have them do it..

I'll pay a little extra and take the time out of my schedule to do it correct and know it is correct.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Who does your oil changes?

There needs to be a combination of DIY and the shop in the poll. My truck I do myself unless it needs to be done in the middle of winter, then I bring it into a repair shop(not a dealer). My wife's Charger I have the repair shop do it because the front is too low and I don't want to mess with it. Not interested in ramps nor is there really a place for a floor jack and stands........

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: Who does your oil changes?

I do my own on everything I own. For me, farming it out is like a master plumber hiring another plumber to fix a flapper valve in his toilet. A LOF is a chance for me to look over the car to see if there is anything else wrong with it. And who would have more interest in finding issues than my self? Certainly not the dude at Jiffy Lube who wants to get it done ASAP to get the next car on his lift.

I buy my oil at Wallyworld. $23 bucks for a 5 quart jug of Mobil 1, and $4 for a Motorcraft filter is fine by me...