Still Change Your Own Oil?

[01rednavigator]

I have always changed my own oil in my previous vehicles and still do it my self for my 2014 Ford Taurus. At the dealer it would cost around $50-$60, I can change it myself using Motorcraft synthetic blend and a Motorcraft filter for around $28.

Walmart sells the Motorcraft craft oil and filter.

Not only is it cheaper but I also enjoy working on my car.

 

[waglockfan]

I do. It is more economical as I run full synthetic on my '02 F150. Takes about 6.5 qts. or so. No way I'm going to spend $70 or more on an oil change at the dealership, WallyMart, or one of those drive in places like Speedy Lube.

BX/PX has Mobil 1, Castroil, and Penzoil full synthetic for $23 and less per 5 qt. jug. O'Reillys get my money for a Wix filter since the BX/PX caries Fram.

 

[Vierings]

Well if you consider dealer cost vs retail? 5 qts oil + filter, doesn't ring up to $60.00. That's what Honda jacked their price up to. And that's why our next car won't be from that dealership, and maybe not even Honda.

Retail oil change (and what I pay) is $74.95+tax. 5qts of euro diesel and a decent filter is $70 or more. Then consider the drain plug and/or washer. The savings is less than the convenience.

 

[SUPER X]

I've seen the horror stories and aftermath of the places that change oil when they make simple mistakes. Which they pretty much have all been caught doing. So I do as much to all of my own vehicle maintenance as possible.

I've seen many cars damaged by the fast lube shops. Drain plug threads in pan stripped out ,cross threaded , ect . Filters not on tight . Puddles of oil under them the next morning , blown engines, They don't touch anything of miine.

 

[SUPER X]

Oil changes are one of the few things I can do anymore. I change the oil in all of our vehicles. It's easy, I know what went in and that it was done right. Once I took my truck to a oil change place and asked them to use the Mobil 1 I brought in. Long story short, I asked for the empty container so I could dump some old oil in it. Lots of hemming and hawing. The guy put the jug in his trunk and didn't even touch my oil. If I hadn't caught them, I would have paid them to let me keep my old oil and steal a jug of Mobil 1.

My vehicles all specify 5K oil changes. I use Mobil 1 and have been changing around 10 months or 8K. Even then, I know I still have a margin of safety. My daughter drives a Ford Focus and mostly freeway driving. I sent in her last oil change sample to Blackstone Lab with 13K on the oil. They recommended going 2K more and rechecking (not change).

Hiway miles on long trips a huge difference, and is easier on everything . driving in town stop and go ,short trips ,and extreme conditions like towing , 4 wheeling ect , 3k max

 

[Mikej]

Retail oil change (and what I pay) is $74.95+tax. 5qts of euro diesel and a decent filter is $70 or more. Then consider the drain plug and/or washer. The savings is less than the convenience.

I was raised by depression era parents. Their brains, being born in 1920 and 1926, were different because of the depression. My brain has the markers, from being raised by them. I don't consider it a bad thing. It's sort of a badge of honor to me.