Tag Archives: Oil Change

Is It Really Cheaper to Change Your Own Oil?

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Is It Really Cheaper to Change Your Own Oil?

It’s one of the great questions everyone asks at one time or another, “Is it really cheaper to change your own oil?” Every time we take our car into the garage for an oil change, it seems we ask ourselves this question when it comes time to pay the bill. Most people have a friend or family member who swears by changing their oil and insists that it is a simple operation that anyone can learn how to do. The truth is, most people can change their oil, and it will save money in the long run, although the initial investment in the tools you need to get the job done will cost a little extra. If you are considering learning to perform an oil change on your car, consider how it can take a few dollars off your budget—and give you a new skill to add to your repertoire.

Oil Change Essentials and Related Costs

If you want to learn to change your oil, you can always call on that friend or relative who knows how to do it to show you, or you can watch a few of the many YouTube tutorials on the subject. Once you know the process, you will need to consider various factors before you embark on the endeavor. For one, you must weigh the cost of the initial investment against the amount of money you will save over time by changing your oil yourself.

Some of the tools you will need to perform an oil change include:

Jack

If you don’t already own a jack, you will need to buy one to be able to get underneath your car for the oil change. This can be a hefty investment at around $250 for a quality jack. Whether it is worth it depends on your perspective. You will use your jack when changing your oil, but you may need it for other maintenance tasks and repairs that you may choose to do yourself. That, of course, depends on your level of mechanical ability.

There are a variety of options and price ranges. These two jacks look similar, but vary greatly in price, so consider how often you will use it, how long it should last and how many tons your vehicle is when making the decision.

Jack stands

Safety is one thing you want to be sure of when you are working under your car. You don’t simply want to jack it up and rely on the jack to keep the car from falling on you while you work, so you will need jack stands to support the car. A good set of jack stands will typically cost around $35.

Performance Tool W41022 3 Ton Capacity (Best Seller)

Oil drain pan

Once you begin the job of changing your oil, you will need a pan to drain the old, dirty oil from your engine before adding your new oil. These pans are reusable and cost about $20.

Oil Pan

Lumax LX-1632 Black 15 Quart Drainmaster Drain Pan

Miscellaneous items

The last few items you will need to perform your oil change are things you may already have around the house or garage. You will need rubber gloves to protect your hands, towels to keep everything clean, and a funnel. If you don’t have these items, the cost is minimal, but you’ll want to keep it in mind.

If you have all the tools you need to change your oil, you still need to consider several other factors before committing to the job.

There are various things that DIYers don’t think about before getting into changing their own oil, such as:

  • Your satisfaction in completing the job is more about knowing that you did something on your own to save money than the excitement you get from other DIY jobs that you can show off—such as hanging your own wallpaper or refinishing furniture.
  • If you make a mistake during the process, you may end up creating a problem that will cost you much more than it would have cost to go to a garage. You could use the wrong levels of oil, improperly attach the filter, buy the wrong filter, or use the wrong oil.
  • This is a messy job. No matter how many times you have changed your oil, you will inevitably make a mess every time you do the job.
  • Safety is always a concern. In addition to the potentially fatal safety issue of the vehicle falling on you while you work, there are other dangers to consider. You are also exposing yourself, and possibly your pets and the environment to oil, and you could be burned by the oil you are changing.

Is It Cheaper to Change Your Own Oil?

Now that you have established the upfront costs of doing your own oil changes, the best way to answer this question is to look at the oil change cost at a typical garage versus what you would pay to get the oil and filter to do the job yourself. Of course, the price varies, depending on the specific products you use and where you buy them, but in general, the supplies will cost in the neighborhood of $35-$50.

Many garages offer deals where you get one free oil change after paying for so many, and dealerships sometimes offer deals on oil changes after buying a car from them. They may ask you to keep a license plate on the front of your vehicle, advertising that you bought it at their dealership in exchange for a reduced oil change price or something else along those lines. You always have options when it comes to getting your oil changed at a garage. You can take your car to the dealership, use your favorite mom-and-pop shop, or even take your car to a commercial “oil and lube” type business. However, no matter which you choose, you will likely find that the price is about the same as what you would pay for supplies to do it yourself.

So, now that we have answered the question of “How much does it cost to change your own oil?” and come to the conclusion that the savings aren’t worth the time and effort, you may wonder why anyone would bother. The truth is, many people truly enjoy doing everything they can to take care of their own vehicles, even if they aren’t very mechanically inclined. Learning to perform an oil change gives these individuals something else to do in their own garage.

Mechanic changing oil

The other remaining question is why garages don’t charge more and why DIYing oil changes became popular. Professional oil changes weren’t always as cost-effective as they are now. As people increasingly started changing their own oil, garages noticed the loss in business and took a new approach. The fact is, they probably lose money on oil changes because the cost of labor is more than they take in. By performing this task at a reasonable price, however, they increase the chances that customers will return to them with other jobs they can make money on. In business terms, it is called a loss leader. If they can sell you on other services or get you to come back for more lucrative work, it was worth the small loss they took on the oil change.

Now that you are informed of the pros and cons of doing your own oil change, it is up to you which option you choose. Ultimately, it seems to come down to whether you enjoy working on your car as a leisure activity or not.

Your Guide to DIY Oil Changes

This entry was posted in Car Maintenance, Tips & Tricks and tagged , on by .
DIY Oil Change

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Why You Don’t Have to Pay Premium Prices for Your Oil Change

Car maintenance doesn’t have to be a drain on your wallet. If you’re looking for the cheapest oil change, it may be closer than you think. More and more people each day are learning how to do a DIY engine oil change in their own garage or driveway. In fact, it’s one of the simplest parts of automobile maintenance to do at home, is truly a money saver, and doesn’t require a lot of tools or highly specialized skills. When even a Walmart oil change can cost $50 and up, it makes a lot more sense to spend a little bit of time, and much less money, on keeping your mode of daily transportation up and running. Failure to regularly change the motor oil being the leading cause of engine failure, it truly is the best way to maintain and extend the life of your vehicle. Here’s what you need to know to get started on your oil change at home.

DIY Oil Changes Vary by Car Brand

Different makes, models, and years of vehicles have different oil capacities in their motors. Most of the average passenger vehicles use around 5 quarts, with larger vehicles typically requiring a little more. For example, a late model Honda Civic has a capacity of 3.9 quarts, while a similar year of Subaru Outback would need 5.1 quarts. A Honda Ridgeline, or similar vehicle, may require around 6 quarts, while a full-size truck like a Toyota Tundra would require 8. In other words, the bigger the engine, the more oil the vehicle will need.

So, the first thing you’re going to want to do is figure out how much motor oil you will need or whether you’ll want any additives for your motor oil. Luckily, your local automotive parts stores can help you with this, and find this information for you, in addition to answering any other questions you may have regarding motor oils. They will also help you to figure out which oil viscosity is best for your vehicle, as this can vary depending on your vehicle’s make, mileage, your driving habits, and outside temperature, among other factors.

Motor Oil Change

The Benefits of Changing Your Own Oil

There are several benefits to doing your oil change at home, and once most people establish this habit, they will never see the inside of another Walmart oil change center again. Aside from being the cheapest oil change possible, the DIY oil change gives you increased control over your vehicle’s maintenance, saves you time, and lengthens your car’s lifetime significantly.

DIY Oil Changes Are Cost-effective

If one of the things that kept you from getting more regular oil changes was the price of oil change, you can rest assured that an oil change at home will save you money. If we compare the cost of a DIY oil change vs dealer oil changes, for example, we can see the huge savings it affords. For example, the average Honda oil change at a dealer could be well over $100, but when we look at what the oil, filter, and a little bit of time costs us, it could be as little as $20.

DIY Oil Changes Give You Customization and control

You get to decide exactly which motor oils you use in your vehicles and what oil filters are best – without anyone trying to upsell you or render unnecessary services to drive your bill up. Whether it’s winter and you want a lighter weight oil for the cold or you have a high mileage vehicle and want to use specialty oil, it’s your choice.

DIY Oil Changes Save You Time

Not only does it take less time to change your own oil, but you can do it at your own convenience, regardless of business hours. Rather than having to wait to get into a Jiffy Lube oil change or schedule an appointment at a shop, imagine being able to pop out to the garage after dinner and change your own oil in a half an hour. No lines, no dusty waiting rooms, no wasting your time.

DIY Oil Changes Help You Better Understand Your Vehicle

This is perhaps the biggest benefit car owners receive personally from doing their own oil changes at home. Aside from the satisfaction of learning how to do really important basic maintenance on your vehicle, it affords you the ability to better understand how the vehicle works and is running, overall. Being under the hood is also a great way to make sure there aren’t any other issues that need tending to, such as low fluids, cracked hoses, or corroded battery terminals. Staying on top of these kinds of things can (and do) add years to the life of any vehicle.

Supplies You Need to Change Your Own Oil at Home

While motor oil and an oil filter will need to be purchased for every DIY engine oil change, the rest of these supplies are one-time purchases, if you don’t already happen to have them at home.

Motor Oil

Deciding which engine oil is right for your vehicle is the first step in the process. Motor oils come in many different weights and compositions, so it’s important to use the right one. Some motor oil has additives, for example, to increase performance, or might be specifically formulated for high-mileage vehicles. Choosing the right one for your vehicle is really important, and something that your local auto parts shops can help with.

Motor Oil

Oil Filter

Usually, with every oil change, the oil filter needs to be changed, too. Oil filters do their job by removing any impurities that the oil accumulates as it runs through your vehicle. When they become clogged from use, it results in decreased engine performance, which is never good. Even if the oil in your engine is brand new, it won’t matter if your filter is clogged and not functioning properly. The owner’s manual of your vehicle can tell you exactly which filter number you’ll need. There are many brands to choose from, too. If you’re considering premium filters, for example, you can ask your local parts shop whether a K&N vs Fram oil filter would be the right choice for you.

Shop for deals on oil filters and other car care products.

Oil Filter Pliers or Wrench

oil wrench

Most oil filters can’t be removed manually, so you’ll need a special wrench, or oil filter pliers, to remove the old one. This one-time purchase will be a life-saver in your DIY oil change process.

We recommend this Lisle Large Swivel Grip Oil Filter Wrench from AutoBarn.

Oil Drain Pan

10 Qt Plastic Covered Oil Drain Pan

You’ll need somewhere to drain the old oil from your vehicle, safely. Having an oil drain pan on hand is a must for any oil change at home. It also comes in handy when you need to transport your used oil to the recycling center. 

We recommend this 10 quart covered oil drain pan from Unbeatable Sale.

Funnel

Using a funnel to transfer the new oil into the engine will keep your driveway clear of spills and your engine clean of oil on the external surfaces.

Wrench (for removing the drain plug)

Either a (box end or socket) wrench will allow you to remove the drain plug from your oil pan on the underside of the vehicle.

Jack Stands or Ramps

Most vehicles don’t have the clearance to get to the oil pan, so it’s generally necessary to elevate the front end to make it accessible. Most people use jack stands or ramps to achieve this, taking special care to stabilize the wheels of the vehicle with the emergency brake and/or blocks behind the rear wheels. If elevating the vehicle is not an option for you or if you want to cut out some steps in your DIY oil change process, you could also use an Oil Changer. Oil changers provide the huge benefit of not having to crawl around underneath your vehicle, which for many is very worth it.

We recommend these 3 ton jack stands at Unbeatable Sale.

How to Change Your Oil

To help take some of the guesswork out of your oil change at home, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide to walk you through the process. Your first DIY engine oil change may take about an hour to complete, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll probably be doing it in half the time. It’s really that simple!

Step 1: Assemble Your Tools and Supplies

It’s important to have everything on hand before you start, unless you happen to live next door to your favorite parts shop. So, be sure to gather all your oil, filter, and tools beforehand. If you’re unsure about what kind of oil and filter your vehicle requires, your owner’s manual can tell you the exact specifications. Local auto parts stores can also consult with you on any specialty oils or additives you may want to consider.

We recommend that you shop Pep Boys for deals on all the tools and supplies you need.

Oil Change Tools

Step 2: Start Your Engine!

It’s better to start an oil change when the car has been running recently, so let it run for a few minutes, then cool down slightly before you begin. The old oil will drain more efficiently and completely this way.

Ignition

Step 3: Elevate the Vehicle

After making sure the vehicle is parked on a flat spot and the hood is up, elevate the front end using your jack and jackstands or ramps. Be sure to set the emergency brake and block one of the rear wheels to keep it from slipping while elevated. Again, if using an Oil Changer, you get to skip this step.

Pro tip: If you remove the oil dipstick from the reservoir, the oil will drain better for you in the next step.

Ramps

Step 4: Drain the Old Oil

Once you locate the drain plug, place the oil drain pan directly underneath it. Be sure your drain pan can hold the volume of oil in your vehicle, as it can really be moved once the oil begins to drain. Then, using the proper size wrench to loosen and remove the plug, drain the oil directly into the pan. Once the oil is completely drained, don’t forget to replace the drain plug, torquing it down to prevent any potential leaks.

Oil Drain

Step 5: Replace the Oil Filter

Find the oil filter, and move the drain pan directly underneath it. There will still be some oil in the filter, so it’s best to avoid it spilling onto the pavement or onto yourself. Using the oil filter wrench, loosen and remove the old filter.

Remove the oil filter gasket and apply a thin layer of fresh oil to it for better contact. Make sure it’s in good shape still before reusing it.

You can install the new oil filter by hand, turning it clockwise a few rotations. Once it’s on, it can be tightened down to specification with the filter wrench.

Oil Filter

Step 6: Add the New Oil

Now it’s time to add the new oil. Using a funnel to avoid any spills, carefully pour in the specified number of quarts of oil. This is a good time to double check your drain plug for leaks as well.

New Oil

Check out this Unbeatable Sale on Valvoline 10W40 All Climate Motor Oil 

Step 7: Start Vehicle to Check Oil Levels

Once the oil is back in your vehicle and the oil cap is tightened down, you can start the engine and let it run for a few minutes. If your oil pressure light remains on, it could be a sign that you didn’t add enough oil or that something is leaking. It’s good to troubleshoot at this stage, rather than after getting all four tires back on the ground.

After that’s completed, you’ve officially performed your first DIY oil change! Just one final step to go.

How to Dispose of Used Oil

I changed my own oil. Now what?

One of the most important aspects of doing an oil change at home is disposing of the oil, properly and responsibly. Illegal disposal can do serious damage to the environment and can also lead to hefty fines, so it’s even more important to follow these rules.

Luckily, motor oil is recyclable and most auto part shops and service stations have a place to do so. It’s usually as easy as taking the full oil drain pan to your local shop and utilizing their recycling drums. Bring your used filter along with the oil since those are also recyclable as well. 

DIY Car Care Saves Money and Gives a Sense of Pride 

DIY Oil Change Saves Money

Now that you’ve seen how easy it is to do an oil change at home, we hope you’ll consider trying it! Not only does it save you money, but it can also save time and create a sense of accomplishment in doing your own vehicle maintenance.

We hope you also lean on your local shops to make the job even easier for you.
Our family team at Red Mountain Funding is here to help.