Oil changes

[zarrell]

Looking for where everyone takes their vehicles for oil changes and what you are paying. Seems the going rate for a full synthetic oil change for a truck runs around $150. There's got to be better out there.

[GGG]

I’m no help and just do my own. Faster and cheaper.

[Ducay]

I only get it done when its included (Audi), otherwise I do it myself. Considering how easy it is, recommend everyone do the same. Lots of Youtube videos for every model out there.

Get some appropriate full synthetic on sale at CanadianTire and a Fram Ultraguard filter and you're laughing all the way to the bank. $50 all in with minimal tools

[kevman]

Honestly those minute lube places are great. I usually piggy back it with other chores and a meal. Get a drive through burger, hit up the oil change place and eat, continue to your next destination. Doing it yourself is quicker than dropping off a vehicle, taking some courtesy shuttle to work and going to pick it up at the end of the day but still not as quick as minute lube when you're already out and about.

[Weitz]

I can change my oil but now I just don’t see the time value in doing it myself anymore. Either the minute lube or dealer depending on what’s going on that week.

[DownInFlames]

I buy the oil on sale and get the dealer to do it. They only charge $40 for labour.

I used to do it myself but I don’t have the space now.

[81MC]

Do it yourself, and it’s not even just a cost saving proposition. Want to know without a doubt that your drain plug has a new washer and is torqued correctly? Want to know that you will actually get that oil filter off next time? Want to know the general condition of the mechanical parts of your vehicle? Do it yourself. It’s like 20 minutes of quality alone time.

Barring that, I’ve used most quick lube places professionally and haven’t had an issue, but I’d recommend something more independent than Mr.Lube. And for gods sake, when Peter comes to tell you your transmission fluid seems burnt, just politely decline.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Weitz

I can change my oil but now I just don’t see the time value in doing it myself anymore. Either the minute lube or dealer depending on what’s going on that week.

I can change my oil faster than driving to a quick lube place and back, plus I don't #### up the car.

Using a pneumatic extractor and having top side access to filters makes it 5 minutes of work to dig everything out and get setup, drink a beer while the extractor does its thing, 5 minutes to clean up.

[D as in David]

I've used Great Canadian Oil Change on McLeod by Heritage several times. They usually/frequently provide coupons to existing customers and I pay ~$100 for a large SUV.

[Dion]

I go to the dealership for my oil changes. The cost is just over $60 and includes free tire rotation.

[8 Ball]

Originally Posted by Dion

I go to the dealership for my oil changes. The cost is just over $60 and includes free tire rotation.

Bought new from the dealership?

[Dion]

Originally Posted by 8 Ball

Bought new from the dealership?

Used.

[Shazam]

For those that do their own oil changes, do you lift the car somehow? Anything different you do in the winter?

[8 Ball]

Originally Posted by Dion

Used.

Really good deal.

[Nufy]

Originally Posted by Shazam

For those that do their own oil changes, do you lift the car somehow? Anything different you do in the winter?

Truck...i can still fit under it...

I have ramps for both of the cars...

One time I put the truck on the ramps.

It was like heaven man...

[Reaper]

I buy my own synthetic oil from Costco. At approximately $25 for a 5L jug of Kirkland Oil I take it to a drive through Oil change stop where you can supply your own oil. My Car's oil filter is outrageously priced from them so I bring my own. I end up with a full synthetic oil change for about $100. Well worth it.

[speede5]

Men vs. Women: How to Change Oil 1
WOMEN:

1. Pull up to Jiffy Lube or Valvoline Instant Oil Change when the mileage reaches 3,000 miles since the last oil change.
2. Drink a cup of coffee while they change the oil.
3. 15 minutes later, write a check and leave with a properly maintained vehicle.
Cost: $29.99 oil change, $2.00 coffee. Total $32.00

MEN:

1. Wait until Saturday, drive to the auto parts store. Buy a case of oil, oil filter, kitty litter, hand cleaner (don't forget a little tree air freshener). Write a check to the auto parts store for approximately $50.
2. Stop by 7/11 on the way home, buy a case of beer. Write a check for $20.00.
3. Drive home with oil and beer.
4. Open beer, enjoy it.
5. Spend 30 minutes looking for the jack stands.
6. Find the jack stands (finally) under the kid's pedal car, jack the car up.
7. Open another beer, drink it.
8. Place drain pan under engine.
9. Look for 9/16" box end wrench for drain plug
10. Give up looking ten minutes later, find crescent wrench.
11. Unscrew drain plug.
12. Drop drain plug into pan of hot oil. Splash hot oil onto your hands and face in the process. Cuss and swear.
13. Crawl out from under car, wipe hot oil from hands and face. Throw some kitty litter on the spilled oil.
14. Open another beer while watching the last drops of oil drain.
15. Spend 30 minutes looking for the oil filter wrench.
16. Give up looking for oil filter wrench, crawl under car and hammer a flat-head screwdriver through the oil filter and twist it off.
17. Crawl out from under car, splashing hot oil everywhere from newly made holes in oil filter.
18. Cleverly hide used oil filter in trash to avoid those pesky environmental penalties. Open another beer.
19. Install new oil filter, making sure to apply a thin coat of oil to the gasket.
20. Pour the first quart of new oil into engine.
21. Oops! Now remember the drain plug (removed in step 11). It's still swimming in the now-warm oil in the drain pan.
22. Throw more kitty litter on the quart-sized oil puddle on the floor.
23. Open another beer and drink it.
24. Find drain plug with a minimum of spillage, hand-tighten in drain plug socket. Drink beer.
25. Crawl under car (getting oily kitty litter embedded in neck and arms). Tighten drain plug with crescent wrench, but this time, it's slippery. Bang your knuckles on the frame while tightening drain plug.
26. Throw crescent wrench across the garage in anger. Throw a fit because crescent wrench hits bowling trophy (which wife wouldn't let stay in the house).
27. Open another beer and drink it.
28. Clean hands, bandaging where needed to stop blood flow.
29. Pour in five quarts of fresh oil.
30. Lower car from jack stands. Smile at your handiwork. Open another beer and drink it.
31. Move car back to discover oil puddles you missed; apply more kitty litter to missed areas.
32. Test drive car to make sure oil doesn't leak.
33. Get pulled over a block from the house by local police, get arrested for DUI.
34. Call loving wife and bail bondsman.
35. Next day, get car out of impound yard.
Cost: $50 parts, $20 beer, Impound fee $75, Bail $1500, DUI $2500 minimum.
Total: $4145 (but you know the job was done right!)

[Fuzz]

Speed5, to be fair, my wife went to a quick lube place and they added on all sorts of stuff she didn't need, some without telling her. Certainly more than $32! Those places can be pretty greasy.

[Shazam]

Cheapest at quick oil change places these days is about $60 for a car.

[Weitz]

It’s about $80 at my dealer that is a 5 minute walk from the office. Can’t say I can do it at home for about that time and materials in.