Do You Do Your Own Oil Change?

[iamwiz82]

vi, do you even need the shield?

It is rediculiously easy on my trucks. I can do everything except loosen the drain plug from the top. Trying to change the oil on some cars requires you to be able to dislocate your elbow to to get to the filter

 

[iamme]

This reminds me of a Married With Children episode when Al needed oil in his car. He got Bud to wipe his face and then squeeze it into the engine

 

[MuffD]

I take my other cars to the dealer but for my truck and Expidition, I can just slide under the car without having to jack it up and change the oil. My truck, I can literally sit down Indian style and change the oil.

 

[SP33Demon]

I do my own. Ran into a problem when I found out toyota nuts go in at an angle, not straight up on their threads... darn thing was then leaking oil for 3 weeks until I had time to fix it.

 

[Mark R]

I changed the oil once - it's not hard, but it's a bit messy and it's a pain to get rid of the old oil.

I even did my automatic transmission - no drain plug on that so I had to siphon it out through the filler pipe. I learned 2 things from that experience:

1 - ATF tastes real bad
2 - If you use a vacuum cleaner to accelerate drainage then don't use a collapsible bottle to catch the fluid.

 

[vi edit]

vi, do you even need the shield?

*Probably* not, and in fact, the last time I changed the oil I damn near left it off. The only reason that I put it back on is because I have a virtually untraceable coolant leak that lets out about 4 drops of hot pink engine coolant a day. The coolant falls onto the shield and dries up, instead of hitting the floor of my garage and drying up. There's also quite a bit of "stuff" hanging out the bottom of my car - alternator is down there, along with some other electrical stuff, so I leave it on to help stop water and salt from the roads from getting up there too badly.

 

[olds]

I changed my oil for years. But with the hassle of getting rid of it in this day and age, I have it done.
I can get an oil/filter change and my truck washed/vacuumed for about $25 at the local Chevy dealer that owns a quick lube/car wash across the stret from the dealership.

 

[dquan97]

I do, until I found out that one of the HS kids I tutor is looking to be a mechanic, so I let him do it with my supervision. He does good work, but I'm trying to supplement his mechanical skills with IT knowledge, so he can also work on computers. I had him install the Sure Drain kit that I got from Kragen...that'll make oil changes A LOT easier because I now don't need to take the oil bolt out to drain the oil. Simply screw the hose to it, attach the other end to a jug, and drain away.

 

[XZeroII]

Always

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

vi, do you even need the shield?

*Probably* not, and in fact, the last time I changed the oil I damn near left it off. The only reason that I put it back on is because I have a virtually untraceable coolant leak that lets out about 4 drops of hot pink engine coolant a day. The coolant falls onto the shield and dries up, instead of hitting the floor of my garage and drying up. There's also quite a bit of "stuff" hanging out the bottom of my car - alternator is down there, along with some other electrical stuff, so I leave it on to help stop water and salt from the roads from getting up there too badly.

can you cut a hole in the plastic to make an access point for the filter?

 

[Sketcher]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
I do. I like working on my cars though and I don't trust the minimum wage idiots that a lot of oil change places use.

True that,

My wife (8.5 months pregnant) took her Camry in for a oil change because I didn't have time to do it - the "mechanic" didn't pre-wet the filter gasket and properly seat the filter. 3 miles down the road smoke started pouring out from under hood and obstructed her visibility. (There was a long, involved story about legal issues, liability and engine inspection but I'll leave it at SNAFU).

1. Don't piss off a pregnant woman - especially one who's likely to give birth at any time!

2. That mechanic's carelessness could have caused injury or worse to my wife/child and others had my wife been unable to safely pull over.

3. There's a local shop which is reasonably priced and they have good techs, even compared to changing my own - but I typically change the oil on my cars because I like the satisfaction of caring for my vehicles, it's a nice distraction from the IT world and it saves on the wallet. The only downside is taking the used oil to the gas station or recycling center - not really that big a deal though.

 

[Zenmervolt]

In the winter, I pay to have it done. In the summer I do it myself. When I'm older and I have a heated workshop, I'll do it my self all year round.

ZV

 

[BatmanNate]

Always.

 

[vi edit]

can you cut a hole in the plastic to make an access point for the filter?

,

It's not just the oil filter, it covers the oil pan & drain plug too. To picture the shield, just take the hood of the car, and instead of it being above the engine, put it below the engine. It's roughly 75% the size of the hood and cover much the same area.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: godmare

Originally posted by: snooker
changing oil is one of the easiest things on a vehicle you can do yourself. goto the local auto store andf buy like 7 quarts of oil and a filter. Go home, place a oil catch pan under the car (Under the oil petcock) and remove the oil drain plug. Once it drains let it drip for a few to get it al out. Place the drain plug back in and tighten it. Remove the old oil filter and replace it with the new one. Follow the info on installing the new one (Like rub oil on the gasket before you instal it). Once it is installed remove your oil fill cap under the hood and start by putting 3 quarts back in. Check the dipstick after a few seconds to allow the oil to drain down. Fill and check as needed until it shows on your dipstick in the proper area. Drive for a while, then check it again to make sure it is still up. Once that is done, check your oil everyday before you start the car. That is the best time to check oil since the vehicle was sitting all night.

Or take it to a pro and pay between $35-$50

First off, you didn't mention any engine flush before draining your oil. This becomes more important as the engine ages.
And second, I daresay that driving around with three quarts of oil in your engine is a good way to overheat, if nothing else. Most engines hold (and require) four to five quarts, plus capacity enough for the oil filter.

most engine flushes are harsh chemical solvents, which you don't want to remain in your engine. don't use them.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: ergeorge
On the truck, it's dead easy, so unless the weather is really ugly when it needs doing, I do it myself. Plus I run synthetic in it which is really expensive through those oil-change places.

My civic is a PITA to get to the filter. Did that once or twice, now it goes to jiffy lube.

funny, mine is right above the left driveaxle and exhaust pipe. it's not hard to get at at all.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: Tiles2Tech
I've done a fair amount of reading recently regarding oil & oil filters. Apparently, the Wal-Mart Super Tech filters are quite good. They are priced at about $2.00 a piece. I'm not sure who makes their Super Tech oil, though. However, the Super Tech oil is only about $.84 a quart.

supertech filters are made by champion (or baldwin, or something). they've been found to have superior quality over even fram.


supertech oil is made by pennzoil/quakerstate, and the quality falls somewhere between pennzoil and quakerstate, with pennzoil being the higher quality fluid.

 

[FoBoT]

it is too hard to get rid of the old oil these days

back in the day you could burn it or dump it on the ground, too much hassle taking it somewhere these days

$15 at wal-mart is worth it

 

[dquan97]

Where I live, all I have to do is leave the jug of old oil on the curb during garbage pickup and they take it.

I think my Camry has the most accessible place to have the oil filter...on the front of the engine, in full view with very little obstructions.

 

[vi edit]

I think my Camry has the most accessible place to have the oil filter...on the front of the engine, in full view with very little obstructions.

Indeed. Need to be careful though when taking it off. If you aren't cautious you can spill oil all down the front of the engine.

 

[Sketcher]

Originally posted by: dquan97
Where I live, all I have to do is leave the jug of old oil on the curb during garbage pickup and they take it.

I think my Camry has the most accessible place to have the oil filter...on the front of the engine, in full view with very little obstructions.

Yup, the Camry's filter was easily accessible. My Honda's require a special wrench.

 

[Yossarian]

My old Jeep, I used to do it myself all the time because I could fit under it comfortably. I tried it with my new Mustang, bought ramps, a jack, etc. and decided it wasn't worth the safety risk and general PITA to do it myself. $20 at the dealer does the trick now.

 

[Mill]

On the Mustang hell yeah. On the Explorer Express Oil Change gets the call.

 

[Lithium381]

Originally posted by: slikmunks
i change my oil myself... doesn't take too long... doesn't cost too much...

i do mine, both of my moms, and i geuss maybe monday i'll do my friends for her...etc........it's easy to do

 

[Paulson]

I would but I don't know where to take the oil to...