How to change your oil...

[gigapet]

i have a bmw still under warranty. I'm not touchign the engine for more than refilling wiper fluid.

 

[Kelemvor]

I get my oil changes for $5.99 at the place I bought my tires. Also get free tire rotations. Can't beat that.

 

[Unheard]

Per my Dodge Dakota FSM I change my oil every 7500 miles.

 

[Lorax]

joke is probably so old, it was 20 bucks for an oil change at jiffy lube when it was written.

 

[jimbob200521]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
I get my oil changes for $5.99 at the place I bought my tires. Also get free tire rotations. Can't beat that.

Dang, I'm gonna come get my car worked on in your town!!

 

[DrPizza]

We've got an awesome place near our town. Pull into the bay, you never get out of your car. There's a room under the bay - the guy down there starts draining the oil and replaces the oil filter. The guy in the bay checks all your other fluids - washer, brake, etc. and tops them all off (I request they don't add to the brake fluid - that results in needed to drain some when I change the brake pads). In and out, generally in less than 10 minutes, right around $20. Far far far far worth it for the convenience.

I have trouble believing the people who claim they do their own in 15 minutes or less... Maybe if you start the stopwatch when the car is already up on the ramps or something...

For that 15 minute time, I want you to include the time spent washing the oil off your hands, the time you spend while in the store making the little side-trip to the automotive section to get what you need, the extra time it takes for the cashier to ring up those purchases,... (we'll assume you had to be at the store anyway), the time you spend disposing of the oil properly, etc. The time you spend getting the ramps out for your car, the time you spend getting the tools out... the time to put everything away... the time your wife spends cleaning the greasy mess from the sink where you washed the oil off your hands..


I used to do my own, until I had a Ford Mustang (actually was my wife's) Reaching the oil filter without raising the vehicle was nearly impossible. That's when I learned the value of convenience.

 

[Philippine Mango]

******?

 

[SampSon]

Originally posted by: MrDudeMan
lol

however, the 3000 mile rule is crap. that annoys me.

I noticed the other day that the sticker the oil change place put on my window has a 5K mile interval now.

I've considered digging a big hole in my backyard that I can pull my car over so I can get to the stuff underneath it without jack stands.

 

[NaOH]

Mobil1 cost lets say $5 a quart (i think thats full price).....STP filter cost $3 bucks.

4 quarts and filter will cost around $23-25 dollars plus 30 mins of your time.

Jiffy Lube. Unknown oil and filter? Cost $3x.

My friend who is a girl got charged $5x for just an oil change. I like how she bragged that she got a free car wash though.

 

[Philippine Mango]

Originally posted by: SampSon

Originally posted by: MrDudeMan
lol

however, the 3000 mile rule is crap. that annoys me.

I noticed the other day that the sticker the oil change place put on my window has a 5K mile interval now.

I've considered digging a big hole in my backyard that I can pull my car over so I can get to the stuff underneath it without jack stands.

Curb FTW? Steep hill FTW?

 

[MrDudeMan]

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: MrDudeMan
lol

however, the 3000 mile rule is crap. that annoys me.

what rule do you follow for a used car?

first of all, what car isnt used?

secondly, i follow the instruction manual for the car. my truck says 7500 if you are hauling, or 9500 if you are just driving. so i change it every 10k and the oil isnt even very dirty by then. i put a good filter on it and change it every time. also, i dont buy the rip-off-super-expensive oil. i get the 5 quart container of castrol 10w-30 and my car runs perfectly fine. its at 100k and doesnt even hiccup. ive done this with several cars, and so has my dad, so all this bullshit about 3000 miles is basically the product of oil companies scaring people into paying them more.

it may have been a good rule for older cars, but anything made after 1997 seems to run perfectly fine on 5-10k. my sisters 1997 volvo says every 12000.

i still change transmission fluid at 50k, though.

 

[Ornery]

I have trouble believing the people who claim they do their own in 15 minutes or less...

Just did three cars this evening. All full size, so no need for ramps or lifts. Got them all done inside of 45 minutes, but spent almost that much time shopping for oil & filters. I was shocked at Walmart's price for oil these days. Damn! Got it for $1.00 per quart after rebate at Murray's. Walmart still had the best price for Motorcraft filters at about $3.25 each.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: GeneValgene

Originally posted by: randomlinh
filling my trans fluid is a slow and 2 person job (ok, one would work, but it's a whole lot eaisier w/ two). the oil.. roll up on ramps, remove plastic sheild (annoying 8 bolts.. heh). drain, open cartridge, drain a little more, reverse the process. the time consuming part is hauling the ramps and stuff from the shed, to the front... townhouse.. not an end unit.. so yeah.

fortunately, i only have one bolt to remove.

jack stands FTW

jack stands would be more work for me... my car is slightly lowered, so i need "pre-ramps" heh. so it takes me a bit more time than 15 minutes.

as for all the intervals.. the only really good way to know is to get a Used Oil Analysis if you really want to know how your oil is doing in *your* car and *your* environment.

 

[fs5]

15) Give up; crawl under car and hammer a screwdriver through oil filter and twist off.

I've had to do this a couple times, mostly because
1) my car's first oil change
2) changed the on other cars who had their oil changed at walmart and they over torque the oil filter. Torque it properly and you can get the thing off with your hand.

 

[Soccerman06]

I know the following story has almost nothing to do with thread; but when I was in very young (still mowing the lawn for $5 and thinking that was good money), my dad told me to check the oil and fill the gas tank. I did so, but filled the oil tank up full with oil and then, not knowing the differance, put oil in the gas tank. Turned the mower on so that I wouldnt have to push it like 10ft. Lets just say something very loud and very bad happened. many hours of yelling followed

 

[zanieladie]

Loved the OP. Still laughing at the truthfulness in it!