I'm changing the oil in my truck

[zxcvbob]

...and I got to thinking, "WTF am I doing?"  Oil is a couple of dollars a quart x 5, the filter is another $4, and when I'm done I gotta haul the oil and used filter to a disposal site.  There are places all over town that will change the oil for $20.  For $22, the Ford dealer will even use synthetic blend oil.  (I assume a Ford dealer knows how to change the oil in a Chevy)

[Hutch]

I quit changing my own years ago, and live a fuller, richer life for it.

[AmbulanceDriver]

On the diesel truck I own, it still works out about 1/2 to 3/4 of the price of having a shop do it.   11 quarts adds up in a big hurry....  :)

[geronimotwo]

i always do this stuff myself, otherwise i will blame whatever breaks down the road on the lame mechanic that changed my oil. (of course it will give me a scapegoat)   

[Jamie B]

Be careful who you have change your oil.

I read several years ago that WW was filling to the line on the dipstick, not what was required.
The difference was between 1/4 and 1/2 a quart per vehicle that was saved.

Also, I have run full synthetic for years.
When I put the oil in, I know that it is synthetic.
If I don't, I am taking someone else's word for it.

I'll keep changing mine for now....

[Hawkmoon]

...and I got to thinking, "WTF am I doing?"  Oil is a couple of dollars a quart x 5, the filter is another $4, and when I'm done I gotta haul the oil and used filter to a disposal site.  There are places all over town that will change the oil for $20.  For $22, the Ford dealer will even use synthetic blend oil.  (I assume a Ford dealer knows how to change the oil in a Chevy)

Synthetic "blend" oil is a scam. It's partially synthetic and partially conventional, thereby negating the advantages of using synthetic while costing significantly more than conventional. Either use all conventional oil and change frequently, or use full synthetic and reap the benefits. Don't fall for the "in between" scam.

[Hawkmoon]

I read several years ago that WW was filling to the line on the dipstick, not what was required.
The difference was between 1/4 and 1/2 a quart per vehicle that was saved.

Roger that. Jiffy Lube shops around here do that. They don't fill from quart containers -- they pump from 55-gallon drums. They fill to the line on the dip stick, and they make it a point to show the customer that it's "full." But they haven't started the engine, and it takes about a half quart to fill that new filter they just installed, so by the time the car is out of the service bay it's down a half quart.

[charby]

I use Mobile 1 0w-30 and a Wix filter in my truck. My cost is close to $30.

I can leave a milk jug of oil next to my trash and garbage company will take it for no extra charge. They use waste oil to heat their shop.

[zahc]

I change my own just because I think I it's a good idea to crawl under there every few thousand and look around, and I don't trust people. It doesn't distress me that I'm not saving money this way. I also have an old truck that needs greased, and I like to use good grease. The problem is disposing of the oil, now that I live in town. It was easier on the farm; you could always use it to lube chains and sickle bars.

I also insist on using a Napa Gold oil filter (same as Wix). I used to be friends with people who did fleet maintenance and they cut apart all the old oil filters for comparison. There's a major difference.

[MillCreek]

I take the cars to Sears for an oil change.  The motorcycles, I do myself.

[RocketMan]

i always do this stuff myself, otherwise i will blame whatever breaks down the road on the lame mechanic that changed my oil. (of course it will give me a scapegoat)   

Isn't that what fistful is for?  He is the local scapegoat.

[Boomhauer]

I don't change the oil to save money, I do it because I know I did it RIGHT- I own the vehicle and care about it vs. some mechanic to whom it's "just someone elses car". I also grease, inspect, etc when under the vehicle. This has saved me countless times by catching problems early.

[Grebnaws]

I don't save much on the Buick but I save a ton doing my own motorcycles. The bikes are changed every 1500-2000 miles with $$ oil and the Buick gets whatever package deal is cheapest that day. Lady Grebs will pay out the nose for a full service oil change at the dealership on her Nissan Versa if I don't stop her, so I let her spend ~$30 on premium synthetic with a filter and change it at home. A genuine synthetic lube job does cost more than conventional at the dealership, so buying oil at wally world and avoiding the dealership saves about half on that car, although Nissan doesn't even bother to recommend synthetic on that engine.

For me, it's about self satisfaction and  I wholeheartedly recommend that everyone else take it to a shop. It's a greasy waste of time and the savings aren't there unless you change a lot of oil.

[never_retreat]

A 20 dollar filter and 16 quarts of oil would cost an arm and a leg at the oil change joints.
Always done it my self.

[seeker_two]

I have a local, non-chain mechanic shop change my oil. They also check over everything & let me know when something needs attention (which is rare). I like supporting local small businesses....

[Waitone]

I encourage my daughters to go to a good mechanic for oil changes.  He does a good job of keeping track of other mechanical issues at the same time.  One of them just got the Dutch Uncle treatment for overrunning a cooling system flush.

[Tallpine]

We use a "local" (the county seat, 26 miles away) independent tire and mechanic shop that's been in business nearly forever.

I just don't like crawling around under vehicles any more, and they get rid of the oil.

I did just recently repack our 4wd front wheel bearings - did one side one day, took a day off, and then did the other side.

[freakazoid]

I always took my oil to some auto parts store in town, they had a bin just for it.

[RoadKingLarry]

I prefer to not let other people work on my vehicles. There are a few shops that I trust that get my business. For my tractors and lawn mowers I do the service myself as it would be cost prohibitive to haul them to a tractor shop. Nobody puts a wrench on my bike but me and one old school mechanic friend of mine.
As to the used oil, the tire shop I use has a waste oil furnace they get most of it and I use some for burning brush.

[bedlamite]

I'll do my own work, thanks.
I always fill the new filter before installation, I've never known a shop to do that.
A friend of the family owns a shop that burns waste oil for heat.
I know someone that's worked at the local oil change place for years. I wouldn't trust him to know which end of the wrench to hold, and he claims the rest of the people that work there don't have a clue.

[Tallpine]

I always took my oil to some auto parts store in town, they had a bin just for it.

If I make a 50+ mile round trip to take in the old oil, I might as well get them to change it, too.

Otherwise, I would just dump it on the ground - which I used to do. 

[never_retreat]

Otherwise, I would just dump it on the ground - which I used to do. 

It came out of the ground, your just putting it back.

[French G.]

I typically do my own, been taking it in lately due to lack of workplace. In the future I hope to have a waste oil heater, all the more reason. I get to inspect the car, I use the right filter, I use either Mobil 1 or Rotella T depending on vehicle, the only other option is Chevron Delo, all good oil, not cheep.

 

I'll do my own work, thanks.
I always fill the new filter before installation, I've never known a shop to do that.
A friend of the family owns a shop that burns waste oil for heat.
I know someone that's worked at the local oil change place for years. I wouldn't trust him to know which end of the wrench to hold, and he claims the rest of the people that work there don't have a clue.

Yeah, pretty much all dat. Oil change takes 15 minutes anyway. Local shop had trouble, they put tires on a guy's car, wheel falls off a couple miles down the path. The local shop that I try to support cannot balance a tire to save their life. I just got 4 new at Wal-Mart and have paid for lifetime rotate and balance and replacement warranty for less than the local shop. Hate to do it to the local guys, but 4 tires is $$$$$

[Boomhauer]

I just got 4 new at Wal-Mart and have paid for lifetime rotate and balance and replacement warranty for less than the local shop. Hate to do it to the local guys, but 4 tires is $$$$$

Suprisingly the Walmart/Sams Club tireshops actually do a good job and have decent tires. Hence they are where I get my tires...but I am there during the installation process watching with a hawk's eye. I know damn well how to change a tire and balance it, I just don't have the machines to do so...but I can tell when someone isn't doing *expletive deleted*it right.

[zxcvbob]

My next set of tires will be from treadwright.com  It might be a bad idea (retreads), but I gotta try it once.