OT: Do you change your own car oil?
Estafador
BIG APPLE
Very off topic, I know heads will spin as such a non stripper question but I'm curious. I know back in the day it was probably the in thing to do your own oil maintenance (along with other maintenance), but with all these oil changing facilities it seems that many people get others to do it for them. I, a little while ago, learned how to change oil on a car (and crazy part is, I don't even have a car yet lol) I been doing good work with friend's and family's cars. It's so darn simple I always thought it took superior car knowledge to do it. Do any of you gents still (if ever) change your own car oil? If not, how much you pay to get it done?
It seems kind of wild to not know how when its so simple.
It seems kind of wild to not know how when its so simple.
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When it comes to oil changing, I take it to a shop. Number of reasons: I don't really like to lift my car up and get under it when I am alone, disposal of oil, it can be a mess and lastly, when I take my car into the shop for an oil change they lube and check all the other seals. Take note that I take my cars to a garage that I have to make an appointment at, not just one of those 5 minute oil change places. They too are supposed to check seals, etc. but I know they often just skip that stuff to get you in and out quickly. I'll take my company car to those quickie places and I often have to complain to get them to check the tire pressure and refill the wiper fluid, two things that should be automatic at these places.
It's been reliable between breakdowns. I bought it in 2001 and I've put 15,000 miles on it so yes, it does get used.
For me, it's worth it to take 30 minutes on a weekend and go to Jiffy Lube.
Since I have an SUV, it sits high enough off of the ground and I'm small enough to fit under it. So I can change it no mess / no fuss / quickly. I also check my own 4x4 gear oil, transmission fluid and coolant - all easy to change without having to raise / jack it up.
Truthfully, if I had to jack it up. . . my opinion would change.
I buy those 15 QT plastic jugs and take them to the City Service Garage every 2 years. After 2 years I typically have 3 full jugs (4 oil changes @ 6 quarts each, one coolant drain) and some computer equipment - which I recycle in one trip.
Easy. Peasy.
I rarely drive it in the winter and neither my golf clubs or guitars fit in it, so it's a warm sunny day car for sure. I do some car shows with it, or go fishing with it. It's fun to have a toy car.
During the summer, its almost a no brainier for having it done. A couple weeks ago the weather was nice and I figured a few hours outside would be nice, so I did it myself.
I used to go to valvoline and have all my cars oil changed there (full synthetic) just for the convienence of it.
Lately though, I've been doing myself. I can change the filter and oil with synthetic oil and it'll cost me $30-$35 total (plus my time).
Every time I take it in for an oil change, seems I can't get out of there for less than $75, it's usually closer to $100 for the same thing. So I've decided to save a few bucks and do it myself now on my cars and trucks.
But I like wrenching on cars. It's a hobby of mine so I don't mind doing it and I have the equipment to do it easily with a hoist.
SJG
Cameron Carpenter: Rachmaninoff's Paganini Rhapsody for Organ & Orchestra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F79Bgeqy…
This guy and his M and O modernized organ are out of this world!
Treat them ( ford dealer) well. You will need them as the Mustang is a FORD. Found On Road Dead. Failure On Race Day... :)
Others?
"How did a thread with a title like this get so many responses?"
Really???
Cars and girls are two of a man's favorite things! Sometimes in that order.
As an example, I met friends of mine at a local carnival AFTER I had taken my car to the drag strip. There I met my future wife who was with one of my friends.
That was back in '66. Lot's of water under the bridge since then. She doesn't remember that meeting at all. The first meeting she remembers was about a year later when she came to sit with a friend of hers I was going to start dating.
We've been together since that night.
Also, IMO as the standard of living has progressed over the decades many people rather enjoy their free-time doing recreational things vs chores.
I’ve never been good at fixing stuff, more of a book-nerd, and thus have always had my cars worked on by others.
=
Flipped Over Rebuilt Dodge.
I always knew the other one as:
FORD
=
Fix On Race Day.
Not sure if I really love women though, as I like to limit the scope of the relationship.
SJG
Revolutionary Organist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xVruuES…
Cameron Carpenter: Rachmaninoff's Paganini Rhapsody for Organ & Orchestra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F79Bgeqy…
This guy and his M and O modernized organ are out of this world!
Cameron Carpenter Bad Boy of the Organ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XECkSZvv…
Cameron Carpenter- Killing Me Loudly: On the Abdication of the "King" of Instruments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeOvWB8T…
The Sound of Tomorrow: Cameron Carpenter in Conversation with Michael Eisner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m836JSYQ…
I always explain that for some of us it is just pride of ownership. So we learn to fix it. And if you keep it long enough, all of it will need maintenance.
SJG
Fix It Again Tony
I used to do my own work. I did tune-ups, exhaust replacement, brake work, etc. Since about 1984, however, my cars have become increasingly complex. Computers have made all routine maintenance simpler for the pros and harder for the DIYer. At the same time, tune-up intervals have gone up to 100,000 miles.
My 2006 Charger R/T with a Hemi has 16 platinum tipped spark plugs, half of which can only be accessed from underneath with the car on a lift. Even replacing the battery is tough on this car. It's huge to turn a big engine and to make life even more interesting, it's mounted in the trunk to help provide a 50/50 weight distribution. All things considered, I leave most jobs to the pros in a local shop these days.
I never change my own oil. It's relatively cheap and the oil magically disappears. More importantly, I get a chance to see the underside of the vehicle when it's up on the lift.
Some real funny acronyms fellas, thanks for posting. Agree with A-dawg that having car up on a lift is a good opportunity to keep tabs on car condition and potential issues down the road.