Should i change my own oil reddit

I own a 2013 Toyota Highlander V6 with 75k mi (6.3 qts) and a 2015 Honda Civic CVT with 80k mi (3.9qts). Both take 0w-20.

Was looking at oil change prices lately (idk if its due to pandemic or inflation) and at the dealership it would be $70+tax for my highlander and $50+tax for my civic.

I was doing some research if it would be worth it to start doing my own oil changes. Costco has 0W-20 for $30 for 10 quarts which comes to $3 a quart. Each OEM oil filter costs about $6 So it would cost me about $27 to do the oil change myself with the oil and oil filter for the highlander and about $18 for the civic. So I am saving between $30-$40 per oil change. I understand the costs of getting a set of ramps, drain pan etc.

So was wondering what you guys think, is it worth it to do DIY oil changes or get them done at the dealership? I am also thinking the dealership does multipoint inspections so I would know if there are any other issues with the car since I might not notice or be able to tell myself at times so that may be worth it for peace of mind to make sure I don't ruin anything further on the car. But also I would know I would be doing thebpil change right.

Just for some background, I have never done an oil change myself but looking at some videos it doesnt seem so hard and I feel I could do it. I also have aleays been going to the dealership for oil changes but whenever theres something the dealership recommends to get done, I either research online, or take it to an independent shop to get done with my parts. I always keep my cars up to date on preventative maintenance and maintenance in general and keep all records.

Would appreciate your advice as the savings got me thinking to do it on my own and I feel I can do it but there is always a trade off with savings.

Edit: Added vehicle mileage

It's probably no big deal to you folks but I'm pretty proud of myself. I have a 2006 Mazda 5 (manual :P) that I've been putting synthetic in recently as I have noticed that I've been burning a lot less oil than with conventional. However I did the math and I save quite a bit in my area doing it myself instead of going to a shop. As an added bonus while my car was jacked up I popped my front bumper off and with a hairdryer and a bit of persistence I was able to pop a dent out of it.

All in all I haven't leaked any oil (yet) and I only had 2 spare plastic bits after reinstalling the bumper.

Posted by6 years ago

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Should i change my own oil reddit

This may have been posted before, but I never realized how the oil change pricing model went up dramatically for synthetic oil...when synthetic oil doesn't cost proportionally that much more at the store. It's like $5 more at the store (for a total of $22ish) but they'll charge you $40 more at Jiffy Lube for it (for a total of $65ish) despite it being the same level of effort.

It's a dirty job, but not difficult, as I'm not a car guy and I did mine. Totally worth it.

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It's very easy to do, and very hard to fuckup. Worst thing that could happen is you forget to put a bucket under your oil pan and you spill a bunch of oil on the ground.

Just make sure you get the right oil filter and the right oil. Jack up your car, put a bucket or tray underneath your oil pan, unscrew the cap on your oil pan and let all the oil drain into your bucket. Then unscrew your oil filter and pour the oil in that into your bucket. Put your oil pan cap back on, grab your new filter and fill it about half way up with new oil, I also spread a little oil on the seal of the oil filter before I put it back in to help the seal. Once that's in you just have to pour your new oil in and make sure its at the right level using your oil dipstick and you're good to go!. You should also take the old oil to a proper disposal place instead of throwing it in the garbage.

When you do screw back in your oil pan cap and the oil filter, you just want them to be slightly tighter than hand tight. Too tight and you could damage the thread and make it much harder to get them off next time you do your oil change. If you don't see oil dropping from your car after a few days you'll know you've done a good job.

I'm coming up on my 30k service interval for my Fiesta ST (having done my last few oil changes myself) and got to thinking - am I overlooking any of the advantages to having my car serviced at the Ford Dealership vs. doing it myself?

I use the same recommended products they would use at the dealership, log the condition of my vehicle in a spreadsheet (following their exact "multi-point inspection" guidelines), and follow the manufacturer-recommended service intervals.

(IMO) Pros of the DIY approach:

  • Cheaper (sometimes)

  • You know exactly what products are being used on your car

  • You know exactly who is working on your car

  • You learn more about how your car works - useful information, especially in an emergency

And cons of DIY:

  • Service history is not logged into the database (i.e won't show up on CarFax)

  • You may miss something a more experienced technician might spot

  • Can be more time-consuming

  • Overhead cost of tools

Anything I'm missing?

Is it worth it to do your own oil changes?

So, is it cheaper to change your own oil? By doing this task yourself, you'll save between $25 and $75 per oil change, depending on the type of oil and filter you use.

What percentage of men change their own oil?

The survey found that about 74 percent of men have completed auto oil changes themselves, compared to only 30 percent of women. However, both groups know to at least check their oil, with 79 percent of women and 91 percent of men reporting that they monitor the fluid level.

Why it's better to change your own oil?

Changing your own oil ensures that your car is getting the quality lubrication specified by the vehicle manufacturer. Changing your own oil actually saves time when you compare it to driving to a shop, waiting an hour, and driving back to your home or work.

Should I bring my own oil to oil change?

Can I bring my own oil to my mechanic for an oil change? Yes, you can bring your own oil. Most mechanics, garages, and dealerships will allow you to bring your own oil, and the cost of the oil change will be reduced. It's a handy way to save on your car maintenance bills.