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Where do you get your oil changes done? (USA)
- Thread starter BAD
- Start date
Oh, I know. A friend of mine is a luxury mechanic and he tells me that the biggest markup they have is oil and brake pad changes ($300+ for a Mercedes brake pad change is killer).
look for a local shop that does oil changes, they should do fully synthetic for no more than $60-70.
HOA's are the worst. Luckily I have a friend with a large garage in his backyard for when I need to do big jobs. Otherwise I can't have my car on jackstands for more than a day in my driveway, and the garage already has a non-running car in it.
Yep. That + spent time (direct and indirectly) makes it come out to a wash or worse if you go to one of those places that does courtesy checks/top-offs.
It's been 10,000 miles almost exactly. I don't drive a ton so I last did it in February.
I bought a contract with my car a few years ago for like 8 changes for like 80 to 100 bucks. I drive a Toyota so it's a 10,000 mile change and i have a couple of changes left. Once that is out it's back to DIY
Don't do it as that one guy said and put it in the old bottle and throw it away. That's hella illegal and just a dick move environmentally which could result in a fine if you are caught. I would suggest just googling oil disposal and your town's name. Also if you know where the local dump is, they usually have an oil disposal site. They're scattered around town here and are just white metal boxes with a hinged opening on the top. Pour the old oil in there and you're good to go. If you've never done it before get one of the drip pans with resealable holes on the top and a hole for pouring out on the side. They're about $20 at Wal-Mart and last forever.
This. Any auto parts store usually takes your old oil. You just walk in and tell them you have oil to recycle and they tell you where the tank is.
I do it myself so the money I'd spend on labor goes to the more expensive oil and filter brand although I'm sure it really dosen't matter much in the end.
Spend about $45 and 20 minutes on royal purple synthetic and filter.
Spend about $45 and 20 minutes on royal purple synthetic and filter.
I take mine to Advanced Auto Parts. If you have an Auto Zone near you they will also take it.
To be clear for everyone saying free oil changes, you bought the oil change package they try and sell you when you bought your car right?
I just take it to the local Mazda dealer. It's not that much more than oil change places and I get the benefit of having all fluids checked and topped off and a full inspection to keep tabs on anything else that may need addressed (which is more important as time goes on as my car is a 2008 with 85kish miles on it as I've mostly had short commutes most of the years I've owned it).
I lost the benefit when I moved states and far away from the dealership where I bought the car, but it came with (for no extra charge) a coupon booklet that alternated a free oil change with a paid (discounted) oil change plus other maintenance things. That was a great deal for someone that likes to get all (or at least most) dealer recommended maintenances at the set milestones. If you're not one to do that, way cheaper to change oil yourself or just pay for oil changes.
I lost the benefit when I moved states and far away from the dealership where I bought the car, but it came with (for no extra charge) a coupon booklet that alternated a free oil change with a paid (discounted) oil change plus other maintenance things. That was a great deal for someone that likes to get all (or at least most) dealer recommended maintenances at the set milestones. If you're not one to do that, way cheaper to change oil yourself or just pay for oil changes.
Don't a lot new cars come with like a year of free maintenance?
To the OP, you have 2 options:
1. Buy the oil yourself (Costco and Walmart have great prices on Mobil1 full synthetic), a filter from your local auto parts store or Walmart (Bosch is great and cheap) and take it to a small repair shop. It really shouldn't cost more than $20 labor
2. Do it yourself. Super easy if you have the space and the tools, but again, this would only save you like $20 each time. Might not be worth your time and effort
$50 for full synthetic at a dealership is more insane(ly cheap) to me. What car?
Dealership where I bought the car - free oil changes for life. It was included with the car, I didn't buy anything extra
It's $20 at the dealership if I bring my own oil. $30 for a 5L bottle of decent synthetic on sale (and every other brand seems to have constant mail in rebates).
Luckily my engine capacity is 5 quarts, so that single bottle is just sufficient (with a couple of tablespoons left over). If I had to tack another small bottle on it would be far more annoying as only the big jugs seem to go on sale.
Luckily my engine capacity is 5 quarts, so that single bottle is just sufficient (with a couple of tablespoons left over). If I had to tack another small bottle on it would be far more annoying as only the big jugs seem to go on sale.
Camry. I guess my dealership is nice about that. It is the same price as our local dedicated oil shops so I go back to the dealer. Free coffee and pretzels.
Just curious, what state are you in? Cause yea, that's definitely a not common haha.
You manly man you.
Seriously though changing oil on most vehicles is quite simple. I should really learn how to do it.
Love how easy it is to change the oil in newer Outbacks. The ground clearance is high enough that the car doesn't need jacks, the oil filter is on top (literally right next to the washer fluid refill), and after replacing the oil pan screw with a Fumoto valve, it's a clean operation. Don't have to worry about the least experienced worker at an auto shop over-torquing and stripping the screw. I've stopped wearing gloves.
On a side note, Bob Is The Oil Guy has one of the most fascinating niche forums I've come across. There are posters there who toss new motor oil just so they could try a different blend, it's amazing. It's like the Gaming side of Resetera, but with motor oil instead.
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Illinois. They do hard upsell cabin air filters, etc but I just say no.
There's some car shop next to my house that handles the oil change. It's either them or Firestone.
Look around for yelp reviews and find a good mechanic.
I prefer to go to the dealership.
I've learned I'm not great at DIY when it comes to cars.
I prefer to go to the dealership.
I've learned I'm not great at DIY when it comes to cars.
50 bucks for full synthetic at the dealership? I'm jealous.
Also, no matter what car I've had, no matter what dealer is near me, getting an oil change at the dealership is always an ordeal. Is it not like that in other places? Like at least a couple of hours, which is crazy when Valvoline will do it while you sit in your car.
Also, no matter what car I've had, no matter what dealer is near me, getting an oil change at the dealership is always an ordeal. Is it not like that in other places? Like at least a couple of hours, which is crazy when Valvoline will do it while you sit in your car.
The placement of the filter is fucking amazing. Kudos to their engineer and design teams for that one.
What's that about a Fumoto valve? I need to read up on that.
Depends on the dealership and how busy they are that day. The one I worked at there were dedicated people that only did oil changes and tires, so the people who came in for just that could be in and out quicker. On a busy day it would still take a while though as there were only 3 of those oil change bays.
I've been changing my own oil for a little while now just because its become really expensive to have it serviced at a shop.
I'll wait until I'm at about 3000 miles, and I'll change the oil filter every other time. I spend less than $30 and it maybe takes me 25 minutes.
I'm not opposed to having someone do it if the price is good. I heard about a place here in Phoenix that was just built, and they offer changes for $20.00. I can't think of the name right now for the life of me.
I'll wait until I'm at about 3000 miles, and I'll change the oil filter every other time. I spend less than $30 and it maybe takes me 25 minutes.
I'm not opposed to having someone do it if the price is good. I heard about a place here in Phoenix that was just built, and they offer changes for $20.00. I can't think of the name right now for the life of me.
It's this one, for an Outback. When you're ready to drain the oil, attach some 3/8" vinyl piping and turn the valve switch. Oil drains cleanly into pain, no lost screws, no splashes. I've had mine for 3 years and it doesn't leak. If I did any sort of off-roading I'd probably use that plastic guard, but I currently don't need it.
My local dealership topically has a deal where you get full synthetic, tire rotation, other fluid top off and checks, for like $75
Got an oil change at Walmart two days ago. It was $50 for the full synthetic oil change. They also checked my tires, filled my windshield wiper fluid, checked my battery, and gave me a free vacuum cleaning in my car. Will see how the Walmart oil filter does. I'm impressed so far.
My dealer gives free oil changes for something like three years so long as it's every six months or 5,000 miles. So I just schedule it online with them. I only put 3,600-ish miles on my current two year old Honda so I've only had to have one oil change. Probably the only perk for living in the city: I don't have to drive far for anything.
Edit: just to clarify, my car's computer tells me the age of the oil in a percentage, and it runs just fine even after a year without a change of synthetic oil. It's not like old US cars that needed to have the oil changed every six months or you risked breaking down on the highway
Edit: just to clarify, my car's computer tells me the age of the oil in a percentage, and it runs just fine even after a year without a change of synthetic oil. It's not like old US cars that needed to have the oil changed every six months or you risked breaking down on the highway
I paid ~$80 once for a change at a local place. AKA, I got ripped off.
Do it myself now for about $30-40. 20 minutes of labor is fine with me.
Do it myself now for about $30-40. 20 minutes of labor is fine with me.
in my state (ny) you can bring used oil to the store you bought your new oil from. my town also has a giant tank next to a trash way station, you dump it yourself.
as far as pricing goings full synthetic oil itself will be about $50 for 5 quarts if you buy it yourself. i'm sure the service station will get a discount on their oil so anything over $30-40 is going to the mechanic's time and profit for the business.
They'll find anyway to deny your warranty claim, just have a receipt of your oil/filter purchase and that from my understand should suffice, lets ask our friendly neighborhood lawer........
Instead of taking us to the promised dinner at The French Laundry you do this to us?! You're basically a Pats sympathizer now you fucking ambulance chaser.
Woah now let's not call anyone anything they'll regret later.
Next thing you'll call him a Michael Jordan fan