Change your own oil?

[Bimmer]

After the "pro's" at Jiffy Lube over-tightened the oil pan plug on my wife's car and cracked the pan (costing me $500 for new pan and install), I change the oil on all our vehicles. I have always done it on my own cars.

May not save a ton of money, but its easy and quick and I know its done right.

[Troyrb]

When I got my first car just out of HS I changed my own oil for years. Now I take it to have the oil changed because I don't want to deal with the old oil. I have had some problems with them not putting the filter on tight enough and it leaking oil. Also I had one place put the wrong filter on my brand new jeep. You really have to watch them because a lot of these places have kids working for them. I refuse to take my car to WalMart auto dept. to get the oil changed after numerous problems.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

OP here. Once, we did take the car to a quick change place back when the usual course was for my husband to change it. Those people drained the fluid out of the gear box on our manual transmission and did not tell us! Guess that can be another potential problem with having a newbie doing your oil change. I drove around for several days till it became clear something was wrong. Took the car to the dealer mechanic who basically said, "Who changed your oil last week?"...Somehow I had allowed myself to forget this.

[kork13]

wow, that's pretty bad, Joan...

So far with my car, I've had it done by the dealer for like... $30. Until the warranty's up, I want them to be the only ones touching it, so they can't accuse me of screwing something up. Once the warranty's up, I'll probably look at starting to do it myself.... just because I trust my own work more than somebody else's.

Like momof1in150, my base has car lifts and equipment that I could use for a nominal fee, and they'll also dispose of the oil. My only concern is making sure I have the right oil filter and O-ring for my car... what's the best way to ensure you have the right stuff? Do most auto parts places have all the possible things you might need?

[GREENBACK]

For most DIY stuff you should be able to go to any good parts store to get what you need and if you don't know what you need they'll look it up for you.

[feh]

I've always changed the oil on our cars, for several reasons:

1. less expensive
2. I know a quality filter is being used
3. I know quality oil is being used
4. I know the job's being done right

Our local dump takes the used oil and processes it (no charge).

[snafu]

For anyone planning to buy in '09 @ a dealership...ask for coupons if the place has service bays. Each time we've bought at a Dealership, DH gets free oil change coupons. The interesting thing about this is before handing back the keys, the service manager 'interviews' me saying several things needs to be 'checked' as there are potential problems. This 'checking' costs around $500. and doesn't include any fixing! I counter by asking if a journeyman mechanic actually looked at my car since a youngish, teen looking guy, did the actual work.

Our trusted mechanic tells me this is a favorite tactic to frighten women and is the purpose for giving free oil changes.

[cptacek]

Originally Posted by kork13

what's the best way to ensure you have the right stuff? Do most auto parts places have all the possible things you might need?

AutoZone, O'Reily's, etc have books that you look up the year and model and it says what kind of filter, etc., to get.