Well, truth be told, you don't really save a lot of money changing your own oil. And if you include your labor costs, you are probably better off having a professional do it for you. ... It is hard to save money by changing your own oil because oil changes are loss leaders for a lot of places.
On a cost basis, if you own one of the more popular mainstream vehicles and usually get two or three oil changes done annually, you're likely to save less than $20 each on average between the costs of having this service done at an independent shop or oil change chain and doing it yourself.
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.
If we couple that with an oil filter change, it's $35. This compares to an oil change cost of $30 and $50, respectively. In short, I save about $15 doing it myself. (The exact math will vary depending on your make and model of car, of course, but it will be along this order of magnitude.)
One of the biggest reasons why you shouldn't do your own oil change is that you could make a mistake, and that mistake could jeopardize the health of your car. The mistake may be a small one, like not tightening all the bolts well enough when you're done. You could develop a leak that could damage your engine.
It's a simple process that requires few tools, and it's a sure way to save some money while you avoid the hassle of sitting in a dull waiting room somewhere reading outdated magazines. More than anything, the basic oil change is a great way to connect with your vehicle and take some control over its maintenance.
Synthetic oil is more expensive than conventional oil but offers superior protection for your car's engine. Synthetic oil provides more effective protection for your car, may even prolong the life of your engine and would cost the average driver just $65 more each year. ...
It used to be normal to change the oil every 3,000 miles, but with modern lubricants most engines today have recommended oil change intervals of 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Moreover, if your car's engine requires full-synthetic motor oil, it might go as far as 15,000 miles between services!
Unless your car's oil filter and/or oil drain plug is impossible to reach, you can save money by changing your oil and oil filter yourself (your car's manual should tell you how much oil to get and how often to change your oil).
Seven Benefits of Changing Your Oil On Time
In general you will pay more per litre for the oil than the lube place does and you will have to pay for a disposal fee for the used oil. Added to that the cost per hour for your own labor (even if you do it in your free time) the tools , the oil filter etc.
Fifty-seven percent of auto owners are guided to change their oil by their vehicle's service indicator light, 31 percent by the next oil change sticker put in their car, and ten percent keep track of the mileage and months on their own, according to NPD's 2012 Aftermarket Outlook Survey.
Top-quality synthetic oil alone can cost between $20 and $30 for a five-quart bottle, so don't be surprised if an oil-change place charges $50 to $75 for oil and a filter replacement. To confirm that price range, we checked three locations that do oil changes—one of them a dealer—near our Ann Arbor, Michigan, office.
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