Vehicle Oil changes

[Sprinkler Fitter]

Low profile Jack and Jack stands

Or race ramps

 

[perfdoc]

Pretty much since forever, I've always done my own oil changes in vehicles; except of coarse work vehicles. Wife got a 2019 Charger RT a while back, and it won't go on ramps, and Way to low to crawl under, so I've had my son run it up to the non-chain tire/lube place I take work car. It's always been expensive (IMO) at $120; but ok. Today, wife is Way over, no time to run it to the other place, 45 min away; so I steal it at lunch and run it to one of those, 5 minute, stay in your car, chain places. Da'Yum, $174, for basic synthetic, basic filter, and a $35 cabin air filter. Is it just me, or is that ridiculous. The $120 place; they atleast vacuum the car, and leave you a mint with a Bible verse on it; and I'm up there every 7500 miles with the work car. They are a but out od the way, and not that fast, but.....

NEVER would I support an oil change business that would charge $175. It’s not an exotic car. I’d find a way to get under it and do the work myself.

 

[RHiebert]

Here's my experience at my dealer's service department. In my online reservation and when I bring ours into the drive-in bay, I mention that I will be supplying my own AMSOIL oil which I placed on the passenger seat. This time I waited in the lounge after being in Tim Horton's for a coffee. An hour passed by and I get the call that it's ready, paid the bill, get the key and get into the car and to my chagrin my AMSOIL has not been touched. Without giving my brain time to strategize my next move I go inside and blow my stack to whoever, didn't care who heard me. Heads turn in my direction while some suddenly disappear. When I get mad, look out. In conclusion, their response was quick to replace their oil with mine in less than it took for a second coffee which they supply from a coffee machine. The dealer sent me an email for feedback on my experience. Needless to say that I gave it with "both barrels".

 

[Fields_mj]

My wife and I both have Toyota Camrys with the same problem. I built my own ramps by cutting and boards together (2x8). If you go this route, keep in mind that it doesn't need to be a big solid (ie heavy) chunk of wood when you're done. The boards in the middle can have gaps. I also double up a short 2x4 at the front end to serve as a chalk to keep me from driving off the end by mistake.

 

[Alan46]

I have always changed the oil in all our vehicles but decided I was tired of dragging out the ramps, crawling around under them and collecting the oil for recycling. I decided that letting the local repair shop do it using my oil & filter (Amsoil+Wix). A shop with a really good rep I have used for a few repairs I no longer have tools for.

Worked out great, $13 for them to change it EXCEPT when I let my OCD get the better of me and check under the truck only to find not a single grease fitting (19) had been greased nor differential or transfer case checked. PLUS since it is a 4x4 that unfortunately has the filter located over the front drive shaft u-joint all the oil that ran out of the filter when it was changed is ALL OVER.

$13 was not the deal I thought it was. Guess I am back to doing it myself.

$13? In some places you can’t even get a burger for $13!

 

[Alan46]

My wife and I both have Toyota Camrys with the same problem. I built my own ramps by cutting and boards together (2x8). If you go this route, keep in mind that it doesn't need to be a big solid (ie heavy) chunk of wood when you're done. The boards in the middle can have gaps. I also double up a short 2x4 at the front end to serve as a calk to keep me from driving off the end by mistake.

Can you post a picture for us visual guys and gals? Thanks

 

[GWagon]

Been changing oil in cars since before I could even drive. I do all my own and haven’t really ever paid someone to do it. A couple free oil changes at the dealer, but that’s it.

Recently had hernia surgery and couldn’t really roll around on the ground much. My car is a 2017 Audi A6 and needed an oil change last week. I have a suction extractor that I haven’t used yet for oil changes, so I decided to finally try it out. Works great, and I’m confident that I got 99% of the oil out. And I didn’t have to jack anything up or remove the 15+ fasteners holding the belly pan on. Great time saver.

Just changed the oil in my F250 the normal way, since I don’t even have to jack that up to get under it. Have to do that in the driveway because it doesn’t fit in the garage.

When using the suction extractor are you leaving the old filter on? If so you should just pay to have it changed. The filter change is as important as changing oil.

 

[GWagon]

Isn't there an EV thread around here somewhere still?

Apparently not. What also would be nice is a tractor news, tips, and issues website.

 

[Skrizan]

Many good points in this thread as well as bad. I have 2 examples of why you should do it yourself if able. 1. My brother had his changed at a Fast Eddie's chain. He left and a couple miles down the road his van died. He towed it to his house and called me a few days later asking if I could help him figure out what was wrong with it. I came over and heard the story checked the lipstick, it was bone dry. We went to fast Eddie's and they have video of every change for their liability. We sat down and watched it with the manager and watched all the steps to the windows washer refill. Then he closed the hood without ever putting any oil in it.
2. My daughter lived alone far from me so I could no longer do it for her. After several changes the place she took it to told her they didn't want to remove the plug all the way it was coming out hard with threads coming out also. She brought it to me and I took it out and it was stripped at some point and some sort of thread fix was applied that was failing. She had to get the oil pan replaced.

Ramps sound like a good Idea when possible, but I have never used them. I use a hydraulic jack on one side and a jackstand for security if the jack fails. Takes only a minute and gives a enough room to get to the plug and filter.

Probably for another post, but I have put millions of miles on multiple vehicles without any engine issue with Valvoline conventional and Fram filters in the old days, and Valvoline or Mobil1 full synthetic more recently. No need for fancy filters and oil if you are changing your oil when you should.

 

[NoTrespassing]

Apparently not. What also would be nice is a tractor news, tips, and issues website.

EV owners of today and tomorrow

Thought this would be a good thread to start where EV owners (INCLUDING PLUG-IN HYBRIDS) can share personal anecdotes and those thinking about buying an EV can ask questions pertaining to ownership. This is not a thread of non EV owners to bash and ridicule EV's and EV owners. Let's keep it...

www.tractorbynet.com

Unless "EV owners of today and tomorrow" counts as one...