who changes their own oil

[Longhorn Man]

I do it myself, but I get the oil and filters free at work.
I don't like the lube places becouse I am cheap, and you always get some excuse as to why they didn't do a full chassis lube.
I use Mobile one in the wife's Contour,a nd if the caddy engine runs good enough and keeps the oil in the pan, it may get treated to the same. Something great about having 10,000 miles on your oil, running a sample to the lab, and them telling you to sample it again in another 10,000 miles.
At the shop, we heat it up with waste oil heaters. It is pretty cool becouse my neighbors know I'll take used oil off there hands, and my boss loved it when he realized I have brought in about 40 gallons.
As far as crushing cat filters, you may not need to. Before we got our filter crusher at our shop, the local EPA rep told us all we needed to do was poke holes in the top, and let them drain for a day. (Your local laws may well differ) After that, we were told to just toss them in the normal garbage.

[72 Blazerman]

No quickie lube for me. I either do it or go down to my best friends dad's service station.

Doug

[racedvl]

If I change my own engines, I better be changing my own oil!!!

[shuttermutt]

I do it myself on all my vehicles (my wife's F-150 goes to the dealer). Believe it or not, the easiest is the BMW. The filter is a drop-in deal that's front and center on the top of the engine. Great design! The filter's always wet and easy to get to.

The main reason I do it myself is that I get to hand-pick all the parts and take care of all the little details. You know, wipe the filter gasket surface with a clean rag, fill the filter with oil, wipe the gasket with a dab of clean oil, and all that. Plus, I get the opportunity to inspect the used oil to see if anything strange is going on.

[1969 GMC]

I actually like changing my own oil at home...I like to spend quality time with my truck and inspect the undercarriage. I always change the oil, then check the transfer, tranny, and diffs, and then lube the frontend and the driveshafts.
Some time in the near future I am going to have to do something about that leaky Rockwell, every time I drive the truck for a while and get 'er nice and warm and then park, I leave two half dollar size oil spots.
I figure that I am doing alright--after 3,000 miles, the engine used 1.5 quarts of oil, the 221 used one quart of gear oil, the dana 60 used none, the dana 44 used about a tablespoon (leaky pinion seal), and the sm465 used none. I just need to keep an eye on that 221.

[SEVEND2]

I do mine and a couple of friends autos too

[BraveDave]

My wife has a 02 Passat...what a *****!!

dude.....you really shouldn't talk about your own wife like that.

[spencra]

I've been changing my own oil for about 11 years now.

The last Time I let somebody (Jiffy Lube) do it they forgot to put the cap back on. After driving a few miles smoke started pouring out of the damn truck. Opened up the hood and there was oil everywhere, and hey, looky here no oil cap. MOTHER FLUBBERS

[SWEET7T]

I change my own oil except for twice I took it to a quicky place. But rest assured that I checked everything before I left the parking lot. Since I'm at college, I just don't have the resources (catch bucket/ect) just laying around to do my own, but then I usually just wait till I go home and do it there.

[casey]

I totally agree with all you guys, I found it quite unnerving to stand back and watch someone fiddle with your truck, and probably won't do it again, but I just can't figure how they make it, cause with the oil change for 31 bucks they throw in a 8$ car wash, the guy dumped a half gallon of antifreeze in the rad over flow container, and topped up the drive line fluids, go figure

[spencra]

casey,

31 bucks? I remember when I was doing oil changes at Goodyear and they were only charging 13 and some change. I did the same thing, top off the fluids do a quick inspection shoot some grease into the grease fittings. I always wondered how the heck they made money off that too, but with a corporation as big as Goodyear they probably did it more as a courtesy and could afford to charge that little.



Larry

[Martin64]

I take mine in to have them done but I stand there and watch while they do it. I also take the opportunity to take a look at the underside of the trucks while they're up on the rack.

[mocwon]

I change my own and run Amsoil synthetic in all my vehicles and have for 10+ years. Great stuff plus it allows for much longer time between oil changes.

[Longhorn Man]

mocwon
You ever looked into the Mobile one? The lab we use (totally independent) ran tests for up, and mobile one is the best stuff on the market with the exception of the specialty stuff. (Like red line)

[rodnok1]

Check what they do if you take it there. My wife would take her dodge pos there against my wishes, I would always check the plug and filter for tightness and check the oil level. They never put the right amout of oil in it, it was a v6 and took 5 full quarts not 4.5 like most v6's. They never put the right amout of air in the tires no matter what. She had the antifreeze changed(against my judgement) and it was almost water. They used 50/50 and cut it 50% again...not good. Took it back and the guy asked me, "Why did you check it?" I told him because I knew you would mess it up. During that episode they left the rad drain and a hose clamp loose and I lost half the antifreeze in the mountains on a trip the next day.(Pissed...naw no words can express this). When i called them and told them about it the guy actually asked me if I had any enemies that would do this? I went down there and reamed him a new one, then his district manager. Having managed a Quick Lube for several years, i personnaly checked every car when I was there, i didn't let the guys change my oil either. BUT poor management at Quick lubes is what keeps people coming to my shop for quality work.

[Yellow Cheyenne]

I guess that $31 is Canadian dollars. Always change my own-it is a chance to check everything out underneath.

Randy

[Paul72]

I started changing oil at about 13 years old. I did all the changes myself up until 2 years ago. Got a new job which requires a suit and tie and all my time (I can always find time for this board tho!). I get my work car changed at the dealer for $20, so I figure it's cheaper than a new suit!

Very hard pill to swallow, tho, and I still change the other vehicles myself.

One good story - I brought my car into a Wal-Mart for a flush/fill, and when I got home I popped the hood and there was a large screwdriver there waiting for me! Awful nice of them to give me a present!

[pierce]

My wife does secret shopper work for restaraunts (I love It!!!) and quick oil change places too. There's a saying...NEVER LET ANYBODY YOUNGER THAN YOUR VEHICLE WORK ON IT! Instead of using the oil fill tube, the youngster pryed off the cap under the AC bracket. It didn't go back on and the manager had to fix it. I agree you have to watch them like a hawk. I do my own changes otherwise.

[Bill72BB]

I always change my own oil and filter, I enjoy the High I get from getting up off the ground real fast .

I hear Jiffy lube's out here replace the factory oil drain plug with a plastic one ,This would scare the hell out of me.

[spencra]

Bill72BB,

Why would Jiffy Lube steal drain plugs? Do they have the market cornered on used drain plugs?

[JoetheMobster]

Originally posted by casey
...the only places that except used oil now is the oil change places, and I'd feel quilty asking to dump the oil there, when I didn't buy it there...

Yeah, what the hell's with that now hey??!! They used to have used oil tanks everywhere - now the only place is Canadian Tire that accepts it. Since I get my oil there, AND they charge me an enviro fee, your damn rights they're taking my used oil!! I don't understand how the world works sometimes. I figured that since they're trying to raise awareness about recycling etc. and stop people from dumping oil/antifreeze/etc down storm drains, the neighbor's flower bed, etc, they put out these tanks so you can responsibly dump. Then they go and take them all away! I brought my last load of used oil to Canadian Tire, and at least they were cool about it.

[metalman]

I do all my own work. About the only thing i dont do is work on the trans or rearend. I never really dove into those much over the years and i don't have some of the tools i need for that stuff.
If i need those two worked on i know people i trust to do the job for me.
but yeah, oil and filter i do on my truck and the wifes Grand Prix.

[Bill72BB]

Originally posted by spencra
Bill72BB,

Why would Jiffy Lube steal drain plugs? Do they have the market cornered on used drain plugs?

I heard it was because they were stripping too many treads . ??
Now you just have some plastic plug that expands with the heat and probably only last till the next oil change.??

[spencra]

Those bastards!

[useRc10]

i do my own...too many horror stories for that little bit of work...i had to stop my girlfriend from taking her cavalier to walmart. i couldnt let her do it