Do you change your own oil?

[rfuerst911sc]

Yes I change the oil/filter on all my vehicles. I have a scissor lift so while the oil is draining I give each vehicle a once over just to be safe.

[calimedeiros]

oil changes are basic and fun to do at least for me
I get the oil on sale and buy a few oil filters from our host
ends up being cheaper than s shop
plus I like working on my 911

[GH85Carrera]

For the wife's car the dealer does the oil change with synthetic and washes her car in 30 to 40 minutes for $30. It is a 2008 we bought new at the same dealership and the car just now has 24,000 miles on it. She has it changed every 12 months.

On the Elky and the 911 I run Brad Penn (different weights). Not available at any quick change place. I could bring my oil but I would rather do it myself. I can grease the front end on the Elky and not squirt a ton of extra grease on and around the grease zerks.

For the 911 I always do a full inspection of the S-hose, CV bolts, brake hoses, stabilizer bar bushings, shocks and so on.

Getting the oil filter off without making a mess in the engine compartment is a challenge for me and I know what I am doing. I can't imagine the mess some oil change place would make.

[bcgreen]

Originally Posted by vash

DIY,.

hell, i do about five people's cars. some of the elderly in my neighborhood start to hint at about 4999 miles into the oil change.

i buy fistfulls of toyota oil plug sealing washers. just once, i want someone to volunteer to take away the cat litter jug of dirty oil.

Talking about washers, I forgot to put my washer on the tank drain plug and luckily it does not leak.

[imcarthur]

911 - Yes.
Other car - No.
Lawn mower & snow blower - Yes.

Ian

[look 171]

Oh hell no. I use to do it to all my car and my folk's back in college. I have done enough oil changes to last me three life times. I take different car to different people for that. The 930 gets an oil change once a year or maybe two years. it does about 500 to 1000 miles per year, no more then that due to lack of time. S2000 goes to my honda guy. My regular wrench does the oil changes to my other cars.

I gotta live closer to Vash.

[SilberUrS6]

Changing the oil lets me look at stuff under the car. Ripped CV boots can get REALLY expensive if you don't catch them. And other fluid leaks make themselves known before you actually see drips in the driveway/garage.

Yeah, oil and filters can get expensive, when done at retail pricing. But being able to get the filter/drainplug off myself? And actually caring about the repair/maintenance? How much would you pay for that part?

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by craigster59

Do it on mine. I get Mobil 1 at Wallyworld for $29.95 for 5 gal jug. I'm sure Jiffy Lube would do it for $29, but it ain't M1 and they tack all kinds of disposal fees and such where it will hit $45 by the time you are out the door.

Note to self, check Mobil 1 price at wally... I paid $37 at O'Riley
However they (the guys on Miata.net) recommend 0-30W for the old lifters in the 1995 Miata, had a little trouble finding the 0W

[weseeeee]

Only on my 911.

[Scott Douglas]

IIRC the last time I bought M1 oil for my Honda at W-world it was on sale for under $25. I do it myself on all our cars even though crawling around on the concrete is getting lower and lower and lower on my list of things I like to do.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Always on every car I've ever owned.

Years ago I loaned my grandfather my Jetta with a 2L Audi block, big valve head and headers...great car, could beat a Mustang 5.0 to 60. He was being kind in taking the car to Sears to have the oil changed before he gave it back to me. Engine seized on the way home. They forgot to put oil in it.

I can't imagine having lowest common denominator people working on any part of any car I have.

[scottmandue]

It is settled then, wally world to pick up a dozen jugs of M1 and a case of beer they we are run up to Vash place!

[vash]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

It is settled then, wally world to pick up a dozen jugs of M1 and a case of beer they we are run up to Vash place!

love you man!! wife's family doesnt bring oil..hahahha..

in my MIL's defense..i used to come home to find cases of M1 stored in my garage. bummed she moved to taiwan..

i get the stuff at Costco on sale..i buy a lot!!

but you know i would help you if you ever find yourself here with a crankcase full of nasty oil..i helped a couple of Xcountry pelican guys before..one dude brought a hottie to distract me..he post here vary rarely now..hahahha..

[fxeditor]

Yep, I do it myself on all our cars. I do have a lift so it makes the job super easy though!

[ledhedsymbols]

I do all my own. I use it as a chance to give the cars a once over as was mentioned by other posters. I have taken cars to Jiffy Lube or another local place. I have never been happy with their work, and I just don't trust them. It also takes more time than if I just swing by the store while running other errands and then do it myself. All my cars take me less than 20 minutes to do a simple oil change. Seems like it was always an hour wait if I took it in somewhere. Frankly, I don't have that kind of time to kill hanging out.

[Jrboulder]

For the 912E

1 gal jug of rotella: $13
Mahle filter: $6.50

Don't have to jack the car up, all I need is a 19mm socket and a pan.

I don't see anywhere that can put 1000+ ppm zinc oil and an OEM filter on my Porsche for anywhere near $18.50.

[sc_rufctr]

I avoid mechanics like the plague so the only thing I don't do myself is tyre changes.
Even then they try to up sell you on new wheels or whatever.

I'm sure there are honest mechanics out there but I have yet to find one.

Oil changes are easy but a lot of people seem to just top up the oil on older cars.
Not a good idea but when the car is worth around $500 they tend to care less.

[chapo]

Do my own in the f150, syn only, so cheap at Walmart why not? Porsche, bmw, lexus as well. Good time to give the vehicle the once over for any other maintenance

[wdfifteen]

When it's due in the middle of winter, I take it to a local indy shop.
If you do it yourself, make sure you know what you're doing. When I ran my shop (early '70s) I had more than one Saab 96 come in smoking like a chimney after a DIY oil change - no oil in the transmission and 8 quarts in the engine.

[eastbay]

Never paid for an oil change, never will. Heck, bought a new car with the free oil changes deal and I still do them myself.