Oil changes are critical to keeping your engine running smoothly. The service is routine, so why not learn how to do it yourself? A DIY oil change can save you money, time, and teach you a little about cars along the way. So, roll up your sleeves – let’s examine the pros and cons of changing your own engine oil. Show
DIY – You’ll Learn the Basics of Car MaintenanceChanging the oil in your car is one of the easiest automotive tasks. It requires only a few tools, and is relatively straightforward. Almost everyone who learned how to fix their own car started with changing the oil. Don’t DIY – You Could Do the Job Incorrectly and Damage Your EngineChanging your engine oil is pretty simple, but when you don’t know what you’re doing, you have to be careful. Oil is used to lubricate your engine’s internal components and the consequences of messing it up can be serious – and expensive. DIY – You Can Save Money (But Not Much)You will save money by changing your own engine oil, sure. But you probably won’t save as much as you would imagine. Oil changes can be done pretty quickly (and your mechanic is already a master of the 10-minute oil change). So, although you’re saving some money from not paying for someone else’s labor, you aren’t saving much. Don’t DIY – You May Not Notice Something That Needs RepairingWhen is an oil change, not an oil change? Well, when you pay for an oil change, most mechanics will take the opportunity to have a brief look over your car to see if there are any other glaringly obvious issues. DIY – You’ll Save TimeOne inconvenience of dropping your car off at a shop is that you’re never the only customer there. We’d like to imagine that mechanics are just sitting around polishing their wrenches and waiting for us to give them some work, but that’s never the case. Don’t DIY – You’ll Have to Dispose of Your Old OilWhen you pay for someone else to change your oil, you’ll notice that on the invoice, there is often a ‘disposal charge’ or ‘environmental charge’. This is to offset the cost that the mechanic will incur from disposing of the old engine oil properly. DIY – You’ll Build Relationships with Your Local Parts StoreCar people are some of the best people on the planet. And guess what? When you go to buy everything needed for your DIY oil change, you’ll get to meet some of them working behind the counter. Don’t DIY – Expensive Initial InvestmentRemember what we said before about saving money? Well, it suddenly becomes less of a benefit if you don’t already own some tools. As a minimum, you’ll probably want to get a wrench, funnel, oil drain pan, and an oil filter wrench. You’ll also need a jack and a set of jack stands, as well as a space where you can work on your car. If you’re planning on working on your car, you’ll eventually need to buy this equipment anyway, but it’s something to consider when you’re planning a DIY oil change. Is it worth it to do my own oil change?So, is it cheaper to change your own oil? By doing this task yourself, you'll save between $25 and $75 per oil change, depending on the type of oil and filter you use.
Is it okay to change my car's oil myself?Materials Required. Changing the oil in your car is something that any DIYer can do. Although changing the oil might appear rather “duh,” there are still a lot of folks doing it wrong, making it an ugly chore. An oil change is the most important task you can do to make your engine last.
Is it hard to do your own oil change?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.
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