I Learned My Lesson

Coming up on a year with my Tacoma now, and now two oil changes in, I have learned my lesson on maintenance/ oil changes.

I took it to get service at a dealership the first time last year which ran me $88 which was a shock to me since I was used to changing the oil on my old Nissan myself for less than $40 and my husband gets his car done for around the same at our local version of "jiffy lube."

Well this time I really considered doing it myself, I know how and price checked oil and filters, and considered getting what I needed to do it myself. But price being between $40-50 I thought, why not take it to the place my husband goes! it should be close to the same price right?
Another $85 dollars from my pocket later yours truly will be doing all easy maintenance myself from now on, especially the 60,000 mile service the dealership quoted me $920 dollars to do.

 

$40 at Jiffy Lube is for regular oil. The Tacoma takes full synthetic which costs a lot more. $88 is within the normal range for an oil change/tire rotation.

The 60K maintenance is robbery.

 

Oil changes here in Colorado have gone crazy. Cost me $100 last time, and that was about the same price as if I just bought the stuff and did the job myself. Bummer.

 

I only got my oil changed (if you're saying that's a fair price for both services) and I was pricing the exact same oil they use before I decided to go get it done, and they actually charged me more for the exact same oil than what I could've bought it for myself! I thought at least since they buy it in larger batches it would be a few dollars less, but instead it was several dollars more. I also priced it with a higher quality oil filter. All in all they charged me more for the same stuff without the added labor cost.

 

I'm sorry but what stuff are you buying that comes out to $100?

 

I was curious about this also, I know some people are paying $24 dollars for the fancy canister socket, but that's a one time purchase.

 

It seems high to us, but to the shop. It’s not really that high.
It will cost you about $40 to do it yourself.

The shop, it will cost $30-35 for oil and filter plus plug gasket.
Then $15 to the tech doing the oil change. Which leaves the shop about $30 in profit.

But that profit has to go towards the shop bills.
Lights, water, insurance, taxes…….

The fact is, $90 oil changes are going to become normal.

I will admit, I let the local shop change my oil.
I can still get it done for about $55 or less.

That’s seems fair to me.
Plus, the guy at the local dump said, I can’t throw away my oil filter there.
I have to drive 20 miles across town to the landfill to throw it away.
I’d say, I can do it myself and save $25. But it’s worth $25 to me to let someone else do it.

Bigger jobs, I do myself.
Brakes, bearings, bushing…..
The closer it gets to costing me $100 out of pocket labor.
The more likely I’ll do the job myself.

 

TOYOTA 04152-YZZA1 Replaceable Element (2)

$14 TOYOTA 04152-YZZA1 Replaceable Element (2)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y5MZKTT

Toyota/ exxon mobil Case of 6 Quarts Full Synthetic TGMO SN 0W-20 Oil

$54 Toyota/ exxon mobil Case of 6 Quarts Full Synthetic TGMO SN 0W-20 Oil

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CRMX2NK

I got these on Amazon. $15 for 2 filters, $54 for 6 quarts of oil although the oil increased a bit in price since my last purchase.

 

Your auto parts store doesn't take used oil?

 

The local dump takes oil.
But not the filters.
Why? I don’t know.

Don’t know if the parts store takes oil or filters.
Never looked or asked?

If I’m in my local parts store, it’s bad.
That means something broke, and I have to fix it.
I try to get in and out as fast as possible.

 

This is my go-to thread for maintenance

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-diy-maintenance-quick-reference.406712/

 

$15 for the 2 filters is good, thanks! I can get the oil for quite a bit cheaper though, actually less than that for 2 5qt jugs! $46 for 10 quarts! I really shoulda done it myself

 

Oil. Filter. Washer. 30 minutes to rotate tires. Check all fluids. Check belts. Check suspension and drive line. Say, a total of an hour and a half of my labor. $100 is cheap as my labor is expensive.

 

I see your point and kudos for supporting those jobs, someone needs to! Personally for me though, I could've saved close to $80 between these last two oil changes doing it myself. Which could've bought me a few nice steaks or something tbh.

 

Is that synthetic oil for $46?!!

 

And if it is synthetic please share where to purchase.

 

I see your point too.

For me, it comes down to time and convenience.
By the time I crawl under the truck, clean up, and take the oil off.
I’m at least 1-1.5 hours into the job. Plus, It doesn’t help that I just don’t “want to do it”.

If you’ve got the time and want to, do it yourself.
Nothing wrong with doing it yourself. At least you’ll know it’s done.
And it is done right.

 

Napa has 5w-20 5qt. jugs for $21.99
So 10 qt. For $44.00

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NOL...UMcN2uXhfMBDMrADKxoClb8QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&

 

The local place I went to used Pennzoil full synthetic 0w-20, my local Walmart sells Pennzoil full synthetic 0w-20 for about $23 dollars per 5 qt jug.

I know there's some disagreement about oil brand, but as far as I know not all brands make the type we need.

If it's any consolation I live in a very low income/ cost of living area.

 

0w-20 is same price for those interested
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NOL75541?impressionRank=6