Economics of DIY oil change

Two words: Time Savings.

In the time it takes you to drive ten minutes to a monkey-lube place, get your change done (est. 15 to 20 minutes, including wait, at a minimum), and drive ten minutes home, you've used at least a half hour, probably more.

In that same time period I can change my oil, grease my driveshafts, lube my front suspension, inspect my air filter and all under-hood fluid levels (except tranny), and rotate my tires.


I also like the peace of mind of knowing that if I fucked up, it's my own fault. Too many horror stories of drain plugs not being reinstalled, filter left off, wrong grade of oil, wrong amount of oil, fill cap being left open...the list goes on.

 

Nice.

 

Fixed that for you.

 

Yeah lol I have the shop foreman on it usually.

 

If it is a nice 70 degree day, the sun is shining. I do my own. If it is 20 degrees outside and a foot of snow I take it in.

 

The quality of the job being done is # 1 to me. As long as I'm physically capable to perform oil changes and tire rotations I'll be doing them myself. I actually enjoy it and kinda loaf along taking more time than needed. Keeps me in the garage and the wife and kidneys don't bother me on oil change day.

 

well..

jiffy lube down here charges around $80 for a full syn oil change.

fuck that.

 

Changing the oil on a second gen is ridiculously easy. You don't have to jack it up to get under it, and the filter is RIGHT THERE when you pop the hood. The whole job takes just a couple minutes. I'd feel lazy not doing it. Lol.

 

I bought my truck new. Through the dealership it has a lifetime powertrain warranty as long as there is proof of the services done on time. 30$ an oil change well worth it to me.

 

This, or a grease pen. Just something so I know it's a new filter.

 

Ok you guys convinced me, I did it myself last night. We aren't allowed to do any work at my apartment complex, but no one cares if you do it at night and don't make a mess. I went and got a Toyota filter from the dealer and a gasket for the plug (I noticed it didn't have one). The parts guy from the dealership was pretty rude, and unless you are buying a new transmission they don't really want to help you with the small stuff. Next time I'll get the filter online.
I think King Kong tightened the drain plug and put on the filter, I had to get a special tool to get off the filter. I switched over to synthetic, so hopefully I don't have to do this again for a while. I made sure the drain plug was quite a bit looser, I want to be able to get it off next time, and I put the filter on by hand so I'll be able to get it off without a tool.

$40 for 6 quarts of Mobil 1 synthetic oil, $7 for pan to catch oil, $7 for the Toyota filter, $10 for the filter grip tool, $1 for the plug gasket, $4 for an absorbent oil spill kit (in case I made a mess at the apartment). Not too bad, and I get a strange sense of enjoyment out of crawling around under my truck and getting dirty, it's kind of a hobby, so I'd say it was worth it.

 

I'd use Napa oil in anything but a new vehicle and that's just me being picky. If you get Napa Gold filters they are made by Wix. Wix makes a top of the line filter.

 

This.

#1 - Jiffy Lube is owned by Pennzoil. Pennzoil oil filters are OEM'd for them by Fram.
#2 - Endless stories of stripped drain plugs.
#3 - A few stories of oil filter gaskets stuck to the block and blowing out
#4 - A very few stories of forgetting to refill.

I bought my Taco from a local Chevy dealer. They used a "Microguard" filter.
Quick trip to O'Reilly revealed that they stock it.... and PROUDLY display a graphic of the construction on the box. Yes, it's a Fram.
The non-premium Champion Labs filters are not much better. Same design, but fiber endplates and a plastic core support (that has been known to collapse).
Champion Labs non-premium filters include AC Delco, STP, Supertech, Champ, Deutsch, and may make some OEM.

So unless you spring for a Mobil-1 filter, you ARE going to get a shit filter from Wal Mart, Jiffy Lube, and likely most other "quick change" places and even some dealerships.

Toyota dealership, I would trust... but I would be sure to specify a Toyota filter.


And now you've blown your economy. That $19.95 oil change includes bulk oil and whatever cheap filter the service manager has decided they will use. It might be a Toyota filter, or it might be a Microguard or Fram.
The moment you specify a part, the $19.95 is out the door.


By comparison, I use Mobil-1 oil. I pay about $28 for a 5qt jug. I buy 2 jugs, dump one in the engine, and top off with the 2nd one, so let's say that the 2nd jug will last 5 oil changes.... That's $168 for oil for 5 changes.
I use Purolator Pure-One filters. They are about $6. That's $30 for 5 changes.
$198/5= $40 for my oil changes. I know it's done right. I know it's a quality filter. It's a quality oil.
I could run non-synthetic oil and cut that cost to $25 or so.

It's not only about money... it's about not wanting some minimum wage oil changer working on my vehicle.

 

http://www.partswebsite.com/1sttoyo...tid=10020&subcatid=20099&section=1&type=parts

Not sure if the link will work, but that's Titus-Will Toyota.
$4 for the Toyota oil filter.
Minimum shipping charge is, IIRC, $10, so buy a bunch. Air filters, cabin filters, oil filters, belts and hoses.....

You'll still need a tool to remove the filter. I use a cap wrench to break it loose. Then I slip a baggie over it so it doesn't run down the side of the block and trans lines when I break the seal.

On the drain plug... and what I am going to say is controversial....
I really like the Fumoto drain valve. It replaces the plug with a ball valve.
Taco's are low clearance, so get the one without the hose fitting. It all rides above the bottom of the crossmember so it is protected.

Some people are not comfortable with having a simple lever able to drain their oil... and I suppose if you have dirtbag "friends" that might be a concern. I've run these drain plugs since 2003 and have never had a problem. Wife's Rav4 is not so good on clearance, so I use the Fram Sure-Drain on hers.

OUCH!

Get the 5-quart jugs... should be under $30 for one.

 

Even with my low sitting 5-lug I can do the change without jacking up using a creeper. With the Fumoto it is a pleasure. Oil filter socket and a 8 inch extension on the ratchet works great.

 

The price doesn't matter to me even though the truck will eventually wear out. To me, it's all about being in "the now". I want my truck to run well. I could care less if I spend extra money on the best oil and change it myself. In the long-run, I have found that the price is the same anyway. Maybe just a little more.