TexasRedfish

deserteagle69

It's not about cheaper or easier or more convenient, to me. It's so I know its been done right. And at the same time I can do a complete and thorough inspection of the vehicle. I've been servicing my own vehicles for 50+ years and though rare, I've discovered pending problems (a u-point beginning to look iffy, for instance, or an oil seal beginning to weep) and fixed them before they left me stranded somewhere.

And I don't have to worry about unscrupulous shops wanting to do unneeded repairs. Some years ago the wife was taking some classes at a University a few hundred miles from here and took her Jeep Cherokee to a shop there to get the oil changed. When she came to pick it up she was told the Jeep would need new brakes...this about two months after I had put all-new brakes on it!

Napalm

Yeah honestly it's more hassle to try to go to the dealer - and then there are so many stories of dealer techs merfing up what is supposed to be an easy thing.

Same with any quick change place - smurf that. Only thing they do right is the pit - one day when I build me a new house or garage I'm going to have an oil change pit.

Besides that - I like getting under the car and checking the relative condition of things - I know my ball joints are beat up, or my trans housing isn't coated in grease. because I see it every few months.

I know the oil is good when I put it in - I know the filter was filled (in the case of those that can be). I know I got the o rings on the case right for the 2.7L cartridge filter.

I keep my records with an app called ACAR - but there are others or as said before use Excel or Open Office.

I would say it costs me less than going to those places because I run to 20% of the OLM - I use products I buy when on sale and are better than the stock rot some places use. So it makes me feel better.

BUT- and it's a big one - I have the tools the space and the desire. Tools you can buy easy enough, space you can find often easy enough. Desire is all on you and some people just don't want to. I get it. I don't buy and sell stocks and bonds for a living either I pay someone to manage that.

David Jones

I change my own oil and always have. I also rotate my own tires. At the age of 59, that's a lot of oil changes and tire rotations. Money isn't the issue, it's simply that I like to know it's done correctly and I also use the time to check out the rest of the vehicle, topping fluids and having a look at filters etc. For the last 10 years or so I've bought bulk filters from Baldwin (they now have the 2.7 oil filter) and when something in the "fleet" needs an oil change I simply drop by Walmart (100 yards from my office) for the oil and have at it. Problems? Disposing of the used oil (Walmart again) is about it for me. Most vehicles can be done in somewhat less than an hour but I've stretched that out to about 2 hours with my 2.7. I let it drain for at least 45 minutes and then let it sit for another 45 minutes to check the final level....though that's probably a waste of time given the drain time allowed and the fact that I've just dumped 6qts into a crankcase designed to be full with 6 qts.

As Napalm said.....the desire to do it is on you. I have that desire.....do you?

gatorblue92

I do it myself because I enjoy wrenching on my cars. I also know that the job was done right and with high quality oil and filters.

chimmike

I didn't know there were any cons to changing your own oil. You can monitor the oil you use, the filter you use, and only have yourself to blame if it's not done correctly.

Oh, and the oil splatter on the driveway...you can blame that on yourself too. After scrubbing with acetone and a brush.

trx440ex

I never would've thought I would ever pay to have my oil changed. I did it myself for 40 years until the last couple of years for my truck and Mustang GT. The reason I made the decision is that I only put 3-5K miles per year on each of them, yearly oil changes and having the PA state inspection at the same time made sense to me. I'm blessed to have a good small hometown Ford dealership that we buy our vehicles from that we trust. I still change the oil in our 14 Escape when necessary just because we put more miles on it.

Summers22

iTrader: (2)

I agree with the others that change theirs. For one, I know I am more careful with my vehicles than anyone else ever would be. I just hit 5k and changed my oil/filter yesterday. Rotated the tires (torqued my lugs to 150 ft-lb), topped off my washer fluid, checked my air-filter, brake fluid, battery terminals and gave me a chance to look over the entire underside, yet again. I have installed Bilsteins on my truck, gotten a new muffler on and every time I inspect the under carriage for anything out of normal. Plus, I just flat out enjoy wrenching.

David1986

I let my dealer do it for like $39.00 + tax. Not worth the hassle to clean up, dispose of the oil, shop rags etc.

Plus if I ever had a warranty issue, it's all documented through Ford. I don't get to upset if they are not perfect. They will fix it if there is an issue.

I also trade them before they go out of warranty, so I'm not to worried about exactly what brand oil they use etc.

Life is good!

Truckin

iTrader: (4)

Pro- you get the oil changed the correct way, no dealer errors from hiring dudes that probably got fired from jiffylube, no scratches in your paint from a moron running it thru a sandpaper wash. You have all of your old oil removed, not just half and you have all new oil put in.
con- none
Everything I said above is personal experience except not sure of jiffy lube rejects. Dealers use no talent help who have personnaly caused me to have 2 separate vehicles repainted, and one came back dirty oil, last one came back 5 qts over full. No more for me thanks