How do you change your oil
Poll
 | 1 vote (4%) | ||
| | 5 votes (20%) | ||
| | 6 votes (24%) | ||
| | 4 votes (16%) | ||
| | 7 votes (28%) | ||
| No votes (0%) | |||
| | 2 votes (8%) | ||
| No votes (0%) |
25 members have voted
I change the oil and filter every 5k. Engine works hard because its turbo so I figure 5k is good for the engine
I used to go to Jiffy Lube most of my life
Since I got the F150 2 years ago, been changing the oil at the dealer.
Dealers are getting fast and putting out coupons making the price competitive
I just feel more comfortable having somebody that works on F150's all day do the change. Its kind of a pain to change because there is a plate below that has to come off to access the drain and the filter is weird.
One important thing is that the oil should be hot (or at least very warm) when you drain the pan.
When you turn the engine off after you’ve driven for a while all the oil drains down into the pan. If it is allowed to cool there will be a sludge at the bottom of your pan, some of which will not drain out.
I never change oil on cars though I do it for motorcycles.
If you’re always towing then 3 to 5 k miles is probably right. If you’re doing no heavy driving then you can go 10k.
Now there's no time/no desire to do it.
I've never gone back to Jiffy Lube since I saw L.A. investigative news reports about them not doing the things they said they're doing — like changing your oil!
https://www.cheatsheet.com/money-career/how-jiffy-lube-got-a-reputation-for-ripping-off-people.html/
One time, my air was low and I figured I'd have them fill it up because that's on their list of things they say they do. Afterward, I checked the pressure and it was the same! So I always wonder if they actually changed my oil. Probably not.
I go to Oil Stop now. You sit in your car while they change your oil, and you can tell they're doing the work. They even show you the dip stick.
Past cars always just went with whoever had coupons/specials and could get $20-$25, but current car only recommends 0w-20 which is synthetic so never going to get the $20 change with that and only recommended every 10k miles (oil change place will never put over 5k on the sticker regardless), so 10k is a good number for the tire rotation included that comes with national tire/battery.
My car dash AND the sticker both say change the synthetic oil in 6,000 miles, but there's a chance I could be more than a quart low before then so if the oil light blinks on, I keep a spare quart in the trunk.
Back in the old days, I'd have to add a quart of oil with every gas fill-up. Whatever happened to that?
Quote: smoothgrhI felt like a real man changing my own oil in my 20s.
Now there's no time/no desire to do it.
A real man should both know how to and have done it in his life.
But no reason to keep doing it forever. I am done wrenching. Will do simplest things like air filters and headlights these days. Oil just no longer worth it. I had them change my battery since it was free.
I know how to and have done it (plus much more) many times, however, I think saying "A real man should both know how to and have done it in his life." is obtuse.Quote: AZDuffmanA real man should both know how to and have done it in his life.
But no reason to keep doing it forever. I am done wrenching. Will do simplest things like air filters and headlights these days. Oil just no longer worth it. I had them change my battery since it was free.
Quote: AxelWolfI know how to and have done it (plus much more) many times, however, I think saying "A real man should both know how to and have done it in his life." is obtuse.
Why, exactly?
Quote: AxelWolfI know how to and have done it (plus much more) many times, however, I think saying "A real man should both know how to and have done it in his life." is obtuse.
I have never changed my own oil. I have checked the oil and added oil more times than I care to remember. In the 70’s mother had a jalopy that was leaking.... probably took a quart twice a month. Oil changes are like $20. The oil is like $10. So I am not ‘a real man’ if I choose not to get dirty wasting my time for $10? Gotcha. AZ...
And, no Jiffy Lube, I don't need a new PCV valve and my wipers are just fine, thank you. And that air filter is good for another couple thousand miles. Just hit it with your compressed air and blow out the dead bugs and chunks of mud and stuff. It'll be fine!
I dunno. That sounds to me like, over the course of 2 months, you did change the oil yourself! ;)Quote: SOOPOOI have never changed my own oil. I have checked the oil and added oil more times than I care to remember. In the 70’s mother had a jalopy that was leaking.... probably took a quart twice a month.
And that someone with the moniker “SOOPOO” doesn’t?
threw on some old clothes and went out to do the job only to discover I needed a special tool to remove the filter.
Made another trip and it ended up costing about $12. Jiffy lube was charging $14.95 but $3 off coupons were everywhere.
Real men understand time management and how to delegate work.
You can get the filter out by jamming a screwdriver through itQuote: billryanI changed my oil once- in the late 1970s. Went to a chain store and bought five quarts of oil and a filter. Went home ,
threw on some old clothes and went out to do the job only to discover I needed a special tool to remove the filter.
Made another trip and it ended up costing about $12. Jiffy lube was charging $14.95 but $3 off coupons were everywhere.
Real men understand time management and how to delegate work.
Technology. Engines are much tighter nowQuote: ChumpChange
Back in the old days, I'd have to add a quart of oil with every gas fill-up. Whatever happened to that?
Quote: SOOPOOI have never changed my own oil. I have checked the oil and added oil more times than I care to remember. In the 70’s mother had a jalopy that was leaking.... probably took a quart twice a month. Oil changes are like $20. The oil is like $10. So I am not ‘a real man’ if I choose not to get dirty wasting my time for $10? Gotcha. AZ...
No, you don't "gotcha."
My point is if you want to be a well-rounded "renaissance man" you need to both know how to and have done it. Usually earlier in life.
What are you driving that an oil change is $20? That is for base oil. Most modern cars call for at least a synthetic blend. Or for 0W-20. These cost more in my parts.
There are so many reasons why someone may not change their own oil yet they may be what we as a society consider a manly man in all other areas.Quote: AZDuffmanWhy, exactly?
Someone may have lived in a high rise building in a big city their entire life, where do you want them to change their oil and properly dispose of it? It may even be illegal or against the HOA rules to do it in certain areas.
You might own a car that is much more difficult to properly change the oil than the average car.
jacking up a car could be dangerous.
Someone might be physically incapable of doing it themselves.
Someone may be spending their time doing much more important things, perhaps things that can change the world or save lives.
If you consider the time and effort it takes to do it yourself, it may not be worth learning or doing it yourself.
It seems I spend as much on oil and a filter as I would just going somewhere, but I get a better oil and better filter.
Quote: Ace2You can get the filter out by jamming a screwdriver through it
Sadly, this was pre-youtube. These days I know where to look for hacks like that.
I'm currently in small claims court against jiffylube. They forgot to take the old oil out before putting in the new stuff and my car started burping badly before the engine cut off completely. It cost me just over $200 to get the car towed and whatever else the shop had to do to fix it. jiffy lube offered me one oil change a year for three years without admitting their guys did anything wrong.
Quote: AxelWolfThere are so many reasons why someone may not change their own oil yet they may be what we as a society consider a manly man in all other areas.
Someone may have lived in a high rise building in a big city their entire life, where do you want them to change their oil and properly dispose of it? It may even be illegal or against the HOA rules to do it in certain areas.
You might own a car that is much more difficult to properly change the oil than the average car.
jacking up a car could be dangerous.
Someone might be physically incapable of doing it themselves.
Someone may be spending their time doing much more important things, perhaps things that can change the world or save lives.
If you consider the time and effort it takes to do it yourself, it may not be worth learning or doing it yourself.
You are clearly missing the point.
Here is an example not with oil but with brakes. I managed a fleet of vehicles and were were using a local tire shop that did service. I forget the exact words but he gave me some BS on what the brakes needed. I then replied in a way that showed I knew how to do my own brakes and in a tone that said if he wants to pull that with a clueless 20 year old stripper go ahead but you do not pull it with me. his whole attitude changed right away. But I still took my business across the street.
If you never learn this stuff you will get taken advantage of. You learn it by doing. At the least a well rounded man needs to have done his own brakes and oil change. Also because when you learn to do this kind of thing you learn how to figure out other mechanical things.
Renaissance man.
Quote: billryanSadly, this was pre-youtube. These days I know where to look for hacks like that.
I'm currently in small claims court against jiffylube. They forgot to take the old oil out before putting in the new stuff and my car started burping badly before the engine cut off completely. It cost me just over $200 to get the car towed and whatever else the shop had to do to fix it. jiffy lube offered me one oil change a year for three years without admitting their guys did anything wrong.
I had two different cars start stalling out at red lights (and RR crossings) after filling up with BJ's gas. Just because I can fill up there doesn't mean I should now. Maybe their 87 octane gas is 0.1 octane less than the place I use now, idk.
My rotors where getting old, and causing the steering wheel to shake when braking.
He looked at it and took it for a test drive, and told me it was just old rotors, but if I didn’t feel like spending the money it’s not dangerous to drive, just a little annoying. And also that he would give me a discount if he did it during my next yearly inspection. He didn’t charge me anything for the diagnosis.
The way he was talking it sounded like a $2000 job or something, so I drove with it for a few more months and looked into fixing it myself. I finally had him fix it, the bill was only like $250.
Quote: AZDuffmanYou are clearly missing the point.
Here is an example not with oil but with brakes. I managed a fleet of vehicles and were were using a local tire shop that did service. I forget the exact words but he gave me some BS on what the brakes needed. I then replied in a way that showed I knew how to do my own brakes and in a tone that said if he wants to pull that with a clueless 20 year old stripper go ahead but you do not pull it with me. his whole attitude changed right away. But I still took my business across the street.
If you never learn this stuff you will get taken advantage of. You learn it by doing. At the least a well rounded man needs to have done his own brakes and oil change. Also because when you learn to do this kind of thing you learn how to figure out other mechanical things.
Renaissance man.
I can pretty much GUARANTEE you I have been taken advantage of by car service people. I remember one time when he was presenting me the bill he specifically emphasized the "Doctor" before he said my name! I tried going incognito in ripped T shirt and shorts....
But it will NEVER be worth it to me to do such a task myself. My friends make fun of me because I don't mow my own lawn or do any of the yardwork myself, and I have a pretty small plot. If the weather is nice enough to be outside to do those things I want to be on a golf course! And when i was working, if I put in a few hours of OT that paid for multiple cuts.
My kids were taught about hard work a different way. Working a summer at Walmart teaches you..... that you don't want to end up having to work at Walmart!
My favorite story of this type.... an anesthesiologist who was my partner.... so made exact same income I did.... had cuts and scrapes all over his hands which looked quite painful.... he spent 8 hours doing yardwork, the most disastrous was the leaf raking.... He could have hired a kid for what he made in 1 hour. If he is a 'man' then I don't want to be a 'man'!
I took a 1500 mile trip to visit a friend. When I arrived to my destination, it was time for an oil change.
I took the car to a local fast lube store. No problem until I got my next oil change. The mechanic asked who did the last oil change. I told him that I had the oil changed when I visited my friend.
It seems that the fast lube store stripped the threaded oil plug. They had used an oil plug to replace the threaded plug. Every time I had an oil change I had to get a new oil plug.
The moral of the story is to if you plan on going on a long trip, change the oil before you go.
Quote: SOOPOO
But it will NEVER be worth it to me to do such a task myself. My friends make fun of me because I don't mow my own lawn or do any of the yardwork myself, and I have a pretty small plot. If the weather is nice enough to be outside to do those things I want to be on a golf course! And when i was working, if I put in a few hours of OT that paid for multiple cuts.
I am exactly the same way. If I can afford it I will pay it. My time off is far more important to me than to waste it on domestic chores.
Quote: SOOPOOI can pretty much GUARANTEE you I have been taken advantage of by car service people. I remember one time when he was presenting me the bill he specifically emphasized the "Doctor" before he said my name! I tried going incognito in ripped T shirt and shorts....
But it will NEVER be worth it to me to do such a task myself. My friends make fun of me because I don't mow my own lawn or do any of the yardwork myself, and I have a pretty small plot. If the weather is nice enough to be outside to do those things I want to be on a golf course! And when i was working, if I put in a few hours of OT that paid for multiple cuts.
My kids were taught about hard work a different way. Working a summer at Walmart teaches you..... that you don't want to end up having to work at Walmart!
My favorite story of this type.... an anesthesiologist who was my partner.... so made exact same income I did.... had cuts and scrapes all over his hands which looked quite painful.... he spent 8 hours doing yardwork, the most disastrous was the leaf raking.... He could have hired a kid for what he made in 1 hour. If he is a 'man' then I don't want to be a 'man'!
Remember when Bobby Ojeda missed a start in the playoffs after severely cutting his hand trimming bushes on his property on a day off? He missed the rest of the season and the playoffs which ended in the Dodgers beating the Mets?
I do get what you are saying, I just think it would be dumb and arrogant assume someone isn't a manly man based on your own perception and qualifications. This is 2021 not the olden days I try to keep up with the times as much as possible, I don't want to be one of them old coots who curse all change and modern times. Women never used to find men cooking in the kitchen sexy, but, nowadays, it seems to be dropping panties(perhaps boxers) left and right.Quote: AZDuffmanYou are clearly missing the point.
Here is an example not with oil but with brakes. I managed a fleet of vehicles and were were using a local tire shop that did service. I forget the exact words but he gave me some BS on what the brakes needed. I then replied in a way that showed I knew how to do my own brakes and in a tone that said if he wants to pull that with a clueless 20 year old stripper go ahead but you do not pull it with me. his whole attitude changed right away. But I still took my business across the street.
If you never learn this stuff you will get taken advantage of. You learn it by doing. At the least a well rounded man needs to have done his own brakes and oil change. Also because when you learn to do this kind of thing you learn how to figure out other mechanical things.
Renaissance man.
Changing oil and doing breaks are not things usually used to describe a Renaissance man, that stuff is almost the opposite of things associated with being a renaissance man.
We might say well rounded, someone else might say jack of all trades, master of none. That's fine with me because I pride myself on being what I believe is well rounded, I usually try to do things myself(sometimes foolishly so), I have lots of different hobbies/interests and I can hang out with just about anyone of any intelligence level, race, class, age or backround.
In your example You are basically saying you have to con or take advantage of people to learn how not to get conned to taken advantage of. They say some of the easiest people to con are the conns themselves.
Question for you: Do you consider Gay guys manly men? I have known some gay guys that are well rounded talented Renaissance men, probably much more so than you and I.
Quote: AxelWolf
Question for you: Do you consider Gay guys manly men? I have known some gay guys that are well rounded talented Renaissance men, probably much more so than you and I.
You don't have to always defend your boyfriend PG.
Quote: AxelWolfI do get what you are saying, I just think it would be dumb and arrogant assume someone isn't a manly man based on your own perception and qualifications. This is 2021 not the olden days I try to keep up with the times as much as possible, I don't want to be one of them old coots who curse all change and modern times. Women never used to find men cooking in the kitchen sexy, but, nowadays, it seems to be dropping panties(perhaps boxers) left and right.
Changing oil and doing breaks are not things usually used to describe a Renaissance man, that stuff is almost the opposite of things associated with being a renaissance man.
B-R-A-K-E-S
I so not see at all where it is the "opposite" of renaissance man. It is the definition of it. Renaissance man is a man with a wide variety of skills. A man with both white collar and blue collar skills. Does not need to be a total master of them all, that is impossible. But a man who you can put in situations and is not totally lost. So when it comes to cars he need not know how to rebuild an engine, but needs to know how one works. And needs to know how to get out of a jam, e.g. he can jump start a car without problem. So knowing how to and having done an oil change is part of this.
Of course women like men who can cook. Men are the best cooks. If we go to Mars men will be the best cooks.
Quote:Question for you: Do you consider Gay guys manly men? I have known some gay guys that are well rounded talented Renaissance men, probably much more so than you and I.
No.
A good question would be at what price (per oil change) would you make the investment of supplies/tools/time to do it again (assuming you have the ability and space to do it)?
For me it would have to be more than ~$100-->$150 per oil change to consider doing it again on my own.
Quote: AxelWolfIf you look for examples of renaissance men in history and modern day I think it would be very rare to find brakes and oil changes listed as what makes them renaissance men.
Yeah, those men in the 1800s just took the car to get the oil changed.
Per google such a man is a person who has wide interests and is expert in several areas.
Considering how important cars are to life I would say a renaissance man needs to know about cars. Or are you going to tell me that renaissance man just uses uber because he no longer needs a car?
James Bond changing his own oil?
I am amazed she didn’t seize the engine.
Quote: billryanA real man has henchlings and minions to do the menial stuff. Can you imagine
James Bond changing his own oil?
No, because the British cars he would drive leak enough oil that they change their own.
Feel free to look up monderday examples as well, I bet it won't list oil changes or brake jobs as an achievement.Quote: AZDuffmanYeah, those men in the 1800s just took the car to get the oil changed.
Per google such a man is a person who has wide interests and is expert in several areas.
Considering how important cars are to life I would say a renaissance man needs to know about cars. Or are you going to tell me that renaissance man just uses uber because he no longer needs a car?
Bono
Brad Pitt
Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins
James Franco
Ryan Gosling
Hugh Jackman
Steve Jobs
Viggo Mortensen
Justin Timberlake
Pharrell Williams
Quote: AxelWolfFeel free to look up monderday examples as well, I bet it won't list oil changes or brake jobs as an achievement.
Bono
Brad Pitt
Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins
James Franco
Ryan Gosling
Hugh Jackman
Steve Jobs
Viggo Mortensen
Justin Timberlake
Pharrell Williams
Why on earth does it bother you so much that someone says a man should know how to change his oil and how car brakes work?
Quote: billryanA real man has henchlings and minions to do the menial stuff. Can you imagine
James Bond changing his own oil?
No, but he could taste it and tell what oil well it came out of, and what year it was produced.
I was musing on the outdated notion that working on mechanical devices and getting dirty denotes masculinity. But of course everyone should know how things work, how things can be maintained and repaired, and how to flex one's fine motor skills. That doesn't include jamming a screwdriver through something!
The James Bond character was largely based on a homosexual British intelligence officer. Not sure if that qualifies as “a real man”Quote: billryanA real man has henchlings and minions to do the menial stuff. Can you imagine
James Bond changing his own oil?
I get synthetic oil for ~$3/qt. and filters are ~$4 each for my vehicles, delivered to my door. Their are cheaper ones available but that's for bosch,mahle or OEM. It costs me $24 to change my own oil and it literally takes 8 minutes start to finish on my car. On my SUVs it's probably under 5 because I can get under them without getting the ramps out, and they have the screw-on style filters so I don't have to muck around with o-rings.
I'm all for paying other people to do a job I don't want to do if it saves me time or frustration but in this case it's much quicker to do it at home than drive to the quick lube place, wait around and then drive back. Plus, I don't really trust them not to screw it up.
Quote: Ace2The James Bond character was largely based on a homosexual British intelligence officer.
I was a big fan of the books which are far different then the movies
Most of the movies have absolutely nothing to do with the book except borrow the title
Reading the books, I always assumed they were based on a fantasy version of Ian himself since he was a Naval Intelligence officer
Quote: AZDuffmanWhy, exactly?Quote: AxelWolfI know how to and have done it (plus much more) many times, however, I think saying "A real man should both know how to and have done it in his life." is obtuse.
First two reasons that come to my mind:
-It comes across as though you are in desperate need of validation.
-It declares there is weakness in having variation among a group of people, which is the exact opposite of what is true.
My theory on oil changes: just under double the recommendation is best. If they say every 3,000 miles, do it just before it gets to 6,000. Don't search for bargains deals, find a place that is reliable and a good value for all other services and just go there every time and ask if they have any discounts.
Quote: TomGFirst two reasons that come to my mind:
-It comes across as though you are in desperate need of validation.
-It declares there is weakness in having variation among a group of people, which is the exact opposite of what is true.
In need of validation? I am not the one arguing against it to the end of the earth. I just made a common point. As usual people here cannot handle a general statement.
