Oil Change annoyances.

"Dogapult" (dogapult) 04/04/2019 at 21:45 • Filed to: None

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Wow, my 240 is tiny next to that newer Dodge.

I’m decent at working on my car. I know how to do it, and I’ve done numerous fairly in-depth repairs. Somehow though, I get really aggravated just doing oil changes. If I wasn’t worried about the lube techs screwing it up, it always feels worth it just to spend the $20 and have someone else do it and take the 20 minutes. Rather than the much-longer it usually takes me. I know, I know, it should be a 15 minute job, but it never is. Always little things that get in the way. Always some mess, always some trouble.

I have the garage. I have the tools. I have the oil-dry. I have the time.

Really in-depth stuff on the car? I love that, taking stuff apart, fixing it, putting it back together.

Changing the oil? Annoying and always feels worth it to pay someone else to do it.

Am I the only one who feels this way?

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Dogapult 04/04/2019 at 21:49

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Total opposite of me. Changing the oil makes me feel like a real grown up mechanically inclined man.

Anything more complex?

No way...other than the rally lights

smobgirl > Dogapult 04/04/2019 at 21:50

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There are things I will happily do on my car , but oil changes are not one of them. Not this car, anyway. It’s 100% worth it to have someone else clean up the mess. I do take it to my mechanic and not a quick change shop though. And then I get a coffee, take a walk, and come back relaxed in an hour.

benjrblant > Dogapult 04/04/2019 at 21:50

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No, i also feel this way. Oil changes aren't my favorite and it's mostly because the filter isn't that easy to access, it's usually stuck on and i can never fit a wrench on it.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Dogapult 04/04/2019 at 21:51

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Yup, I know how to do it. It’s taking the time to jack it up, put on stands. Do everything, then get it back on the ground. Sure I am saving $20 in labour, but is it really worth getting all dirty for it?

It make sense if drive a lot & have change your oil very frequently, but when it gets changed 2-3 times per year a shop can do it. 

Honeybunchesofgoats > Dogapult 04/04/2019 at 21:51

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I’m not the type who is able to rebuild an engine, but I’ll happily do everything in the general difficulty area of an oil change, except an oil change. Fuck that noise, I’ll pay a specialist I trust $70  rather than do it myself or risk a Jiffylube. 

Chariotoflove > Dogapult 04/04/2019 at 21:53

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I know how to change oil, but even if I physically could I wouldn’t. It’s too cheap and easy to pay someone else to do it. 

wafflesnfalafel > Dogapult 04/04/2019 at 21:55

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I understand - it’s turned into an obligation instead of an opportunity. (I hate obligations - but still love doing my own oil because I know it will be perfect and better than anybody else touching it, plus for me it still is much less time to do both cars some morning than wait in line or schedule an appointment. )

Taking out the trash, cooking, doing dishes, tidying up the yard, etc - that is my I wish somebody else would just take care of it for me obligation...

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Dogapult 04/04/2019 at 21:57

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YES. Exactly the same! I like replacing an axle, doing timing, adjusting a clutch cable, that kind of thing. But the easy stuff like an oil change? Fuck. That. I’ve had five quarts of 5w40 synthetic in my trunk for like, two weeks now because I’m putting it off.

Clown Shoe Pilot > Dogapult 04/04/2019 at 22:00

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I like to do my own oil because it gives me the chance to give the underside of the car a good hairy eyeball while it’s up on the lift. I did spring for one of those cool extendable oil pans on wheels though. The job would be significantly messier without that.

atfsgeoff > Dogapult 04/04/2019 at 22:01

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get a fumoto drain valve, it cuts down on the mess significantly.

Dogapult > Clown Shoe Pilot 04/04/2019 at 22:13

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“Up on the lift.” You know, if I had a lift, I might be more inclined. I have the use of one sometimes, but that certainly makes life easier.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Dogapult 04/04/2019 at 22:17

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4Runner? Takes 10 minutes, MAYBE. So I do it myself. Anything else, I’d have to jack it up, so it’s not worth doing it myself.

Poor_Sh > Dogapult 04/04/2019 at 22:17

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I never changed my own oil until now when it saves me hundreds rather than tens of dollars lol But I feel way better about myself now that I do it. I love it. Also it takes way longer than 20 minutes even with a lift I can use due to waiting until the drops get really slow.

Dogapult > atfsgeoff 04/04/2019 at 22:23

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The draining of the oil into the pan isn’t even the main part of the mess, but I have seen those, they’re neat.

Clown Shoe Pilot > Dogapult 04/04/2019 at 22:41

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I don’t know that I’ve gotten my money’s worth from having it, but I certainly wouldn’t give it up now that I do have it.

It’s got another 27 years on the warranty, so there’s still time :)

AestheticsInMotion > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 04/04/2019 at 22:44

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Basic maintenance and wiring projects that won't potentially leave the car undriveable is about my comfort level too. 

Urambo Tauro > Dogapult 04/04/2019 at 22:44

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Yeah, I’m not as eager about it as I used to be. My main motivation to DIY now is to prevent someone else from screwing it up.

Thanks to JRitS (among other sources), I’ve seen enough filters get crushed/ punctured during removal, all because somebody was too lazy to oil the gasket (and/ or they screwed it on too tightly). I’ve already fallen victim to overtorqued wheels leaving me unable to change a tire on the side of the road once , and I’m not about to let somebody do that to my oil filter.

promoted by the color red > Dogapult 04/04/2019 at 22:45

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My 240 comes with this innovative self-drain feature where the oil comes out of it even when I don’t want it to, so I just keep pouring some more in.

I only bother wrenching on older cars since I see it as more of a hobby and a skill-building exercise . Even then there are some jobs I don’t plan on tackling on my own, like ones involving coolant and brake fluid. I only do oil changes since there’s a lift I can rent.

Honestly, I plan on taking my Miata to the dealer for its oil changes until the warranty runs out. There’s a few warranty niggles & checks that get addressed and it’s an excuse to get out of my little town.

AestheticsInMotion > Dogapult 04/04/2019 at 22:57

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I wish there was a way to remove my filter without it draining out. Maybe someday I'll do a filter relocation and finally unlock the magical 10 minute, no-mess oil change. 

lscrx > Clown Shoe Pilot 04/05/2019 at 01:11

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I also enjoy doing my own oil changes, although I use ramps (no lift). My wife and I daily pretty new cars, so they don’t need much other than oil changes and tire rotations... and I don’t trust quick lube places. Even though I take my sweet time, I’m still a lot quicker than the Subaru dealership (2 hours!?!) and I don’t have to leave my house. I just installed a Fumoto valve in my daily (Jetta 1.4t 5mt) so I’m looking forward to my next change (nerd).

My truck is old enough that it’s getting a rolling change... it keeps leaking and I keep adding oil :/

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Dogapult 04/05/2019 at 02:44

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I do my own everything on my cars. And fluid services o n the motorbike. I’m reasonably handy with a wrench I guess, but fuck doing anything more than that. I dropped the bike off at the dealer yesterday for it’s 18k valve adjustment and timing belt service. No thanks on that one. There have been plenty of times I didn’t change my own oil though. It can be a hassle  for sure.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 04/05/2019 at 07:19

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Come on, get in there:

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > Dogapult 04/05/2019 at 08:10

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I’ve definitely given up doing oil changes on the MINI - that filter is a huge pain to get to, under a forest of hoses under the coolant bottle. Dealer charges a fortune but I don’t care. At least it gets a good checkup and goes on the records .

SCARPS22 > Dogapult 04/05/2019 at 11:23

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I went to Jiffy Lube last Saturday, $108 for an Oil change!!! It will be the last time I go there. I’ll buy a Oil Pan Vacuum Pump and just do it myself. Autozone usually will sell you 5 qts of Mobil 1 and a filter for $30.00.

Dogapult > SCARPS22 04/05/2019 at 11:44

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Oh yeah, for $108 I’ll do it myself. for $40-50, I’m still tempted to have someone else do it.