Oil Change craziness...

"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike) 09/17/2019 at 12:22 • Filed to: Oil Change

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So, my car is 1000km overdue on an oil change...just haven’t had chance to fit it in, so I decided to try doing it myself for once!

Ordered a filter and drain plug crush washer from RockAuto...they are on their way. Went in to pick up oil from Canadian Tire this morning (my car takes 3.3L including what’s in the filter, so I picked up a 5L jug)...

...now, I could’ve gone with Canadian Tire’s house brand oil, Motomaster, but I wanted to stick with something brand-name. All the brand name oils (Pennzoil, Mobil 1, etc) were all the same price for fully synthetic, so I picked up Quaker State as that’s what my User Manual says Hyundai ‘recommends’...OK, fine, they are all the same price anyway.

Here’s the crazy part. The filter and drain plug gasket came to $20 CAD total, including tax and shipping (the shipping was $12...lesson learned). The oil was $63 including tax! That’s $83 CAD for me to do it myself, excluding the labour of actually doing it.

When I had the garage do it last time, my bill was $80 and something cents, and that was WITH them charging $15 to repair a small puncture in one of my tires......so I am spending almost $20 CAD more just to do it myself.....and as entertaining and as much of a learning experience it will be to do it myself, I’m not really sure it’s worth paying an extra $20 for 0_o...

benn454 > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/17/2019 at 12:26

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 The shipping is what messed you up. It would be cheaper to get a filter from a parts store. It doesn't really make a difference which brand you get. They all work the same. 

NKato > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/17/2019 at 12:27

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Shops don’t profit off oil changes, but the recommended service they think needs to be done when they conduct the complimentary inspection.

Also, bulk oil discounts. 

E90M3 > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/17/2019 at 12:27

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Even if it was $20, I’d still paid someone to do it. I’m in a state in my life where I’d rather not have to deal with it than save $20. 

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/17/2019 at 12:28

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I spent $25 at Napa for a Napa Pro filter and 1 US gallon of NAPA brand 5W-20 synthetic blend, seems pretty good deal to me.

You can also buy Mobile 1 at Walmart here for around $25/US gallon.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > NKato 09/17/2019 at 12:32

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Think? Most of the time those recs are by time and mileage based off of the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule.

The cars that don’t follow those schedules tend to be the ones with more issues over time. 

Sovande > benn454 09/17/2019 at 12:32

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Nah. I wouldn't put a Fram filter in anything I own. 

atfsgeoff > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/17/2019 at 12:32

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What the hell kind of magical motor oil costs $47 USD for a 5 quart jug?

Even Mobil-1 0W-40 full synthetic is $22 for 5 quarts at Wally World:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mobil-1-Advanced-Full-Synthetic-Motor-Oil-0W-40-5-qt/23636902

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/17/2019 at 12:33

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Things to consider:

Material quality of shop vs. DIY

Shipping costs

The value of your labor

benn454 > Sovande 09/17/2019 at 12:37

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I use Delcos now since I can get them from work for next to nothing, but I used a few Frams (oil and air) in my younger days. Never had a problem with them. Maybe you just got a defective one?

vicali > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/17/2019 at 12:38

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Castrol synth at Costco is $34.. plus you can eats samples.. Filters at the dealership (Toyota) are $6, crush washer included..

You got hosed.

(Watch R ockA uto with their shipping, a lot of times things in your order are located in different warehouses and you pay double shipping to get them..)

Sovande > benn454 09/17/2019 at 12:40

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I’ve never used one. I have read about 100 accounts of the filters collapsing and have seen photos of it. I would use the filters recommended by the manufacturer. For oil I just use whatever is on sale that meets the stated specs in the manual.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > benn454 09/17/2019 at 12:41

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I never use Fram...maybe they’ve changed but at one point they were crap. One of my dad’s friends was a fleet manager for Waste Management and they actually cut open and studied various filters to see which one’s to use in the fleet. I don’t remember what the issue was now but I just remember him saying to never use Fram in your vehicle.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > E90M3 09/17/2019 at 12:43

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I do it myself because I know what materials I’m using and it literally takes 10 minutes to change oil. It would take just as long to drive somewhere to have it done.

shop-teacher > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/17/2019 at 12:44

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You got hosed on materials!  You need to shop smarter next time.

E90M3 > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 09/17/2019 at 12:55

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I don’t have a place to change it, so that makes it easier for me to take it somewhere. 

AestheticsInMotion > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 09/17/2019 at 13:09

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I did find it kind of funny when they told me my Subaru needed a coolant flush the day after I swapped in a new radiator, overflow tank and all new hoses. I asked if they were going off recommended service intervals, and he said no, they actually checked it. I then asked the guy if he wanted to go and check the fluid with me... He said no. 

Sammyno55 > Sovande 09/17/2019 at 13:10

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I never understood all the hate on Fram filters. I do understand that when you buy the cheapest Fram, it’s cheaply constructed. I’ve almost exclusively used Fram ultra (sometimes Tough Guard if the ultra wasn’t available) on my last 3 cars, and my ex-wife’s 4 cars. I always used Mobil 1 and followed recommend change intervals. The total mileage of all these cars is probably in the 1.6-1.8M miles. I’ve never had an oil or filter related issue.

I’ve seen videos where various filters are cut open. And it seems to me that every YouTube presenter beats down the lowlier filter or the filter with less pleats or whatever. I think filter construction is a balancing act. Too much filter restriction reduces lubrication, too little lets foreign particles through.

Many years ago, I had a car that mounted the filter on top of the engine. In looking for a filter, I could only find 2 brands with an anti-siphon valve that fit in the cramped location. One was a Fram, the other was a Napa. I didn’t live near a Napa. So I bought a Fram at Wal-Mart. I always picked the Fram after that. I  drove that car over 300,000 miles and never had a lubrication issue.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 09/17/2019 at 13:11

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Also the fact that I dont trust anyone else with my cars .

If I mess up something, at least I know about it.

Sovande > Sammyno55 09/17/2019 at 13:14

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These are all the reasons I use whatever the manufacturer suggests.

facw > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/17/2019 at 13:21

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I don’t know how much things are in Canada, but that sounds steep for the US. Last time I bought stuff I paid $8 for an OEM filter/washer (shipped from Amazon, though in a 3-pack) , and you can usually find some name brand synthetic on sale somewhere for ~$25/5L (my car takes 6L, which is a bit harder to find cheap).

Sammyno55 > Sovande 09/17/2019 at 13:39

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I get that. In my previous car, the filter I got from the Nissan parts counter didn’t have an anti siphon valve. Over the course of a few hours, all the oil would drain out of the top of the engine. The first Fram I installed with an anti siphon valve allowed oil to be in the valve train almost immediately instead of the 5-7 seconds it  took with the factory filter. 

benn454 > Sovande 09/17/2019 at 13:41

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 Like I said, I've never had a problem like that. ¯\_()_/¯ 

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > facw 09/17/2019 at 13:45

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The oil filter was Wix and the crush washer was cheap, both came to $7 CAD. I think it was the shipping on those from RockAuto that killed the cost.

facw > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/17/2019 at 13:47

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Yeah shipping can be a killer for small items with Rock Auto (though often they are cheap enough it doesn’t matter much).

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > shop-teacher 09/17/2019 at 13:47

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There aren’t many other places to go to get 5L jugs of oil around here, so short of Napa or a local parts place in Lunenburg, Canadian Tire was my only real option. The filter and washer from RockAuto weren’t expensive at all ($7 CAD), it was the shipping for them that killed the cost I think...

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > vicali 09/17/2019 at 13:48

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Yup, it was the shipping that killed it I think. The nearest Costco to me is over an hour away and I don’t have a membership. There are some local auto shops, Napa, and one or two others, but I imagine the price would’ve been similar there.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 09/17/2019 at 13:49

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Yup...shipping was what killed me. I’m not worried about my labour, but I got decent quality stuff...Wix Filter and Quaker State oil. I know my local garage I usually get my oil changes done at uses Formula Shell for their oil, so not just low quality stuff...

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > atfsgeoff 09/17/2019 at 13:50

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That’s a 5 Litre jug, not quarts. I probably should’ve checked to see what Walmart had for oil/prices in retrospect - it’s right near Canadian Tire, and I rarely go to Walmart, so I completely forgot they even had oil there, to be honest...

vicali > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/17/2019 at 13:52

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I ordered a set of belts and cabin filters at RA, went through all the brands to get the OEM quality stuff and not the cheapest. Ended up with 6 things from four places and $80 worth of shipping .. no thanks.

shop-teacher > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/17/2019 at 13:53

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You gotta look  for a sale or something then, because dayum!

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/17/2019 at 13:55

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Wow, thats some expensive oil... I change the oil on my Kona myself (Hyundai makes oil changes easy). I pay $11 for a WIX filter, $. 50 for a crush washer, and ~$25-35 for a 5qt jug of full synthetic 5w30, depending on whats on sale at the time. I let the Ford dealer do the F150, because the drain plug is in an irritating location, and with the 2.7tt the filter is about dead center of the engine compartment, which means I have to stand on a step ladder to reach it. Also putting those damn strainer o-rings on the Ford cartridge filter is a PITA without the factory tool.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > AestheticsInMotion 09/17/2019 at 14:17

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Some people definitely sell shit that shouldn't be done. But more people assume that anything a shop recommends is unneeded.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/17/2019 at 14:20

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But for how long it takes you to find and order the stuff, go to the store, actually do the oil change, then properly dispose of old oil... Does it really end up being faster to do it yourself? You said you couldn’t find the time to have someone do it for you, but in the long run that may have taken less time?

By all means do it yourself if you want. I don't even like doing my own myself, because frankly it just isn't worth it. 

Longtime Lurker > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/17/2019 at 14:48

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You kinda need to plan ahead, 5l of synthetic oil go on sale often for like $35 per jug.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 09/17/2019 at 15:06

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Yeah, things are a bit more costly here. I wanted to get something brand name as opposed to just Napa or Canadian Tire brand though...though theirs probably would’ve been fine too. Guess I was just being snobby, haha!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > E90M3 09/17/2019 at 15:07

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I have a spot to do it myself , I usually just don’t have time. A plus with the garage I use is it is a 10 minute walk from one of the schools I sub teach at, so I can drop it off in the morning and just pick it up after work.

DipodomysDeserti > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/17/2019 at 15:07

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Amazon sells 5L jugs of LiquiMoly full syn for $36. They sell 5 quart packs of Castrol for $20. I get my BMW filter kits from them for around $10. Free shipping with Prime.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 09/17/2019 at 15:08

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Well, mine is 1000km over atm....but I have never really let it go more than that, so I try and take care of my car...mostly. 1000km shouldn’t hurt! :)

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/17/2019 at 15:09

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Napa oil is Valvoline, so if you are okay with that then no reason to pay extra for some other name brand. 

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Sovande 09/17/2019 at 15:10

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I’ve had friends that ad bad luck with Fram products, so I am a bit leery...

Yeah, pretty sure the shipping is what killed my cost...lesson learned, I guess!

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > Sovande 09/17/2019 at 15:13

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Agreed, cut one open and you’ll never put another one on your car

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/17/2019 at 15:16

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I live in Ontario and it should be a lot less expensive. Crappy tire always (every time I am there, about no-weekly)  has some oil on sale for 16$ for 5L, from what I have read the brand mostly doesn’t matter for oil. Filters are only cheap for me from Rock Auto when I order other junk, otherwise anything but Fram from Canadian tire should be less than 10$. Wal Mart has cheap oil too but less selection, but you can grab a propane torch for 30$ too

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > facw 09/17/2019 at 15:17

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Yeah, I figured the shipping wouldn’t be so much as the filter and washer were so cheap and it’s not like they were large. I should’ve just cancelled it when I saw the shipping price and bought them locally.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > vicali 09/17/2019 at 15:18

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Yeah, I’d bought a few small things from them before (headlight bulbs and one or two other small things) and the shipping cost was nowhere near this high.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > shop-teacher 09/17/2019 at 15:19

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Yuppers! Could probably still return it and get it cheaper elsewhere the next time I am in town...

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 09/17/2019 at 15:21

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Yeah, the filter is easy to access on the Accent, if you’re looking at the front of the car, it’s right underneath on your left...not hard to get to or find at all. The drain plug is just as easy. The filter I ordered was $7, including the cost of the washer. It’s the shipping and oil price that killed me I think!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 09/17/2019 at 15:28

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Yeah, the local shop I trust is booked up a lot lately, so it’s partially that I couldn’t find the time to make an appointment, but I guess it’s really moreso that the next time they could fit me in is the tail end of next week...the issue is I drive everyday for work (and depending what school, I’m at, it can be 100km round-trip). I am already over on the change, so I didn’t want to end up putting another several hundred kms on it without getting it done. Rather than wait until then, I am going to make a little time this weekend to make sure I got it done at home. I also partially wanted to do it in the back of my head for the sake of the experience as I’ve never done it before and I do enjoy working on my car when I do, so there’s that too I guess.

Ordering the filter and crush washer from Rock Auto only took maybe 3 minutes, and I passed Canadian Tire on my way home from work today, so I was only in the store about 5 minutes there.

You’re right though...it’s honestly not worth it in terms of time spent...it’s probably going to be about the same or more for me to do it compared to them.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Longtime Lurker 09/17/2019 at 15:29

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Yeah, I only planned ahead by a few days, but wasn’t really looking at sale prices for it. My bad, sadly... :/

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > DipodomysDeserti 09/17/2019 at 15:30

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I have Prime as well, never really thought to get it from Amazon, to be honest!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 09/17/2019 at 15:31

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Didn’t know that, so that’s good to know. Thank you!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) 09/17/2019 at 15:33

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Thanks for the info. I think prices are more expensive for us in some cases, being way out here in the boonies in Nova Scotia. A lot of stuff, depending, seems to be cheaper towards you guys!

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/17/2019 at 15:34

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Consistently over, it can hurt. Not to be all doom and gloom.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/17/2019 at 15:36

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Sometimes it good to make that appointment a few weeks before you really need it. Easy to forget I know. But if you can manage to remember it ends up working out a little better.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 09/17/2019 at 15:43

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N o worries.

When I am over, I am usually over no more than 500-600kms. 500-1000kms on one change shouldn’t affect too much I wouldn’t think (600kms is one tank of gas for me) , but if I was like 2000km over every time, I would think that would be bad...

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 09/17/2019 at 15:44

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Yup, lesson learned...

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/17/2019 at 18:06

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It depends on the engine. Nowadays, manufacturers are stretching intervals to the max and there is much less leeway than there used to be. If you have a 5-7k internal on synthetic, you’re fine. If you’re more like 10-12k interval, I would recommend changing it a bit early each time.

*Miles, because 'murica*

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 09/17/2019 at 18:31

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Yeah, it’s full synthetic - I get the oil changes every 5000km...was supposed to be done at 162,500km, I’m at about 163,300km or 163, 400km right now...the last one was around 157,500km back in mid-May.

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/17/2019 at 18:36

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I do a full Synthetic Oil change with Mobil1 5W-30 and a WIX filter for like $30. Walmart has the cheapest Mobil1, and Amazon has the WIX filters for about $5 each. I’ve never in my years of doing oil changes replaced the crush washer for the drain bolt, and I’ve never had it leak. Next time just plan a little ahead and look for sale stuff, and order quality filters online.

Even if it is still more expensive, you have the peace of mind of knowing it was done right and no mystery oil went into your engine. And that they didn’t ugga-dugga the drain bolt and FUBAR it. 

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/17/2019 at 18:58

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Oh yeah you're good to go. No need to worry about 1000km over! 

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 09/17/2019 at 19:12

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:)

That makes me less nervous then. I’ll still try and get it done this weekend hopefully!

Longtime Lurker > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/17/2019 at 19:53

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Lots of lessons learned today. Always a good day to learn something. 

Fuckkinja > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 09/17/2019 at 23:08

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Walmart oil change at home is $16 with a filter and 6 qts for the old GMs

$19.95 at the local Ford dealer for the F150. $95 at the quick change. The quick change always leaves an extra quart of oil in the turbos and calls me to come back now . Leaser.