DIY Oil Change- Is it worth it?

[TheContinentalOp]

I haven't changed my own oil since high school.

Thought about starting again to save money, but I am not sure it will.

There's a nearby national chain that always has coupons for a $19.95 oil change. Maybe I could buy the oil and filter for that price.

Then I'd need to be able to lift the car, so I could get under it. I'd need to buy ramps.

And checking out ramps, I see people recommending jack stands as well. (When I was a teenager I was young and indestructible, so I didn't care about such things.) So now it looks like it could be a decade before the savings would pay off.

I guess if I was going to do more maintenance (brakes?) or maybe do oil changes for friends it might make more sense.

Or maybe the psychological benefits of doing it myself, would make it worthwhile?

Any MMMs who change their own oil? Are you saving any money?

[fiveoh]

I've changed my oil myself every single time since I've owned the car.(5 years now)  Does it save me money?  Probably only $2 or so a time.  Is it worth it?  It is to me because I know it will be done right.

[nobodyspecial]

How far do you have to drive to somewhere that you can safely/legally dispose of the waste oil?
How much are you going to spill on yourself/in your car/your garden/into drains ?

[cripzychiken]

While the cost tends to be the same, there are a bunch of benefits to doing it yourself.  You get a higher grade oil/filter than the $20 place would give you.  Plus it lets you check out your car to see if anything is going wrong.  And no stupid add-on sales.  Knowing it was done correctly.  Improving your DIY skills.  Getting the tools in place to help you do bigger repairs...

That said, I still pay to get my oil changed 95% of the time.  Only exception is if I have the car up on the ramps for another repair and I can knock it out while working on something else.

[Midwest]

How far do you have to drive to somewhere that you can safely/legally dispose of the waste oil?
How much are you going to spill on yourself/in your car/your garden/into drains ?

1) Walmart takes the used oil.  Just drop it off while there.  So do most auto parts places.
2) Plastic bag on the filter cuts down on spills.  Any that makes it to concrete is picked up with kitty litter.
3) If you use synthetic, I find it cheaper to do myself.  Mobile 1 full synthetic works out to 30 - 35 per change.
4) Faster as well since I don't have to drive to oil change place and wait.

[Pylon]

While the cost tends to be the same, there are a bunch of benefits to doing it yourself.  You get a higher grade oil/filter than the $20 place would give you.  Plus it lets you check out your car to see if anything is going wrong.  And no stupid add-on sales.  Knowing it was done correctly.  Improving your DIY skills.  Getting the tools in place to help you do bigger repairs...

That said, I still pay to get my oil changed 95% of the time.  Only exception is if I have the car up on the ramps for another repair and I can knock it out while working on something else.

Ditto what is said here about the quality of oil as those places are giving you the cheapest they can.  I've also heard horror stories of these kinds of places doing an "oil change" but never actually putting oil back into the vehicle. Not really worth it to me. My husband and I have always done our own oil changes.

[MillenialMustache]

My husband pays about $12 for oil and a filter. Sometimes I get coupons/rebates to make that cheaper or we get the oil at garage sales. So that is a $8 savings per time at least. My DH does all the work on our cars, so he says it is an opportunity to look around and make sure everything is ok. Also, it is quicker than waiting at a Jiffy Lube and we do not want to deal with them trying to upsell us for wipers or AC filters or whatever. It is very easy to dispose of - every car parts place (autozone, etc) takes it, and we have like three less than a mile from our house. The holder my DH uses has a very wide mouth (like a foot) so there is no spillage. He bought that one on purpose. It also holds 2-3 oil changes, so he doesn't have to bring that every time. I understand why people take their car in, but we will continue to do it ourselves. It is also a gateway skill so you can move into something that saves real money, like changing your brake pads or something.

[AZDude]

I think it saves time, and sometimes some money. It also saves from the hassle of saying no to the 150 different add-ons they try to get you to buy.

[bogart]

I'd rather crawl under my car than sit in Jiffy Lube (or equivalent), and doing so takes less time.  Except for the time savings, I doubt I save any money.

[GetItRight]

It's a wash on price. You might save a few dollars or cost a few more, depending on what oil you get, sales, etc. You do ensure it is done right, and also grease everything on teh car, check fluids, etc. National chains with minimum wage employees who don't care are not going to properly and fully service and check your car every time. They will try to upsell you on blinker fluid though.

What is your time worth? You can chance your oil a lot faster and with less hassle than waiting around wasting time while a shop does it. No wasted gas driving to a shop, if you're counting pennies. Also I burn my oil changes so every gallon changed is a few dollars in my pocket. I do not take my vehicle to a shop for anything as it's just not worth the time and expense, especially for something so quick and easy as changing oil.

[Mr Dumpster Stache]

I take it in so I don't have half-empty jugs of wiper fluid, brake fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, etc. sitting around my garage. All the places around here will top you off. I don't let them sell me the air filters, though. I change those myself - I'm not a complete sissy.

[protostache]

We do what amounts to the most unmustachian thing possible: we take our cars to the dealer for maintenance. It's not worth it to invest in the equipment we should need to do the (very infrequent) maintenance on our (relatively new, paid off) cars. Plus, I can work from anywhere I can use my laptop, so if I go in on a work day I'll just work from the waiting room. I know they're going to do it right, they charge a fair price, and they check over everything while it's there.

[cautiouspessimist]

I take it in so I don't have half-empty jugs of wiper fluid, brake fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, etc. sitting around my garage. All the places around here will top you off. I don't let them sell me the air filters, though. I change those myself - I'm not a complete sissy.

You should get a K&N air filter. They're permanent and never need to be replaced. They do need to be cleaned every 50k miles or so. They cost about the same (actually, I think they cost slightly less) as the ones they'll sell you at the shop for one that only lasts...is it 30k? I don't really remember. They also advertise minor gains in performance and gas mileage, but that's not why I buy them.

As far as the topic goes, I have come to the conclusion that it's not worth the minor cost savings for the most part. I also haven't found it takes very long. If I take it to Jiffy Lube it's about 10-15 minutes. If I take it to the dealership I just leave it there and walk across the street to work and go pick it up when it's done. So, for me it's not worth it. But I do like the idea that it provides you the opportunity to check the car over to make sure everything else is in working order, so I might consider starting.

[I'm a red panda]

It is difficult to find a $19.95 special around here.  So husband generally changes our oil.  He just uses ramps to elevate the car.

Occasionally after the car has been to the dealer the cap is tightened too much, and then we have to take it into somewhere to get it changed because he can't open it.  The last time he tried to change the oil in my car, instead of getting it open, he broke his tool.  That sucked.

[slugline]

After losing an oil pan due to incompetence at a quick-change place, I've been handling it myself. I'm pretty sure the dollar savings are nearly nonexistent though.

[Cougar]

its all time imo.

if you make 100k/50 hr; its worth your time to have it done.


the counter is you save money because you're not likely to be working during a period you would change your oil, but that's what your time is worth.

[Midwest]

its all time imo.

if you make 100k/50 hr; its worth your time to have it done.


the counter is you save money because you're not likely to be working during a period you would change your oil, but that's what your time is worth.

Unless you are turning down $50 an hour work to change your oil, the time spent changing your oil isn't worth $50 an hour.

[gimp]

Depends. I live in an area with relatively expensive labor. On the other hand, oil shops tend to be terrible. I've compromised by finding out that my usual mechanic lets me bring oil and filter and does the change for $20. Not having to deal with the fucking bullshit is worth $20. It's annoying as hell to find a place where I can change the oil, jack up the car and put it on stands, drain the oil, get messy, deal with used oil...

Now, if I had my own place, my own driveway, whatever, sure. I don't have anywhere to do it so it's a big issue.

It's all about knowing who to trust. If you can't find a shop that charges a normal amount to do a very simple but critical job, and to do it right, then do it yourself.

[paddedhat]

We do what amounts to the most unmustachian thing possible: we take our cars to the dealer for maintenance. It's not worth it to invest in the equipment we should need to do the (very infrequent) maintenance on our (relatively new, paid off) cars. Plus, I can work from anywhere I can use my laptop, so if I go in on a work day I'll just work from the waiting room. I know they're going to do it right, they charge a fair price, and they check over everything while it's there.

Seriously, most of us should be smart enough to take this whole concept with a grain of salt. Next time you're there, skip the laptop and figure out where the mechanics are hanging out, as in smoke breaks on the side of the building. Now ask one how much of the mythical "fifty point free inspection" really gets done during a 10-15 minute oil change.  You might shit when you hear the truth. Bottom line is that your car gets a very fast once over by a low level helper, who is trained to look for upsells. Their job is to relay info. to the service advisor in hopes of convincing the customer that they needs new brakes, tires, engine and cabin air filters, or maybe a bullshit engine flush? You walk away with a pretty checklist of fifty inspected items and a good chance that 75% of the items checked on the inspection list haven't been looked at now, during your last ten oil changes, or for as long into the future as you will be returning for service work. It's a risk they take. They tell you everything is great, and 99% of the time it never comes back to bite them in the ass. You end up destroying a transmission that you ran nearly dry, due to a slow leak. You're mad as hell and you march in with years of pretty checklists showing that your trans. fluid level was checked on  regular basis, demanding to know WTF?  You get a smooth service writer who explains that it can leak out pretty quickly, and you might not of noticed. Now that's nothing but horseshit, and it should of been corrected several oil changes ago, but your out of luck, and dropping $4K on a new one. And so it goes.

You may be happy with the price, and you may never have an issue, but please divest yourself of the delusion that they are,  #1. "doing it right" and #2. "checking everything over while it's there".  Any honest mechanic that plies the trade at the dealership level only laughs when they hear those lines. Primarily, because they are constantly repairing the stuff that get's sold as factory certified used, with the fantasy 110 point inspection.  They are the guys who get stuck cleaning up the messes, after the dealership's semi-skilled clowns checked every box, and put cars on the lot with hundreds, or even thousands of dollars worth of repair issues they failed to catch.

[paddedhat]

You should get a K&N air filter. They're permanent and never need to be replaced. They do need to be cleaned every 50k miles or so. They cost about the same (actually, I think they cost slightly less) as the ones they'll sell you at the shop for one that only lasts...is it 30k? I don't really remember. They also advertise minor gains in performance and gas mileage, but that's not why I buy them.

You could probably spend the next few days reading nothing but failure reports found by Googling "K&N air filter failure"  Sorry, but given the low cost of replacing the air filter with a top quality, factory approved part, per the manufacturer's recommendations, Using something like a K&N isn't worth the risk. Particularly since manufacturers are denying warranty for things like MAF sensors if they find one on the car. With replacement engines running everywhere from $4-5K to 4-5X that amount, giving a manufacturer a chance to deny warranty since you decided to install a oil soaked, foam, lawnmower filter on your vehicle, really doesn't seem like a good idea.

[TheContinentalOp]

OP here.

There are 3 places within a mile of me that take recycled oil.

I also don't have to wait for service when I take the car in. I just leave it for the day; I ride my bike to work.

I am going to to try crawling under my car this weekend, just to see if there is enough space to make the change (not due yet) without having to go out and buy some ramps.

[Chris22]

IMO, one should never use a quick-change place (Jiffy Lube and the like).  Just way too much incompetence and outright attempts at thievry (upselling for unnecessary items, charging for work not done, etc) has been demonstrated.

I would say make the choice between DIY and either a dealer or a reputable independant garage.  I personally do most of my own maintenance as I find it easy and rewarding, but I also let the shop do it, say, in the middle of January when it's cold and the undersides of the cars are covered in muck.  To me, it's a very minor investment in tools (you should already own a socket set for household repairs, plus you need jack stands (your car comes with a jack, though a very nice floorjack can be bought for <$100) at $20/pr and a $5 catch bin and maybe a specialized oil filter wrench (<$10).  Most of that can be reused for car after car.  It's also a good reason to do an hour of work (15 minutes of work and 45 minutes of drinking beer and waiting for the oil to drain) outside in nice weather.

[Nate R]

I'm in the "want it done right" camp, so I do it myself.
I've taken cars in a few times, and been appalled at the sloppiness. Got 3 free oil changes when we bought one car, they left the cap off once and oil got sprayed ALL over the hood.
Had a dealer do my Insight oil once, they WAY overfilled it, that car needs less than 3 quarts for a change.

I find that even on my low Insight, I can change w/o ramps. So swing car into the garage space, drop the pan under it, drop out the drain bolt, and I do the filter every other change, which I can get at from the top. Easy, and since it requires synth, cheaper than most places around me to do it.

[Jack]

I use synthetic oil and good filters on all my vehicles, which allows me to safely extend oil change intervals. For me, one DIY synthetic oil change for $35 in materials saves a lot of money compared to 2 or even 3 conventional oil changes for $25 each at the quick lube.

The facts that I have to deal with it less often and that I know it was done right are just gravy.

How far do you have to drive to somewhere that you can safely/legally dispose of the waste oil?

The same distance, or less, than you'd have to drive to have somebody else change it because all shops that sell oil are required to accept it for disposal.

You should get a K&N air filter. They're permanent and never need to be replaced. They do need to be cleaned every 50k miles or so. They cost about the same (actually, I think they cost slightly less) as the ones they'll sell you at the shop for one that only lasts...is it 30k? I don't really remember. They also advertise minor gains in performance and gas mileage, but that's not why I buy them.

You could probably spend the next few days reading nothing but failure reports found by Googling "K&N air filter failure"  Sorry, but given the low cost of replacing the air filter with a top quality, factory approved part, per the manufacturer's recommendations, Using something like a K&N isn't worth the risk. Particularly since manufacturers are denying warranty for things like MAF sensors if they find one on the car. With replacement engines running everywhere from $4-5K to 4-5X that amount, giving a manufacturer a chance to deny warranty since you decided to install a oil soaked, foam, lawnmower filter on your vehicle, really doesn't seem like a good idea.

You're conflating two different kinds of "high performance" air filters. K&Ns are made out of cotton, not foam, and the filters that are made from foam aren't oiled.

The main problem with K&N filters is that when people clean and re-oil them they tend to use too much oil, which then gets blown off and into the MAF and engine.

I've had K&Ns on a few of my cars and haven't had problems with them (although to be fair, I haven't ever had one on long enough to have re-oiled it yet). However, I wouldn't use one on my Diesel car (or any engine that I wanted to last a very long time, like 250K+).

[umterp1999]

Since I have In laws who insist on having the big huge christmas of excess, i only ask for practical things.  Oil, filters and any other  type products are always on the list.  So yea I save some money.  :) 

[umterp1999]

Yes and second being cautious about those quick oil change joints.  Wife's ex worked at one in HS and he wouldnt even take his car there.  From employees drinking on the job to putting the wrong type (or no) oil in the car doing significant damage. 

[APowers]

I haven't changed my own oil since high school.

Thought about starting again to save money, but I am not sure it will.

There's a nearby national chain that always has coupons for a $19.95 oil change. Maybe I could buy the oil and filter for that price.

Then I'd need to be able to lift the car, so I could get under it. I'd need to buy ramps.

And checking out ramps, I see people recommending jack stands as well. (When I was a teenager I was young and indestructible, so I didn't care about such things.) So now it looks like it could be a decade before the savings would pay off.

I guess if I was going to do more maintenance (brakes?) or maybe do oil changes for friends it might make more sense.

Or maybe the psychological benefits of doing it myself, would make it worthwhile?

Any MMMs who change their own oil? Are you saving any money?

Castrol GTX 5w-20 = $16.88 for 5qts. Filters are ~$5.

Oil change = 3.5 qts. Oil + filter per change is about $17. That's $3 saved every time. More if I only change the filter every other time.

I have a jack, but honestly, for a oil change, I just drive one wheel up on the curb. Easy, no jack/stands/ramps needed.

Tools required are a socket/ratchet (if you want to be fancy), maybe a strap wrench for the filter (I can usually just get the filter by hand, and then just re-tighten it by hand as hard as possible).

So for me it saves money and time. And I noticed while I was under there, that yes, I will need to replace a CV joint in the near future, as the boot is torn.

[Chris22]

Tools required are a socket/ratchet (if you want to be fancy),

Yeah, like I said, I'd expect every good MMM-devotee to own at least a basic socket set (and other hand tools) in order to do their own simple home maintenance, assemble things, etc.  I was discussing a project I was working on on my house with a friend of my wife's, and she said "wow, it's so great you can do all of this yourself."  I just replied, I can't afford to pay someone to do all this work, it's do it myself or do without, so I have to learn. 

[gimp]

Relevant story: A few months ago, bought a torque wrench, entirely forgot that I needed to buy sockets for it. "What do I......... oh, yeah."

[Jack]

Relevant story: A few months ago, bought a torque wrench, entirely forgot that I needed to buy sockets for it. "What do I......... oh, yeah."

Why would you buy a torque wrench without already owning a socket set? Don't forget, you still need to use a regular wrench to loosen stuff.

[Spork]

OP here.

There are 3 places within a mile of me that take recycled oil.

I am sure this varies... but in Texas: If a business does oil changes, they're required by law to take your used oil.  (Finding someone that takes used antifreeze is a royal PITA around here... but EVERYONE takes oil.)

[Syonyk]

You should get a K&N air filter. They're permanent and never need to be replaced. They do need to be cleaned every 50k miles or so. They cost about the same (actually, I think they cost slightly less) as the ones they'll sell you at the shop for one that only lasts...is it 30k? I don't really remember. They also advertise minor gains in performance and gas mileage, but that's not why I buy them.

You could also take off the filter entirely and only get slightly worse filtering than a K&N when it comes to fine particulate matter. :p  They don't do a great job of filtering.  They do keep large rocks out, though...  They are also a mess to clean.  I run them on some of my vehicles, but that's because I've got intakes that are designed to work with them, and I can't throw a normal paper filter on anymore.

Oil change places... I try them about every 5 years, and then realize that paying someone twice as much as it would cost me to fuck up my vehicle in some unique and hard-to-identify way is silly.  Loose drain plugs, missing crush washers, air filter enclosures improperly closed up so they have a huge post-filter leak... it's a challenging game called "What did you screw up this time?"  It's not a fun game. :(

I do my own oil changes for the most part.  At least on the truck, the cost savings of about $100 are well worth it (I just do an annual oil change... it doesn't get many miles, and most of those miles are highway).

[Roothy]

For a synthetic change, there's no doubt it's cheaper to do your own.  And make your life far easier by purchasing a  Fumoto valve--change oil lickety split and never have to deal with an oil pan nut again.

I started changing my own after taking it to Jiffy Lube, where they didn't fully tighten the oil pan nut.  All my oil evacuated onto the road while driving 60 mph on a highway.  I'm lucky I wasn't killed, and it (natch) destroyed my engine in two seconds flat.  I had to argue with Jiffy Lube for two months before they covered it, which probably took 40-50 hours of my time.

Never, ever again.

[paddedhat]

Oil change places... I try them about every 5 years, and then realize that paying someone twice as much as it would cost me to fuck up my vehicle in some unique and hard-to-identify way is silly.  Loose drain plugs, missing crush washers, air filter enclosures improperly closed up so they have a huge post-filter leak... it's a challenging game called "What did you screw up this time?"  It's not a fun game. :(

I was on the road this winter and wanted to have a dealer do a trans. fluid change on the wife's CRV, since it's due, and it's a lot easier to handle a warranty issue if they did the service on the trans. The fact that it's a fluid change I important, since it's what Honda want's done, even though the dealer tries hard to sell you on an additional $100 for a trans. flush.  Like an idiot I asked then to change the oil while they had it.  What could go wrong with that? 

First, Like I have said repeatedly, they have no interest in doing what you have already brought the vehicle in for, they want to upsell as hard as possible. Before the car even hits a service bay, they are in the waiting room looking for me, with a very serious look on the service writer's face, "advising" me that I need new tires immediately. The only problem with that claim is that there is more than adequate tread left, and I'm still a good 1/16th left to the wear bars on most of them. I then tell him to skip the game and do what I brought the car in for. Unfortunately, this was too much to ask. Next, they pull the engine air cleaner apart, and remove the glove box to pull the cabin air filter. Round two. Bozzo is back in the waiting room "advising" that I need new filters. Now I'm pissed. He has the "mechanic" put everything back together. He installs the cabin air filter backwards. Doing a fine job of cleaning the filter by blowing all the pollen and shit into the cabin, as soon as the AC fires up.  Next, it was apparently too much trouble to reassemble the glove box properly, since I had to do it myself. I then have to do battle at checkout, since they tried to tack on a bullshit,  $9.99  "hazardous waste fee" to the bill.

For the grand finale, I get the car back to the campground we are staying in, and I have to drain well over a qt. out of the oil pan before I can get the level down to the "full" mark on the dipstick. Apparently there is at least one "mechanic" at the Honda dealer who believes that if 4.5 Quarts are required, six must be way better.

Syonyk,  you forgot to list my favorite trick at the $19.95 oil change place. The "just use any filter that threads on", policy. Nothing like heading in for a change with a correct filter, the size of a coffee, and laying under the truck a few weeks later and seeing something the size of a Cambell's soup can. I'm sure it's just as good. What could go wrong?

[Syonyk]

My filter is the size of a good soda bottle. :)

I'm thinking of putting in a b bypass filter system. They're not much more than an oil change, and can extend the change interval by a good bit.

[Joggernot]

For a synthetic change, there's no doubt it's cheaper to do your own.  And make your life far easier by purchasing a  Fumoto valve--change oil lickety split and never have to deal with an oil pan nut again.

The Fumoto valve is great and saves fishing the bolt out of the hot oil when you drop it.  It's on both my vehicles.

I've have three oil pans stripped by oil change places.  On my last car I took it in only one time in its life to Walmart for an oil change, and they stripped the pan, put in a larger plug, and didn't tell me.  Oil all over the driveway the next morning.  They did honor a new plug and washer to stop the leak.

[gimp]

Relevant story: A few months ago, bought a torque wrench, entirely forgot that I needed to buy sockets for it. "What do I......... oh, yeah."

Why would you buy a torque wrench without already owning a socket set? Don't forget, you still need to use a regular wrench to loosen stuff.

Because I'm a moron? I admitted it. I was buying various tools and did it in the wrong order. Had graduated and moved a year ago, needed various things, didn't think too carefully.

I have a fumoto valve too, pretty nifty. Definitely like it. Still not worth it to deal with the damn oil though.

[Inkedup]

I also fall into the "do it right" line of thinking. Another reason to do it myself is that I like to give the oil pan more time to drain in order to get rid of as much of the dirty oil as possible. Those places that advertise 30 minute jobs wouldn't cut it...

[Dellainacan]

For a synthetic change, there's no doubt it's cheaper to do your own.  And make your life far easier by purchasing a  Fumoto valve--change oil lickety split and never have to deal with an oil pan nut again.

The Fumoto valve is great and saves fishing the bolt out of the hot oil when you drop it.  It's on both my vehicles.

I do my own because I use full synthetic for the cost of what a conventional oil change typically is. And I like working on my vehicles. How are those valves?  I live in NY and our roads are covered in salt for 6 months out of the year. I was wondering how those would hold up to heavy salt and snow.

I was seeing if anyone had feedback under those conditions. Thanks.

[Cole]

I've changed my oil myself every single time since I've owned the car.(5 years now)  Does it save me money?  Probably only $2 or so a time.  Is it worth it?  It is to me because I know it will be done right.

This is exactly why I change my own oil. I use a quality filter with quality oil and I can run it for 7000+ miles.

[Joggernot]

The Fumoto valve is great and saves fishing the bolt out of the hot oil when you drop it.  It's on both my vehicles.

I do my own because I use full synthetic for the cost of what a conventional oil change typically is. And I like working on my vehicles. How are those valves?  I live in NY and our roads are covered in salt for 6 months out of the year. I was wondering how those would hold up to heavy salt and snow.

I was seeing if anyone had feedback under those conditions. Thanks.

The valves are brass with a fiber washer.  Buy the one to fit your vehicle; get the extension if appropriate.  No, in 20 years I've never hit one on anything.  Worked fine on the current car for 14 years and counting.  No leaks.  Here is a link to their site.
http://www.qwikvalve.com/?gclid=CLeT06eOwsYCFQEcaQodfbwHkw

[Spork]

The Fumoto valve is great and saves fishing the bolt out of the hot oil when you drop it.  It's on both my vehicles.

I do my own because I use full synthetic for the cost of what a conventional oil change typically is. And I like working on my vehicles. How are those valves?  I live in NY and our roads are covered in salt for 6 months out of the year. I was wondering how those would hold up to heavy salt and snow.

I was seeing if anyone had feedback under those conditions. Thanks.

The valves are brass with a fiber washer.  Buy the one to fit your vehicle; get the extension if appropriate.  No, in 20 years I've never hit one on anything.  Worked fine on the current car for 14 years and counting.  No leaks.  Here is a link to their site.
http://www.qwikvalve.com/?gclid=CLeT06eOwsYCFQEcaQodfbwHkw

Most of my plugs are magnetic to pick up tiny filings.  How does it handle that?

[Joggernot]

The Fumoto valve is great and saves fishing the bolt out of the hot oil when you drop it.  It's on both my vehicles.

I do my own because I use full synthetic for the cost of what a conventional oil change typically is. And I like working on my vehicles. How are those valves?  I live in NY and our roads are covered in salt for 6 months out of the year. I was wondering how those would hold up to heavy salt and snow.

I was seeing if anyone had feedback under those conditions. Thanks.

The valves are brass with a fiber washer.  Buy the one to fit your vehicle; get the extension if appropriate.  No, in 20 years I've never hit one on anything.  Worked fine on the current car (Accord) for 14 years and counting.  No leaks.  Here is a link to their site.
http://www.qwikvalve.com/?gclid=CLeT06eOwsYCFQEcaQodfbwHkw

Most of my plugs are magnetic to pick up tiny filings.  How does it handle that?

It doesn't.  I put a neodymium magnet on the truck pan because it has a metal pan.  The Accord is aluminum, so I do without.

[cacaoheart]

I've compromised by finding out that my usual mechanic lets me bring oil and filter and does the change for $20. Not having to deal with the fucking bullshit is worth $20.

Same here. When I lived near my dad's car shop I'd put it on the lift and change everything out myself, but now that I live in an apartment 3 hours away I take Mobil 1 synthetic oil (often $25 for 6 quarts at costco) and filter to a nearby mechanic that I like and he changes it out for $20. I either wait and read my kindle or jog over to the nearby library.

[Spork]

I've compromised by finding out that my usual mechanic lets me bring oil and filter and does the change for $20. Not having to deal with the fucking bullshit is worth $20.

Same here. When I lived near my dad's car shop I'd put it on the lift and change everything out myself, but now that I live in an apartment 3 hours away I take Mobil 1 synthetic oil (often $25 for 6 quarts at costco) and filter to a nearby mechanic that I like and he changes it out for $20. I either wait and read my kindle or jog over to the nearby library.

LOL.  If you bring oil, filter and your kindle to my house, I'd do it for $20 too.

[nobodyspecial]

Always wondered is there something special about American oil?
In europe I changed the oil every year/12,000 miles. Over here, the same car, with the same engine, made in the same Japanese factory seems to need new oil every 6000km ?

I am impressed with the precision of the oil though. Any car from a 1960s Buick to a Porsche 911 all 6000km - doesn't matter if they are driven in New Mexico or Nunavut.

[frpeebles]

America has an obsession with the 3,000 mile oil change. Many cars have specified far longer intervals for decades.

[Syonyk]

Fast lube places have something to do with that...

Also, you won't hurt anything changing it more frequently other than your wallet. Combine those with some of the older American engines that would genuinely sludge up without frequent oil changes, and it's just a persistent thing here.

[b4u2]

Almost 15 years ago an oil change place dumped my oil and didn't refill it. Luckily I checked it before leaving the parking lot. Peace of mind knowing that when I do it it's done right. Am I saving money, not much if any, but better than my vehicle being ruined. I buy everything from Advance Auto parts and I can drop my used oil and filters there as well.

[TheContinentalOp]

OP again.  There is definitely not enough clearance to change my oil without lifting the car. I am now searching craigslist for ramps.

Also the parking lot of our apartment complex is at a pretty significant angle, so I suspect I will have to change the oil elsewhere, perhaps at parking lot at my place of employment.