Quart of oil

Richard from SE AZ · Dec 17, 2008

Almost soiled my pants yesterday!! I went to an auto parts store in town yesterday to get 5 quarts of oil and filter to change oil in my PU. My wife usually takes our vehicles to one of those 5 min. oil change places but if I'm home when it's time to service something I like to do it myself. I guess it's been awhile. I could not believe that oil was $3.99 a quart! I never knew the meaning of the term sticker shock. Now I know. Now I have to go back to town to get some oil.

Walt Davies · Dec 17, 2008

Lets see $4 X 5 quarts = $20 they charge $20 at the local shops and it takes only a few minutes while you have a cup of coffee. No brainer here is is.
Walt
PS add a filter and look what you are saving besides not crawling around in the dirt and getting oil down your sleeves.

Michael Soldan · Dec 17, 2008

I buy the 4.4 liter jugs for anywhere from 12.99 to 16.99 and I get filters for around 4.50, I can do it at my convenience, but I have to agree with Walt, when you add up the supplies and figure getting dirty,using up some shop towels etc, its a no brainer. The ony reason I do my own is at my convenience, when the dash light starts flashing change oil, I can do it at my shop then and there,I usually keep a few jugs of oil ahead and keep a few filters as well..but I know for a fact, I am not saving anything. I can grease the truck, blow out or replace the air filter and check all the fluids and tire pressure, I do save on air filters and the lube as opposed to someone else doing it but as far as an oil change..QUICKIE LUBE!
As to buying oil in quarts , you will always pay more than buying jugs or five gallon pails. Walt has the right idea about realaxing with a coffee

Mark W. · Dec 17, 2008

There is still a lot to be said about doing it yourself and having the peace of mind knowing that it is done right. Had a numbnut crossthread a plug once after rounding the head off.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 17, 2008

Nothin like an spiffy lube for that expensive car or truck

Ah, the stripped drain plugs and frozen on oil filters. The lost screws or clips, and and broken air filter housings.

Bring in a pickup with 20 grease fittings and three will be over greased, 10 will have a big blob of grease atop, and the rest will have been left alone.

Last I heard the car made it to the mall and halfway home with no oil.

A bunch of teenage kids huddled up next to the exhaust fan in the pit smoking who knows what with the guys on top being lookout.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 17, 2008

It is nice to let the wife take hers to the dealer and have the oil changed. Her car is so low that it has to be lifted in order to drain the oil. Car ramps won't work as they hit the valence before the tires start to ramp.

PeterE · Dec 17, 2008

I've been taking my car to the local quick lube place for oil changes since I bought it new. Read the paper and have a cup of coffee is a lot better than crawling under the car in a Minnesota winter.

I wouldn't say the guys there are rocket scientists but neither am I. Pretty good bunch. Ten years and 105,000 miles on the car so far.

IH2444 · Dec 17, 2008

3.99 a qt is high synthetic oil price.
You need to find another place to get your oil.

rhouston · Dec 17, 2008

BTDT. They always short you half a quart of oil. You can watch them tip the dip stick up so the oil runs down to the full line before they bring it around to show you that its at the full mark. They never replaced the plug in the differential. I will NEVER use a Quality Quick Lube again.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 17, 2008

I've always changed my own oil for different reasons. Then found out the local chev. dealer does it for 14bucks out the door. That even includes my HD pickup which takes 6 qts. Been there once with my truck and once with my saturn and been in and out both times in a half hour. They filled the washer fluid and added a little air to the tires that I could see. I guess they hope to find something wrong with your vehicle and generate more income. I figured its a no-brainer. Double R

ohfred · Dec 17, 2008

I have a friend that works at one of the fast lube joints (mechanic)and if they say 5 or 10 minute oil changes...that means to me that they don't let all that old black oil out of the crankcase, just till it slows down a bit. I usually let mine drip for a half hour before putting the plug back in. They hire those guys off of the street and they're not very particular about your car. Just my opinion. ohfred

ohfred · Dec 17, 2008

Hey Vern.....if your car won't drive onto ramps, why not use some boards to ramp it up till it will go on...just a thought. ohfred

Chris in SK · Dec 17, 2008

I have used the fast change places, and sometimes I prefer to do it myself. They always tell me that my anti-freeze or tranny fluid needs changing for $$$. I think they earn their money from the people that get these jobs done.
Years ago I had semi tractors serviced overnight by a 24 hour outfit. One night one of their 'mechanics' double o ringed one of the oil filters, truck made about 5 miles the next day before seizing. You pay you're money and you take you're chance.
Chris

rodgernbama · Dec 17, 2008

I change my own oil too and you are correct on the oil prices. I'm thinking about going back to full synthetic. It cost more up front but you can run it longer hence less oil changing. Just use a good quality filter.

Steven f/AZ · Dec 17, 2008

My Mobil 1 full synthetic is still $5 per quart when bought in the 5 quart jugs.

I will NEVER go to a quick lube place, EVER. They have messed up vehicles for years, put the wrong oil in, swindled people out of money, etc.

I will not go to the dealer either. I got shafted once there too. Pickup wouldn't run right, carb problems - variable venturi Ford. Service manager said it's a good carb, except when it's cold or dusty (when is it not cold or dusty in ND?). Said it would cost $500 to replace with something better. Didn't have that kind of cash so I said rebuild it. Cost $490 to rebuild!

Had a "reputable" shop flush a transmission for me once. Had a hole in the tranny cooler and got coolant in the trans. Asked if it would fully flush out the trans... "yes sir." Still didn't shift right afterwards, so I pulled the pan and found... coolant, lots of coolant. That was a $99 shafting.

No more, never again. I buy the tools I need to do the repairs for less than what a labor charge would be and do the work myself. I don't know if I'll even buy another vehicle from a dealer due to the mistreatment I've received from more than a few dealers as well. Private party purchase will work fine for me, you're not any safer buying a used vehicle from a dealer.

dave guest · Dec 17, 2008

About No Lube shops. Last car bought 94 Roadmaster Buick. Owner had receipts from oil and lube and such for 10 years. Every grease fitting was dry and all tie rod ends shot. One ball joint survived somehow. Only thing they did good for me. Once bought 88 chevy truck very reasonable since they fouled up the oil drain and told owner needed main seal. Like to do that again.

dave guest · Dec 17, 2008

About No Lube shops. Last car bought 94 Roadmaster Buick. Owner had receipts from oil and lube and such for 10 years. Every grease fitting was dry and all tie rod ends shot. One ball joint survived somehow. Only thing they did good for me. Once bought 88 chevy truck very reasonable since they fouled up the oil drain and told owner needed main seal. Like to do that again.

dave guest · Dec 17, 2008

About No Lube shops. Last car bought 94 Roadmaster Buick. Owner had receipts from oil and lube and such for 10 years. Every grease fitting was dry and all tie rod ends shot. One ball joint survived somehow. Only thing they did good for me. Once bought 88 chevy truck very reasonable since they fouled up the oil drain and told owner needed main seal. Like to do that again.

dave guest · Dec 17, 2008

About No Lube shops. Last car bought 94 Roadmaster Buick. Owner had receipts from oil and lube and such for 10 years. Every grease fitting was dry and all tie rod ends shot. One ball joint survived somehow. Only thing they did good for me. Once bought 88 chevy truck very reasonable since they fouled up the oil drain and told owner needed main seal. Like to do that again.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 18, 2008

Engine oil has doubled in price this year.Price is all over the place.Oil I use runs 2.17 to 5.00 a quart.Shell Rotella 15-40 diesel.High milage engine are much quieter on cold starts with this oil.

guido · Dec 18, 2008

Hello Steven.
I use mobil1 as well, do my own oil changes .
At one time jippy lube put ATF on a friends windshield washer container. It was a mess!
With better plugs and synth. oil, and good tire pressure my vehicle surpasses OEM stated fuel mileage by 10% every tank!
Guido.

Steven f/AZ · Dec 18, 2008

guido,

I was sold on Mobil 1 when working with a friend... He has several older vehicles, all used M1 since new - change it once a year in the fall regardless of use or miles. Hundreds of thousands of miles and none of the engines have been opened up, use oil, or leak an appreciable amount.

I extend my oil change interval to a minimum of 5000 miles on M1, usually around 7500 miles if we are using the vehicles for longer trips in decent weather.

Quart of oil

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