Why do oil changes yourself besides the overfill problem

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priussoris @ Apr 14 2007, 10:38 AM) [snapback]423205[/snapback]</div>

Does anyone use MOBILE ONE FULLY SYNTHETIC OIL. Is it worth paying the extra money for the benefits? Has anyone done a test to see if they get better MPG and running smoother overall. I mean with fully synthetic you can go alot longer in between oil changes. If anyone has any insight on FULLY SYNTHETIC oil please let me know.
Thanks!!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bobby @ Apr 17 2007, 08:21 AM) [snapback]424539[/snapback]</div>

Google Mobil1 and check out their website.

You'll never have any sludge with Mobil 1, your engine is protected better on start-up, especially in cold weather, and you'll save enough fuel to at least partially offset the higher cost. Your engine will never wear out, either.

Harry

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Wildkow @ Apr 17 2007, 06:50 AM) [snapback]424531[/snapback]</div>

Simple, you remove the oil filter, and replace it. then top off the oil after you start it up to replace what was in the filter. Some filters hold about a pint of oil, some less, some more. The filter on my Truck holds a quart. The nice part about my truck filter is it is vertical, I can fill the filter first, then install it, and start up the truck with no loss of oil.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IAO @ Apr 14 2007, 10:51 AM) [snapback]423213[/snapback]</div>

LOL
I only laugh because I once lived in an apartment complex that didnt allow work done on your vehicles. My wife's tranny was shifting erratically on her Taurus so I waited for a Sunday when I knew the office was closed and moved her car to a space she never parked in. Then I removed the oil pan from the transmission to drain the fluid and changed the filter inside it. I managed to get it done fairly quickly, but I sure did leave behind a mess. I was thankful we had some heavy rains that evening. It also solved the problem.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(morpheusx @ May 25 2007, 08:46 PM) [snapback]450221[/snapback]</div>

You reactivated a month old thread to confess to making an environmental mess that the heavy rains washed into the storm drain and the river, and then say "It solved the problem"?

Please don't do anything like that again. You only made problems.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bill Merchant @ May 26 2007, 01:25 AM) [snapback]450269[/snapback]</div>

Hardly a confession and i'll have you know that i was able to recover at least 10qts of the transmission fluid which was the maximum capacity of my drain pan and I probably only lost about 1qt on the parking lot, by the way by replacing the gasket which was losing fluid rather then topping it off a 1/2 qt or more every week I did more to help the environment because I stopped it from dripping. Not all of us are rich enough to carry our cars to the shop for every minor repair and living in a new city at the time and not knowing anybody, I had to work with what I had. I'm sorry to have offended you.

 

1. No greasey boot prints on the carpet
2. The oil change reminder is reset
3. I use the oil I prefer
4. I don't overfill the crankcase
5. I am not asked to pay to inflate my tires with nitrogen or blow brake dust and the dire consequences of not doing so
6. The car doesn't smell like french fries and cheeseburgers
7. It takes less of my time
8. I have all the tools and room in my garage at home
9. In my former life I was ASE and Chevrolet certified as well as a state certified safety inspector
10. Knowing the job was done right

 

I change my own oil for a few reasons:

1. I use better quality oil and filters (Mobil 1 or Amsoil) than what the dealership is using.

2. I take pride in maintaining my own vehicles. I know that I am doing the job right.

3. I have a busy life (work + kids) and it actually takes less time out of my schedule to change my own oil at home. Start to finish, it takes me about 15 minutes.

4. It is a good opportunity to teach my son about cars and proper maintenance. He is 4 and can already walk you through an oil change step-by-step.

 

I do my own oil changes with Mobil ONE Synthetic. Once in awhile I will let the dealership do the work with Mobil 1 if I am in a hurry. 30 minutes or less at Longo Toyota.

The most imprtant reason I do it myself was the hastle my friend experienced with a K-Mart oil change.

When he went to pick up his truck, the manager told him that they had accidentally topped off his brake fluid reservoir with power steering fluid. This caused the truck to held over for two days while they flushed the brake and sterring reservoirs with the proper fluids. My friend was so pissed off after not having his truck for two days, that he sold it soon after. He could not drive it knowing some a-hole Kmart mechanic topped off with incorrect fluids. Even though the manager was forthcoming about the error, his piece of mind about his truck had been ruined.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(faith2walk @ May 26 2007, 05:50 AM) [snapback]450313[/snapback]</div>

Whoever said that K&N filters are a waste of money and are no better than Fram obviously hasn't bothered to do any research. Here is a good comparison that was done between the various brands available: http://www.ntpog.org/reviews/filters/filters.shtml. And, here is another: http://www.corolland.com/oil-filters.html

Both tests recommended K&N and Mobil 1 filters.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Apr 14 2007, 12:43 PM) [snapback]423324[/snapback]</div>

Yeah, but he's a Prius-certified master tech, or whatever the proper title is. I don't have a Prius master tech at home.

I take my car to the dealership for oil changes and everything else, because I don't like to get my hands dirty. In doing so I help provide jobs and I stimulate the economy. And I know they handle the waste oil properly. I would not know how to do that.

Also, I'm a klutz.

 

I would never take my car to K-Mart. I had a friend who took his car to K-Mart for some work. They left his dome light on all day, and his battery was dead. They took a battery in a shopping cart out to jump him. They had the jumper cables hooked to the battery and laid the cables in the bottom of the metal cart. The batteries and cable started smoking!! It was really funny at the time, but they were lucky not to get hurt. After seeing that, I decided I would never take my car there.

 

Changing your own oil gives the opportunity to become very familiar with the tires, braking, steering, and suspension systems of your car. If you get down there and learn how to inspect them, you will be doing yourself a great favor concerning vehicle safety.

It may be true that a Toyota (or other) shop will do the same. We certainly hope they do. But if you DIY you will know that it has happened.

It's also great to notice a CV boot crack and replace it, before the CV joint inside fails.

 

Do it yourself change means you don't need to rush the drain phase. Wait as long as you lkie to make sure ALL the last few drops of old oil are drained. I suspect that most shops will rush this, and not get those last drops out, which contain more contaminents.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(faith2walk @ May 26 2007, 04:50 AM) [snapback]450313[/snapback]</div>

Oil Filter study On the K&N filter, didnt mean for it to sound like it is garbage, it just isnt worth the extra cash for it when you can get a WIX or Motorcraft for much less than that filter just as well. If you were running a high horsepower engine, pumping lots of oil under high pressure, then the K&N and Mobil 1 filters are worth it, but for the little engine in the Prius, the OEM, Motorcraft, or WIX(Napa) fiters are your best bet.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ACD @ May 29 2007, 11:38 AM) [snapback]451453[/snapback]</div>

I'll pay more for a Mobil 1 filter because it has a synthetic element. To me, the couple extra dollars that I will spend on the filter are worth it, especially because I will stretch the service interval past what Toyota recommends as soon as my warranty is up. The 5,000 mile interval is way too short and wastes good oil, but I'll play by Toyota's rules for now.

 

I'll try to be quite discreet and not mention the city or state (and it wasn't in Florida) ........... but while I was the Service Manager at a small, family owned Chrysler Dealership, I had VERY little "say" over "the rich old owner" who "lived for his money!!" Sure he was all smiles and friendly chat with the customers, but what went on behind the scenes........ another story. He hired a "wet-behind-the-ears", "stoned" high school kid that was just getting "into" cars...... driving and street racing, but not mechanical, with NO mechanical training or aptitude...... and HE was the "OIL CHANGE MAN" there !! He very rarely remembered to tighten the oil pan drain plug, and when he did he STRIPPED it..... telling (and charging $$) the customer the oil pan drain plug was defective and the poor customer believed him !! The dealership had a whole box of these OVERSIZE, self-tapping drain plugs that they were using like crazy !! This "kid" also overfilled oil capacities, overtightened oil filters, made a general mess of used oil all over the bottom of the K-frame. etc. BUT THEY LOVED HIM............ he could get a customer in-and-out in less than 10 minutes !! Oh, forgot to tell ya'........... just ONE VISCOSITY WEIGHT OIL............ 10W-30, that's is. Came from a big 55 gallon drum thru the hose. MOST of the NON-Chryslers like the Hondas and Acuras that he worked on SPECIFIED 5W-20, but did it get that............. NO WAY !! Oh, and one more thing, when "I" told him that it is customary as well as good practice the CHANGE the oil drain plug gasket EACH time you change oil, he starred at me like a deer in headlights....... duhhhhhhh................. he said unless he drops one and cannot find it on the floor, he NEVER changes the gaskets......... and this Dealer ALSO did vehicles like Toyota, Acura, BMW, MB, Land Rover, Vettes, etc.

 

What do you all do with the old oil?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GoEco @ May 29 2007, 02:44 PM) [snapback]451583[/snapback]</div>

3 options:

1) Advance Auto has free recycling bins you can dump your old oil into

2) Local community usually has recycling center for a nominal fee

3) Local gas station usually will let you dump into their bins.