DIY vs Dealer Oil Change (3 Viewers)

[NicB]

Hi guys,

I am interested to know if most of you change your own oil or use your local dealership. I change the oil in my BMW and wife's Lexus because I can cut the dealer cost in half or more, but for my LC, I can't do the oil change as cheaply as the dealership (they charge $34.99 with coupon). 7 qts of Mobil1 synthetic 5w-30 is ~$35 (assuming I buy two 5qt jugs), an OEM filter is $5-10, drain plug gasket another $1. That adds up to $40-50 plus my time. I also would need to buy the filter wrench.

I am trying to figure out the advantage of changing it myself. Some may say dealer uses cheap oil, but I don't see why they would use anything other than OEM oil and given Toyota's reliability, the oil must be as good as any other. The work is warranted if they mess something up, but I've never had any issues in probably 20+ dealership oil changes over the years across three different Toyotas.

Plus, they always wash my LC and tell me about other stuff that may be wrong (I know they usually are just trying to upsell me stuff, but I still go inspect myself - helps with my own maintenance routine).

Don't get me wrong, I love wrenching in the garage as much as the next guy, but with three vehicles in our fleet, I have plenty of other opportunities to do so. Curious to hear the views of others.

NicB.

 

[FxFormat]

For 34.99 they're using conventional oil and not synthetic, which is totally fine but i'd change it more often than full synthetic. The reason for doing your own oil changes is because you know it's done right, oil is one of the most delicate jobs of vehicle maintenance. I'm a tech at my shop and we get countless cars come into it with messed up drain plugs, mostly come from Jiffy Lube. Replacing the oil pan on this truck is a nightmare if it ever comes to that. It's easy to access the filter on this truck, so the techs at the dealership will likely change your filter. However, on the newer ones with the paper filter inside the housing, sitting under the skidplate that you need to remove, a lot of time those $10 an hour guy at the dealership will not change it, how are you going to know?

 

[aging fleet]

I prefer to do it myself, that way it gets done how I want it and I get an opportunity to check on other systems.

 

[NicB]

I hear you, I like knowing things are done right too. In fact, I'm a bit of a perfectionist. But changing oil for a certified Toyota mechanic is something they can do in their sleep. And if they strip a drain plug, they're on the hook to fix it. I've never seen the dealership not change the filter with the oil, odds of that are probably 1 in 1000+ if we're being realistic.

Conventional oil these days is no cheaper than synthetic. In fact, the Mobil 1 conventional costs the same as the synthetic.

 

[87warrior]

I have always changed my own oil.

I do it because I know it will be done right and I know what is being dumped into the engine. I can also perform the oil change when I have a little extra time versus trying to schedule an appointment at the dealer who is an hour away. Since I drop the skids to change the oil, I can also give the front driveshaft a shot of grease and give the front end a good look over.

No filter wrench is necessary.

 

[Pyrenees]

I can see the rationale for doing it either way. For instance...

I like to bring my wife's honda to the dealership a couple of miles away since they offer <$30 full-synthetic oil/filter changes. I'm sure they use whatever bulk synthetic oil they have on hand, and nothing super fancy, but the powertrain is still under warranty and if something fails I can say "ok, ball is in your court, guys".

On the 100 I prefer to change the oil/filter myself for a few reasons. I get Royal Purple when it's on sale, first of all. Second of all, I have no incentive (i.e. warranty) to have the Lexus dealer do it. Third, it's easier to get a used oil sample to send off to Blackstone if I feel like it. Fourth, it gives me an excuse to take a look underneath the car and visually verify if everything looks good. Fifth, I use a torque wrench and I know some other idiot isn't going to crossthread my drain bolt.

 

[abuck99]

Depending on the dealership, they'll probably pull the oil change vehicles it into their "fast-lane" service bay which is most likely staffed by the least qualified tech- maybe not even certified.

 

[Manhattan]

It's possible they're using the synthetic oil and an OEM filter. It could be that they've done the math... Give away an oil change and dunk them on all the other stuff they'll suggest the customer have done - "since it's here." The service and parts departments are the bigger profit centers. Getting customers to keep coming back after the warranty has evaporated is a challenge. The "cheap" oil change is the industry's original hook.

ACC Toyota (killer Land Cruiser shop in GA) had a sign up for a while that read: "Not Doing $29 Oil Changes Since 2010." Customers would ask what it meant... and loved the explanation.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

You'll probably also find some small print on that coupon that it includes something like "up to 4 quarts". So, you'll pay more for the extra quarts the LC takes.

 

[J1000]

My LX is the only vehicle I've owned that I have ever taken to someone else for an oil change. It costs more, about $75 for synthetic at the Lexus dealer, but it keeps the service records up to date if I ever decide to sell the truck and I get to eat some donuts and coffee and sit in their comfy chairs. Been running 7000-8000 miles per change.

 

[NicB]

You'll probably also find some small print on that coupon that it includes something like "up to 4 quarts". So, you'll pay more for the extra quarts the LC takes.

^^Believe it or not, it's $34.99, even for the LC. Used the coupon several times in the past.

 

[Pyrenees]

^^Believe it or not, it's $34.99, even for the LC. Used the coupon several times in the past.

I didn't believe it either when my honda dealer offered (I just checked, it's $27.95) full synthetic. It does say up to five quarts and an oil filter, but on a little 4-cylinder honda that's just fine As someone else mentioned, they do try to sell me overpriced windshield wipers, air filters, cabin filters, etc etc etc when I go there. Meh, fine with me. I never buy any of that stuff.

 

[BullElk]

DIY. Have to pick your battles.

 

[ga12r1]

I would never let a dealer change my oil. Lowest guy on the totem pole gets that job. I’m not in for that.

 

[gatormark91]

I would never let a dealer change my oil. Lowest guy on the totem pole gets that job. I’m not in for that.

I avoid dealerships like I would avoid dental surgery without anaesthetic.

 

[ga12r1]

I avoid dealerships like I would avoid dental surgery without anaesthetic.

Yeah. I could only imagine how bad they would screw up something like a bearing repack. Retainer ring gap would be wrong, bearing preload would be wrong, lock washer would be mangled, etc.
Just say no and take the time to do it yourself.

 

[J1000]

Lexus is another animal. I feel like I'm ripping them off every time I show up there with my used vehicle getting VIP service. If they take half as much care in the oil change as they do washing and drying the car and polishing the wheels and tires then they will have done a fabulous job. I've got enough wrenching cred under my belt I don't need to brag about doing an oil change

 

[TXLX100]

I change oil myself on LX and 4Runner , but only because they are Same engine, generally due at the same time, and I will grease the UCAs and drive shafts on both, rotate tires, visually inspect for leaks and other wearable items. If I could get all that reliably done for $50-60 a car I would definetly pay.

 

[NicB]

Lexus is another animal. I feel like I'm ripping them off every time I show up there with my used vehicle getting VIP service. If they take half as much care in the oil change as they do washing and drying the car and polishing the wheels and tires then they will have done a fabulous job. I've got enough wrenching cred under my belt I don't need to brag about doing an oil change

Haha.

Yea, I am kind of the same mind. I have plenty of mechanical experience, the oil change is easy. I am debating the cost effectiveness of my oil change vs. theirs.

And I'm sorry, but even if the mechanic at the dealership is "lowest on the totem pole"...he's doing 100+ changes a week. You get pretty good at stuff when you do it that much. I think the odds of them screwing stuff up are slim. If you can't trust the dealer for an oil change, then you better not be taking your ride there for anything else.

 

[Manhattan]

The only thing I worry about at the Toyota/Lexus dealerships is price. All of the horror stories I've heard about $*#&ed up oil changes have been at the franchise shops - Jiffy Lube, etc. I get that the younger/less-experienced guys are doing the oil changes. But, really... it's not rocket surgery. It's just a messy pain in the ass.