Oil Change Savings

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Joined
May 7, 2006
Threads
280
Messages
3,365
Location
Kelowna, BC
Well like many I change my own oil. The other day I went to Tim Horton's and there was a lube joint beside it so I went in to see how much I was saving changing my own oil on my DD - probably not that much I was guessing - but I wanted to check anyhow.
I asked 'how much' to change the oil in my DD with full synthetic oil which I use since I bough the car-- they quote me $89.99 plus tax, which was a 'deal' with a $20.00 discount off their regular price of $99.99.

So the oil change was going to cost me $100.74 with tax.

My cost:
Mobile 1 (5W30W) from US Wall Mart ($25 USD) say $30.00 $C
Subaru OEM oil filter $5.60 $C $60 for 12 out of the US)
My Cost = $36.00 $C and 45 minutes work.
Savings $64.00 ($80 per hour).

As Red Green says "If they don't find you handsome they better find you handy"
 
Yep, been changing my oil for years. But for 1000's that don't have a place to do it, those shops are pretty handy.

Have you burned your hand yet on the Subi exhaust that is wrapped around the oil filter?

exhaust.webp
 
No not yet - but the oil filter thread is one long screw SOB --- so oil is leaking out down my glove for many turns till I can get that filter out.
FYI around Kelowna I am averaging slightly over 30 mpg in town - including packing lumber on the roof racks from Home Depot and hauling my 3500 lb trailer to the dump. Much better than the Cruiser and what I expected.
 
i too do all my own oil changes , but i cheap out and get the wall mart brand full synthetic $18.00 bucks
just did my 2004 astro van picked it up all at wall mart while i was there
oil ,mobil 1 oil filter (not sure if they are any good )
fuel filter and air filter
oil $18.00
filter $6.00
fuel filter $8.00
air filter $14.00 the fram fancy one because it was the only one they had left in stock
they had a cheaper fram for $9.00 but out of stock


cheers
 
I used to buy Wix Gold but I get Toyota filters cheaper from Camelback Toyota Phoenix (at least $120 order gets free shipping to WA) - no state tax -
OEM oil filters are $3.89 $USD each. If I mention I am with the local club there - I get a further discount.
PM me if you want the contact name and #.
 
Changing your own oil also assures that the drain plug won't be undertightened/overtightened/stripped out by incompetents. Not to mention use of the incorrect oil, or the incorrect amount of oil. So many things to go wrong with someone else doing your maintenance.
 
I used to buy Wix Gold but I get Toyota filters cheaper from Camelback Toyota Phoenix (at least $120 order gets free shipping to WA) - no state tax -
OEM oil filters are $3.89 $USD each. If I mention I am with the local club there - I get a further discount.
PM me if you want the contact name and #.

Not sure if this is the same filter: 15600-41010. It seems to fit just about every 1980's engine, be it diesel or gas has been discontinued from Toyota. You'll need to find a new filter to replace it. Lots of folks seem to like WIX (51515) as a direct replacement
Here is a post from Beno (Another Toyota parts guru)
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/ultimate-oem-60-series-parts-still-in-stock.427242/page-3
Post 59
 
Changing your own oil also assures that the drain plug won't be undertightened/overtightened/stripped out by incompetents. Not to mention use of the incorrect oil, or the incorrect amount of oil. So many things to go wrong with someone else doing your maintenance.
What torque spec is on the drain plug.
 
I used to buy Wix Gold but I get Toyota filters cheaper from Camelback Toyota Phoenix (at least $120 order gets free shipping to WA) - no state tax -
OEM oil filters are $3.89 $USD each. If I mention I am with the local club there - I get a further discount.
PM me if you want the contact name and #.

Got a shop maybe lift, then maybe a touch of oil down your elbow is not such a big deal...change it your self and have that piece of mind over the quick lube disaster stories...got a bunch of teenagers out of high school texting all day long..ask me two live in my my house...

Rob:beer:
 
used to buy oil and filters at napa, get a HUGE discount at work Gold filters for about $5 a piece, lately i buy my oil at crappy tire though , today i bought 6 jugs of formula 1 high milage at 18.xx a jug, right now in my garage i have 10 5 litre jugs of oil, 3 different brand 3 different viscosities and 7 filters ! it costs me roughly $25 a change per vehicle ! Oh and i purchased a bag of copper compression gaskets for the old drain plug from the dealership ! plus a spare drain plug for each vehicle ! yeah i have OCD issues !
 
Whenever I run out of oil plug compression rings I use white thread sealant (even pipe thread sealant) - never leaks.
 
I have always done my own oil...

HDJ81 - I usually get the pail (Chevron 15w40) which I have just found a source for 60$ (18.9L) and use the OEM filter from US which are still made in Japan, around 28 Canadian by the time its in my hands

Yaris - Chevron Supreme or Havoline 5w30, From Costco america its less than 2$ american a quart, OEM filters from the US are 4$ american or 7$ canadian up here but I bought six when the exchange rate was damn good. Filters are the Thailand ones though
 
I have always done my own oil/lube/filters since day one; tried them all. My Matrix uses synthetic Toyota 0W-20 oil and to make sure my warranty is valid, I buy Toyota oil and filter elements at Port Moody Open Road at a slight discount. I guess it costs me under $30. and I know it's done right. For the Cruiser I buy Canadian Tire 20 litre diesel oil on sale and the gold filters at NAPA. Works for me!:hmm:
Oh, and one word of caution: don't take too much cash into the U.S. because you could be the victim of Civil Forfeiture:
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-...m_medium=referral&utm_campaign=zergnet_360509
~Bill
 
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