Change Your Own Oil?

I always changed my oil myself. most shops could not find 1/2 the grease fittings. plus the things you find that needs attention. when it's your truck you notice. I know of shops, that some workers would not point out a problem if they thought they would be the one that had to fix it. I also always like the magnetic drain plug. any metal on it & you know you have a problem. I have a big plastic tub from t.s.c. to drain old oil, use a old metal coffee can smashed together at top to pour easy into a funnel into the 1 gal oil jugs, then back to wally's or in the winter to shops than use it for heat.

 

AHEM......I get a full service for $230.00(out the door), that includes 11 gallons of 15-40 Delo, 1 CAT oil filter and 2 CAT fuel filters, lube, and PM inspection including brake adjustment. I stay and watch making sure all is done to MY specs. I beleive its about $25.00 cheaper with regular filters. Just saying.

 

Yeah, I would recommend everyone do their own greasing. It is an easy task and makes for checking out the underside a much more frequent deal. I would have to side with the idea that I am a better judge of what is going on than most shop people, only because I have the time to go slowly and check things. And I like to get the entire front end off the ground when I lube. I will grease the kingpins, then start the truck and move steering back and forth several times and then grease kingpins again. Just picky I guess. Oil, nah. I change that every 25,000 miles so it is only getting done 5 times a year and because of disposal and other factors, just easier to have the shop I use do it and get me on my way. I don't even let them grease the truck. Just a simple change the oil and filters, a quick look at the diffs and trans lube levels, and kick me out of the door. They are not going to put a drain plug in wrong, as I have a Fumoto drain valve on the pan. I watch these guys and they are pretty picky about pre-filling new filters properly and doing things right. I grease the truck myself every 5000-6000 miles, roughly every other weekend.

 

I would agree. I priced out getting it done at my local (70 miles from home) Star dealer, and including my travel time and diesel there and back, I save about $200 -$250 and 4 - 5 hours or more doing it at home. In reading through all the replies there are a couple key points that are clear. If you have the option to shop around, you might find some deals. Then, you have to be very careful as some shops will do a good job for the deal price, and some are get em in, get em out, get the money kind of places. Also, some guys simply do not have the 3 criteria to make it worthwhile to do it yourself. 1: a decent place to do it, 2: the mechanical aptitude to get it done right, but also notice other problems which may be noticeable, 3: the desire or ability to get under there and get dirty. I do not in any way mean anything negative towards any driver in listing these criteria. There is nothing wrong with being a safe, professional driver who just simply doesn't want to get under there. I know myself as each year goes on, it gets tougher all the time crawling around under there (drove my first big truck in '73 at 19). There's likely going to be a time soon when I'll just have to take it in. Anyway I think that this is one of those topics that almost everyone has their own opinion on, and I have tried to sum up why.

 

Just as a warning to people who grease their own trucks, I got a warning from an Ill. State trooper who saw the grease globbed on the spring hangers and shackles of my Western Star, and told me I had to clean that off or risk a ticket for dropping grease on the road. No foolin'.

 

Boy, is that anal. The spirit of Barney Fife is alive and well.

 

Advance auto parts will take your used oil at no charge

 

I have no problem with who will take the used oil. I have a laundry list of places that would take used oil. I just don't want to waste time fiddling with it. I have old 30 and 55 drums sitting around I could put the used oil in if I wanted. But then there is the hauling them in to wherever to get rid of them. Just not worth my time. I have changed my own oil in the past, and I have been letting the Mack dealership do it for me for the last 3 years. I have seen serious cost savings in doing it myself when I factor my time. My time is valuable, not from some sitting around the house and such. I have a large property that also consumes my off time with projects that need done. To waste time changing the oil, hauling it someplace, does me no favors. I realize that some, all they have is the truck and themselves to dicker with. I have fence to mend or replace, ditches that need mowed, weed control, repairs to out buildings, tree and shrub trimming, snow fence to put up, and a hundred other things that eat up my time off.

Now, anyone is welcome to come on over and take care of some of these other projects while I watch the oil drain out of my engine. Everything is a balance. If one has the time and inclination, then by all means, change your own oil. But many of us do not have the same situation or inclination. Doesn't make either of us wrong. Just different. No one is going to be able to sell me on the idea that my time is better spent with oil changes. They do not have the perspective on my situation that I have. likewise, I have not perspective on their situation. So I could really care less what they decide is right for them. As with many things, there is no wrong answer here.

 

how much oil?

 

just got my truck out of shop for some minor oil leak work & the shop told me, detroits get 9-1/2 gal of oil & anything more is over fill?