- This topic has 9 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 6 months ago by
.
-
Topic
-
-
Replies
-
The best place where the price doesn’t matter because you can never complain about the service is in your own driveway. It is better for the car because no one else will care about your car the way you do. It’s far better as the owner to get to know your car better. Also, the oil techs don’t likely have anymore training than 5 minutes of reading will get you. They’ll put in the right viscosity, but don’t expect they will put in the correct brand intended for you car.
I’ll look into it but apartment living would make it hard to do so as where do I dump the used oil, etc.
I could take the parking lot route but still where do I dump the old oil?
I just called Walmart and it’s $50 from them. Jiffy Lube $80. Such a huge markup. I gotta call up Sears…
[quote=”bananaspree” post=167709]I’ll look into it but apartment living would make it hard to do so as where do I dump the used oil, etc.
I could take the parking lot route but still where do I dump the old oil?
I just called Walmart and it’s $50 from them. Jiffy Lube $80. Such a huge markup. I gotta call up Sears…[/quote]One tool DIY oil changers all use, the catch can. A plastic container made for the purpose of catching old oil out of low jacked cars. After each oil change, take the container to a auto parts store and they will dispose of the oil for you, and return your catch can. Being that you live in an apartment, it would be a good idea to store it in a trash bag to protect your deposit from oil dripping in the apartment. The catch cans are never clean after the first time you use it.
Auto parts stores, wal-mart, and such will take your old oil at no charge. The local drag strip here also takes waste oil.
If your car takes 5-Quarts, buy the 5-Quart jug of oil and pour the used oil oil back into the jug (from the drain pan.)
You need a oil drain pan, oil filter wrench, socket or wrench for the oil drain plug, oil funnel, and paper/shop towels. Maybe hand cleaner too, but dish soap works.Synthetic oil changes are more costly because the oil is more expensive. Wal-Mart usually has good prices on oil, but check for sale ads from auto parts stores as the sometimes have really good deals.
If your car sits so low you need to lift it to change the oil, it might make sense to pay the money to have someone else do the work because you would need some sort of jack and car support.
You could always use ramps instead of jacking the car up. It won’t be level but I use ramps without issues.
I don’t like using ramps, at least the tall red steel ones that everyone seems to have.
Sometimes they slide when driving onto them, and a friend of mine (not the best driver), over drove a ramp causing alot of body damage to the car.
I also hate the cheap tri-leg split tube type jack stands. There is almost nothing to keep those from folding inward if the weight is shifted to one leg.
Found a photo of the jack stand type to stay away from:
https://fourflighting.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/jstandcrop.jpgI’ve had concerns with ramps, jacks and jack stands. I’ve had cheap steel ramps collapse, and a jack stand break (luckily I wasn’t under the car and it was a junker). Since then, I’ve only invested in those tools rated for 3 tons. Wife thought I was wasting money because we only had a minivan at the time. But it was her dad’s F250 that broke the first ramps, so they were useful for his truck, but now I have a heavy truck of my own. Worth it when you have a garage to store it. I used to use a mirror to watch my progress up the ramps. I’ve gotten good enough to not need it anymore. If he doesn’t have much room for storage, a jack and jack stands will suffice.
[quote=”bananaspree” post=167707]Is it Jiffy Lube or what? I bet it’s all the same but I don’t get why a synthetic oil change is $70 for a 2015 Mazda3, my new car. LOL. Anyone know of a cheaper oil change?[/quote]
If you are going to complain about the cost of a simple oil change then you should not be running a car at all.
Reputable brand synthetic oil is expensive but is an excellent product and you should be changing the oil filter as well as the crankcase oil simultaneously.
Don’t go to cheapo chain service centers as they are unlikely to use the correct oil in your car and since most people are clueless they have no idea what actually goes into their engines. Your new car warranty on the engine is subject to using the correct lubricants in the engine as specified by Mazda.
Go to a reputable service business, specify the oil you want in the car or buy it and take it with you if it is a product they do not stock. You will not get any change out of 100 bucks or more for a decent full synthetic oil and and oil filter change including product. Price the oil your car needs and the filter cost alone.
[quote=”Flintiron” post=167812]I’ve had concerns with ramps, jacks and jack stands. I’ve had cheap steel ramps collapse, and a jack stand break (luckily I wasn’t under the car and it was a junker). Since then, I’ve only invested in those tools rated for 3 tons. Wife thought I was wasting money because we only had a minivan at the time. But it was her dad’s F250 that broke the first ramps, so they were useful for his truck, but now I have a heavy truck of my own. Worth it when you have a garage to store it. I used to use a mirror to watch my progress up the ramps. I’ve gotten good enough to not need it anymore. If he doesn’t have much room for storage, a jack and jack stands will suffice.[/quote]
Ramps are the best and safest option and there are very good and safe products on the market which will last a lifetime. But most people are just looking for cheap these days and that is rarely a sound purchase. There certainly are some trashy ramp products out there. I also have no doubt some stupid people buy cheap low load rated ramps and then overload them with a heavy vehicle . I would also doubt some of the cheap product could take the maximum loads stated by their manufacturers.
I have been using the same set of steel ramps at home now for over 35 years and never had an issue with them in that time. I now have an extra removable bolt on section on the ramps to reduce the ramp angle which suits low slung vehicles. Yes you need to be aware that they can slip forward but there are ways of dealing with that and you don’t sit them on slippery surfaces without some kind of retaining mechanism. Only a negligent idiot could damage their car by using a set of well designed ramps.
I like these race ramp car service ramps for example and these are not going to collapse on you used correctly………..
http://www.raceramps.com/car-service-ramps.aspx
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.