Best deal for an oil change?

[Anonymous]

We have a newer Mazda CX-5 that we change the oil on when the indicator goes off. My consulting work is way down this year, and I don't want to keep paying $130 or whatever at the local gas station to get the oil changed. It looks like Jiffy Lube is around $90 with a coupon, but I hate that place as I feel like they always try to upsell you. Are there better deals on changing oil? Sadly, I am not at all mechanical (and neither is DH) so I really don't think we can do it ourselves, but I would love to save some money on this. I'm in Arlington if that matters but would drive 20-30 minutes to save $50.

[Anonymous]

$130 seems a bit high for oil change, even if it’s full synthetic. Are they doing more than just oil change? It should be: oil, filter, drain plug and that’s it.

[Anonymous]

I agree, I think we've been over-paying, but I like this shop and it's walking distance so that's what I've been paying because we could afford the extra money. But now I need a better option!

[Anonymous]

"I am not at all mechanical" neither are we and we learned to give our own cars oil changes during covid and still do them. I leaned how to cut DH hair during covid and still do too. We have moved on and have changed breaks and a car radiator, batteries, replaced some switches, worked on the suspension. Keep learning new skills it keeps life interesting and you get a huge sense of pride from taking care of your own stuff and not having to rely on everyone else to do things for you.

[Anonymous]

Give an $50 oil extractor a try. Zero tools and skills required. You just stick it into the dipstick, pump a few times, wait 20 minutes for oil to flow into the extractor and refill with new oil. A child can do it after watching YouTube. You won’t be able to change the filter without lifting your car but the manual calls for a filter change only every other time. So at least you can cut your oil change costs in half.

[Anonymous]

For the DIY, what do you do with the used oil? Will change stations pay you for it, or at least take it for free, or do they not want to deal with small amounts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the DIY, what do you do with the used oil? Will change stations pay you for it, or at least take it for free, or do they not want to deal with small amounts?

It’s a pain to get rid of. My son is a mechanic and he does my oil changes. I think he takes the used oil to Aito Zone and maybe the dump.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the DIY, what do you do with the used oil? Will change stations pay you for it, or at least take it for free, or do they not want to deal with small amounts?

It’s a pain to get rid of. My son is a mechanic and he does my oil changes. I think he takes the used oil to Aito Zone and maybe the dump.

I heard it's often cleaned and reused now, so it's worth something to someone.

I remember poppop cleaning old used motor oil with natural ropes, using them like a wick, and reusing the oil.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I am not at all mechanical" neither are we and we learned to give our own cars oil changes during covid and still do them. I leaned how to cut DH hair during covid and still do too. We have moved on and have changed breaks and a car radiator, batteries, replaced some switches, worked on the suspension. Keep learning new skills it keeps life interesting and you get a huge sense of pride from taking care of your own stuff and not having to rely on everyone else to do things for you.

I’m not interested in risking my life on some shaky car ramps or worse jacks. How are you getting your car lifted?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the DIY, what do you do with the used oil? Will change stations pay you for it, or at least take it for free, or do they not want to deal with small amounts?

It’s a pain to get rid of. My son is a mechanic and he does my oil changes. I think he takes the used oil to Aito Zone and maybe the dump.

I heard it's often cleaned and reused now, so it's worth something to someone.

I remember poppop cleaning old used motor oil with natural ropes, using them like a wick, and reusing the oil.

I think you still have to pay to dispose of used oil.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the DIY, what do you do with the used oil? Will change stations pay you for it, or at least take it for free, or do they not want to deal with small amounts?

It’s a pain to get rid of. My son is a mechanic and he does my oil changes. I think he takes the used oil to Aito Zone and maybe the dump.

I heard it's often cleaned and reused now, so it's worth something to someone.

I remember poppop cleaning old used motor oil with natural ropes, using them like a wick, and reusing the oil.

I think you still have to pay to dispose of used oil.

Nope I’m wrong. County and auto zone take it for free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the DIY, what do you do with the used oil? Will change stations pay you for it, or at least take it for free, or do they not want to deal with small amounts?

It’s a pain to get rid of. My son is a mechanic and he does my oil changes. I think he takes the used oil to Aito Zone and maybe the dump.

I heard it's often cleaned and reused now, so it's worth something to someone.

I remember poppop cleaning old used motor oil with natural ropes, using them like a wick, and reusing the oil.

I think you still have to pay to dispose of used oil.

Nope I’m wrong. County and auto zone take it for free.

Free is at least not paying, but they really should at least pay a little for it.
If people had to pay to get rid of used oil, that would just encourage dumping it on the ground.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"I am not at all mechanical" neither are we and we learned to give our own cars oil changes during covid and still do them. I leaned how to cut DH hair during covid and still do too. We have moved on and have changed breaks and a car radiator, batteries, replaced some switches, worked on the suspension. Keep learning new skills it keeps life interesting and you get a huge sense of pride from taking care of your own stuff and not having to rely on everyone else to do things for you.

I’m not interested in risking my life on some shaky car ramps or worse jacks. How are you getting your car lifted?

DP. I use ramps. They are not shaky at all, where did you get that idea? Still being paranoid about them somehow failing, I also place two jack stands under the car just in case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the DIY, what do you do with the used oil? Will change stations pay you for it, or at least take it for free, or do they not want to deal with small amounts?

It’s a pain to get rid of. My son is a mechanic and he does my oil changes. I think he takes the used oil to Aito Zone and maybe the dump.

I heard it's often cleaned and reused now, so it's worth something to someone.

I remember poppop cleaning old used motor oil with natural ropes, using them like a wick, and reusing the oil.

I think you still have to pay to dispose of used oil.

Nope I’m wrong. County and auto zone take it for free.

PP who said the dump and Auto Zone. He also takes it to the county because he works as a mechanic for the county. You are right that he doesn’t pay and doesn’t get paid for this.

[Anonymous]

AutoZone takes the used oil for free do NOT dump this anywhere