saving money on oil-oil changes

driftwood · #1 02/06/14, 06:20 PM

I have always used valvoline motor oil........my sil 's dad is a mechanic and he uses napa brand oil that he buys up,when it is on sale.
i have went from 3000 mile oil changes to 5000. any ideas?

do any of u compare and how say between stores.....locally walmart,advance,tsc,,,napa.....

M5farm · #2 02/06/14, 06:25 PM

Dealers buy bulk oil and you can save your jugs a have them fill them for you usually a discount price.

joejeep92 · #3 02/06/14, 09:24 PM

Carquest oil is valvoline in a different bottle. That is what I use. ALso wait for the sales at Advance for the 5 quarts and a filter. Always good deals.

ct01r · #4 02/07/14, 09:58 AM

Check your owner's manual to find out how often to change your oil. 3000 sounds a tad too soon, and you might be wasting money. I've always heard that constantly changing oil brands is bad; some don't mix well with others and will create sludge that's harmful. Any thoughts from mechanics out there? I agree that buying in bulk is a good way to save money. You may not have to wait for a sale, though. I usually buy 2 - 3 cases at a time, and always get a discount just because I ask for it. I do the same with oil filters, too. Curt

Allen W · #5 02/07/14, 10:24 AM

Regular oil changes is the best things you can do to insure an engines longevity, I would think twice before I cut to many corners.

DaleK · #6 02/07/14, 05:24 PM

I use Walmart Tech2000 oil for everything, vehicles, tractors, hydraulics. My bigger tractor takes 35 gallons to change the hydraulic fluid so $48/ pail vs $80 for the others makes a big difference.

plowjockey · #7 02/07/14, 08:44 PM

Oil is oil, IMO, but I do buy Phillips 66 synthetic blend, from Orchelns when it's on sale. Otherwise it's WM, or autozone.

If an engine wore out, it was because of poor design, poor build and/or abuse, more so than oil brand.

driftwood · #8 02/08/14, 05:22 AM

advance auto was even $5 a guart,even in 5quart jug.
tractor supply was $4.48 a quart,no jugs.
walmart was $4.58 a quart,,,,,5 quart jug $16.47...bought two at walmart..

1shotwade · #9 02/08/14, 05:49 AM

I used to work with a guy who's brother worked on the line at Valvoline. They ran 7 different names on the same line plus Valvoline. 8 different products,8 different prices, only difference was the label.
I think this is true except for the big box stored who purchase so much from the manufacturers that the make then cheapen their product. Many times I've heard about taking things like oil filters (say fram) and checking them against the same thing purchased from "pro-shop" type places and they were different.I can't confirm this but that's what people say.
I do know I've had a lot of things I bought from wallyworld (like my reese hitch) that went south in just a little bit. You decide but I'm pretty much convinced.

Wade

fishhead · #10 02/08/14, 08:41 AM

I change my oil every 5-7 K (mostly 5K). When oil is on sale I buy a couple of cases and do my own changes. I've used Havoline for decades.

arnie · #11 02/08/14, 10:16 AM

I find that buying the 5 quart jug of valvoline at Wal-Mart to be my best deal -always change the filter also fram is usally cheep enough . i'v used these mostly ever since the 1970s. i also liked quaker state but don't see it much . the main thing is change your oil and and don't forget the air filter as that's where the dirt gets in. keep it changed getting a couple thousand extra miles out of an oil change is not worth loseing a 100 thousand miles of engine life . i'm from the old school and belive in changing the oil in a brand new engine right away like 500 miles

Jolly · #12 02/08/14, 12:39 PM

More than you will ever want to know about motor oil:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/

po boy · #13 02/08/14, 01:23 PM

Get mine changed every 3000 miles. Cost about 22.00 at Goodyear and includes oil change, filter and tire rotation.

**clovis** · #14 02/08/14, 07:13 PM

I've gotten to the point that I don't change my own oil.

Cost of oil and no-name filter, on sale: $18.00+

Cost of oil change with Valvoline and GM AC Delco filter, with a free car wash at the local GM dealer: $19.99.

Who wants to lay in the driveway under a car for $1.99?

coolrunnin · #15 02/08/14, 09:21 PM

I use synthetic oil in all my engines and never change the oil until the analysis says to.
i have bypass filters on my diesel engines and average 150,000 miles between oil changes
gas engines are running about 22,000.

On a side note air filters don't reach peak efficiency until at least 50% full. New ones actually allow more dirt to enter.

Nimrod · #16 02/09/14, 12:35 AM

I bought 4 cases of oil back when it was on sale for $1 a quart. I have enough oil left to change it one last time this spring. I may not try to find oil on sale and stock up because the dealers and rapid oil change places are pretty cheap. For $30 on sale, I can get an oil and filter change, a lube job, and check and fill the tranny, differential, and transfer case.

joejeep92 · #17 02/09/14, 08:30 AM

Brand wise you are correct it is pretty much a wash. Only one I have had trouble with as a mechanic is Pennzoil. Because of the high sulfur content of the crude from the area it originates from it seems to sludge up quicker. Quaker State is from the same area. I have had an oil pan off a car that wouldn't crank. I stood a screw driver up in the sludge built up in it. She had a book of all her Pennzoil station receipts in the glove box. Another one was a Dodge Dakota with a 3.9 V6. Took the valve cover bolts off and it literally lifted an inch from the sludge built up underneath the cover. Again, book full of receipts from the Pennzoil station. Maybe they have gotten better but based on those two specific instances I stay away from them. Again though it is more important the frequency than the brand. Stay away from cheap filters though. I would rather have crap oil and a good filter than vise versa.

#18 02/09/14, 03:38 PM

The only way I save money on oil changes is performing the labor myself . I use Mobile 1 full synthetic in everything except my 2 cycles , even my briggs & stratton engines . I also buy the best oil filters available .

arnie · #19 02/10/14, 10:58 AM

around here the used motor oil is used to oil chains on the bailer .to pour on cattle rubs and a stripe down a hogs back .painting the legs of a bee gums stand stand helps control invadeing ants a bucket of sand with a gallon of oil added makes a great place to stick a shovel or hoe to oil it up before hanging it up so changing it our selves may save a lot more than 1.99 as we get to use the old oil for many other jobs .and is never wasted

arnie · #20 02/10/14, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clovis

I've gotten to the point that I don't change my own oil.

Cost of oil and no-name filter, on sale: $18.00+

Cost of oil change with Valvoline and GM AC Delco filter, with a free car wash at the local GM dealer: $19.99.

Who wants to lay in the driveway under a car for $1.99?

i'd also recommend keeping a close eye on the person doing that 20 $ oil change and to lay on the drive way and check for leaks . a friend had a motor lock up on the way home from a careless highschooler crossthreading the oil plug bolt and i had a bolt over tightened and leaked lucky i caught it; a loose filter cost my sister a car from a Walmart oil change .so better to double check as in all cases the oil guys strongly denied any wrong doing

. there is no better protection for your expencive engine than good clean oil better not to be penny wise and pound foolish