Yikes! The price of an oil change sure did go up.

[canfossi]

I took my jeep in for an oil change today, they charged me $54.00 Canadian for oil/lube and filter. Yikes! Last year it was only $37. I am going to have to learn how to change my own oil. It is hard to do on a 1997 Jeep TJ? I know I have to put 5 litres of oil in the oil reservoir, but do I have to put oil in the new oil filter also before putting it on? Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks Chris

[Michael Kawalek]

Hi Chris
Even the oil itself is going up. Two years ago I was buying oil at 59¢ a bottle. Now its twice or 3X that, but only with a rebate. Retail is almost 3$ per bottle. OUCH! Still, doing it yourself is still cheaper. The first thing you should do is look in your local paper and see who is having a sale on your oil, then stock up with a case or two. A sale on filters would be nice too. You should always replace the filter with each oil change.

Drive your jeep around till it has reached operating temperature, then park it level and shut off the motor. Put a drain pan under the engine and get the oil draining as fast as you can after shutting off the engine. Dirt and metal particle get suspended in the oil while driving, and you want these drained out with the oil before they have a chance to settle. After the oil has started to drain, loosen and remove the oil filter. Sometimes this opens a vacumn and the rest of the engine oil drains faster. Check that the rubber gasket at the open end of the filter hasn't stuck to the engine block. Give the oil 15-30 minutes to drain completely. An added plus is that the engine has cooled a bit and is less dificult to work around.

I usually don't screw on the new filter till after the oil's finished draining and I put the drain plug back in. I like to partially fill the new filter so it isn't dry when the engine starts. I fill it about half full and let the internal paper suck up the oil. If the filter is inverted and it drains out as I screw it on, the new oil simply drains back into the oil pan. Once the required amount of oil has been added, check the dip stick and see if everything looks OK. One final check is to start the engine and quickly check under the car to make sure nothing is leaking. If you see a leak, stop the engine immediately. If everything looks OK then congragulate yourself for a 7$ oil change. Now you can take that waste oil to the recycling center where it can be disposed of properly.
Michael

[n9viw]

If everything looks OK then congragulate yourself for a 7$ oil change. Now you can take that waste oil to the recycling center where it can be disposed of properly.

Wow, where do you find six quarts of oil AND a filter for less than $20?! I wanna move by you!
The two Jeep CJ's and the wife's Jeep XJ Cherokee each take six quarts of oil... how that translates to liters I don't know. The filters are $8-10, and oil of any decent quality is typically $2-3 a quart. I usually buy mine by the gallon if I can, but even then it's $10/gal. I get two gallons, pour in 1.5, and leave the other 1/2 gal in the back of the Jeep just in case.
Also, any place that SELLS oil, whether it be an auto parts store, repair shop or what have you, is REQUIRED BY LAW to also take in used oil. Auto Zone, Pep Boys, Murrays, Advanced, Checker, Carquest, NAPA, etc. all take oil, and are usually less snotty than the places that do oil changes- by changing your own oil, you're "taking away their business."

[MushCreek]

I was shocked the last time I bought oil- $37 for a case of name-brand. I hadn't bought any in a while, since I stocked up on a good deal a few years ago. Talk about sticker shock!

[OntarioMan]

My wife brought her 2006 Pontiac to Costco last week - I think it was $28 Cdn. with tax.

Another bargain is sometimes the dealerships - they'll sell you a package of 5 oil changes for about $100 or so. I suppose their logic is that once you're there, you'll purchase other items or services. If you only get your oil changed, its a decent deal.

My cars/trucks get the $0.99 / litre oil and the cheapo Canadian Tire filters.

[HomeOnTheFarm]

Is your Jeep 4-wheel drive? I know (from experience) that some oil service stations charge extra for changing the oil in a 4wd ($20 in my experience!!!! No up-front notice either.). If so, ask around at some of the smaller shops...they'll usually forgo that crock in order to get your business.

[canfossi]

Thanks, sounds easy enough. When I put on the new oil filter do I need one of those bands that go around the filter to tighten it or just tighten it by hand? Also, are the threads on the new filters the same for most vehilces or specific for each model of vehicle? Thanks Chris

[Cabin Fever]

Their are different filter model numbers for different vehicles...one size definitely does not fit all even if the threads match. You'll need a tool to take the filter off. I use a jaw-type filter wrench on my vehicles (which includes a Jeep Cherokee, 4L six) to remove the filter. I've never had good luck with the band-type filter wrenches. The proper size filter socket works good, too.

[DrippingSprings]

you can go to the website for all major auto parts chains like auto zone advance oreilly napa etc and look up your specific filter. or go inside and theyll do it for you

one of the 3.99 oil filter wrenches that looks like a big socket for your size filter is a good recommendation

if youll check locally youll see that these same companies also offer oil specials.

up until last friday you could get 5 qts of castro gtx any weight and the filter of your choice of fram, fram tough guard, bosch, motocraft, delco stp etc for just 10.99 at auto zone. the oil usually cost about 15 by itself so you could get 22 dollars in oil change stuff for just 10.99.

I think right now it is 5 quarts of oil and a stp filter for 8.99 at auto zone.

[Beeman]

Just me but it sounds like there might have been more done then just an oil change.
Changing your own oil when you can get it done for $10 or so more then the parts cost isn't really worth it unless you know what you're doing and you're set up to do it. In my eyes an oil change includes checks of all fluids and lubing of all moving parts that need lube along with a complete visual inspection of the complete vehicle especially underneath and a check of all lights and all tire pressures including spare.

You're going to have to get the vehicle up in the air to do it properly, be very careful and safe.

[Michael Kawalek]

The key to getting a cheap oil change is watching for sales and using rebates. Last week I bought a case of Chevron 10W-30 for 1.25$. Another shop was selling Purolator oil filters for 2.50$ with a coupon. I don't pay retail unless it's an emergency. Oh, by the way, if using lites, and you have to add 6 quarts to match up, I guess it would be a 10$ oil change. I used to drive a VW rabbit, Ford Ranger, and Saturn sedan. All used a different sized filter, but I noticed that the Ranger filter (PH3600) was the largest, but fit all three vehicles. Assuming the largest filter has the highest filtering capability, I just used that one filter on all my vehicles. Using coupons, I even get my Ford 350 diesel filters for 2-2.50$ They are 15-20$ retail! I buy the coupon limit and shelve them in the garage. They can't go bad.
Michael

[wewantout]

A couple things to remember if you are going to change your own oil. If it is a manual put it in gear, set the parking brake and put blocks behind the wheels. Also before draining pull out your dipstick a little to allow air to enter the crankcase otherwise your oil will drain slower. For the most part oil is oil and filters are filters they have minimum standards that manufacturers have to go by when manufacturing such items.

I noticed you said that when you had your oil changed last year it was $37 dollars. Oil has a life period especially once it enters your engine and gets in contact iwth contaminates such as carbon and fuel. I personally would change my oil more than once a year no matter the mileage on the oil. This is of course negated if you are using synthetic.

For those of you that own 4x4 vehicles please make sur eif they are trying to charge you an extra expense over what the standard oil change is that htye are having to remove a protective pan, brush plate, skid plate or something underneath the engine that is taking them more time. Obviously the advertised special is for normal passenger cars/ light trucks and they are always up to a certain oil capactiy.

Jeep CJ,YJ,TJ and XJ do not have anything that should render a surcharge due to it being 4x4. I am not sure about the Liberty and other Jeep products.

Howdy Y'all
WWO