Forum menu
Garage are looking at charging me 150 quid for an oil change on each of my cars. Oil and filters can be had for about 100 quid total, and the job looks fairly easy
Do I need any special tools? I’m assuming getting under the car is as simple as jacking it up and putting in a couple of axle stands, but any other precautions I need to be aware of so the car doesn’t fall on top of me? Obviously I’ll have the hand brake on!
Depends on the car I guess, how easy it is to get to the filter.
You might need a new sump plug, chain tool to remove the filter and a suitable container for the old oil.
Usually fairly straight forward.. Any YouTube videos of people doing it on your car?
Nominally it's an easy job but there can be issues. Awkwardly located filters, loads of plastic trim covering the sump. Then you have to catch all the oil without making a mess and take it to the dump. I do our cars but at a £50 saving its a marginal gain. I can do ours without lifting it up so a bit less faff.
150 quid when parts are 100 quid seems like a no brainer .
I do all the filters and the oil at the same time for my 100 quid.
But I do it because I've had bad experiences of me and family/friends being charged for work not done.....
Least if I do it . I know it's done...and I know who to blame if it's done wrong
Definitely easy once you’ve watched a vid. I bought some ramps to do our cars, and I kind of like not paying someone to do it.
but at a £50 saving its a marginal gain
I read it as parts cost @ £100 total for both cars so £200 saving.
I've done it on old cars in the past. Think the only tools I used were an oil filter remover and a spanner for the sump plug.
150 quid when parts are 100 quid seems like a no brainer .<br />
thats 150 quid each, or 100 quid for both diy. I also need to replace the oxygen sensors, so thought that would could be done at same time
quick google suggests however that one of the cars (boxster) is not going to be easy to do without the car on a ramp as the filter is in the middle of the car, so maybe best leaving that to the experts
Other is a Mazda 6. That looks to be fairly easy, Jack up the front, but it looks like I need a tool to replace the old filter
Used to but can't be bothered these days. It shouldn't be hard but there's having a flat piece of ground to do it on, finding a suitable way to jack a modern car up can be difficult, and disposing of the old oil involves a trip to the local tip. For 50 quid more I'd definitely pay someone to.
I reckon you can get that parts cost down. I got 5 litres of correct spec oil for a tenner delivered and a Mann oil filter for £7. One of those oil drain pans/containers is a good idea for easy collecting and taking to the tip.
Obviously make sure the oil is nice and warm before you drain it and if there's an undertray with no access flap, remove it first before you're under the car with a hot engine trying to do it.
The easiest way is to buy a Lidl oil pump that can pump it directly out of the dipstick tube into a container, but that only really helps if you have an oil filter you can access from the tip of the engine.
One of those jobs I always put off doing, but unless the filter is particularly inaccessible, it's pretty straightforward. I can do my Berlingo in about half an hour, including a 10 mum break to let the last drips drain. I don't even bother raising it.
Biggest faff is catching the old oil and disposing of it and cleaning up, particularly if you kick the bucket over or slop it on the floor, which I manage to do almost without fail 🙄
Yeah, dead easy, done mine for years.
Investigate what tool you need for the filter, traditional canisters a strap wrench, but a few these days are just a filter element in a reusable housing, i.e. my Toyota needs a big cup shape tool to take the housing off.
I found the combined oil drain pan and waste containers a disaster....the oil drains out the engine faster than the hole into the container can cope. Not a happy result. I just have an old washing up bowl kept for the purpose, and fill the old empty oil cans with the waste to take to the er, recycling centre.
When was that, 2003?
Cant remember the last time I saw 2 litres for a tenner never mind a whole changes worth.
Anyway, I'd just save yourself the hassle and buy a vac pump from the off. You'll also need the correct tool for the filter and a set of ramps for whatever end needs raised. Halfords do a kit with ramps, chocks, stands, jack and crawl board for a sensible price last I checked. Will cost you the first time but after that it's already bought and paid for. Either that or look at SGS. Some ice hockey pucks are good for putting between the car and the jack, I got mine for £2 each from Puckstop but you could check your local rink/shop.
Boxster oil change is no harder than a ford focus, or indeed, a Mazda 6. Just the engines near the back wheels not the front. Jack and two axle stands, or some plastics ramps will do fine.
(Only thing to watch out for with a Boxster is a pretty large (9litres iirc?) oil capacity which if you've spent the last twenty years draining oil into your trusty 7.5 litre tray causes issues!)
Oil change is fairly easy, trim and undertrays are normally just held on with a few bolts or self tappers.
However, doing it without creating a mess is the trick. I found it got successively easier as I graduated from the stupid Halfords catch can (the one with a shallow drainer in the side that always overflows before it drains into the little hole) to an oil catch bowl (still too small, gets brimmed and then hard to pour into a bottle) to a 25l plastic oil can with a big hole cut in the side that has plenty of capacity and you can still take the cap off to pour it into a bottle!
However make sure you are getting the right oil, read up on the various codes written on the side, especially if any of your cars have a DPF. Don't just get the cheapest 5w30.
Getting the right oil is, absolutely critical, do not listen to anyone who claims that “5w30 is 5w30 innit, all the same".
Especially so with Diesels as mentioned above.
Another reason why Im much happier doing it myself as garages are usually the most guilty of the above!
Those struggling with oil drain pans/containers, are you removing the secondary bung to allow air to escape as the oil flows in? I've never had an issue even dumping 9 litres in one go.
I got my oil from ebay with a 20% off code, but even at the current £12 it's cheap.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/303155212612
Yes, removed the air vent plug, but if the sump drain hole is bigger that the hole into the container....more flow than can drain away. Messy.
Oil changes, oil filter, air filter and fuel filter changes are a simple skill that are IMHO always overcharged and also something you can do at home fairly easily. You only buy tools once and it's a good skill to learn.
Unless you are a hamfisted orc, there is nothing to fear
It's one of those jobs that garages love to do
Takes them 10 minutes , charge for 30mins . Let the apprentice do it .
Don't let it drain fully
Use generic oil that might , or might not be to spec
Don't change the sump washer
You can do a better job at home. It's often much cheaper to invest in a 20ltr drum .
Source a 25ltr placcy jerry can, cut top 1/3 off , keep screw on cap . Make really good catch cans .
Do not drain it on a windy day .
Wear disposable gloves and scruffy clothes.
Old piece of carpet under the car is good for laying on and catching the stray drips. Always replace the crush washer on the sump plug as they are about 20p from Europarts.
Make sure you can reach and grip the oil filter first. I have probably 5 oil filter removers I have had to use over the years with different cars and don't think I have ever had the 'right one' 🙁
You will need a decent Jack, ramps, basic tools, luck not to cover yourself in oil, old clothes etc etc. I used to do it myself but not anymore
<br />If I had an older smaller car I would do it, not a modern one though
agree with the above though that doing it yourself will be a better oil change
I've started doing the Panda's oil changes. Very easy but I can borrow a friends axle stands and trolly jack.
Never go under a car just held up by a single jack.
I've always (>30years) done all our servicing/tinkering/repairs myself on our cars but I'm a tight arse.
Oil changes are easy - Google/YouTube/Haynes manual is your friend.
Peli oil pumps make life easier but you still have to change the filter so don't always mitigate the need for getting under the car.
Beware though - you'll soon find yourself searching for 'spares or repairs' on eBay Motors and the word Bangernomics being in your lexicon.
An oil change isn't generally a difficult job but it's nasty. Even back when I was a povvy student doing 90% of my own car maintenance I did it once and vowed never again. For the cost of paying a friendly local mechanic it just wasn't worth it.
If nothing else, do you have a plan to get rid of the old oil? Is there a recycling centre nearby?
I got 5 litres of correct spec oil for a tenner delivered
What's it running on, Crisp 'n' Dry?
I got 5 litres of correct spec oil for a tenner delivered
There’s not a chance I’d be shoving oil that cost 2 quid a litre into an engine I wanted to stay running.
Surely the dictionary definition of false economy is skimping on the quality of engine oil and running some old chip fat instead? It really isn’t the place to be using ‘stuff I’ve never heard of that I bought off eBay’
I always did oil and filter changes myself on my motorbikes, because it’s easy and everything is accessible. Not a chance on my cars. Why bother with the obvious hassle when you’ve got a garage, with all the equipment to do it, who can sort it for a frankly nominal amount of money and won’t use chip fat
It's a doddle. I baulked at the £130 for an oil change for my Passat. Got the filter, oil and sump plug for half that, broke even when adding the ramps. Just needed a 32mm and 19mm socket. Next time, it's just oil, filter and plug.
I'd love to live in a world where £130 is a nominal amount. The £30 it used to be was, but that's over 20 years ago.
I.fall Squarely into the camp of 'do it myself, because (a) I know it will be right, ans (b) it's only my fault if its not.
That's why I do all my own push bike work.
But... I've got the oil changed at same time as an MOT in the last couple of years. But I went to a place that are using Castrol oils of the correct grade for the car (i've seen the barrel it came out of) and Mann or Bosch filters. The price difference when combined with an MOT is lower overall. And for saving about £50 vs working outside when is piiiishing down in November they can have the hassle of doing it and disposing of the old oil.
£10 for 5 litres... I'd not lube the hinges of the garden gate with that. Castrol Magnatec for a stop-start diesel is at least £10 a litre, and I need 7 litres.
I’d love to live in a world where £130 is a nominal amount. The £30 it used to be was, but that’s over 20 years ago
£130 quid isn’t the nominal amount though, is it? Aren’t we talking 50 quid here?
Decent oil an filter (not chip fat) - 100 quid.
Decent oil an filter (not chip fat) fitted and waste oil disposed of, without having to buy ramps and stuff and fanny around for hours underneath your car when you don’t know what you’re doing - 150 quid.
It’s 50 quid. What?… once a year?
It amazes me that you’ve got a vehicle that’s worth however many thousands of pounds and you’re quibbling over 50 quid over something that’s about as critical as it gets to its longevity
But… I’ve got the oil changed at same time as an MOT in the last couple of years
Yep… could you just give it an oil and filter change while you’ve got it please? Cheers.
For most cars it's an easy job but only as long as you have a decent place to do it and the correct tools. Can do my Fabia in 30 mins easily as it's got the oil filter on top of the engine. Jack up the front on the left hand side, undo sump nut and leave to drain, unscrew the oil filter, switch it out (paper canister that slides on a housing), put new O-ring on, put it back on the housing, refit sump nut with new crush washer (pack of 100 bought for £3), refill oil with 2.4 litres (I have an old Pepsi bottle marked at 1.2 litres), start engine for a few seconds to fill the oil filter. lower car off jack, tidy up tools etc then check oil level and top up if needed. My mum's Note though is a pain as the filter is tucked up behind the chassis rail and there's two undertrays to remove to access the sump nut. Still done in 45 mins though.
Cant remember the last time I saw 2 litres for a tenner never mind a whole changes worth.
Depends on the car and where you shop really. My Fabia uses the specific VW oil and I can get it for £24 for 5 litres from a few different places (usually CarPlan RTEC 16* from Spartan) and that bottle does 2 changes (2.4ltr sump). Bought a few in bulk a few years ago and got the price down to £3.60 a litre, lasted me 4 changes! The oil filter is £3-4 so can do a full change for around £20 once I factor in the gloves and rags, bit of a bargain when everywhere charges £120 or more for it and the oil attracts a surcharge in some too for being a 'special' one.
* has been running on it for 100k (190k currently) and it runs just the same as when it was on the oil used in the Skoda garage. Had the oil analysed prior to the previous service at 170k and it came back as perfectly healthy with no contaminants or signs of excessive wear. Sent off the sample at 9.5k (so just before a service is due) and it came back as 75% of life used, no breakdown of additives, good viscosity and no water mixed in it.
Jack up the front on the left hand side, undo sump nut and leave to drain
I know this should go without saying but, please don't go crawling around under a car which is balanced on a scissor jack. Ramps / axel stands aren't expensive and are generally preferable to your widow cashing in the life insurance.
If you've to ask on here, get someone else to do it.
Why? If you even half knew and/or had the tools (jack, axle-stands etc) you'd already know how to do it and would just Google whatever car you had for any 'oddities'.
It's one of those jobs where you might save £50 out of £150 but you're just as easy to screw it up and cost yourself a packet and/or a load of time.
Example: years ago changing the oil & filter on my motorbike, could not get the filter to budge but manage to bollox it so it was leaking oil. An embarrassing push to the nearest dealer and zero saving...
Try Smith and Allan for oil.
Worth buying the right tools, if you have a dipstick a oil extractor such as a Pela is worth it, then if your oil filter is in the right place you don't even need to go under the car.
Modern cars with electronic dipsticks can get complicated, for example in Volvo VEA engines you also need a code reader/communication device to reset the dipstick max level and be very careful of measuring oil volumes put in. But it sounds like the OPs is relatively simple.
I got 5 litres of correct spec oil for a tenner delivered
What’s it running on, Crisp ‘n’ Dry?
Best thing to do with that is take it straight to recycling centre then go to local auto supplies emporium to buy some Castrol and then do the job.
I thought that so I did a bit of digging.
The Mannol oil is available on Autodoc for £35ish for 5 litres, no idea why it's so cheap on eBay.
Decent oil an filter (not chip fat) – 100 quid.
Decent oil an filter (not chip fat) fitted and waste oil disposed of, without having to buy ramps and stuff and fanny around for hours underneath your car when you don’t know what you’re doing – 150 quid.
You can get 6 litres of premium fully synth oil for under £50. Many modern cars will require half that. Filter is about a tenner. You could spend £100 but you certainly don't need to.
On the tools and stuff I'd half agree. It depends on what you plan on getting out of it. If it's a one off cost saving exercise then I'd be inclined to say it's not worth it. The way I usually look at it, the first time round you might not save money by the time you buy the tools but you'll save money the year after, and the year after that. Also, if you genuinely don't know what you're doing, as simple a job as it is, it can still take a good while, trying to find all the jacking points (especially if you need to transfer from Jack to axle stands), working out how to get to the filter. Once adept you might do it inside 30 mins.
There's also a satisfaction that comes from fixing and maintaining your own stuff.
Put a pair of marigolds on and go and try and turn the filters a few mm. Just a few, if it shows signs of turning, crack on. If it's absolutely stuck solid then have a really good think before investing in the kit. A stuck oil filter is a total saga, doubly so with cold knuckles to scrape.
Iirc I bought a 20ltr of mannol for my Merc at £68.
It's a huge 8.5ltr sump. So not even enough for 3 changes.
I believe , rightly or wrongly, that a cheaper oil that meets MB spec , is of the correct acea code , changed every 10,000 miles is better for a turbo engine than oil costing 3 X as much and changed at 18,000.
Ok so what are the cars? what are the service histories like?
if you've got a full porsche service history theres no point getting you or your back street garage to do it. The paperwork is worth much more.
Whats the spec of the oil. On my last car it would have cost me 350 quid for the oil and filters. BMW wanted 300 to do it and stamp it all up.
That said i change the oil and filter on the wife's golf. it costs 50 quid and i use a pella pump so all dont in 20 mins and no mess.
Modern oil is pretty good, how much do you care? Lots of cars are on 20-25k service intervals.
FlaperonFull Member
Modern oil is pretty good, how much do you care? Lots of cars are on 20-25k service intervals.
and shouldn't be.
I second the recommendations for a vacuum pump. Makes it a very quick and easy job. I didn't believe it would get all the oil out, but I checked and it does.
Get the oil warm, whack the tube in, couple of plunges to start it off and leave it for a few minutes. Easy peasy, and the container seals up so you can take it to the dump easily.
It amazes me that you’ve got a vehicle that’s worth however many thousands of pounds and you’re quibbling over 50 quid over something that’s about as critical as it gets to its longevity
I'm reading it as 2 x £150 for oil change on both at a garage vs £100 to do both at home on the driveway. But still, as the saying goes, "if you can't afford two Porsches, you can't afford one".