I like changing oil; it’s a good dirty job that needs to be done and doesn’t take long, and I can save a bundle doing it myself. Besides, it’s a good time to check other fluid levels in the vehicle, look at the air filter, and generally ensure I know what’s going on under the hood. (Don’t tell my cars I’m an amateur.)
Here I am changing the oil in the BGF last Saturday. You can tell Ford is not to keen on civilians doing maintenance work on their vehicles; they hid the oil filter in the wheel well. Go figure! It took me twenty minutes to find it the first time. But I foiled their evil plot, the oil has been changed, and everything else looks good. I also changed Dexter’s oil and filter, and I’m ready to change the Jeep’s as soon as I have some daylight without rain. (I love rain, but it’s not a good time to crawl under the car.)
I use synthetic oil. It’s a little pricier, but I like the fact that I only have to change the oil every six months or so–every General Conference–and that means big savings. $29 for oil and filter every six months versus $39 for the same every three months at Jiffy Lube translates into $174 (twice a year for three cars) vs. $468 (four times a year at Jiffy Lube for three cars). Yow. That’s almost $300 savings. I like saving money, especially when it means I can get my hands dirty.
Hey Doug,A couple of tips I found: Wally World usually has the wrong weight of oil for sale for a given season…ie, 0W-30 for sale in the spring/summer, and 20W-50 for sale in the winter. If you don't mind storing it for six months, you can get Mobile 1 for about $20/ 5 quart jug. I usually get 2 or 3 of them, and thats good for two or three cars. Also, a spare piece of carpet, thrown on the ground, helps alot when crawling under a car parked on dirt.
Getting dirty is highly underrated!
)I quite enjoy your musings, Doug.
Thanks, Anonymous. If you look closely in this photo you can see I'm lying on a folded-up cardboard box–a must for working on rocky ground! Thanks for the tip on different oil weights. I've never quite understood that. Does it mean I sould use 0W-30 in the winter, and 20W-50 in the winter?Doug
Hi Doug,You want to use the lighter weight oil in the winter, so 0W-15 or lower would be apropriate here in the winter, and 10W-30 or 20W-50 would be appropriate in the summer (though 20W-50 would be good for driving in areas above 100F). I think Wally World had a deal on Mobile 1 0W-30 this weekend…5qts for $22. Not bad.