Anyone change their own oil?

[wanaride67]

I've been using Grease Monkey for oil changes every 5k miles; full synth oil change runs around $120. This cost, and the oil threads I've seen here, made me wonder how many truck owners change their own oil.

Do you change your own oil?

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[fordtruckman2003]

Many of us do, many of us do not.

No way I'd pay $120 for an oil change that costs me $30 and a little time.

 

[amschind]

Buy a Fumoto or similar valve for the oil drain plug and a short length of tubing as an extension. It makes the whole process far easier. I can complete the whole process in 20 minutes and most of that is removing skid plates.

 

[RcFlyer330]

Yes I change my oil myself. For me its not about saving money. On my old explorer I would use some pretty expencive oils just for fun. But I eventually settled on pensoil platnum because it ran well and kept the engine quieter in the cold winter months.

Now the f150 I just use one brand of oil for now.

 

[Kanuck]

I get the dealer to change oil every 8000 km or 5000 miles. They charge $79.00 for the first one and the second one is free. They use Ford's semi synthetic as well as do a inspection of the truck. I figure easier to fight a warranty claim if dealer has done and recorded all of the oil changes and a inspection report every time. Plus I don't have to dispose of the old oil and filter.

 

[kieefer]

I do and also installed a Fumoto valve - F137N. (Same one I had on my Ranger) I have the FX4 with the skid plates.
On the 3.5 at the oil filter drain trap/tray I attached an inner tube and extended it just outside the skid plate. That’s so oil won’t drip on the plate.
I’ve only done one oil change on my new KR and with the front end raised, by driving up the ramp to my garage, the front drain trap wasn’t used. I’ll keep an eye on that and may do the same.

Makes it easy and less messy.

 

[Dakar09]

I do my own on all of my cars, F150 is the easiest one. No jacking, plenty of room to work in the engine bay. I use the recommended Motorcraft synthetic blend and Wix or Motorcraft filter. All in about $30-40 and 20 min of my time.

 

[Highway 11]

I do my own oil changes. I find it's a nice relaxing activity to take the edge off my day job. Plus I get to make sure everything is done correctly - I drain it for half an hour, fill it to specification with the oil and filter I want, and save a few bucks while I'm at it.

 

[wanaride67]

Great info, thanks!

I recently bought a Ford ESP for my truck (10yr/120kmiles). If I change the oil myself, and later have to file a claim on the ESP, will the dealer give me grief because there is no computerized record of the oil change? (I presume Grease Monkey and other outlets enter their activities in a database because the Carfax report picks them up.)

 

[LN7]

Great info, thanks!

I recently bought a Ford ESP for my truck (10yr/120kmiles). If I change the oil myself, and later have to file a claim on the ESP, will the dealer give me grief because there is no computerized record of the oil change? (I presume Grease Monkey and other outlets enter their activities in a database because the Carfax report picks them up.)

You can add your own service records in the mobile app. It's recommended to keep your receipts for the oil and filters. You can also add your own entries to Carfax.

 

[Bobcatou]

I don't trust lube shops to not mess something up. You know what you are putting in too

 

[oncechance]

Been changing my own oil for many years and hopefully for many more.

 

[Buyer2021]

DIY, I keep a log of maintenance in excel and non-fading PDF scans of materials receipts.

For me it's therapeutic, personally satisfying, gives an excuse / opportunity to look over the truck underside, I know it's done right and have no worries about my ESP. Saves more than a few bucks over the years, too.

I'm 73, it's a life-long habit, hope I'll be able to continue this practice as long as I'm driving.

 

[mkinttrim]

Been doing it since 1972

 

[TexasTruck]

I’ll pile on here… it’s raining this morning… normally I change my own oil. As others have said it’s therapeutic, you know the drain plug isn’t over tighten, the old oil filter gasket came off with the filter, etc. Against my better judgment, I used the “jiffy” change place twice on two different trucks. I was leaving on a road trip and didn’t have enough time to change it myself. Both times resulted in oil leaking at the filter. One time the “tech” didn’t make sure the old gasket came off with the old filter. The second time, I don’t know how you do this, the filter was cross threaded. Fortunately, the threads on the oil filter were softer than the engine. I did wonder about thread material breaking off while the “tech” wrenched on the hand tight filter.

Anyway, that was 20 years ago, perhaps I have trust issues that are getting worse with age. But I will never trust any oil change place again. I wouldn’t even trust them to change the air filter let alone the oil filter.

That reminds me of a simple brake pad change where the “tech” tried to use channel locks to push the caliper piston back into the caliper… but that’s another story…

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