4 ms·

I suggest finding something you like, and do it. I like gardening and cleaning so I do those, but don't like changing oil so I outsource that. I would change my

I suggest finding something you like, and do it. I like gardening and cleaning so I do those, but don't like changing oil so I outsource that. I would change my oil it I could stand up doing it!

xupybd 6y ago
Me too, I've tried explaining this to people. The hard part of an oil change is getting to the oil filter. It's way easier in a pit. You also have to deal with oil disposal and potential spills in the driveway. It makes so much sense to pay someone who is setup to do this. There are specialist oil changers in my town. I drive in an 30 mins later I drive out. Paying about 150% of what it would cost me to do it.
- nicbou 6y ago
  That's why my dad pays someone else to do it, but rebuilds engines in his garage. I only do motorcycle oil changes, but those are easy.
  - mft_ 6y ago
    Fair additional point about having to spend time/mental energy on dealing with the oil disposal. Not a criticism, though - I'm very much in the same 'place' as you - trying to find a better balance of what to do myself vs. outsource... and I fear I often get the balance wrong, on the side of not outsourcing enough. Case in point: I recently changed my GF's car wheels, over to the winter wheel/tyre set. Ahead of time, it's an easy calculation: a few minutes per wheel (I've got good tools including an impact wrench already) saves her a decent amount of money, plus the time to/from/waiting at the garage. But it's easy to underestimate: it may well be 10 minutes-ish per wheel, but this ignores the time spent wrestling the 8 wheels from/to their storage space, plus the relative hassle of having to have somewhere to store them at home. I should have probably not interfered: she'd not really have missed the money, and I could have spent that hour+ doing something more fulfilling (maybe).
    - nicbou 6y ago
      On the other hand, it gets easier after the first time, and you can do it where and when you choose to. I prefer to do some repairs myself, because I don't like waiting for my mechanic. Replacing the brake pads took less time than driving to the mechanic and returning home with public transit. Hell, I spent more time in their waiting room than changing my oil.
- eMSF 6y ago
  >The hard part of an oil change is getting to the oil filter. There's no standard oil filter location; in my car it's at the front of the engine and accessible just by popping the hood and removing the engine cover – no tools required (although a wrench is useful for the filter housing). It's definitely more work to access the oil pan plug, but not so much that I'd rather schedule an appointment somewhere, drive there and wait and drive back (and pay extra for the same oil and filter).
someguydave 6y ago
you could stand up and change the oil if you have access to a car lift

I suggest finding something you like, and do it. I like gardening and cleaning so I do those, but don't like changing oil so I outsource that. I would change my oil it I could stand up doing it!

xupybd 6y ago

Me too, I've tried explaining this to people. The hard part of an oil change is getting to the oil filter. It's way easier in a pit. You also have to deal with oil disposal and potential spills in the driveway. It makes so much sense to pay someone who is setup to do this. There are specialist oil changers in my town. I drive in an 30 mins later I drive out. Paying about 150% of what it would cost me to do it.

nicbou 6y ago
That's why my dad pays someone else to do it, but rebuilds engines in his garage. I only do motorcycle oil changes, but those are easy.
- mft_ 6y ago
  Fair additional point about having to spend time/mental energy on dealing with the oil disposal. Not a criticism, though - I'm very much in the same 'place' as you - trying to find a better balance of what to do myself vs. outsource... and I fear I often get the balance wrong, on the side of not outsourcing enough. Case in point: I recently changed my GF's car wheels, over to the winter wheel/tyre set. Ahead of time, it's an easy calculation: a few minutes per wheel (I've got good tools including an impact wrench already) saves her a decent amount of money, plus the time to/from/waiting at the garage. But it's easy to underestimate: it may well be 10 minutes-ish per wheel, but this ignores the time spent wrestling the 8 wheels from/to their storage space, plus the relative hassle of having to have somewhere to store them at home. I should have probably not interfered: she'd not really have missed the money, and I could have spent that hour+ doing something more fulfilling (maybe).
  - nicbou 6y ago
    On the other hand, it gets easier after the first time, and you can do it where and when you choose to. I prefer to do some repairs myself, because I don't like waiting for my mechanic. Replacing the brake pads took less time than driving to the mechanic and returning home with public transit. Hell, I spent more time in their waiting room than changing my oil.
eMSF 6y ago
>The hard part of an oil change is getting to the oil filter. There's no standard oil filter location; in my car it's at the front of the engine and accessible just by popping the hood and removing the engine cover – no tools required (although a wrench is useful for the filter housing). It's definitely more work to access the oil pan plug, but not so much that I'd rather schedule an appointment somewhere, drive there and wait and drive back (and pay extra for the same oil and filter).

someguydave 6y ago

you could stand up and change the oil if you have access to a car lift