Price of oil change
04-06-2007, 06:45 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: 10-06-2006
Location: Delaware Shore
Posts: 162
I've changed my oil myself since day one. For one thing I want to use Mobil 1 synthetic, and if you want synthetic oil, the price goes up to $60 for an oil change, and I'm not willing to spend that much. A 5 quart container and a filter runs me about $28. Much better than 60. As far as the old oil, what I do is drain the oil into a drain pan, add the new oil, then drain the old oil into the container I just emptied and take it to Oreilly Auto for them to recycle. This turns out to be a very clean way to dispose of old oil. Also the HHR is the easiest car I have ever had to change the oil. I don't even have to jack the car up, and the filter is accessed very easily from the top. I understand completely why others don't want to mess with doing an oil change themselves (mess, time, hassle), but this is the only way I will change mine.
04-06-2007, 06:47 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: 07-21-2006
Location: Ft Walton Bch FL
Posts: 1,708
I took mine to the dealer the first oil change because, correct me if I'm wrong, they need to install the nipples to grease the front end. It was about $32. Then I took my other car to Wal-Mart and they wanted $25. I figured getting it done by a trained technician at the dealer was worth the additional cost.
On the second oil change, I also had the tires balanced and rotated. The total cost was $89 and took one hour. At Wal-Mart, the rotation/balancing is free (because I bought the tires there) but it would have taken 3-4 hours. One time the tech at Wal-Mart did not secure the power steering pump cap properly the day before I went on a long trip. It allow the fluid to leak out and ended up damaging the pump. It has made a terrible noise ever since. At least it still works!
I'll chose the dealer any day!
On the second oil change, I also had the tires balanced and rotated. The total cost was $89 and took one hour. At Wal-Mart, the rotation/balancing is free (because I bought the tires there) but it would have taken 3-4 hours. One time the tech at Wal-Mart did not secure the power steering pump cap properly the day before I went on a long trip. It allow the fluid to leak out and ended up damaging the pump. It has made a terrible noise ever since. At least it still works!
I'll chose the dealer any day!
04-06-2007, 06:56 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: 01-20-2006
Location: Centralia, Missouri
Posts: 1,707
But why pay $60 when I can do the same thing for $28, plus I know it is done right, and nothing will be damaged in the procoess. I'm not arguing synthetic vs. fossil. I know the advantages of synthetic, and it is all I will use in the HHR. I was just making the point that I refuse to pay jiffy lube $60 to change my oil.
04-06-2007, 07:27 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: 12-30-2006
Location: Altamonte Springs Fl.
Posts: 225
My dealer gives me free oil and lube for the first year or 12,000 miles.
Cause my dealer loves me. And it was the 8th car I had bought from them since
1983. They missed the 1992 car cause they pi$$ed me off.
Alan
Cause my dealer loves me. And it was the 8th car I had bought from them since
1983. They missed the 1992 car cause they pi$$ed me off.
Alan
04-06-2007, 08:54 PM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: 04-19-2006
Location: Arvada CO
Posts: 5,065
I take mine to the dealer and provide my own Mobil 1 oil in a 5 gal container from Walmart. I pay $20 for them to do it and that includes the labor and filter and the normal check they do when you take the vehicle in for service. To me it's worth not having to do it myself and dispose of the old oil.
04-06-2007, 10:19 PM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: 08-17-2006
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Posts: 1,851
But why pay $60 when I can do the same thing for $28, plus I know it is done right, and nothing will be damaged in the procoess. I'm not arguing synthetic vs. fossil. I know the advantages of synthetic, and it is all I will use in the HHR. I was just making the point that I refuse to pay jiffy lube $60 to change my oil.
What's the sense of getting the oil changed if half a quart or more of the old oil is still in the engine?
04-06-2007, 11:26 PM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: 01-31-2007
Location: New Hampsha
Posts: 2,479
But why pay $60 when I can do the same thing for $28, plus I know it is done right, and nothing will be damaged in the procoess. I'm not arguing synthetic vs. fossil. I know the advantages of synthetic, and it is all I will use in the HHR. I was just making the point that I refuse to pay jiffy lube $60 to change my oil.
Goose