Alberto Arguello of Jiffy...
Alberto Arguello of Jiffy Lube at one of the locations that accepts customer requests for special oil or fluids not regularly stocked.
Most people consider themselves very capable of changing their own oil. After all, there's really nothing to it, all you need are common hand tools and a few hours of time. However, if you are doing it just to save a few bucks, then you could be for a real shocker. As we discovered, the money saved is often miniscule, and there's the hassle of oil disposal if you live any distance from a certified dump station.
The DIY Angle
Our research, based on interviews and on-site observations, tells us that the answer as to "why people change their own oil" is not that simple though. Consumers change their own fluids for a number of other acceptable reasons besides money, including having the option to use a particular brand of oil or fluid, or because they view lube shops as prone to mistakes that wouldn't happen at home. There's also the idea that lube shops "up sell" items that aren't needed, which we couldn't confirm or deny, but suspect that there's always a few bad apples in the bunch.
Besides spending a day with...
Besides spending a day with Jiffy Lube, we also followed along as a contractor changed his own oil at home using Shell's Rotella Triple T, to determine which method of maintenance was the cheapest, and easiest.
Many consumers aren't aware that some Jiffy Lube outlets, a national chain of lubrication businesses, allow their customers to bring in any brand of oil or fluid (transmission, etc.) they deem necessary, and charge only a small service fee to complete the job. If you really like Amsoil, Mobil, or Shell performance oil or fluid, and just can't live without it, some lube shops will pour it for you if you bring in the product. That's a plus for performance enthusiasts that don't necessarily like a facility's brand of oil. And, some of the better-known shops can also analyze check engine lights and resolve mechanical problems.
Fram oil filters are by far...
Fram oil filters are by far the most popular brand used by DIYers because of their availability.
We spent time behind the scenes at a Jiffy Lube in Southern California, managed by Alberto Arguello, to watch, learn and listen as his technicians performed typical fluid changes on a series of vehicles, including several one-ton work trucks. We brought Alberto our own complete line of Amsoil products for the engine and transmission. What we discovered is that there's a lot of redundancy in their work, and that every nut and bolt was checked and rechecked. This statement might be true with the other national chains as well. We saw how the Jiffy Lube crew did a complete check of the tire psi, washer fluid level, interior air filter, and battery. As for the "up sell" notion, well we didn't experience it, although they did suggest that we change our dirty engine air filter, which we did.
Top 5 Reasons we Change our Own Oil
1 We're familiar with the brand and viscosity of the oil that's used.
2 We ensure that the oil drain pan bolts are torqued to the proper specs and that gaskets are replaced if needed.
3 We ensure the pan bolts are torqued down and that the gaskets are thoroughly checked for leaks.
4 We always buy a specific type of oil filter and are careful not to over or under tighten it.
5 We triple-check the entire system for leaks after the job's complete.
While all of these reasons are legit, there's one thing for certain, you aren't going to save much money at home, mostly because of the labor and time involved in chasing down the oil and then buying the other products needed to adequately do the job. Moreover, better known lube shops offer workmanship on par or better than home mechanics.
Top 5 Reasons Why we Go to Lube Shops
1 No reason to buy and store equipment or tools.
2 The work is often guaranteed (check with each shop for details).
3 The work can be done in less than an hour.
4 Certain shops offer coupons as discounts (check with each shop for details).
5 Shops have tools and expertise to check for other problems, and can change all the fluids, not just oil.