how much do you pay for oil change ?!!!
08-13-09, 06:38 AM
#31
Moderator
You guys make good points on paying someone to do something you can do yourself. However I can cut my grass and change my own oil but I only have so much time to do certain things and can't be everywhere at once without getting behind. Also quality of life plays huge part that I get to use that time wisely for other things such as work around the house, spending time with my son and his sports he plays, time with the wife etc. Also my job consumes a lot of my time along with sitting in freaking traffic five days a week, I'm always on the go so paying people to do certain things works for me not so much for others.
08-15-09, 01:59 PM
#32
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$20 bought Castrol GTX 5w-30 and filter at Advance Auto Parts and changed everything myself.
If you want your oil changed for a low price do it at any gas station. They are usually very good and offer honest low cost service. I talked to a managed of an independent shop and they usually barely make $10 on the service. It is even cheaper if you use their oil because they buy it in bulk and get a discount. Change oil often and you are good to go!
Seriously, these engines have low specific output so oil is not very stressed at all. Don't worry about it. Just change it as frequently as you like: Non-synthetic 3000mi, Synthetic 7500mi. If you choose to get top shelf oil such as Redline or AMSOIL you can go 15K between changes.
If you want your oil changed for a low price do it at any gas station. They are usually very good and offer honest low cost service. I talked to a managed of an independent shop and they usually barely make $10 on the service. It is even cheaper if you use their oil because they buy it in bulk and get a discount. Change oil often and you are good to go!
Seriously, these engines have low specific output so oil is not very stressed at all. Don't worry about it. Just change it as frequently as you like: Non-synthetic 3000mi, Synthetic 7500mi. If you choose to get top shelf oil such as Redline or AMSOIL you can go 15K between changes.
08-15-09, 02:12 PM
#33
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You guys make good points on paying someone to do something you can do yourself. However I can cut my grass and change my own oil but I only have so much time to do certain things and can't be everywhere at once without getting behind. Also quality of life plays huge part that I get to use that time wisely for other things such as work around the house, spending time with my son and his sports he plays, time with the wife etc. Also my job consumes a lot of my time along with sitting in freaking traffic five days a week, I'm always on the go so paying people to do certain things works for me not so much for others.
08-15-09, 03:25 PM
#34
The I don't have time to change my own oil is, I'd bet, incorrect as well. I think it takes me 20-30minutes tops to change the oil in my LS. Living in San Jose is not too bad as they take away motor oil and filters with regular garbage collection. They even give you the jugs and the filter bag. I wonder how long it would take at the dealer. Drive down there, wait in a line for 3 or 4 minutes, tell 'em what you want done, fill out some paperwork, give 'em the keys, go sit down for 25 or 35 or 45 minutes. They come back out, you sign some more paperwork, wait for some clown to drive your car around, get your keys and you're gone. Worse yet, they give you some loaner car. Now ya gotta make another trip back to get your car.
08-15-09, 03:47 PM
#35
Moderator
Statistically speaking, I will assume your overall moving average is 30 miles per hour. Changing your oil every 3000 miles (insane for your car but some people do it) would mean about 20 minutes of work every 100 hours of driving. If you go the extended route and pay a few more dollars, you will only need to spend 20 minutes of changing oil every 500 hours of driving. That is such an insignificant amount of time that you would be better off getting your sons to help you out than wasting extreme amounts of cash at the dealer for insignificant stuff like that. Of course, you can always come to my shop and add the silver lining to my wallet
08-16-09, 08:09 AM
#36
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i only got the oil change at the dealer once and it was way to long of a wait and way to expensive, so campisi is right about this.
the shop on my way home from work does it in about 25 mins (if i call and they say they are not busy), so i sit in their waiting area checking all my emails that accumulate throughout the day (from my g1 phone), pay my $22 and i'm out the door.
you just have to pick and choose what works for you.
i spent a good 3-4 hours yesterday detailing the interior of my car, installing hub centric wheel rings, using never dull to shine up the used rims i purchased last month, and also shining up the tires. all of this after having my car run through an automatic wash the day before... i also waxed & claybared my car (first time on this ls) a couple weeks ago and man that sure ate up a lot of time (like 4 hours) but i think it turned out really nicely so i was pleased, plus the detailer guy said something like $200+ which i wasn't cool with so yeah.
i prefer to do stuff that i want done a certain way and well these things would have cost way to much money to get done by a detailer and i find it fun to be able to look at it afterwards and get satisfaction from a job well done.
on a side note i payed for my engine bay to get detailed last year after doing it myself for 6 years straight. this detail shop up the road from my place said $30 and i figured what the hell. i'd never seen the engine bay so shiny before even after spending an hour of my own time. so this is prolly another job i will add to the list of paying a shop to do, well this particular shop at least. this is no excuse for not keeping it clean afterwards though, just a yearly engine bay detail after winter or something, you know??
i just don't feel the same about oil changes i guess. no satisfaction, i can't see the fruits of my labor. i prefer to pay $22 and wait 25 mins. but i did get a lot of satisfaction from changing out my rotors and pads last spring on my old gs400
its like you could 'literally' feel the difference
the shop on my way home from work does it in about 25 mins (if i call and they say they are not busy), so i sit in their waiting area checking all my emails that accumulate throughout the day (from my g1 phone), pay my $22 and i'm out the door.
you just have to pick and choose what works for you.
i spent a good 3-4 hours yesterday detailing the interior of my car, installing hub centric wheel rings, using never dull to shine up the used rims i purchased last month, and also shining up the tires. all of this after having my car run through an automatic wash the day before... i also waxed & claybared my car (first time on this ls) a couple weeks ago and man that sure ate up a lot of time (like 4 hours) but i think it turned out really nicely so i was pleased, plus the detailer guy said something like $200+ which i wasn't cool with so yeah.
i prefer to do stuff that i want done a certain way and well these things would have cost way to much money to get done by a detailer and i find it fun to be able to look at it afterwards and get satisfaction from a job well done.
on a side note i payed for my engine bay to get detailed last year after doing it myself for 6 years straight. this detail shop up the road from my place said $30 and i figured what the hell. i'd never seen the engine bay so shiny before even after spending an hour of my own time. so this is prolly another job i will add to the list of paying a shop to do, well this particular shop at least. this is no excuse for not keeping it clean afterwards though, just a yearly engine bay detail after winter or something, you know??
i just don't feel the same about oil changes i guess. no satisfaction, i can't see the fruits of my labor. i prefer to pay $22 and wait 25 mins. but i did get a lot of satisfaction from changing out my rotors and pads last spring on my old gs400
its like you could 'literally' feel the difference
Last edited by sojah; 08-16-09 at 08:19 AM.
08-20-09, 07:48 PM
#38
Just payed 50 bucks total for valvoline synthetic at the near by GM quick lube. Coffee cookie chat with the guys and if I get there sat 8 am out the door in 25 minutes. I drive all highway miles change, it at 5-6 k and oil still looks almost clear. I will use less than 1/2 quart. No ramps no oil to dump just alot less hassle for me.
08-22-09, 07:47 PM
#39
1. unfortunately,this is not a dealer, its just auto repairer. That's what I thought at the beginning $100-125 is so $$$. So, I am not going to do it with them. I went to a Toyota dealer, and they will change the oil and oil filter + other services for $51.02 plus tax and disposal.
2. I don't know much about A/C filters. is it the same as the cabin filter or its different?? if its the same, I'm going to get it and replace them by myself but I need to know where do they located. Any idea??
3. the tire rotation, I think Toyota dealer will do it for me with the services or they would charge the amount. I did not ask them yet.
4. I checked and did that before and still not working. As I said only Up and Down are working. To be more clear about this. When I put the gear on "R" Revers, the passenger mirror side tilts to down, but the driver side doesn't. Also, when I put the switch on UP or DOWN and try to move the mirror, it doesn't move. On the other hand, when I put the switch on LEFT or RIGHT, the mirror move left and right.
2. I don't know much about A/C filters. is it the same as the cabin filter or its different?? if its the same, I'm going to get it and replace them by myself but I need to know where do they located. Any idea??
3. the tire rotation, I think Toyota dealer will do it for me with the services or they would charge the amount. I did not ask them yet.
4. I checked and did that before and still not working. As I said only Up and Down are working. To be more clear about this. When I put the gear on "R" Revers, the passenger mirror side tilts to down, but the driver side doesn't. Also, when I put the switch on UP or DOWN and try to move the mirror, it doesn't move. On the other hand, when I put the switch on LEFT or RIGHT, the mirror move left and right.
Marion Toyota Marion Illinois $66 oil change and tire rotation,, plus wash job,, but not towel dry... quick and no appointment needed... have wifi inside, and played with my netbook while waiting for the whole 40 min.
08-23-09, 10:34 PM
#40
Dances with goats
well yeah i always do things with my nephew but he loves it when i work on the car, he gets a cardboard and lays right under the car with me and watches
08-24-09, 05:07 AM
#42
Unless the dealer is 5 minutes away, and the oil change only takes 15 min... I don't see how bringing to a dealer is "saving time" or even saving money for that matter.
I know we're rich people driving the LS and if you like going to the dealer to show off, then admit it... ha ha, no need saying we want to save our time.
Look, to each their own I guess. If it were not for the non DIY people, then dealerships would have no service bays and Jiffy Lube couldn't screw anyone over with their junky oil changes.
I know we're rich people driving the LS and if you like going to the dealer to show off, then admit it...
ha ha, no need saying we want to save our time.Look, to each their own I guess. If it were not for the non DIY people, then dealerships would have no service bays and Jiffy Lube couldn't screw anyone over with their junky oil changes.
08-24-09, 05:15 AM
#43
Moderator
Again my dealer is very close to my job (post #35) so it is not a big deal for me, in the end it comes out to each his own. I can say we all have our own view toward the topic and I ain't mad at no one for it, we agree to disagree.
08-27-09, 07:43 PM
#45
