If there’s one area that seems to bring out more comments than any other, it is the subject of oil changes. You would think that at this point in the history of vehicles that there would be no questions about oil changes, wouldn’t you?
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Oil Changes Are Straightforward
After all, what does an oil change take? With a few exceptions, the actual oil change is straightforward; there is little disagreement on the steps needed to do an oil change. By the numbers, the steps for an oil change are:
- 1Find the oil removal plug.
- 2Loosen the plug.
- 3Place a pan underneath the plug to catch the oil.
- 4Remove the removable plub.
- 5Loosen the oil dipstick and oil cover so the oil will flow more quickly; it should take 10 minutes or so.
- 6Find the oil filter, usually located near the oil pan.
- 7Wait until the oil has stopped flowing from the oil drain nozzle.
- 8Loosen the oil filter with a filter or web wrench.
- 9Place the pan under the filter and continue to loosen the filter.
- 10Let the filter drain over the pan, allowing the oil to flow until it stops.
- 11Remove the filter and place it into the collection pan.
- 12Take the replacement oil filter that you obtained when you purchased the oil.
- 13Take some of the dripped oil and lubricate the seal at the top of the filter.
- 14Replace the filter, making sure it is hand-tight, turning it lightly with the web wrench.
- 15Replace the oil that drained from the crankcase; it should between four and five quarts, and check the dipstick level, it should touch the full mark.
- 16Start your vehicle for a moment and turn it off; recheck the oil level, and it should be just touching the lowest mark; the oil refilled the filter.
- 17Refill the crankcase, through the oil cap, quickly until it touches the full mark again – it may take two tries to get it right.
- 18Replace the crankcase cover and retorque any nuts or star connectors that are needed.
It Takes Some Time And These Tools To Do An Oil Change
If you area do-it-yourselfer, the tools you will need are an 11mm socket to loosen the drain plug; a web or oil filter wrench; a ratchet handle; a drill with a number 12 star driver; an oil drain pan to catch the oil, and a funnel.
That’s all there is to it. Honestly, it has probably taken longer to cover the topic in words than it takes in time to accomplish. Putting this into numbers, it takes about 20 minutes for an oil change.
This is the amount of time that flat rate guides have placed on how long an oil change should take. Flat rate guides are the manuals that tell mechanics how long and how much to charge for a particular job. According to the guides, it takes .3 hours, or a third-of-an-hour or 20 minutes to complete an oil change. That figure is about right. So why do some dealerships allot an hour for an oil change? It is quite likely that they do not want to disappoint you and other customers if they go over the 20-minute time limit.
How Long An Oil Change Takes
Depends On Site
Generally, you will also find that quick lube shops like Valvoline will set and take 15 minutes for the change. The reason that quick lube shops like Valvoline are so speedy is simple; it is what they do. You often don’t even have to exit from your vehicle, and you pay right from the driver’s seat.
Perhaps the most realistic appraisal of how much time an oil change takes comes from an advice column published by Axle Advisors. An advice column on the Axle Advisors website says that an oil change can take anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes. The article explains things quite clearly.
Indeed, the Axle Advisor advice goes into minute detail explaining the exact details of an oil change. It is an interesting piece of reading; one that you should refer to if you want as much information about oil changing without going to an owner's manual.
One last note is that an oil change will cost from $29 at one of the quick lube shops, to $49 at a dealership. Though the actual dealer cost is often much more, dealers often use oil changes as a way to encourage their customers to return for this work. It is what is known as a loss-leader to attract the added service work.
Now, in case you a do-it-yourselfer, you will find that this is probably an excellent way to save money. The only costs you will accrue for doing-it-yourself are the values for the oil filter and the oil. Generally, the oil will cost you about $27 for five quarts of Mobil 1, a fully synthetic oil. If your vehicle requires a semi-synthetic, the cost will be $20 for a five-quart bottle. And, if your car needs conventional mineral auto oil, you will find the price is about $16. An oil filter– such as a Purolator 1 – will cost you about $8. Of course, these costs may vary by location so that you may find a difference of up to $5 or so for each category.
No Matter How Long An Oil Change Lasts, It May Still Cost Premium
Still, it is less expensive than a dealership or even a quick lube shop. Remember, that if you do opt for a quick lube shop and you are driving a vehicle that requires fully synthetic oil that you will pay an added surcharge for the higher quality oil.
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