Is it worth doing your own oil changes to save money?

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May 9, 2025 at 6:05 pm #737 Reply
Christine
My mechanic sent me a receipt for my Ford battery 2020 edge, which included cost for oil as he did an oil change. I saw he paid only $11 for the oil. Which I had paid him $100 for plus $60 labour plus HST.

Now that I know how cheap oil is, I’m thinking to do my own oil changes since dealership and Canadian Tire also charge over $100.

Does anyone do their own oil changes?
May 9, 2025 at 6:05 pm #738 Reply
Derrick
You can absolutely do your own service, but you’re not getting 6 qts of oil for $11. If your Ford requires Synthetic, you will spend that per quart. Then another $10+ for a filter. Still cheaper, but don’t expect an $11 oil change.

I service all my own cars, for the old junkers that use 5 qts of conventional and a cheap filter (I buy bulk packs from a parts store) I spend roughly $35-40 per service.

For my Impala that gets synthetic, I spend about $50-60.
May 9, 2025 at 6:06 pm #739 Reply
Ryan
You can get gold oil for $3-4 a qt on sale or in bulk. Advanced auto just clearance Mobil 1 5 qt jugs for $11. I bought 16. Last year, tractor supply had 5 gallon buckets of oil and hydraulic fluid for $15-20.
May 9, 2025 at 6:06 pm #740 Reply
William
His cost would be $11/L, not $11. Even when ordering in bulk, I’ve never seen quality oil cheaper than $7.50 a litre.
May 9, 2025 at 6:06 pm #741 Reply
Tony
You can absolutely do your own oil change with the right tools and knowledge. A couple things to keep in mind though. You have to find a way to proper dispose of the used oil when you’re done with it. Some parts stores will take it in containers. When you buy oil and filter for your car, you will pay more than $11 since shops buy them in bulk and can discount it.

If you have an extended warranty, you need proof of services performed. You can keep the receipt when buying the oil and filter as proof as long as your warranty accepts that.

If wrong oil is used or improperly performed, the savings will be way lower than the cost of repair needed.
May 9, 2025 at 6:07 pm #742 Reply
Christian
You can absolutely change your own oil, I taught my ex-girlfriend how to do her own, and she says that she still changes it on her own to this day.

Be sure to purchase the correct viscosity and amount of oil, and the correct filter.

Oil changes don’t need a lot of specialty tools, and you’ll need to dispose of the used oil and filter correctly.
May 9, 2025 at 6:08 pm #743 Reply
Mike
Two things:
1: Long gone are the days of $29.95 oil changes. Materials cost more than that, period, nevermind labour and associated expenses.
2: Canadian Tire is not your friend. It’s a large corporate driven business, their interests lie purely in profits, not consumer satisfaction nor anything else. They will charge the absolute maximum the market will bear, period.

The truth hurts sometimes, but it’s still the truth.
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Is it worth doing your own oil changes to save money?

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