Winter oil change.

[Ceiling Cat]

I just flushed and changed the oil on my cars to prepare for winter. I do not merely change the oil. I drained the synthetic oil out of my cars and replaced it with conventional oil without changing the oil filter, then I gave the car a 10 km. run to flush the engine and then drained the oil out. After the flush the engine gets a new oil filter and full synthetic oil change. The engine is the most expensive thing to repair on a car so I keep it in good shape. I keep a record of these super flush oil changes and the sell the car after 5 years privately at full used red book price with no problem. Throw in 4 winter tires on rims and the cars sell in a few days.

I can do a oil flush and then filter and oil change for less than the price it will cost you at a garage or dealer. I just discovered that Costco sells synthetic oil for about $18 a jug, I was buying synthetic oil at $20-22 a jug when it was on sale but now I can have it everyday for even less.

 

[WoodPeckr]

IDK seems like a lot of extra work and expense. Been doing my own oil changes since the 60s when it cost $3.50 for 4 qts of conventional oil and an oil filter every 2000 miles. From the 80s used to do the same every 5000 miles and never had any issues. In the 90s with the onboard vehicle 'oil sensor monitor' that went from 100 to 0 telling you it was time for an oil change, used to go 6000 to 9000 miles sometimes, before oil monitor hit 0 saying it was time for an oil change using conventional oil. Always waited for oil monitor to hit 0, before doing an oil change and NEVER had any issues.

Then semi synthetic and full synthetic oils came along. They promised you could go 10,000 miles or a year between oil changes. At first that was possible. Not so anymore! Seems the oil monitor logarithms have been changed so sometimes even with full synthetic oils required on all new vehicles now, you are lucky to get 5000 miles before monitor goes to 0, indicating it's time for an oil change! A garage or dealer will do it now for 50-85 bucks! Can do it myself for 28. Back in the day a common 350 cu inch engine took 4qts of conventional oil. Now we have these little 3.5 liter engines which equal about 219 cu inches, that require 6 qts of full synthetic oil !!!

Oil changes have become one of the biggest ripoffs we have to suffer through today.
My next vehicle will be an EV which needs NO oil, gasoline or diesel!
Then will happily tell them greedy Texans, oilmen and Arabs to go drink their fricking oil !!!!!!

 

[y2kmark]

Are you going to try those special winter tires with crushed walnut shells in the tread? This is supposed to be a really severe winter coming up...

 

[Ponderling]

Change my own oil. Two hybrids.

Toyota Prius runs mostly on gas so it gets every 10k.

Volt, a plug in hybrid , rarely runs on gas, and counts off 3% of oil life every month whether ICE ran that month or not. So it gets changed when count down get down under 5%.

Change it with cars on ramps in garage when the weather is nice.

Don't mind changing oil, but cold water dripping from chassis is a big turn off to me in that process.

 

[Darts]

Are you going to try those special winter tires with crushed walnut shells in the tread? This is supposed to be a really severe winter coming up...

Toronto winters are fairly "mild" so you really don't need walnuts in your tires. (Heck, I even ride my bike year-round except for the really bad days.)

When I lived in Quebec I installed studded tires. I also kept a pair of chains in the trunk for emergencies.

 

[Mister pantstent]

IMHO, it's a bit overkill. Regular oil changes are enough but if it brings you peace of mind it's all good.

 

[Jenesis]

I do what my mechanic says.

 

[Jenesis]

In my best mechanic voice- "on your knees ma'am".

Need a pipe cleaning I take it???

 

[danmand]

My car only - according to the manufacturer - needs oil changes every 15,000 km.

Because the cost is negligible, I let the dealer do it. Then the dealer uses the correct oil etc, and when I trade the car in (before the warranty expires) I tell the salesman: "you maintained the vehicle to your standards"

 

[Cantaro]

My car only - according to the manufacturer - needs oil changes every 15,000 km.

Because the cost is negligible, I let the dealer do it. Then the dealer uses the correct oil etc, and when I trade the car in (before the warranty expires) I tell the salesman: "you maintained the vehicle to your standards"

Don't they give mileage and time? Some say example 15 K or 6 months?

 

[danmand]

Don't they give mileage and time? Some say example 15 K or 6 months?

no, especially during Covid it is almost once a year.

They do use some special and expensive German oil.

 

[Ceiling Cat]

IDK seems like a lot of extra work and expense.

If I am doing my oil change anyways, how much extra work is it to drain the oil and then fill it an extra time. By rinsing out the old engine oil you start with new oil every oil change instead of 80% new oil. I buy two years supply of oil and filters when it is on special and change the oil every 8000 kms. I keep meticulous records for when I sell the car after 5 years. If you trade in at a dealer you get black book price, I throw in a set of ( used ) winter tires on rims and get near red book price if you sell privately.

Because the cost is negligible, I let the dealer do it.
They do use some special and expensive German oil.

I do not know how much your dealer charges you for an oil change, but it cost $120 for an oil change at my dealer tax in. I can do oil rinse and synthetic oil and filter change for about $50.
Not to mention the saving in time driving to the dealer and waiting for service.

Oil ( synthetic oil included ) is oil, so long as it is manufactured correctly. the manufacturer that makes Costco synthetic oil also makes some of the other big name brands.

 

[Insidious Von]

I always figured you to be a Supergenius Ceiling Cat.

What I'd like to know is: Do you have a hoist? Where do you dispose of the blackened oil?

 

[downbound123]

Are you going to try those special winter tires with crushed walnut shells in the tread? This is supposed to be a really severe winter coming up...

I have had Toyo winter tires (with the crushed walnuts) on my Outback for the last 10 yrs (2 sets over the 10 yrs.) and have to say they perform better than any other winter tire I have ever had. Having said that, the best performing car/tire combo for winter I ever had was my very first car. 1963 VW Beatle with 4 studded tires. With engine sitting over the drive wheels and the studded tires it would go anywhere and I do mean anywhere. It was the basic model, didn't have a gas gauge..had a dip stick to see how much gas was left in the tank but did have a 1 gal reserve tank that you turned a lever to engage. It also a gas heater which actually made the interior almost too warm because there was no temp control on it. It was either on or off. Still miss that car. It was a lot of fun to drive and even when the battery failed you could still start it by pushing it, jump in and pop the clutch.

 

[HEYHEY]

I just flushed and changed the oil on my cars to prepare for winter. I do not merely change the oil. I drained the synthetic oil out of my cars and replaced it with conventional oil without changing the oil filter, then I gave the car a 10 km. run to flush the engine and then drained the oil out. After the flush the engine gets a new oil filter and full synthetic oil change. The engine is the most expensive thing to repair on a car so I keep it in good shape. I keep a record of these super flush oil changes and the sell the car after 5 years privately at full used red book price with no problem. Throw in 4 winter tires on rims and the cars sell in a few days.

I can do a oil flush and then filter and oil change for less than the price it will cost you at a garage or dealer. I just discovered that Costco sells synthetic oil for about $18 a jug, I was buying synthetic oil at $20-22 a jug when it was on sale but now I can have it everyday for even less.

Your plan has one flaw
If you dont remove oil filter old oil stays in there lol

 

[danmand]

I do not know how much your dealer charges you for an oil change, but it cost $120 for an oil change at my dealer tax in. I can do oil rinse and synthetic oil and filter change for about $50.
Not to mention the saving in time driving to the dealer and waiting for service.

Not to mention driving to Costco to buy oil.

Filter, cheap oil, synthetic oil for $50 seems a bit low to me. In any even you do it twice as many times as I have mine changed. I would say the cost is a wash.

I used to enjoy doing car work, but now I only drive cars under warranty and let the dealer take care of the car.

Oil ( synthetic oil included ) is oil, so long as it is manufactured correctly. the manufacturer that makes Costco synthetic oil also makes some of the other big name brands.
Not true, there are many grades of oil. My car needs API SN.

 

[Ceiling Cat]

I always figured you to be a Supergenius Ceiling Cat.
What I'd like to know is: Do you have a hoist? Where do you dispose of the blackened oil?

Do you mean to ask if I have a hydraulic lift to raise the car up to do oil changes and tire changes. No, I do not. I have a hydraulic jack, jack stands, wheel chocks, plastic ramps and a creeper. A set up like this would cost about $300. With two cars it has paid me back many times over in winter / summer tire change overs and oil changes. I save time and bring extra value to my car when I sell it.

I am not sure, but I think there is a law that you can return used oil to any place that sells oil. I dump my used oil at the metal container near the mechanics bays at Canadian Tire.

Your plan has one flaw
If you dont remove oil filter old oil stays in there lol

When I rinse the engine, I do not change the filter. I do change the filter after when I do a full synthetic oil and filter change.

Not to mention driving to Costco to buy oil.
Filter, cheap oil, synthetic oil for $50 seems a bit low to me. In any even you do it twice as many times as I have mine changed. I would say the cost is a wash.
My car needs API SN.

I have to go to Costco anyways, I just have to pick up 4 jugs per car and I am good for 2 years. On special I have seen synthetic oil go for $22-24 a jug. I believe this coming week at Canadian Tire Synthetic Pennzoil is $24.99 and you get a $10 rebate ( $15 per jug ) if you send in your receipt. As far as API SN standards, Costco oil and any big name brand oil meets that standard and exceeds it because it is SN plus.

So when you trade in your car are you happy with black book price or would you prefer red book price that will add 30% to your trade?

 

[danmand]

Do you mean to ask if I have a hydraulic lift to raise the car up to do oil changes and tire changes. No, I do not. I have a hydraulic jack, jack stands, wheel chocks, plastic ramps and a creeper. A set up like this would cost about $300. With two cars it has paid me back many times over in winter / summer tire change overs and oil changes. I save time and bring extra value to my car when I sell it.

I am not sure, but I think there is a law that you can return used oil to any place that sells oil. I dump my used oil at the metal container near the mechanics bays at Canadian Tire.

When I rinse the engine, I do not change the filter. I do change the filter after when I do a full synthetic oil and filter change.

I have to go to Costco anyways, I just have to pick up 4 jugs per car and I am good for 2 years. On special I have seen synthetic oil go for $22-24 a jug. I believe this coming week at Canadian Tire Synthetic Pennzoil is $24.99 and you get a $10 rebate ( $15 per jug ) if you send in your receipt. As far as API SN standards, Costco oil and any big name brand oil meets that standard and exceeds it because it is SN plus.

So when you trade in your car are you happy with black book price or would you prefer red book price that will add 30% to your trade?

I am very pleased with the trade in value I get.

Please, I am not arguing about what you are doing. I used many years ago to take pride in doing my car maintenance myself. I do not anymore find any joy in it, and I have found that it is more economical to replace cars before the warranty runs out.

I would not leave 15,000 km between oil changes, if I planned to keep the car. But the way I do it, I never have any expenses to tires, batteries, brakes and whatever else can wear out or break, and no time wasted on repairs etc. The dealer, from whom I have bought more than a dozen cars, gives me a great deal on a trade in, because he can sell a 3 and 1/2 year old car for good money. And I get to drive a new car with the latest gadgets.

It works for me, probably not for you.

PS: I have several tractor, that I work on.

 

[WoodPeckr]

They do use some special and expensive German oil.
My car needs API SN.

Please, I am not arguing about what you are doing. I used many years ago to take pride in doing my car maintenance myself. I do not anymore find any joy in it, and I have found that it is more economical to replace cars before the warranty runs out.

I would not leave 15,000 km between oil changes, if I planned to keep the car. But the way I do it, I never have any expenses to tires, batteries, brakes and whatever else can wear out or break, and no time wasted on repairs etc. The dealer, from whom I have bought more than a dozen cars, gives me a great deal on a trade in, because he can sell a 3 and 1/2 year old car for good money. And I get to drive a new car with the latest gadgets.

It works for me, probably not for you.

Pretty much do the same. Last 4 vehicles have been leased due to attractive lease deals to date.

My present vehicle needs full synthetic API SN oil also. The full synthetic, API SN Plus oil, I use is domestic so costs less than that German oil you get which cost far more since it comes from Germany and according oil specs is just as good as oil you are required to use.

Also for years did all my own minor and medium maintenance and repairs. Saved a bundle doing this when I owned my vehicles. However I like leasing now since vehicle is always under full warranty and I get a new vehicle before things breakdown and have to be fixed. Always liked getting new vehicles with all the latest gadgets also.

Dealers now give us 1 free oil change and tire rotation, where in the past it was 3 or 4! So I may still do my own oil/filter change for <40 bucks instead of letting the dealer do it for 85 bucks. It's easy as I also have a hydraulic jack, jack stands, wheel chocks, metal ramps and a creeper from many years ago.