DIY Oil Change Deals (Updated 8/5/2012)

I got 10 quarts of mobil 1 EP and 2 filters
thanks op and repped

Tx OP! Stopped at the AutoZone next to the bar I was headed to (GO WINGS!) and picked up 5 Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5W-30 quarts + 1 Mobil 1 oil filter. Guy at the counter was even like, "man, I wish I needed this right now."

REPPED!

I'd suggest you make a wiki post too.

Quote from dttruax : Most newer cars (m.y. 2002 or newer) usually recommend an OCI of between 5000 and 7500 miles. My 2004 Subaru and my wife's 2002 Tundra have OCI's of 7500 but we still change the oil every 5000 unless we use synthetic. Synthetic oils can easily be changed every 7500 or more, especially the Mobile 1 Extended performance. However, even with that you probably don't want to go more than 6 months between oil changes if at least to just give your engine a once over to check everything.

7,500 miles is the sweet spot
In europe they change oil every 10,000 km to 15,000 km
and they drive them harder than in US
Also Europeen car are stronger than US car ( sorry)

Please recycle used oil ( put it back in the new oil cataier and return it)

Quote from BoomSchtick : Don't change your oil at 3,000 miles. It's a waste of money and natural resources. Oil should be changed around 5,000 miles. Don't buy into that crap the oil companies are trying to feed us.

Quote from stufine : to each his own. i get mine changed whenever for 13$ thats the only reason im not a diy anymore. nice post op wife does hers a 3k and the oil always looks good. 5k wouldnt be too bad but in our family just too many do 3k

Agreed, To each his own indeed.

http://neptune.spacebears.com/car...erval.html

If you really want to get strict about the way you do things, I had a better site listing the "realistic" change times. As for me, my car doesnt like 5k at all.... engine and oil hate me both. 3k is what I sit at aswell.... rather save the block than be a few qt's "eco-friendlier".

I will never understand people who put synthetic oil or buy expensive oil filters. As long as you don't drive 10k miles on a single oil change, even the cheapest oil will give you same amount of utility. I say utility, because believe me, the engine in your civic does not care what oil is in there, unless specifically noted. Same goes for the brand of gas you buy.

I have never known anyone who said that their car broke down because of cheap oil or cheap filter. The argument that synthetic oil makes your car use less gas is also taken out of thin air. No, the viscosity is not lower, since both regular and synthetic oils have viscosity numbers that are the same (i.e. 10w30, etc). If you want better gas mileage - lower viscosity oil in your car, but that will have a very slim improvement in mileage, and it may damage your engine.

As an experienced DIY in cars, here is the to-do list to save money on gas:
1. Inflate your tires, put it even a couple psi above, just in case they deflate faster that you check.
2. Make sure your sparkplugs are gapped properly. Do not waste your money on expensive sparkplugs, the ones with 2 or 4 grounding plates, simply make sure they are gapped properly. The expensive ones look good, but for all 4 plates to work, laws of physics would have to be different. If the distance difference is 1 atom, they will always discharge through the closer one. Plus, gas savings are not really there when you compare the cheap and expensive ones.
3. Air filter. Big one here. My local murray's has them on sale sometimes for $.99, so I stocked up on them. The purolators are white so you can even see how much dirt is on them. Simply toss them and put a new one in. Those expensive air hog and other filters are oiled and do not always give a better mileage.
4. This is probably the biggest one and the most overlooked one. Oxygen sensor. Once it goes bad, your mileage will drop by 30%. Change it - and it will pay for itself in one or two gas tanks with the prices today.

I will not even mention things like peaceful driving, slow acceleration and no accelerating towards a red light. My overall conclusion is that while I understand that you love your car and want the best for it, the cheapest maintenence components 98% of the time do a job that is just as good as the expensive stuff. When your mechanic says the car is in excellent shape, don't think that it is because you took a "better" care of it because you used the expensive oil and filter. Most cars on the street are cars in great shape and therefore they are on the road every day

Quote from tstarks420 : Nice post, thanks for all the hard work. Do you happen to know what dates these deals are active for? Are these deals that expire today, or start tomorrow? Thanks!

I updated everything today to reflect the newest ads and sales. Also added the dates (that I could find) that the deals are good for.

Feel free to add/change any deals you find.

Not sure where the oil filter is in your fit, but 4cyl toyota (at least in my 91 corolla, 91 camry & 95 camry had their oil filter in front of the engine, between radiator & engine block, they are so easy to change. But since their filter located in the middle of the engine block, the oil will drip from oil filter to the bottom of the engine once you remove it. I never wait 'til all oil drop from the oil pan and see if the oil in oil filter will empty, but I use engine cleaner to clean them once in a while and never cost me any trouble.

Quote from tedkord : Nice post, OP. I just bought a 5qt container of mobil1 0W/20 No savings for me! My '02 Hyundai Sonata recommends 7500 miles per change. I've been following that, using Mobil1 w/ Mobil1 filters. I'm just nearing 60,000 miles, and I'm going to 5000 miles between from then on (still with the Mobil1) My wife's '07 Honda Fit doesn't have a recommendation - the car tells you when to change the oil. It seems to run about 7500 miles, but is supposedly calculated from mileage, time and driving habits. Ain't technology grand? (BTW, the Fit has one of the best placements of the oil filter for DIYers I've ever seen - it's right there once you get under the car! My Sonata is a real hand killer to get to - plus, it's got bodywork under the filter. When you remove it, the residual oil pours out, hits the body and splitstreams. It can be messy)

Quote from dttruax : I updated everything today to reflect the newest ads and sales. Also added the dates (that I could find) that the deals are good for. Feel free to add/change any deals you find.

Thanks and repped again OP! I have enjoyed reading all of the opinions proffered in this thread, there is nothing like an oil change deal to get all the DIYers out of their garages.

I stick with conventional oil myself, Castrol GTX and GTX High Mileage are my favorites, although I cannot say why. I have read negatives about most of the other major brands, and for the most part, Castrol seems weel regarded.

I try to change at around 3,000 miles, but do often go over that mark. My 2008 GM has a trip computer, and usually it shows me at around 32% oil life remaining by the time I change it. For me, if I don't change the oil (or at least reset the computer) before the oil life meter dips below 10%, it voids the warranty on the car...I will gladly change my oil too often to maintain the warranty.

Thanks OP, ill need to change my oil anyway!

Quote from TheTruthHurts : Thanks OP for all the hard work. It seems it's just easier and about as cheap to take it to Firestone or wherever and use their oil change special coupon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B1hjQqfY_8

I always find that buying the 5qt Mobil 1 jugs in Wal-Mart is cheaper than anything else out there.

Checker, Schuck's, Kragen will do cases of quarts with rebates where the price-per-quart will be well under a dollar. It's usually a combination of coupons for a special price and then the MIR.

Quote from dttruax : I decided to try to compile as many of the DIY oil change deals going on (feel free to add any that I missed). Pep Boys (deals good 6/1-6/7): 5 quarts Castrol GTX conventional oil + Purolator Oil Filter $9.99 after $3 MIR (upgrade to Purolator PureOne oil filter for $2 more) 5 quarts Castrol GTX High Mileage oil + Purolator Oil Filter $10.99 after $5 MIR (again upgrade to Purolator PureOne oil filter for $2 more). 5 quarts Castrol Syntec sythetic oil + Purolator PureOne oil filter $19.99 after $5 MIR There's also a coupon in this week's ad for 2 Fram oil filters for $7. Autozone (Deals good 5/29-6/25): 5 quarts Castrol GTX conventional oil + Bosch oil filter $14.99 5 quarts Castrol GTX High Mileage oil + Bosch oil filter $16.99 5 quarts Castrol Syntec Blended oil + Bosch oil filter $18.99 5 quarts Castrol Syntec Synthetic oil + Bosch oil filter $25.99 *Buy any of these Castrol oil change deals and save $2 when you buy 2 Bosch MicroEdge wiper blades or save $10 when you buy 2 Bosch Excel Plus wiper blades 5 quarts Mobile 1 Synthetic oil + Mobile 1 oil filter $25.99 5 quarts Mobile 1 Extended Performance Synthetic oil + Mobile 1 High Mileage oil filter $29.99 Advance Auto Parts (deals good 6/1-6/28): 1 gallon of Castrol GTX conventional oil $8.98 O'Reilly Auto Parts (deals good 5/14-6/3): 5 quarts O'Reilly conventional oil + MicroGuard oil filter $9.99 5 quarts Castrol GTX conventional oil + MicroGuard oil filter $13.99 5 quarts Royal Purple oil + Wix oil filter $35.99 1 gallon Castrol GTX conventional oil $9.99 1 gallon Castrol GTX High Mileage oil $11.99 *Free Castrol GTX 40th anniversary hat with the purchase of 1 gallon Castrol oil 1 quart Castrol Syntec Synthetic oil $5.19 Found some Valvoline Rebates: $2 MIR when you buy a gallon of Valvoline conventional oil (offer valid through 6/30/08) http://www.oreillyauto.com/EW3/Ge...bates7.pdf 6 quarts of Valvoline DuraBlend Motor Oil for $6 after MIR (offer valid 6/4-7/31) http://www.oreillyauto.com/EW3/Ge...bates6.pdf 6 quarts of Valvoline SynPower synthetic oil for $9 after MIR (offer valid 6/4-7/31) http://www.oreillyauto.com/EW3/Ge...ates11.pdf CSK Auto Parks (Checker's/Schuck's/Kragen's for those of you on the West Coast): Castrol GTX Conventional oil $0.99/quart after $2 MIR* Fram Extra Guard oil filters $3.47 w/coupon Shell conventional oil $0.49/quart after $1 MIR* *A minimum of 6 quarts must be purchased for rebate $15 MIR for 5 quarts Mobile 1 synthetic oil + Mobile 1 oil filter (according to orangespot, this deal AR is $19.99) $3.75 MIR for 5 quarts Mobile 5000 conventional oil + Fram Extra Guard oil filter (I don't know what the final cost of the 2 above deals will be since the rebate form (http://cskautoinc.rebatestatus.co...NtaA4v6mI=) doesn't say and these deals are not in the weekly ad.

Just added some Valvoline Rebates from O'Reilly Auto Parts....