Oil weights and changing own oil.

[Babe Winkleworm]

I have the space again to start doing my own oil changes again. I am curious why oil weights have changed? It used to be recommended for 10-30 & 10-40w oils in vehicles but now has changed to 5-20w and 5-30w. I am also trying to remember what all I used to check and change...So tell me what's your system?
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[lakefolk]

I take it to the dealer,,, after the cost of parts it's MAYBE 20 bucks more,,
for 20 bucks i aint messing with it........
and they check and fill all the other stuff too and rotate the tires.
That's my system

[BassnPhoenix920]

I take it to the dealer,,, after the cost of parts it's MAYBE 20 bucks more,,
for 20 bucks i aint messing with it........

Same for me

[CatFan]

I’m a way more careful mechanic than the oil change person most places. I never cross thread drain plugs or forget to add new oil.

Lower viscosity reflects engine changes to improve fuel mileage.

[unknown angler]

Oil weights have changed because engines and their tolerances have changed. I have a local small town repair shop change mine, at 65 I'm not crawling underneath vehicles anymore.

[acesover]

I am 70 and change my own, but I use synthetic and change the filter at 7000 miles and add whatever it needs to top it off. Next 7000 gets a complete change with filter.

[PJ-Rohlf]

I’m a way more careful mechanic than the oil change person most places. I never cross thread drain plugs or forget to add new oil.

Lower viscosity reflects engine changes to improve fuel mileage.

I always do the service center at the dealer. Not the independent quick lube down the lane. Like above the price for tire rotation and rest of fluids checked/filled is about a wash with what it costs for the oil and the filter these days.

[unknown angler]

I also got tired of having to take the used oil somewhere to get rid of it.

[DAC244]

I’m a way more careful mechanic than the oil change person most places. I never cross thread drain plugs or forget to add new oil.

Lower viscosity reflects engine changes to improve fuel mileage.

Yep my neighbor just came home the other day from getting is oil changed noticed. A huge puddle under the truck got underneath the drain plug was hand tight.

[CatFan]

I also got tired of having to take the used oil somewhere to get rid of it.

I have a friend who heats his shop with it. I can almost always get free beer or coffee when I drop it off!

[unknown angler]

I would buy the oil at the NAPA store and have to take the used oil to Auto Zone.

[JoshKeller]

In thr summer i run 5 quarts of 5w30 and 2 of 5w20. Winter I switch it to 5 of 5w20 and 2 of 5w30.

I change every 5k miles to make it easy. 50k 55k 60k etc

[juice780]

I used to change my own oil but the truck I have now it’s a pain to get to the filter. I can take it somewhere for the same price or cheaper.

[Quillback]

Used to change mine back in the day, now I don't. When I did it myself, I always used Mobil 1 synthetic. It was $3 and change. Looked at it the other day at Wally World and it was over $10/quart. Son!

[Welaka]

I change my own. My fault I'm sure but do not trust other people. Its either 1/2 quart low or high and never trust that they but the correct oil in. If I could find someplace I trust Id let them do it for sure.

[Dixie-Raven]

I also got tired of having to take the used oil somewhere to get rid of it.

For me dropping off oil at my leisure is easier and more convenient than scheduling an appointment to have it serviced and then wait for the shop to take their sweet time getting it done.

[NAMVET1968]

I take it to the dealer,,, after the cost of parts it's MAYBE 20 bucks more,,
for 20 bucks i aint messing with it........
and they check and fill all the other stuff too and rotate the tires.
That's my system

[Jeff Hahn]

I change my own oil in my 1993 Suburban because I can crawl under it without putting it on a lift. I can run either 5W-30 or 10W-30 conventional oil. Since I couldn't find 5W30 a few oil changes ago and since I don't drive it in the winter, I went with the 10W-30. I also grease the chassis myself, as the oil change guys always miss at least one of the 11 fittings.

[tcesni]

Oil weights have changed because engines and their tolerances have changed. I have a local small town repair shop change mine, at 65 I'm not crawling underneath vehicles anymore.

Ironically at age 65 I've begun to change my own oil and rotate my tires after not doing so for maybe 20 years. Mostly it is for convenience of not having to drive to town and sit around for a couple of hours but also it is to save a few dollars as I see possible retirement in the future and needing to tighten the belt a bit. One exception might be my Mustang, its just a pain to get under that car.

[fishin couillon]

When i was younger, i did my own, but everytime i got under the truck, i'd get vertigo, so eventually stopped doing, it, just bring to dealer.....

There are plenty of places to dump the oil but the problem i ran into was the oil filter.....My local Walmart used to take them but eventually stopped.....now let the dealer take care of that...