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Austin Oil Changes and Your Car- Do It Yourself or Use a Professional? Friends of mine have always told me to learn how to change my own oil in my car. They say “Don’t you want to know how to do things on your own car?” And, “think of all the money you’d save.” So I finally decided they were right, I needed to learn. It took about $12.00 and 30 minutes of my time. Other people, though, decide the time, grime and risk isn’t worth it and opt for going to a professional. We’ll show you how to do both. Changing your own oil
The first thing you’ll need to change your car’s oil is 12 quarts of motor oil and two filters from any automotive store, or perhaps even the local Wal-mart. Be sure to read the manuals so that you can choose the correct filter for your vehicle. Make sure the oil that you buy is API (American Petroleum Institute) certified…beyond that, the brand of oil is not a major concern. Now comes the part you may not like. Put on an old pair of clothing and get underneath your vehicle. (If this is not something you are interested in doing, discontinue now. ) You’ll see a fairly large tank with a bolt protruding from the bottom of it. This is the oil tank. Get a pan that is wide enough to hold 4-5 quarts of liquid and put it under the discharge bolt of the tank. Remove the bolt. If you are having difficulties, use a vise grip. Next drain the oil from the tank. It will flow easily into the pan but make sure to wait until all of the oil is out. Then screw the bolt in, making sure it is tightly gripped. Your not done yet… You need to still find your oil filter, which is usually on one side of your engine. Use a filter wrench (in which you can buy at an automotive store, relatively inexpensive). Rotate the wrench on the filter counter clockwise and remove. Be careful as there will be oil in this filter. Because of this try to pour it inside the pan under the car. Now pour the new oil into the engine. The oil cap is usually well marked and located at the top of the engine. The normal amount is 4-5 quarts, but you may may want to consult your owner’s manual. To ensure you have added the correct amount, check the dipstick Make sure there is no unusual oil drainage coming from the vehicle. Start the engine and repeat this check. It is imperative that you not dispose of the used oil in drains or in environmentally sensitive areas. I recommend you drop off the waste at any auto store or gas station. Optimally, one should change their oil every 3000 miles. Using a Professional If you don’t feel comfortable performing the above procedure, it may be a good idea to use a professional. For a professional to change your oil it usually takes 30-45 minutes (with an appointment) and can run you anywhere from $20-$45. Make sure to research companies before making an appointment. There are an endless amount of “quick lube” stores but they may not be able to service every kind of vehicle. For example, they may not be able to service a 6 cylinder, or perhaps don’t work with certain types of cars (typically this occurs when the parts are difficult or expensive to purchase as with several foreign imports). Back to Transportation Services Main Page What do you think? Our goal is to get more and better information out to Austin residents everyday. We can't improve without your help....Please let us know what you like, dislike and what we could be doing better. Email at feedback@austinsmartconsumer.com
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Austin Price Check! The price of an oil change depends on how many cylinders your car has and where you go to get your oil changed. In general, getting your oil changed at your car dealership will be at least 50% more the cost. In Austin , we found that most oil changes were between $15-$30
at an independent car repair shop, and $50+ at a dealership. 
Did you know? For more long term results, use multigrade oil. 
Austin Money Savers Tip One car repair shop in Austin that I talked to recommended that I go to a local car parts store, buy the filter and bring it in for him to change. This way, it would cost me about half the price. A car filter from a store runs between $5-$10. Privacy / Legal + Disclaimer