[00 FRONTIER]

Received a holiday oil change special in the mail today for $24.95, but noted that some vehicles are slightly higher. Called the dealer and sure enough the Frontier is $29.95 because they have to charge you that extra $5 for 3/8 of a quart of oil.

Anyway, I was curious and wanted to know what the charged to use synthetic oil. They guy paused and put me on hold to find out, got back on the line and advised me that it was $94.95 for the synthetic. I said sounds like a steal and go ahead and pencil me in for an appt... J/K.

I think I am still in shock. We didnt go in any further detail, but I assume that is for the special Nissan synthetic with gold flakes that increases the fuel mileage by 20 mpg's and the longevity of the engine by 500k miles?

 

[Avplayer]

well it depends....i usaly put in 5 qts of oil at $7 a pop...plus a filter plus the dealer gotta get its cut...there ya go...jsut do it urself

 

[carphreak]

that's not right. the dealer where i go to charges me around 60 bucks for a complete synthetic oil change. yep includes oil filter. new drain plug crush washer and 5 quarts of motul synthetic. and a car wash as well....

 

[00 FRONTIER]

well it depends....i usaly put in 5 qts of oil at $7 a pop...plus a filter plus the dealer gotta get its cut...there ya go...jsut do it urself

Not that I considered it even before I asked, but was just curious.

$95 is outrageous. Figure at most $10 per qt = $50 for oil. $10 for a filter = $60. So they are charging $35 for labor? That means with standard oil changes the oil an filter are free and they are only charging for labor?

Maybe the synthetic requires special handling by a master tech...

$60 seems more reasonable, I still wouldnt pay it but it makes more sense.

 

[Mathster]

I dont know about you guys, but I order a case of filters at a time (nissan got the gen 2 filter right). watch for oil specials online among walmart, kmart, and the national chains, AZ will match them (ask). A 5 quart jug of Castrol Syntec can be had for $20 to $25. Thats a $30 to $35 oil change for the gen 2, a bit less on the Gen 1 truck. An oil change with transmission pan drain and fill with more synthetic fluids is a 1/2 hour of my time. yea, $100 sounds good.

 

[Mylt1]

im in the wrong business.

 

[whitewolf_4x4]

I paid 29.95 for 6 quarts of Mobil 1 fully synthetic from Amazon with free shipping and a $10 MIR. Another 10 for the K&N filter. $0 for labor since I did it myself. So it cost me $30.00 flat and about 30 minutes of my time.

$60 is way to much and someone would have to hold a gun to my head to get $95 out of me for an oil change.

I just checked and unfortunately, Amazon now has the oil for $47 instead of $29.99 with $10 MIR. Amazon.com: Mobil 1 Synthetic 5W-30 Motor Oil - 1 Quart, Pack of 6: Automotive

 

[TheOregonFront]

this is why you NEVER go to a dealer for an oil change, they always stroke you in some way. just DIY man

 

[Mathster]

The $95 oil changes are for the people that have no desire or apptitude to do anything even as technical as an oil change.
On the subject of dealer services. I was in have a TPMS sensor reprogrammed and they asked if I wanted to have the tires filled with Nitrogen for $25. I told them that I already had them filled with a 75% nitrogen mixture.

 

[OkieScot]

I changed my oil for many years, but at 72 I no longer feel like the hassle. what do you guy us do with the old oil you remove from your trucks? The EPA is pretty particular how you dispose of it. Another reason I quit doing my own maintenance.

I check all vitals on my vehicles weekly and add oil, water and air as needed, but beyond that it goes to the dealership. If I have my wife drive it in on ladies day it is $19.95 and if I complain they drop the $5 charge for disposal.

There is just not enough difference between that and what it costs me for the materials to make it worth my time. Also the last time I had it done they let oil drip down on the cross member and did not clean it up so they gave me a free oil change.

My dealer has been fair to me and I have no problem going to them.

 

[00 FRONTIER]

As far as disposing of old oil we have curbside recycling so it you put it in a clear container the recycling people will pick it up along with cardboard, glass, etc.

When I changed the oil in my wifes car I didnt have a clear container so I can either switch it out when I find one or take it to the local parts store where they recycle it.

Gotta love Oregon where everything is green.

I posted on Bob the Oil Guy forum about oil changes and with me liking to do changes every 3k it was recommended for me to stick with dino oil, anything else would be a waste. I'll probably stick with Castrol Synblend at $19 for 5 qts from Wallyworld and a Pureone filter. With the extra 3/8 qt it will probably cost about $35 total.

 

[Mathster]

I take my used oil to work and dump it in one of the 500 gallon tanks we have for waist oil.
I have also found, if you pour the used oil back in the bottle, clean the bottles, put them in a autozone bag with your used filter in the bed of your truck and park in the mall, someone will take care of it for you...
All the local parts houses and walmart will take your used oil.

 

[4x4frontier]

I get my oil change stuff for about $35 at Walmart

Our Republic Services recycling center picks up old oil if left in gallon jugs marked "used motor oil."

 

[Mylt1]

be careful with walmart. make sure you check over there work BEFORE you leave the lot. they left the oil filler cap off the wifes ranger one time. didnt notice it till i was 40 miles away.

 

[4x4frontier]

NO NO NO NO NO!!! I DIY I don't trust ANYONE with my vehicles.

 

[ToddG]

NO NO NO NO NO!!! I DIY I don't trust ANYONE with my vehicles.

I'm with you on that brother!
With the only exception being the dead of winter or if the oil needs changed around the time my inspection is due.

 

[ffips]

....I have also found, if you pour the used oil back in the bottle, clean the bottles, put them in a autozone bag with your used filter in the bed of your truck and park in the mall, someone will take care of it for you....

:laugh: Classic. :laugh:

 

[Jordo]

Well for the first time, last week I paid to get my oil changed. It was a cool set up thoe. You drive your truck into the garage. You stay in your truck, the whole time! I see the computor screen that the tech is useing. It has a check list on it of all the things that he should check, on my modle truck with the miles that I have. So I can see that he did check the brake fluid, or what ever. He didnt just go down the row and check off ever thing, Or I would have seen it. Its great piece of mind!

Also there was somebody down in the pit under where I park in the garage. And the guy who does the filling of the fluids, scans my V.I.N. All the info and specs come up for a 2005 Nissan Crew cab 4X4. So when the guy under my truck asked for the torque speck of the drain bolt I can see on the screen that he is telling him the correct number! Plus I heard his torque wrench click!

So for 100% piece of mind and for $38.00 I will never change my oil ever again!!! I hate the hassle if driving to the auto store look up filter numbers, pay for oil, Drive home, drain out steaming hot oil, burn my hands, splill hot oil on my pants, have no where to go with the hot oil, and end up spilling the rest of it 2 weeks later......all to save $7.50. F that! I'll go back to Vavoline and have them do it!

 

[00 FRONTIER]

Ahhh... Jiffy Lube. I used to work there in high school. Great school job when your 16. We had the check list too and followed it for the most part. Hardbody 4x4's sucked as you had to pull off all the skids to check the front diff and t-case if I remember correctly. I think we got a little lax on those.

Most of the guys there knew what they were doing and if something got messed up Jiffy Lube was good about taking care of it (stripped oil pan bolts, bent hoods, etc). We also got bonuses for selling extra services (air filters, gearbox services, tranny services, radiator flushes, etc)

Now Wally world for an oil change is different. My sister went there and they didnt put enough oil in it and the oil light came on. Took it to a mechanic and there was around a qt of oil in it. Its a good place to buy oil, probably the best as prices are so low. Regular price on Castrol Synblend 5 qt jug is $19.50. Mobil 1 $22 Mobil Clean 5000 $11. Cant beat it. (I was there yesterday for some last minute Christmas stuff, place is always a freakin' zoo)

 

[Sangster]

yep...i get the 5qt jug of Mobil 1 at walmart when it's on sale for $22. Fram Toughguard filter for $5. pop the hood, pull the dipstick, remove the filler cap, slid the oil pan underneath, remove the drain bolt. Head inside to get a snack for a few minutes. come back out, remove the filter, replace the filter with the new one, put the drain plug back on, grab the funnel and dump the 5 qts in, let it settle for a minute or two, check the level, put the cap back on and wipe stuff down.

Mobil 1 synthetic every 7k miles for $27 and 15-20 minutes of my time.

This will cost me a whopping $575 for synthetic oil changes over the course of 150k miles.