Miami Auto Repair & Car Care Specialists

Is It A Good Idea To Change My Own Oil?

Should you change your own oil, or have a professional do it for you?  If you’re an avid DIYer or just looking to be a little more frugal, you may be quick to assume that changing your own oil will save you money. But that may not always be the case. In fact, you’re typically better off bringing your car in for a professional oil change. Here’s why:

Changing Your Own Oil Isn’t Easy

Unless you have a lift to get your car off the ground, changing your own oil will take you much longer than it would a mechanic. Yes, you can use a floor jack for this purpose, but a jack won’t get your car far off the ground. With little room to work with, you might have a hard time seeing what you’re doing and an even harder time removing the drain plug and oil filter.

Making a Mistake Could Cost You More

Even experienced mechanics make mistakes sometimes, but mistakes are rare when you perform oil changes every single day. Unless you’re an experienced mechanic, you’re better off leaving this job to the professionals. Why? Because you might make a mistake that could cost you more than you’d save by changing your own oil. For example, if the filter isn’t sealed properly and you leave your vehicle running, oil will leak out and ruin the engine.

You’ll Pay Retail Price for Oil and Filters

If you plan on changing your own oil, you’ll need to purchase the oil and filter from a local automotive store. This means you’ll be paying a marked up price. Auto repair shops, on the other hand, are able to purchase these items in bulk and get a significant discount for doing so.

Your Time is More Valuable than the Cost of an oil change

When all is said and done, your time is more valuable than the cost of an oil change.Depending on how much experience you have, changing your own oil could take you well over an hour. Your local auto repair shop can get the same job done in less than 20 minutes.

Is it a good idea to change your own oil? The better question here is: why would you want to change your own oil? Taking your vehicle to a professional is convenient, time-saving and mess-free! So if you don’t want to do it yourself, please contact us for a Cheap oil change.

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