Forum Discussion

Effy's avatar
Effy
Explorer II
Feb 26, 2014

changing your own oil - is it worth it?

Since I have owned a MH I have a local dealership do the oil changes. On the Ford v-10 I have them do full synthetic and I get it done @7500 miles. The price is reasonable I think but I do have to drive it in, drive it home etc which can be a bit of a hassle. I have always done the gen set myself since it only takes 1.5 qts. I was wondering, by the time I buy the oil, filter, crawl under and over the engine to change it then figure out some way to dispose of the old oil, is it worth it? I think by the time I buy materials and my own labor I am not certain it’s even worth trying to save what would be about $20-30.00. I am not ill equipped but I am not a shop with a lift either. I don’t do my own truck either. Already figured out that the price I get to get that done with a free rotation in 15 minutes is way more cost effective to have them do it. I do however do my own tractor, simply because the hassle of dragging it somewhere would cost more. Anyway, what’s your thought on doing your own MH?

75 Replies

  • $36.00 at my Ford dealer. Not worth my time to do it myself.
  • Effy's avatar
    Effy
    Explorer II
    dieharder wrote:
    Oil service on both the MH and Genny runs me just about $300 at a garage. Doing it for the first time myself last spring barely broke $100.

    Disposing of the used oil was as easy as driving over to the local oil changers down the street on the way home from my storage.


    That seems really high. I don't think I pay $100.00 I have to pull out a bill but it wasn't a lot of money.
  • It's a dirty, messy job I wouldn't even consider, although many do not just for saving a bit of money, but insuring the job is done right.
  • I always do my own. That way I know it is done right. It also saves me money.
  • Oil service on both the MH and Genny runs me just about $300 at a garage. Doing it for the first time myself last spring barely broke $100.

    Disposing of the used oil was as easy as driving over to the local oil changers down the street on the way home from my storage.