Oil Change Tips To Help Save Money And The Environment (PHOTOS)

From Terri Bennett, Founder of DoYourPart.com:

No matter how you look at it, changing your oil is a downright dirty job.

Do Your Part when it's time for your next oil change to make it as clean as can be. You'll also help keep your car running smoothly and spend less money at the gas pump. Here are Terri Bennett's Top 7 Ways to Change Your Oil Change.

Captions courtesy of DoYourPart. All images courtesy of DoYourPart unless otherwise noted.

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Comments

[MSROADKILL612]

10:34 AM on 01/14/2012

I heard u cn run an oil heater on sump oil filtered thru panty hose?

[DonnieSmith7]

08:13 PM on 01/12/2012

This is good tips. Most people do not know that newer cars can run longer than the 3 months or 3000 miles. Even when I have my oil changed, they put next oil change the next service with the 3 months on it. Some of the synthetic claim you can go a year. I am not sure about the oil filter though. It may not make it that long.

[TheOilEvaluator]

01:20 PM on 12/31/2011

Slide 3 is a bit deceiving, although I don't think it is meant to be. The author is referring to Valvoline's NextGen recycled oil products, but she says they perform as well as any synthetic variety. Since these recycled oil products are conventional oil basestocks, this statement contradicts her previous slide which rightly indicates that synthetic oils typically outperform conventional oils.

You can check how various oils compare to each other as far as initial quality by checking their technical specification sheets - or, do it the easy and free way through TheMotorOilEvaluator.com website.

[redraspberry]

09:41 PM on 12/24/2011

And they have a bio degradable oil now too.

http://www.getg.com/

[redraspberry]

09:39 PM on 12/24/2011

I change my own oil. It's too much hassle for me to go to the dealer and I don't trust them anyway.

But a tip for those that diy is to drill a couple of holes in the old filter bottom so all the oil drains out of the old filter.

[hukkahukkabirninglove]

10:54 AM on 12/24/2011

You have to wonder about a "how to" video that says to use jack stands and then doesn't. Those things ain't jackstands. If you don't know what a jackstand looks like, you probably shouldn't be doing an oil change.

For most cars, after the initial break in, use the oil and change interval that the manufacturer suggests. The old 3000 mile thing isn't valid anymore--oil today is so good that it can make 6000 miles without thermal break down or sludge formation. You want to have documentation that you have done the oil changes for warranty work if needed. (Which is why extended oil change intervals with synthetics aren't a good idea until the car is out of warranty.)

And, unless you're shopping the sales for motor oil and filter, have the change done in a shop. If you shop the ads for oil changes, the difference in price is negligible between diy and having the grease monkey do it. And you don't spill oil all over your carport or garage, you don't have to go back to the auto parts store to recycle the oil, and you don't get your hands and clothes dirty.Check the oil level & that the oil cap is installed tightly as you pull out of the shop and have a peak under the car for an oil puddle when you get home. Trust but verify.

[archarabia]

07:19 PM on 12/23/2011

I would add check your tire pressure to help save money on gas. Under inflated tires mean burning more fuel to go the same distance.

Also, what's the difference between synthetic and regular oil?

[Frosted Flake]

07:21 AM on 12/23/2011

The "JACKSTANDS" in the filmclip are NOT jackstands. They are stabilizers for a recreational vehicle or trailer. DO NOT USE stabilizes in place of jackstands.

Point #2/ IF the car is jarred off of the jackstands, or the recreational vehicle stabilizers collapse, you have two tons on your head. SOMEONE ELSE will have to jack the car off of you. If there is no other person, this could be a bad thing.

Point #3/ You gotta do something with the used oil. WHAT will you do? If you have a chainsaw, then used motor oil is good bar oil. Otherwise, it's dump run time. Ka-ching! You didn't save a dime.

Probably better to just go to Jiffy-Lube.

[wsmith3023]

09:48 PM on 12/22/2011

A better idea is to junk that gasoline-powered pollution machine.
It took me 28 years to wean myself off of gasoline, but I saved $100,000 doing it.
I invested that money and the value tripled.
Government studies show that anyone can save a $1000 a year just by learning how to drive safely and economically. By car pooling, I tripled my fuel mileage.
One doesn't have to pay for fuel they don't use.
And the average American wastes 25-40% of the fuel they purchase.
This like buying a gallon of milk and pouring a quart on the livingroom carpet everyday.

[garystartswithg]

09:43 PM on 12/22/2011

9) ditch the car and get a bike.

[Warthog]

05:42 PM on 12/22/2011

Digging a ditch around my house and pouring in the used oil, turning the place into a toxic waste dump. What is worse, carcinogenic soil, carefully controlled and covered, or watching the house tip over from the termite excavations that seem determined into making Grand Canyon, take 2?

[wsmith3023]

09:53 PM on 12/22/2011

You need to dig a deep ditch as petroleum products don't leech into the ground, they rise to the surface. That is if the bacteria doesn't eat it up first.
This is a good thing as we Americans spill millions of gallons of oil, diesel, gasoline and antifreeze onto our roads each year. If it weren't for the rain washing this sludge into the environment often, our roads would be too slick to drive on.
And half of the roads are made of the same stuff they plan to pump through Keystone.

[old soil guy]

02:59 AM on 12/24/2011

Soil bacteria can handle small doses of oil but not a lot. Funny you mentioned roads. When I as in Gainsville FL in the 80's it was hilarious to see so many cars spin out and go in circles on highways when it hadn't rained for a couple weeks. Usually from a stop sign or light turning right or left. That much oil on the road.

[tlpfliger]

05:05 PM on 12/22/2011

health?