DIY or Professional Oil Changes?

Getting your oil changed is a major part of car maintenance. Some people just get their oil changed at a trusted shop known for its auto body repair in Visalia, CA, while others are able to do it themselves. The answer to whether you should do it yourself or get a professional to do it depends on your situation. Changing your oil may be both easier and harder to do than you realize.

Labor intensive

Changing automotive oil isn’t a complicated job, but it is a bit involved. You’ll need to find a way to get under your car, then work under there for a bit. It’ll take time for your oil to drain, then you’ll need to get back under there to remove the used oil. There’s also the fact that you’ll need to recycle your old oil. That means pouring it into a bottle for oil and bring it to a local parts store that recycles oil, or to a recycling facility. It’s a process that doesn’t require much mechanical knowledge, but it does require a hefty time investment.

Hidden costs

We just mentioned is the time investment—the length of time you’ll spend changing your own oil is likely much longer than the time you’d spend at an auto body repair shop in Visalia, CA to get your oil changed. There are also hidden costs to changing your own oil. Mechanics at an auto body repair shop in Visalia, CA have plenty of tools at their disposal to speed up their process. You’ll probably need to buy some tools. If you’re planning to change your oil for the foreseeable future, this could be a wise investment. Otherwise, you’ll spend money on a drain pan, some tools to reach the drain plug and filter, rags and a way to lift up your vehicle. Newer cars can also go much longer between oil changes. The flat cost of buying the new tools may ultimately not end up being much less than paying for professional labor.

Look for deals

The cost of just an oil change at an auto body repair shop in Visalia, CA isn’t much more than what you’d pay for the oil for a do-it-yourself job. You also may be able to find some deals on oil changes, which would make the price difference negligible. You’ll want to be careful of upsells or some mechanics who try to get you to make unnecessary repairs during a routine oil change. Just be aware of this and you’ll be fine.

Changing your own oil may save you money over the long haul, but it likely won’t be much. Each and every person is different and may have different reasons for changing their own oil or getting a professional to do it. At Tom’s Body & Paint, Inc., our mechanics are happy to work with you. We’re a well-respected business that specializes in auto body repair in Visalia, CA. If you have any questions, we’ll be more than happy to answer them. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment and get a free estimate.

Categorised in: Auto Body Repair

This post was written by Writer