If you want to change the oil in your vehicle, you might ask, How much does an oil change cost?
Oil change cost depends on different factors, such as your location, the oil used, and many more.
As you read on, you will get the answer to the question – How much does an oil change cost?
We’ll also discuss the factors that impact the oil change cost. After which, we will answer some FAQs on oil change. This includes how often changing oil should take place, the time required to change the oil, and lots more.
Let’s begin!
How Much Does an Oil Change Cost?
Generally, the cost to change oil could be around $20 to $120. The cost depends on the quantity of oil needed, the location, and the type of motor oil used. If you use synthetic oil in your car, it will cost you more to buy, but you’ll save in the long run since synthetic oil lasts longer and doesn’t have to be changed as often.
The cost is not high when compared to the amount you could spend if you overlook routine engine supervision. If you choose to change the oil yourself, the cost would be really low.
Doing this at the right time would reduce your chances of needing major repair later on. View regular oil changes as insurance, saving you from undergoing major engine repairs or replacements.
Also Read: Can You Add Oil to a Hot Engine? (Explained)
Factors That Determine the Cost of Oil Change
1. Type of Motor Oil
The type of oil you use would affect the total cost. Generally, There are 4 oil types you can select from.
Conventional types are the basic type. This is because they are less costly and are made by refining crude oil.
Full synthetic oil uses refined crude oil, which is also distilled and purified. With this foundation, other chemical materials are introduced, like petroleum formulations.
Synthetic oils are said to be man-made lubricant that creates better protection for your engine. Nevertheless, this is the most expensive option. Vehicles with turbo engines and new vehicles gain from these oils the most.
In the synthetic blend oil mixture, the properties of the conventional mixes with the synthetic. Therefore, the formulations create a lot of advantages of synthetic oil, but the cost is not that high.
Lastly, another type of oil used is the high mileage oil which can last about 75,000 miles and more.
Some additives are contained in the formulation to lessen the corrosion and friction. The high mileage oil could be a blend, conventional or synthetic, but it has added features.
2. Size of Engine
The cost of changing the oil also depends on the number of lubricants you need. For example, if your engine is small, you might have to use less oil than a larger engine.
Four cylinders engine will use about 5 quarts of oil. In addition, a 6-cylinder engine sometimes holds about 6 quarts, while an eight-cylinder engine can hold about 8 quarts of oil, based on your type.
Generally, professional change of oil services usually includes about 5 quarts of oil. If your engine requires more, you just have to pay for the extra.
3. Location of Service
Another factor that determines the cost is the location you have the oil change. You can choose to take it to drive-in fast tube locations or an auto shop or do it yourself at home.
The cheapest one is if you decide to do it yourself. Regardless, you need to know how to carry out the task. For this task, you need some necessary materials and tools.
If you have to do it yourself, it is advised to carry out other maintenance simultaneously. And also, don’t forget to replace the oil filter and do a quick inspection of your vehicle to ensure none of the parts or components need to be attended to.
A professional oil change will be more expensive, depending on the area you visit. For example, visiting a local tube station will cost less than visiting a dealership.
Regardless, these technicians have different experiences working on the vehicle. One thing is that they rarely cause other damage.
With this, we can add that before you decide to visit a dealership, ensure you have an agreement that you’re doing so. These oil change services are the most comprehensive oil change service That includes tasks like inspection of tire pressure, brakes check and topping off fluids.
4. Oil Change Intervals
It is necessary to change your vehicle’s oil at the proper interval. Nevertheless, each vehicle has its recommendation depending on the make, model, and year. You could find the one for your vehicle in the manual or talk to the local dealership.
Generally, the intervals are either 7500, 10,000, or 5,000 miles.
The way you drive your vehicle also affects the oil change interval. You will have to change the oil regularly if your engine is not going easy.
In most cases, driving in harsh conditions ( cold or hot), regular idling, and regular towing can result in wear out of your engine. In addition, your vehicle might be misused mostly when in city traffics compared to highway roads.
Adhering to the manufacturers’ recommendations would help you keep your engine running properly. Compared to the conventional oil, the synthetic would last longer, and it would also help protect the motor’s important component.
Regardless of the oil you use, it is necessary to have your oil changed to ensure there’s adequate lubrication for the engine’s internal components. If the components rub against each other, it can produce friction and serious damage. This issue would lead only to expensive bills.
Also Read: Oil Leak After Oil Change (Causes & Solutions)
Is It Okay to Change the Oil by Yourself?
Changing oil is not a difficult task to carry out; you should not have issues doing it on your own.
However, you should do the following to produce a great job:
- Identify the specific parts of the vehicle.
- Have the necessary tools and materials at hand.
If not, you might end up having leakage of oil. You might even damage your engine, leading to a high repair cost.
If you doubt your ability, kindly go to a professional mechanic. They have the experience and the necessary tools needed to do an accurate synthetic or regular change of oil services.
Apart from this, the mechanic can also conduct other maintenance inspections on the car. These inspections include: inspecting the transmission level, checking the wiper blade’s conditions, inspecting the tire rotation and tire pressure, etc.
What Are the Signs That Your Vehicle Requires an Oil Change?
1. Oil Change Light or Check Engine
This is one obvious sign that shows that you have a problem with the oil. The oil light change in the vehicle would come up if you don’t have sufficient oil in your system.
Use your dipstick to examine the oil. In serious cases, the check light would turn on. This is a sign that your engine is at risk of getting damaged due to a lack of lubrication.
2. Engine Knocking and Noise
The oil creates a protective layer between the engine components, preventing metal-to-metal contact and keeping the engine from making noise.
If the oil is not lubricating properly, the noise will increase. In serious situations, you might hear rumbling or knocking sounds that indicate that the engine is tearing apart due to a lack of lubrication.
3. Dirty, Dark Oil
A neat oil has an amber color and is a little bit translucent. Over time, particles are gathered inside, and the oil becomes darker. You might not notice it on time, so you need to be alert and check the oil at least once a month.
To carry out the examination, take a dipstick and clean it before dipping it into the oil tank. After which, you’ll remove it. If you find it difficult to see through the oil, you need to replace it.
4. Oil Smell in Your Car
This can be caused by oil leakage in the car. If you smell things like exhaust fumes or gas, it might be that your vehicle is overheating. Whichever one it is, you must schedule maintenance as soon as possible.
5. Exhaust Smoke
Some vapor is translucent from the vehicle’s tailpipe, but if the vapor turns to Smoke, it’s time to go for an engine check-up. For example, you might have an oil leak or bad engine components.
6. Excessive Mileage
When you have traveled so much in the past month, you should consider changing your oil earlier than scheduled. Though each vehicle is different, you should carry out an oil change every three months or 3,000 miles.
Usually, a new vehicle would require you to change the oil every six months or 6,000 miles. See the owner’s manual for specific directions. High mileage oil is considered for old vehicles.
Also Read: How Much Oil Does My Car Need?
How Do I Change the Oil?
For this section, we will explain the guide on changing your oil. However, please do not try to change your oil without professional help. Even though it’s a straightforward task, it can go wrong.
Oil Change – Step by Step
- Ensure you get everything ready before you start. Park your vehicle on a safe, flat surface, and raise it with a jack if necessary. You don’t have to do this for most vehicles. Turn off the engine and take out the key to ensure someone doesn’t start the vehicle while you are under and there’s no oil in the vehicle.
- Open the cover on the top of your engine. This enables air to pass through and gives room for proper draining.
- Get a pan, and place it under the sump. Use the right tools to take out the sump plug and then the oil. You should be careful not to get oil on your body or spilled. The plug can pump out without warning as you are taking it out. Since the oil will come out with force, ensure you watch out if your plug is on the engine side.
- Watch out for the oil as it’s coming out because the pressure would lessen as the oil keeps coming out, which would reduce the flow rate. If you don’t keep an eye on it, you may have a big oil puddle beneath your vehicle.
- If you’ve almost drained all the oil, rebolt the slump plug. Use a wrench to tighten the plug to the same amount indicated in the manual. This is necessary because over-tightening the slump plug can strip threads off, which you have to thread again, and you might eventually need a new sump plug. And under-tightening can also lead to leakage of oil.
- After which, you leave it under the vehicle and use a funnel to pour the accurate amount of oil through the oil cap.
- To know the amount of oil in the vehicle, use the dipstick. You have nothing to worry about if the oil is between the maximum and minimum mark.
- Then lower your vehicle if you’ve raised it.
- Turn on the engine. It might sound awful at first. This is because there is no oil for lubrication around your engine. As the pump starts to pump oil, the oil would start to flow, and the sound would go to normal in less than 10 seconds. If the sound continues, you must turn off the engine and contact a mechanic for help.
- If everything is in order, you are good to go!
How Much Time Is Required to Change the Oil?
If you are carrying out the conventional or synthetic oil change on your own, the procedure can take up to an hour or more, and this depends on your experience level.
On the other hand, if you take your vehicle to a dealership or professional service center, expect to get either the regular or synthetic oil change in less than one hour, under the condition that you don’t have any other expensive or time-consuming repairs.
Nevertheless, asking for a mobile mechanics service is another option one can go for.
Frequently Asked Questions – How Much Does an Oil Change Cost?
Is it less expensive to change your oil on your own?
Going with what is recommended by the manufacturer, replacing oil at intervals is a good way to ensure the oil is clean and doing its work. However, you will save about $25 to $75 for each oil change if you decide to do it yourself. It also depends on the filter and oil you use.
How much does changing an oil cost in the UK?
In the UK, changing oil costs about £100, but the price could be from £25 to £200 or more.
Is changing an oil worth it?
Changing the oil is one of the less expensive repairs, and it’s worth the investment since it enhances the life of the engine and the car’s economy.
Should the cost of changing oil be $100?
The price of changing oil is between $20-$100 at a lube shop and about $25-$40 if you do it on your own. It is high when it’s a synthetic oil with extra additives to guide the engine.
Why is oil replacement expensive?
This is because of the improvement in onboard technology and engine design. Apart from the high-grade oil that is more expensive, much of it needs to be used to maintain the vehicle properly.
How often should oil be changed?
Normally, you can change your oil every 3,000miles. However, because of lubricants nowadays, manufacturers recommend changing oil at intervals of 5,000 to 7500miles. However, if the engine needs a complete synthetic oil, it might reach 15,000 miles before you service again.
Can I change my motor oil myself?
You need some tools to perform this task, and it’s a good way to save yourself money while simultaneously avoiding the annoyance of sitting and waiting for your oil to be changed.
What does an oil change include?
Oil replacement is when you remove oil from the engine and replace it with new oil. During this process, you must also replace the filter with a new one. The filter and the oil guide your engine. So, changing the oil regularly is one good method of keeping your car healthy.
Conclusion – How Much Does an Oil Change Cost?
Changing oils is not costly, whether you take your car to a shop or do it on your own. Generally, expect to spend up to $20 to $120 to change the oil. The amount depends on the amount of oil required, the location of repair, and the type of oil you use.
The cost of changing your oil will also differ. Again, it depends on the size of your engine, if you want to take your car to a professional mechanic or if you do it on your own for either regular or synthetic oil change.