Go Auto Outlet West 780-509-4000 | Go Auto Outlet South 780-986-8778 | Go Auto Outlet Yellowhead 780-733-0030
Go Auto Outlet
Go Auto Outlet
  • Location
  • Call
  • Text
  • Login
  • More
    • Inventory
      • Search Inventory
      • What’s Your Trade Worth
    • Finance
      • Finance Department
      • Credit Application
      • Credit Solutions
      • Loan Calculator
    • Get Approved Today!
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Our Staff
    • Our Blog
    • Career Opportunities
    • Research
      • Go Auto Outlet Buyer’s Guides
      • Go Auto Outlet Buyer’s Tools
    • Text Go Auto Outlet South
    • Text Go Auto Outlet West
    • Text Go Auto Outlet Yellowhead
    • Call Go Auto Outlet South
    • Call Go Auto Outlet West
    • Call Go Auto Outlet Yellowhead
  • Inventory
    • Search Inventory
    • What’s Your Trade Worth
  • Finance
    • Finance Department
    • Credit Application
    • Credit Solutions
    • Loan Calculator
  • Get Approved Today!
  • Why You Should NOT Change Your Own Oil

    old vehicle parked inside a garage

    Oil changes are an easy, quick, and stress-free way to save a couple bucks, right? Think again. In reality, DIY oil changes are dangerous, time-consuming, and you barely save any money! Read on to learn why it pays to have a professional handle oil changes for you.


    Potential Damage

    Damage to your vehicle, and yourself, is the most important thing to consider if you want to change your own oil. Oil changes usually require lifting the car from the ground. Without the proper tools, like lift stands and wheel chocks, it’s extremely dangerous to crawl underneath a raised vehicle. Not to mention, you’re almost sure to collect a few scraped knuckles and forearm burns while you’re down there.  

    Your body isn’t the only thing that’s liable to be damaged! Choosing the wrong oil weight can wreak havoc on your engine, and missed steps can result in the premature death of your vehicle. A missed crush washer or an oil filter screwed too loose could fail within seconds of driving. Trained technicians know all the tricks to prevent these mishaps, and are usually liable for any damage caused by service errors.

    dirty-mechanic-under-car

    Cost

    An oil change at Go Auto Leduc’s Wash N’ Go service shop is a very reasonable $65. Once you’ve bought your own oil and filter, you’ve probably already spent around $30-$40. Hopefully you already have a floor jack, wheel chocks, jack stands, ratchet set, and loads of extra rags. If not, you can expect to spend an additional $300 or more before your first change. Not to mention, you can’t just throw used oil in the garbage. Sometimes there is an environmental fee charged by waste centres who accept disposed oil. It’s a whole lot of work to change your oil for miniscule savings.

    oil-spill-clearnup

     

    Time

    If time is money, then you’re better off mowing lawns than changing your own oil. First, you’ll have to find out what oil your vehicle takes…somehow. Once that’s settled, take a trip to your local Canadian Tire for lubricant. Synthetic or conventional? How high-mileage does a car need to be before needing high-mileage oil? If you’re feeling lost in the sea of options, you could always just ask an always-knowledgeable and always-locateable Canadian Tire employee.

    Assuming you haven’t given up yet, now it’s time for the acutal  oil change. Warming, jacking, securing, draining, removing, replacing, refilling, and lowering are all part of the process. And you’re done! That is, assuming you have an EcoStation-approved oil receptacle nearby. If not, start looking for a location where you can legally dispose of your used oil. Pro Tip: they’re usually on the outskirts of town. As you can see, changing your oil ends up being far more work than you may initially expect.

    motor-oil-shelf

    Save yourself the hassle, and let a pro take care of your oil changes. You can book an oil change appointment at our service garage, and spend all the time you saved reading other maintenance articles.

    Posted on December 18, 2018 Categories: How-to, Maintenance, Tips
    Categories
    • About the Dealer
    • Alberta
    • Appraisal
    • BDC
    • Brands
    • Canadian Black Book
    • Certified Vehicles
    • Credit
    • Customer Service
    • Dodge
    • Events
    • Featured Vehicles
    • Financing
    • Ford
    • Go Auto Outlet South
    • Go Auto Outlet West
    • Go Finance
    • How-to
    • Leasing
    • Maintenance
    • Must See and Must Do
    • Park N' Ride
    • Promotions
    • Purchasing
    • Sedans
    • Service
    • Shopping
    • Test Driving
    • Tips
    • Trucks
    • Used cars
    • Value vehicles
    • Wash and Go
    • Wash N' Go
    Recent Posts
    • What is Canadian Black Book?
    • Best Used Cars in Alberta
    • Why You Should NOT Change Your Own Oil
    • Go Auto Outlet Brand Spotlight: Volkswagen
    • Go Auto Outlet Brand Spotlight: Dodge
    Recent Comments
      Need More Info? We’re Here to Help!

      Department

      • Sales
      • Find A Vehicle
      • Search Inventory
      • Sell Us Your Vehicle
      • Trade-In Your Vehicle
      • Book Your Appraisal
      • Finance
      • Finance a Vehicle
      • About Go Auto Outlet
      • Why Buy At Go Auto Outlet?
      • Careers
      • Our Staff
      • Go Card
      • Hours & Location
      • Contact Us
      West
      780-509-4000
      South
      780-986-8778
      Yellowhead
      780-733-0030
      Follow Us
      Go Auto Outlet West

      17860 102 Ave
      Edmonton, AB
      T5S 1M9

      Go Auto Outlet South

      6615 Sparrow Dr
      Leduc, AB
      T9E 7L1

      Go Auto Outlet Yellowhead

      13072 Yellowhead Trail
      Edmonton, AB
      T5L 3C1

      Go Auto Logo

      | A Go Auto Dealership

      Go Auto Outlet West

      17860 102 Ave
      Edmonton, AB
      T5S 1M9

      Go Auto Outlet South

      6615 Sparrow Dr
      Leduc, AB
      T9E 7L1

      Go Auto Outlet Yellowhead

      13072 Yellowhead Trail
      Edmonton, AB
      T5L 3C1

      Go Auto Logo

      | A Go Auto Dealership

      Terms Privacy Contact HideView Disclaimers & Conditions
      *Where a photo is identified as a stock photo, the vehicle may not be exactly as shown. Stock photos may not reflect the vehicle’s exact colour, trim, options or other specifications. Please contact the dealership for verification or if you would like more information on this vehicle. *Prices for the provinces of Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia include dealer-installed accessories, optional equipment physically attached to the vehicle, transportation charges, taxes (other than GST/HST) and any applicable administration fees, but do not include GST/HST, insurance or licensing fees. For all other provinces (excluding Quebec), prices exclude taxes, insurance, licensing and other applicable fees. Price may not include dealer-installed options, accessories, administration fees, and other dealer charges. *All prices are in Canadian Dollars unless otherwise stated. *The Payment Calculator is for comparison purposes only and is based on the vehicle price, the entered term in months, the entered percentage rate and any other fields you are prompted to enter. Taxes, insurance, and licensing fees are additional. All financing is OAC. Please contact our dealership for more information.
      © Go Auto 2020
      Text Us