How much will an oil change cost depends on several factors, and it’s not something you should ever skip. An oil change is a vital part of routine car maintenance. This process involves draining out the used motor oil from the engine and then replacing it with new motor oil. This will keep the car engine running smoothly and prevent any friction in the engine which can cause overheating, which means that an oil change cost is worth it in the long run.
How much does an oil change cost?
The total cost of the entire oil changing process will vary depending on several factors: the type of oil used for the vehicle, the model and type of unit, the driving conditions, and the terrain. However, the overall average oil change cost may vary from $20-85. The labor costs approximately $40-104, and the filter costs around $10.
How often should I get an oil change?
How often you get an oil change depends on your vehicle’s make and model, how often you drive it, and how much mileage your vehicle has. Some newer models of vehicles with low mileage can wait to have an oil change every 5,000 miles. For others, especially those with high mileage, it’s usually best to have the oil changed every 3,000 miles. If, however, you don’t drive your vehicle very often, you’ll need to make sure to get your oil changed every 3 months, even if you don’t reach the 3,000 or 5,000 mile mark.
Your service person can tell you exactly how much will your oil change cost each time and how often your specific vehicle needs to get an oil change. Make sure that they put a sticker on your windshield so that you don’t forget when to bring your car back in for an oil change.
Why get an oil change?
To fully understand the oil change cost and the importance of keeping up with this cost, it might help for you to understand exactly why having a clean lubrication system is so necessary. Generally, the function of the motor oil in the vehicle is to keep the engine well-lubricated and lessen the friction in the engine. So, most drivers know the importance of keeping the oil levels from getting too low. However, just topping off the oil now and then can lead to an engine acquiring rust.
Oil picks up debris as it lubricates the engine, and this dirt from the oil can lead to a rusty engine. A rusty engine doesn’t last as long and runs rough. Dirty oil also produces harsher emissions, which is bad for the environment, and it will affect the gas mileage in your car. Also, getting a regular oil change done means that your lube specialist can catch any other problems that your car might acquire.
How much is an oil change?
Theoil change cost for your car depends on several key factors, like the type of motor oil used, your location, and more.
In this article, we’ll tell you how much an oil change usually is and go over the factors impacting your oil change cost. Then, we’ll answer six oil change FAQs, including how often you should change your oil and how much time an oil change takes.
This Article Contains:
- How Much Is An Oil Change?
- What Factors Impact Your Oil Change Cost?
- 6 Oil Change FAQs
- How Often Should I Change My Car Oil?
- Is It Okay To Do The Oil Change On My Own?
- What Happens During An Oil Change?
- How Much Time Does An Oil Change Take?
- Which Type Of Motor Oil Should I Use In My Car?
- What Are The Different Kinds Of Motor Oil?
Let’s
get started.
An oil change can cost you anywhere between $50 and $200.
For example, the:
- BMW oil change cost is between $135 and $175
- Lexus oil change prices lie between $75 and $180
- Toyota oil change cost is around $50
But why does the oil change price vary so much?
Several factors can affect your car’s oil change price:
What Factors Impact Your Oil Change Cost?
The cost of changing the oil in your car depends on:
- The year, make, and model of your vehicle — for example, the oil change price of the 2020 Acura TLX is naturally higher than that of a 2020 Toyota Corolla.
- Your engine size — for example, changing the oil in a Toyota 1.8L 4-cylinder engine is cheaper than changing the oil in a BMW X6 3L 6-cylinder engine.
- The engine oil type used — for example, synthetic oil commands a higher price than regular or conventional oil.
- The required engine oil viscosity — for example, engine oil 5W40 (with higher viscosity) is less expensive than engine oil 5W30 (with lower viscosity).
- The oil manufacturer — for example, the original BMW Engine Oil 5W30 costs more than an engine oil from a generic brand.
- The quantity of engine oil used — for example, 5 quarts of oil cost less than 8 quarts of oil.
- Your location — for example, in general, an oil change in Los Angeles will be more expensive than an oil change in Phoenix.
- Whether you DIY or take the car to a repair — if you’ve got the right expertise, you can change the oil cheaper than if you were to take the vehicle to a repair shop.
If you’d like a more accurate estimate of the oil change cost for your car, fill this online form.
Now that you know what factors generally influence the oil change price for your vehicle, we’ll answer some of the common questions car owners ask regarding oil change:
6 Oil Change FAQs
Here are answers to six questions car owners frequently ask about an oil change:
1. How Often Should I Change My Car Oil?
Most vehicle manufacturers recommend that you change the engine oil every 5000, 7000, or 10,000 miles.
The intervals vary based on:
- The make, model, and year of your vehicle — newer engines on modern vehicles require oil changes less frequently.
- Your driving habits — if you let the engine idle for too long in stop-and-go traffic or make frequent short-distance trips (under five miles), your car engine may need oil changes in shorter intervals.
- The environmental conditions — driving in extreme weather (hot or cold) conditions increases the oil change frequency.
- Type of motor oil used — while an engine that uses conventional motor oil (or regular oil) requires oil changes every 3500 to 5000 miles, engines using synthetic motor oil require oil changes every 10,000 miles.
2. Is It Okay To Do The Oil Change On My Own?
An oil change is a reasonably straightforward task, so you shouldn’t have much trouble doing it yourself.
However, to do a good job, you should:
- Be able to identify specific parts of your car
- Have the suitable materials and proper tools at hand
Otherwise, you may end up with an oil leak. Or worse, you may damage the engine — resulting in costly repairs.
If you’re not very confident about your ability to do a decent oil change job, it’s best to get in touch with a professional car mechanic. They’d have the right tools and expertise required to do a proper regular or synthetic oil change service.
Besides, you can have the mechanic perform other routine maintenance checks on your vehicle. These checks include looking at your tire pressure and tire rotation, examining the condition of your wiper blades, inspecting your transmission fluid levels, etc.
3. What Happens During An Oil Change?
Here’s what you can expect during a regular or synthetic oil change:
Step 1 — The drain plug under your engine block is removed.
Step 2 — The contaminated engine oil flows out and is collected on a drain pan.
Step 3 — The drain plug is reinstalled.
Step 4 — Your old oil filter is removed and inspected. If the oil filter is damaged, it’s replaced.
Step 5 — The right quantity (for example, 5 quarts) of correct motor oil is added to the engine.
Step 6 — Your engine oil level is checked, and the engine is topped off as needed.
Step 7 — The underside of your car is checked for oil leak symptoms.
4. How Much Time Does An Oil Change Take?
If you’re doing the synthetic or conventional oil change by yourself, the process could easily take over an hour, depending on your level of auto expertise.
On the flip side, if you’re taking the car to a service center or dealership, you can expect to get the synthetic or regular oil change done in under an hour, provided you haven’t got any other time-consuming or costly repairs.
However, a far better option than a DIY or dealership oil change service is to request a mobile mechanic’s service. The mobile mechanic can come to your driveway for the synthetic or conventional oil change service and take care of other auto routine maintenance needs.
5. Which Type Of Motor Oil Should I Use In My Car?
Generally, cars use conventional oil or synthetic oil in their engines.
For the specific requirements of the engine oil to be used in your car, go through your owner’s manual or the website of your vehicle manufacturer.
The owner’s manual would specify:
- The type of oil required
- How much engine oil is needed
- Engine oil viscosity, and more
Alternatively, you may find this info on a label that’s inside the driver’s door jamb.
6. What Are The Different Kinds Of Motor Oil?
There are mainly four kinds of motor oils:
- Conventional oil — made by refining crude oil, the regular oil is less expensive when compared to other motor oils and requires more frequent oil changes.
- Fully synthetic oil — made from refined, distilled, and purified crude oil, the fully synthetic motor oil offers better engine protection than conventional oil (or regular oil) and is more expensive.
- Synthetic blend oil — made by blending conventional engine oil and fully synthetic engine oil, the synthetic blend oil offers better protection than conventional oils but is less expensive than the fully synthetic variants.
- High mileage oil — designed for vehicles that have already covered more than 75,000 miles, the high mileage oil contains additives that help minimize friction and corrosion.
Closing Thoughts
Your oil change cost will differ depending on the engine size, requirements in your owner’s manual, whether you DIY or take your vehicle to certified technicians for a synthetic or regular oil change, and other factors.
If you’re looking for reliable mechanics at affordable prices, look no further than RepairSmith — a convenient mobile auto repair solution. Once you book your repairs with RepairSmith, our certified technicians come to your driveway to perform the oil change and other repair services.
RepairSmith is the easiest way to repair your car. Our ASE-certified technicians deliver quality car repair and maintenance directly to your driveway. We offer upfront pricing, online booking, and a 12-month, 12,000-mile warranty.