do you change your own oil?
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From: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
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i'm only 16 and i never changed oil before... my 2003 civic ex is about to reach 3000 miles... i have nobody here to teach me.... all i can learn from is the internet.... should i learn how to do it myself or just go to someone else and have them change it for me?
sources...
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are these sources accurate for a 2003 civic?...
sources...
1
2
are these sources accurate for a 2003 civic?...
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From: San Jose, California, US
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From: Camdenton, MO
Rep Power: 0 heh....i don't think disposing of the used oil is the worst part of a 7th gen oil change. imo, removing the old oil filter the worst part of the oil change. the filter is in the worst possible place. it seems that i can never remove it w/o making a complete mess of the engine/pan, floor, my arm, etc. if anyone has some wonderful tip for cleanly removing the filter, it would be welcome.
-jro
-jro
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From: Texas
Rep Power: 0 Originally posted by mrad55
nope. Luckily for me, i've got a lifetime supply of free oil changes from the honda dealership.
nope. Luckily for me, i've got a lifetime supply of free oil changes from the honda dealership.
now i do however change the oil in my moms ford escort :\
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From: charlotte, North Carolina, US
Rep Power: 0 i don't change my own oil either right now. mine are free along with the maintenance until i hit 30,000 miles. i did change my oil in my previous vehicle and will my civic's once the freebies run out.
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From: Dallas, TX
Rep Power: 0 I used to always change my own oil, but that was back when I owned huge, Detroit-built tanks, like my Olds 88. 
Now, since I would have a great deal of trouble fitting underneath the Honda, I just get the oil changed at the dealer.
Now, since I would have a great deal of trouble fitting underneath the Honda, I just get the oil changed at the dealer.
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Rep Power: 0 Im alwyas doing minor shiet by myself.. Why pay more at the dealer? The dealership charges you a lot, cuz they use HONDA GENUINE filter and labor is a lot, too... Just go to Costco and purchase the right oils and get a filter too... You will save lots of money if you do this...
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From: NY
Rep Power: 0 i'll never take my car back to any shop/dealer to change it. The last time I took my car to a shop, when I decided to change it myself the next time around, I could remove the oil pan bolt with just my fingers.... not good. It's not all that hard to get to the filter. There's enough clearance. It's really quite simple. If you plan on switching to full synthetic oil, I suggest doing it on your own as a shop will rape you on the price.
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From: Houston, TX
Rep Power: 0 The cost of changing your own oil is less than buying an oil change, but it's not much cheaper. It typically costs me > $20 for synthetic oil alone, then factor in about $4-5 for a genuine OEM filter, and another $5 for one of those enviro-friendly disposal buckets. That's over $30 right there for doing it yourself.
The main reason why I do my own oil changes is to make sure it's done right. Guys at the dealership are usually swamped with work to do and there's a lot of pressure on them to do jobs quickly. And when you rush yourself, you're bound to make mistakes.
For those of you having a hard time getting the filter off - the dealership sells an oil filter wrench that fits the small OEM filters snugly. Just use that along with a 14 mm long-handle wrench, and you're set. Position the oil catch bucket right below the drain bolt (remember to account for the fact that the oil will flow out at 30 degree angle at first), and it shouldn't be too messy. If you drain all the oil first, taking the filter off will be easier because there will be less oil spilling out of the filter.
The main reason why I do my own oil changes is to make sure it's done right. Guys at the dealership are usually swamped with work to do and there's a lot of pressure on them to do jobs quickly. And when you rush yourself, you're bound to make mistakes.
For those of you having a hard time getting the filter off - the dealership sells an oil filter wrench that fits the small OEM filters snugly. Just use that along with a 14 mm long-handle wrench, and you're set. Position the oil catch bucket right below the drain bolt (remember to account for the fact that the oil will flow out at 30 degree angle at first), and it shouldn't be too messy. If you drain all the oil first, taking the filter off will be easier because there will be less oil spilling out of the filter.
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From: portland, Indiana, US
Rep Power: 0 Yep - have always done it myself. It cost me only like $11 or so to do my own oil changes and that is with a Honda filter - althought the local dealer that was selling filters for $4.50 jacked up their price so I ordred a bunch from HandA Accessories.
Plus at 69,500 miles I am changing oil every other month sometimes!
Plus at 69,500 miles I am changing oil every other month sometimes!
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From: Queens, New York, US
Rep Power: 337 Well, I do change my own oil and this is my 1st car. The 1st time you take out the filter, you'll definately need the wrench from Honda (standard ones dont fit b/c Honda decided to put a slim 1 in there), or just do what I did, used a standard wrench. Everytime after that, just hand tighten it. I only have a problem spilling the oil when removing the filter is I get impatient and dont let all the oil drain. (I have small arms so reaching fliter is easy). My advice, just jack up the car, get under there and look around with the manual by your side.
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Rep Power: 337 oh, is there an advantage to getting OEM filter? B/c I've been using Penzoil the whole time and it's much cheaper at my local National Wholesale Liquidators.
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From: Houston, TX
Rep Power: 0 Originally posted by CuRiOuSfIsH
oh, is there an advantage to getting OEM filter? B/c I've been using Penzoil the whole time and it's much cheaper at my local National Wholesale Liquidators.
oh, is there an advantage to getting OEM filter? B/c I've been using Penzoil the whole time and it's much cheaper at my local National Wholesale Liquidators.
With non-OEM filters, sometimes the oil filter gasket (black rubber ring seal) stays stuck to the chassis when you remove the filter. If you're not careful and forget to remove this stuck gasket before putting the new filter on, you'll get double-gasketting (I'm sure this isn't a proper English word, btw). If your car is double-gasketted and you drive off, oil will spill EVERYWHERE out of the oil filter onto the ground. Believe me - I found this out the hard way from experience LOL.
I did nothing but oil changes on Hondas for about 3-4 months, and I have never experienced double-gasketting with a Honda OEM filter. Only with non-OEM aftermarket filters.
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From: Houston, TX
Rep Power: 0 I also like using OEM filters, because the Honda oil filter wrench (described in my previous posts) fits the OEM filter perfectly. Non-OEM filters come in all shapes and sizes - sometimes it can be a pain trying to remove them w/o a perfect-fit wrench.
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From: RICMOND, VA
Rep Power: 0 i change my oil and its not that bad, getting to the filter is a little different than most filters. my advice wait about 1 or 2 hours after driving because i change my oil right when i got home and when i got the filter off it slipped and i hit my arm on the exhaust pipe and man that burned like a bitch. other than that everything is basic.
