aklim

Don't spoil the fantasy.

aklim

IDK. Whatever the hourly rate is, if it does take the time, I got no issue.

Maybe. I tend to look at gift horses in the mouth and ask how they do it do cheap. I have known many independent shops to use cheaper parts. Hourly rate should not be that different but half the price, I usually can't afford it that cheap. Usually when I do, I find out why I should have paid more up front and less in the back end.

aklim

I get Walmart to do the oil changes. Dispose the oil is the least fun, if there is any, of the job. Like I said, by the time I add in all the additional time, it isn't worth it. Under $30 to change with T6 Rotella 5W40 and I buy it from the store floor. No mess and I drive off. No cleaning up. No disposal of oil, no going out to buy the oil and filter.

For the fuel filter, I do it on the street so it doesn't spill on my driveway or garage if there is any.

Ralphp

I took all my Corvettes to the local dealer. I've used AAA auto repair shop for my other cars. No complaints about either one of them.

c8nukeZ51

Do it yourself. Then you know it's done right.
Amazon can deliver right to you door .
you'll need 2 (5 quart jugs) Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5-30w (approx $55)
and a filter Moblie1 M1-113 or similar (Approx $15)

And with Z51 make sure you use full synthetic

F4Gary

"done at"?

*89x2*

Grammatically incorrect.

aklim

That is what is often said. Not always true but often said. I have spilled both fresh and waste oil (at my expense), broken stuff incidentally or at least knocked them loose, etc. Nobody is perfect and I can't guarantee that any job I do is going to go as planned. I can guarantee that I will make it right in the end. Or I can watch you and make sure you get it right without actually getting my hands dirty, lay on the cold floor, etc.

True but you still have to do the job. That means you have to have a warn enough place, not everyone has a bay or lift. You have to spend the time to clean things up, assuming normal messes and no unplanned messes. You also have to gather the oil and dispose of it and the filter since we can't do it on a backroad and leave the mess there.

Elk

It is a simple oil change, not brain surgery.

aklim

Mercedes is a simple oil change. You suck it from the top and never have to get under. The C7 cannot do that. I tried to get the oil out via the dipstick but I got a quart out at most. It isn't difficult. It does include having to do all the cleaning up. I take it to WalMart and $20 plus supplies which I have to pay for. Why not? Just having to dispose of the oil without spilling would be worth the $20 some dollars.

Elk

I change the oil in my Z06 in about fifteen minutes on Race Ramps. Quick, easy, and probably faster than you can drive to WalMart.

But everyone should do whatever works for them. I suggest only not pretending it is difficult to change a C7's oil.

aklim

Don't cheat. Time it from start to finish which includes getting the supplies all the way to disposing the oil and cleaning up all the mess. Go get the oil, bring your ramps to the spot, warm up the car and get it onto the ramps, drain the oil, fill the oil and dispose of the oil and filter at the dump. Assuming the dump isn't like mine which is open 1700-1900 on Thursday and 0800-1200 on Saturday. Any other time and you have to make a special trip on those times.

I don't say it is difficult or needs a PhD in physics. It is just time and effort consuming. Why am I wasting my time and getting dirty to save under $30 for the labor? I drive it to WalMart, watch them do it in AC environment and pay them when it is done and drive home with my office or home clothes and hands still clean. After watching them, I do my shopping, load stuff in the car and go home less than 15 minutes away.

iclick

For me there's always been something sacred about changing my own oil, as well as most other repair and routine maintenance chores. If I do it it'll be done right, or at least my way. However, I'm just cheap enough (barely) to bite on any offer for free oil changes, so for my last three Vettes I've let a dealer do the freebies. This applies if I can pick a dealer and tech that I can trust. Even though there are several Chevy dealerships within spitting distance I drive 70 miles round trip to a dealer who emphasizes Corvette sales and service. I also specify a tech that they willingly provide.

When the freebies run out, which they did three years ago on my GS, I use my QuickJack and DIY. Even at 74-YO I can still tool around on a creeper and turn a wrench without too many aches and pains. My big issue with DIY oil changes is that there seems to be no way of doing the job without spilling something on the garage floor, but even that aggravation doesn't persuade me to take the car elsewhere. I also DIY on my truck and lawn equipment.

BTW, for the past 5-6 years I've taken advantage of the Mobil1 rebates and can do the entire job for about $35 including a synthetic-media oil filter. I've been using a PF64 up until now but in March my GS's powertrain warranty expires and I will move to a synthetic oil filter (Fram XG12060).

lakemg

You’ve missed the main point of changing it yourself. It’s not about saving labor or money on the oil/filter. The benefit is knowing that the job was done properly. I honestly wouldn’t let Walmart change the oil in my riding mower, but it’s your car so if you’re comfortable with it, that’s all that matters.

Elk

No cheating here, 15 to 20 minutes tops.

Nothing to gather; the oil and filter is in the garage a few steps away from the car. Grab the tools I know I need, and off we go. There is no mess to clean up, I do not drain the oil onto the floor.

A paper shop towel is all that is needed to wipe off the drain plugs. The oil catch can has a spot to place the oil filter. The filter will be drained by the time the new oil is in the engine. Pop it into the box the new filter came in and toss it.

The only thing I can do differently than many others is I use the waste oil so I need not take it anywhere.

It is cheaper, satisfying, done right. I also perform maintenance on my BMW, Ducatis, brush mower, ATV, etc. None are difficult to take care of.

Changing oil on these cars is not much more complicated than opening a can of soup and heating it up.

rkhegler

At home, by me.

aklim

I guess. I just haven't found what is sacred about oil changes and I have done many for all my vehicles. I haven't found out what is sacred about getting diesel oil on my hands either. I just watch whomever so I know how it is done.

THAT is my issue. I have dogs so I have to get the floor spotless and more important, free of anything toxic so it isn't just a wipe up and go away. Now I have to clean up the mess with brake cleaner. Coolant spill and I am washing the entire floor and driveway. Diesel oil and it is a long night. Not to mention laundering my dirty work clothes separately. I once assured the wife that nothing could go wrong washing it together. Well, her white dress became my new floor rag and worse, I never heard the end of it.

aklim

I don't turn over the keys and walk away. I get a cold beverage and supervise. My benefit is I don't have to lay on a cold floor or a dirty one and do wash up later on.

aklim

Again, never said it was complicated. Just messy. I don't use waste oil so either I throw it down the drain or I take it somewhere. You have a cop neighbor and these days, with the cell phone cameras, well.....I have to do the trike because it is easier to do it than to take it somewhere further. UTV I have to strap down on a trailer.

I generally buy when I am doing the job. That way I know I have enough oil and the right filter. Best I do is stop by the store on the way home. If the car is cold, I have to get it hot. Jack it up, drain it, change filter, put the plug back, bring it down, fill it up. After it is done, clean up the floor for any splashes, brake clean off the plug area, dispose of the oil and wash the clothes. I definitely can't do that in 15 minutes. IF you can do that in 20 minutes, I'd definitely be interested to see how fast you are running. I am not sure what satisfaction you are having but for me, these are not interesting jobs. First few times on a new to you vehicle, yes. Every oil change I farmed out has been done right because I am supervising.

Elk

From your posts, it is clear you should not change the oil or do any other work on a car. Some people are simply not suited for this work.

There is noting wrong with this, we all have different abilities.