I'm finally taking the plunge and doing my own oil change on my Hyundai Tucson
The Main Question: Tools & Equipment
I'm trying to figure out if I need to buy everything outright. I know stores like O'Reilly, AutoZone, and Advance Auto Parts have a Loan-A-Tool program for specialty tools (like gear pullers), but do any of them offer complimentary loaner tools for basic oil changes, like a drain pan or a jack/jack stands?
I'm buying the oil and filter from them anyway, and I know they recycle the used oil for free.
• Has anyone successfully borrowed or been given a drain pan/jack to use in the parking lot just for a quick oil change?
• If not, what's the cheapest but safest drain pan/jack stand setup you recommend for a beginner?
Any advice to make this as smooth (and non-messy) as possible would be greatly appreciated! Wish me luck!
First-Timer DIY Oil Change on a Hyundai Tucson: Looking for Tip
byu/Score-Accomplished inFrugal
Posted by Score-Accomplished
4 Comments
Yeah, no auto parts store is going to loan you that. Buy an oil pan at Walmart they have ones that hold like 12 qts for like $10 while you’re there, buy some rhino ramps for like $60 if not less. If you need tools, go buy them at harbor freight. The tools they sell at auto parts stores are basically the same quality but 2 or 3 times the price. I buy my oil(Walmart brand) and oil filter(Walmart brand) for my 2015 is350 there. It’s usually around 30$, but that’s because I need 7qt of oil for my car. Normally, most cars use 5qt or less, and Walmart has it for around $20, and the filter is usually 2 or 3 bucks.
I always change oil myself, have done that likely 100 or more times. I use ramps, not jack stands, to raise the car up for oil change. I don’t think that jack stands would make much sense. Changing oil is pretty easy, I think about as easy as cooking scrambled eggs. Or maybe a just a little more difficult. One of the biggest challenges is avoiding spills. You have to get the correct type of oil, and make sure that the gaskets for oil and filter do not leak. Don’t start the engine if it you have not refilled it with oil – you will destroy the engine immediately. Now it seems that synthetic oil is about all you can buy, and you can figure that changes will be less frequent using synthetic oil compared to standard oil. Well, I suppose that the ramps and oil pan are two items that you should own for yourself. I like to put a big piece of cardboard underneath the car engine when draining oil. Walmart has good prices for such items as ramps, drain pans, and filters. About the cheapest place to buy synthetic oil is Costco – can get two 5 quart jugs for $36 USD. I put the old oil in the 5 qt jugs that the new oil comes in, and take the old oil (and used filters) to those hazardous waste roundups that are held in many cities (in USA at least) about once a month – they normally will take oil from you for free. Make sure you don’t dispose of oil improperly. Someone out there must have made a good video about how to change oil. Not very difficult, but there are a few basic things one needs to pay attention to.
Do not buy the cheapest ramps. They are worth the money to get the all metal ones and will save you in the long run.
My drain pan is a big roasting pan from the thrift store. It’s metal, and I think I paid $1 for it about 12 years ago.
My steel ramps I bought cheap at a yard sale about 25 years ago.