How much to do your own oil change?

I change my own oil. Buy 6 qts of Mobil 1 synthetic for $26 at Costco when on sale. Pretty simple to do but I am a cheapskate.

Buy the oil from Walmart. They have the cheapest prices when you buy the big jugs

I used to be adamant about changing my own oil. Even did several used oil analysis to optimize my oil change interval.

Ultimately, my time became more valuable. Full synthetic doesn’t offer that big of an advantage to justify the price at my normal OCI, and it’s pretty cheap for the shop to do it. Disposal of the old oil became the biggest hassle. Most places used oil drum is overflowing and can’t accept any more used oil. So I’m stuck with it.

Biggest concern is the fear they are incompetent. Recently they’ve left the plug loose in my parents car, inadvertently drained the transmission fluid instead of the oil in another friend of mine’s vehicle.

I think $25 for 6qt Mobil 1 isn’t happening. Haven’t bought it in probably 5 years or more, but it was right around there then for 5qt. Less than $80 though I’d assume. An extra $30-40 every 2 months (or going blend for cheaper).

Wal-Mart has 5qt jugs of Mobil 1 full synthetic 5w30 for $22.88

5 gallon jugs of Mobil 1 synthetic @ $23 and a fram filter @ $4 at Walmart. Drop the dirty oil back at Walmart - no fee. 30 minutes once you’ve done it a few times. I can’t drive to a place and get it done in less time or cheaper, and I know I do it right.

Even if it cost me more to do my own oil changes it would be worth it just to know it was done right and nothing was touched by an impact wrench. I just tore down the front of a Toyota 2UZ (4.7L V8) to replace most of it and it sucks having to spend even more time correcting the half-assed work of whoever did it before.

$35-40 bucks. Like others have stated Walmart 5 quart jugs for 23-26 bucks and a filter. I get the expensive Fram for 8-10 per filter. I do my own changes on everything from 4-wheeler, lawn mowers, generators, boat motor, wife's car etc. I go 8-10K miles b/w changes on the vehicles with synthetic.

If you're just starting to do your own you will need

1. Oil catch can. Get the kind that is a big jug / bottle that you can seal up afterwards. This allows you to do multiple oil changes before having to go to the store to recycle it.
2. Gloves. I work at a hospital so no prob. there. Buy em anywhere.
3. Paper towels and more paper towels
4. Oil filter tool. I have a universal one that is a strap type b/c I change so many different sizes. You should threoretically be able to take em off with your hands if you tighten em correctly, but sometimes I overtighten a bit. They make life easier.
5. TARP. I don't care how careful you think you will be, you're going to spill / splash oil somewhere. Get a big one and drive over it.
6. If you have a truck you won't need a jack, but my wife's car I jack up and USE JACKSTANDS to support. Or you can get the Ramps you drive up on.
7. Basic tools of course.
8. Funnel. Trust me don't try and pour without one. You're gonna miss and it makes a mess.

Bring the old oil to Autozone / O'rielly etc. I've never had an issue with them not taking it.

You can buy most of these tools with the money you will save from 2 oil changes.
Like others have said, the piece of mind and sense of accomplishment is why I do my own. Plus when you're down there you can inspect all kinds of things and you never know what you'll find. I noticed my CV boot was torn once, would have never known unless I was under there looking.

I get coupons from the Toyota and local Ford dealerships which makes it not worth doing myself. The Toyota is about $25, and the Ford is about $40. Oil and filter would cost me around $20 and $30.

I stopped. It cost me $40, and it takes them 20 minutes. If I buy the stuff it cost me $35 and takes an hour then I have to jack up the truck, dispose of the oil..... I rather pay.