(Most new and late-model cars now come from the factory with full synthetic oil. Synthetic oil, synthetic blends, and high-mileage oil, which may be necessary to meet car-specific needs or manufacturers’ recommendations, also cost more than conventional, “organic” motor oil. You won’t get a discount if you use less oil than 5 quarts. At Valvoline, for example, you’ll pay $5 to $10 per quart, depending on the oil used. You will have to pay more if you need additional oil. Keep in mind, as well, that while a “standard” oil change typically includes up to 5 quarts of oil, larger vehicles demand more: 8 quarts in a late-model Chevy Silverado, for example. Even big-box retailers like Walmart are getting into oil changes. Many auto parts stores offer basic maintenance in addition to selling products. Aside from your local mechanic or car dealership, a slew of popular national and regional chains offer quick oil changes. There are many options for car owners that don’t feel like getting their hands dirty. The service options available were few, with a cost of $20-$25 every 3 months for most cars. It used to be easy to change the oil in your car. The Things You Should Know Before Travelling Just be sure to save receipts to prove that regular recommended maintenance was performed.) (Note: A manufacturer cannot void a warranty because you’ve gotten a vehicle serviced outside a dealership. Just watch out for potential upsells, especially in the current landscape where many dealers have had lower sales due to inventory shortages during the pandemic and may be even more inclined than usual to push additional services. If your vehicle is still under warranty, the dealer may offer free regular maintenance and oil changes for the first couple of years. If this was to your liking, you might also be interested in Chain service centers are notorious for hiring workers who may or may not have extensive prior experience in automotive maintenance and repair, and in our research, we read stories of oil spills, overfills, leaks, and worse due to poorly replaced or forgotten plugs. Dealership mechanics are familiar with the make and model of your car, reducing the chance of mistakes that can lead to more serious issues. A dealership is a good choice for those who are concerned about following manufacturer specifications. Oil changes are a loss leader, if you will. Mechanics and dealers often lower the price of oil changes to lure customers in, hoping they will return for more expensive repairs. The $59 we were quoted for a high-mileage/synthetic blend oil change bested both Jiffy Lube and Valvoline. While the dealership was more expensive than the local mechanic and many of the chains we consulted - and you may not find the option for a conventional oil change there, as was the case with the Honda dealership we spoke with - it was still competitive. The cost was still $5 lower than the next-cheapest chain Firestone, which offers a relatively cheap Gold service. Our mechanic could not undercut Walmart’s price for full synthetic oil, but he charged $20 more. We could get a high-mileage oil change for the same $35, which would even edge out bargain-basement Walmart. Oil change prices we were given by a local garage definitely fell toward the lower end of the spectrum, and the $35 quoted for a conventional oil change beat all but the cheapest of the national chains. The price is comparable to the conventional oil changes at major chain stores, but it’s still less expensive than the others: Firestone matches this price while the rest charge between $40-$50. Walmart’s Lube Services package costs $10 more and includes a conventional “featured oil” in place of Quaker State, fluid and function checks, top-offs, vacuuming and other services. Walmart Pit Crew’s oil change costs just a few cents under $20 and includes up to five quarts Quaker State advanced durability conventional motor oil (5W-20 or 5W-30), a chassis oil, tire pressure adjustments, battery check-ups, an oil filter. In our survey, Walmart came out on top as the best place for a cheap oil change. While coupons and special offers can often reduce the price of services, on average you can expect to pay between about $20 and $100 or so depending on the vehicle and the oil selected.
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