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Thread ID: 122256 2011-12-11 21:29:00 Engine oil. Nomad (952) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1248164 2011-12-11 21:29:00 We do our own but been looking on the Internet. Mechanics may charge $60 for labour or the nationwide stores charge up to $150 with parts included but they only allocate up to $16 or $20 for the oil itself. So this may mean that cheap engine oil is decent enough? I imagine a lot of people get others to change their oil for them. Nomad (952)
1248165 2011-12-11 21:31:00 Don't forget though that they will be buying bulk and get trade discounts gary67 (56)
1248166 2011-12-11 21:43:00 We DIY. And while we do look around to see who is selling the oil for what price, we don't buy cheap. Depends whether you care about the car much I guess and how long you intend keeping it. pctek (84)
1248167 2011-12-11 22:01:00 Cheap oil has always been an expensive option. R2x1 (4628)
1248168 2011-12-11 22:10:00 Repco generally has decent oil at reasonable prices - 4l of oil + a filter for $40 - $50 normally. wratterus (105)
1248169 2011-12-11 22:32:00 We use the Shell blue synthetic stuff. One of them is a European car which means the VW 502.00 standard. But yeah ... given that many people may outsource the oil job, I gather many of them just go with their standard service, by the looks of it, many of them have not created a lot of noise and continual to use their service.

Also heard that some use recycled oil but add more of the additives back and the oil gone thru a cleansing process. That might indicate why some are cheaper and in large quantities .. :confused: I read that for most cars out there, any mineral oil whilst maintained regularly, would outlast any individual's timeline ownership of the vehicle.
Nomad (952)
1248170 2011-12-11 22:46:00 There's actually not a lot wrong with recycled oil. They do use additives in it to bring it back up to specification, however, when you think about it, used oil is a hell of a lot cleaner than the stuff they bring out of the ground and refine ... and if you're a Greenie ... you get the "feel good" factor with it ... :D SP8's (9836)
1248171 2011-12-11 22:53:00 I used to do my own until I bought a bluebird that had the oil filter hidden under the exhaust manifold between the engine and the firewall, no way I could get at it without a pit or a hoist.
Been paying someone to service the car ever since, even though the bluebird is ancient history. Honestly I've never even considered what oil they put in it, but I can say that right now when it's due for it's next service the oil looks as clean on the dipstick as it ever did.
Maybe I'll have a look at doing it myself over Xmas.
dugimodo (138)
1248172 2011-12-11 23:02:00 I have always used no name brand cheap oil ~$20, for my older cars. But always do a engine/head flush and filter change, every 2nd round (10, 000 K), and all done over 250, 000 K. But generally no oil loss, and good compression. Newer (e.g. < 10 years) then branded oil ~ $40. I assume mechanics would also do a flush. kahawai chaser (3545)
1248173 2011-12-12 00:02:00 Ba as we used to say when working on aero egines: "it all comes out of the ground" except for synthetic oil.
Main thing is to change it periodically
Numbutz go about modern engines and their requirements but the engine on a 1904 Model T and 2011 Toyota Corolla still have pistons, con rods, crankshaft, camshaft and valves. Sure they might have fuel injection, electronic ignition and valves coming in from the top. It does not matter much whether oil is refined virgin or filled with stupid additives like anti foaming, anti wear, anti oxidant anti corrosion and so called lubricity additives.
prefect (6291)
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