Thus, our materials cost for a single oil change is $24. If we couple that with an oil filter change, it's $35. This compares to an oil change cost of $30 and $50, respectively. In short, I save about $15 doing it myself.

The oil filter's job is to remove oil contaminants. It sifts out the solid particles while allowing the oil to flow unrestricted through the engine. When the oil filter becomes "full" or "clogged," the oil and contaminants will flow around the filter. When bypassing occurs, contaminants head straight for the engine where they can eventually cause p

It used to be normal to change the oil every 3,000 miles, but with modern lubricants most engines today have recommended oil change intervals of 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Moreover, if your car's engine requires full-synthetic motor oil, it might go as far as 15,000 miles between services.