Oil change - do it yourself it's so easy

[Zing]

Did the first oil change for my H2 today (6,000 miles, while my indicator still said I had 26% oil life )). Soooo easy. Here are a few pointers for the less experienced.

1. What you need: 6 quarts of 5W-30, oil filter, tool to loosen/tighten filter, wrench (15mm or adjustable), tin foil, container for old oil, funnel, lots of rags, 1/2 hour.

2. What you don't need: to jack up the H2, or remove underbody protection.

3. Drive around the block a couple times first (my dad always told me this stirs up any particles settling on the bottom). But don't change your oil after driving over 5 miles. Oil will be scaulding hot (and you will be touching it).

3. Put down rags and the container w/funnel in place. Hard to find a container that holds 6 quarts and fits under the H2. The plastic container for "Tidey Cat" kitty litter works perfectly with a funnel on top. Otherwise use a bucket.

4. Loosen the oil plug nut SLOWLY. Since the hole faces sideways (not down) oil shoots out 6 inches and winds up skimming off the funnel all over. When the nut is ready to come out, keep it there to regulate. After a quart comes out, you can remove the nut completely and let it drain. Put the nut back on.

5. Next remove the oil filter, and be aware that over a pint of oil will spill. Simple solution. Take one foot of tin foil and cover what's next to and under the filter and shape the foil so it funnels the spillage into your container. Loosen the filter (need the tool designed for this), let it drain, then remove it and put it in a rag to dispose. Put the new filter on and tighten.

6. Open the hood, look for the cap that says oil/5W-30, put in your 6 quarts and your done.

I remember my dealer telling me changing oil on an H2 costs $160 because it requires removing the underbody protection, which is bullsh#t. See the picture. $10 and 1/2 hour work beats $30-$160 and waiting around for service on my day off.

[Zing]

Did the first oil change for my H2 today (6,000 miles, while my indicator still said I had 26% oil life )). Soooo easy. Here are a few pointers for the less experienced.

1. What you need: 6 quarts of 5W-30, oil filter, tool to loosen/tighten filter, wrench (15mm or adjustable), tin foil, container for old oil, funnel, lots of rags, 1/2 hour.

2. What you don't need: to jack up the H2, or remove underbody protection.

3. Drive around the block a couple times first (my dad always told me this stirs up any particles settling on the bottom). But don't change your oil after driving over 5 miles. Oil will be scaulding hot (and you will be touching it).

3. Put down rags and the container w/funnel in place. Hard to find a container that holds 6 quarts and fits under the H2. The plastic container for "Tidey Cat" kitty litter works perfectly with a funnel on top. Otherwise use a bucket.

4. Loosen the oil plug nut SLOWLY. Since the hole faces sideways (not down) oil shoots out 6 inches and winds up skimming off the funnel all over. When the nut is ready to come out, keep it there to regulate. After a quart comes out, you can remove the nut completely and let it drain. Put the nut back on.

5. Next remove the oil filter, and be aware that over a pint of oil will spill. Simple solution. Take one foot of tin foil and cover what's next to and under the filter and shape the foil so it funnels the spillage into your container. Loosen the filter (need the tool designed for this), let it drain, then remove it and put it in a rag to dispose. Put the new filter on and tighten.

6. Open the hood, look for the cap that says oil/5W-30, put in your 6 quarts and your done.

I remember my dealer telling me changing oil on an H2 costs $160 because it requires removing the underbody protection, which is bullsh#t. See the picture. $10 and 1/2 hour work beats $30-$160 and waiting around for service on my day off.

[Zing]

Did the first oil change for my H2 today (6,000 miles, while my indicator still said I had 26% oil life )). Soooo easy. Here are a few pointers for the less experienced.

1. What you need: 6 quarts of 5W-30, oil filter, tool to loosen/tighten filter, wrench (15mm or adjustable), tin foil, container for old oil, funnel, lots of rags, 1/2 hour.

2. What you don't need: to jack up the H2, or remove underbody protection.

3. Drive around the block a couple times first (my dad always told me this stirs up any particles settling on the bottom). But don't change your oil after driving over 5 miles. Oil will be scaulding hot (and you will be touching it).

3. Put down rags and the container w/funnel in place. Hard to find a container that holds 6 quarts and fits under the H2. The plastic container for "Tidey Cat" kitty litter works perfectly with a funnel on top. Otherwise use a bucket.

4. Loosen the oil plug nut SLOWLY. Since the hole faces sideways (not down) oil shoots out 6 inches and winds up skimming off the funnel all over. When the nut is ready to come out, keep it there to regulate. After a quart comes out, you can remove the nut completely and let it drain. Put the nut back on.

5. Next remove the oil filter, and be aware that over a pint of oil will spill. Simple solution. Take one foot of tin foil and cover what's next to and under the filter and shape the foil so it funnels the spillage into your container. Loosen the filter (need the tool designed for this), let it drain, then remove it and put it in a rag to dispose. Put the new filter on and tighten.

6. Open the hood, look for the cap that says oil/5W-30, put in your 6 quarts and your done.

I remember my dealer telling me changing oil on an H2 costs $160 because it requires removing the underbody protection, which is bullsh#t. See the picture. $10 and 1/2 hour work beats $30-$160 and waiting around for service on my day off.

[Zing]

Pic

[pushrod]

Does the EPA know what you have in that blue drum on the other side of the fence? It looks like a Super Fund Cleanup Site to me.

[frank6150]

Does the Government know about the kiddie porn on your hard drive?

[RIC-H0]

You can actually take any kind of oil you would like to Walmart, and they will do an oil change for $10. I used to do that when I had My Super Duty with the Powersroke (15 quarts of oil!).
It is just so much easier to have them dispose of the oil. Besides, some places will only take a gallon of oil at a time for disposal, so you end up going to several different places to get rid of all your oil.

Ric-H2

[MAC]

I did my own oil change once about 30 years ago, not my cup of tea. Now I make an appointment with the Hummer dealer, drop it off 8AM after dropping the boys off at schools, then pick it up 3PM. Often, not always, it is washed. No charge.

[DennisAJC]

Mackel Jacksun,

I hear they have a special on FULL BODY Bleaching.

That way you can still be Italian or Jewish like you so like to tell everyone.

Cambodians can dream too I guess.

Not so witty on the racist remarks now are we BRUTHUR.

[Dan]

I see the bucket of used motor oil you tossed over the fence

Good idea about using foil, I'll have to try that!

[Detonate]

My dealership charges $30 to do it. And in addition to changing the oil, they also grease all kinds of god knows what underneath that apparently needs greasing to keep it from wearing out too soon.

They also check the rest of my fluids, and like Mac mentioned, they wash it.

At least they did the one time so far I've taken it to them. But I will be sure to take it there from now on. I always thought dealerships ripped you off, but so far, I'm really pleased with the service center at my dealership.

[Zing]

Wow, this NY area is so overpriced. I forgot about greasing the joints. Anybody do that themselves? That happens to be really easy if you have the grease gun and fitting.

Dan, I did implicate myself. That Pushrod is even all over me.

By the way Happy Easter everybody.

[frank6150]

It's ok Zing, The FBI is probably keeping him busy right now since he is into all that pre-teen bondage stuff.

[DennisAJC]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by PhilD:
That I do do myself. Only because no one ever does it, or if they do they don't do them all. Over the years I have specifically asked many places for the vehicle to be lubed, but it rarely gets done, even at many dealers. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I changed the oil myself and lubed most of the nipple/lube points. Only found 10 nipples and I hear there are 18 of them(As to what the dealer says). Any clue as to where the rest are?

[MAC]

Z, what's the oil change price in NYC? As I mentioned before, the H dealer price for oil change is $150, shocking, but what is more shocking is that the service gates are always full with long line of autos waiting to get in in the morning. I always need an appointment, at that price, they get more business than they can handle. Maybe $150 is not expensive to the folks in the line.

[Zing]

Oil change costs $40-$60 for regular cars in Manhattan, probably $50 to $100 for an H2. And most people go to the suburbs. When I had a Jeep, I used to go to a little shop in NJ who charged $20. Nice, honest people. No appointments, though. You show up at 7 am and hope your the first one.

I find generally merchants try to take advantage of the H2. Parking in garages is interesting. You pay a standard $10 premium for an H2 in all parking facilities in NYC. And if it's covered garage (as opposed to a lot) most turn you away, particularly if it's busy. Either you're too tall, too heavy for the elevator, or the guy just doesn't want to think about it unless you slip him a $20.