There are many activities clamoring for your time and attention these days. But don’t forget that, in order to get done EVERYTHING on your to-do list, you need your vehicle.
You can do several important things to support keeping your vehicle running – and performing proper preventive maintenance (including oil changes) is high on the list. And glancing at your full calendar, you’d like to ask: “How Long Does An Oil Change Take?”
- Oil changes typically take 20-45 minutes.
- You are taking care of your vehicle’s recommended preventive maintenance. If you have been completing service according to the manufacturer’s recommendations and the oil change is included in the schedule of recommended preventive maintenance, skilled technicians can complete your oil change much faster than normal.
How Long Does An Oil Change Take?
An oil change will take an average between 20 and 45 minutes. The first step in an oil change is removing the drain plug and allowing the engine oil to completely drain into an oil pan.
Next, a new oil filter will be installed. When all of the oil has drained, the drain plug will be replaced and fresh oil will be added.
At this point during the oil change it will mostly just be a matter of waiting for the old oil to finish draining. If you take your vehicle to a dealership, a technician will use this time to perform some additional inspections on the vehicle.
If you are doing the oil change yourself, you can also use this time to do another task as you wait.
Factors Affecting Oil Change Time
#1. Person Changing the Oil.
How much time is going to be required to change your oil, depends typically on who is changing the oil.
If you are doing it, keep in mind what tools you have and what your experience is. Typically, it will take you a minimum of 30 minutes or longer to complete an oil change.
The quickest option is going to a quick lube shop. The quick lube shop has the tools to get you in and out as soon as possible. The oil gets changed, you pay, and you are gone.
The longest option is most likely a visit to your local car dealer service department. Again, the oil change does NOT take longer, however, the technicians are doing other services at the same time.
With these additional inspections, you can feel much better about the service rendered, but you may also have to wait a lot longer, too. However, in just the past few years, more car dealerships are opening Express Lanes for quicker oil change service.
#2. Vehicle Type/Accessibility.
Each vehicle type needs to be checked for accessibility because some are easier to work on than others. For most cars, the drain plug and filter will be easy to access and follow. However, this is not true for all vehicles.
Most shops can access the drain plug and filter quickly, but you may experience difficulty at your home garage. Sometimes the filter has to be removed or installed with a special tool, too. All of these variables affect the time.
Furthermore, if you are doing the work at home, you have to drag out the jack and jack stands to access some vehicles from underneath. This is also time consuming.
#3. Engine Size.
You also need to consider the size of the engine being drained and filled. The larger the capacity, the longer it will take to remove the contaminated oil and refill with new oil.
A four-cylinder or V6 engine will likely hold up to five quarts of oil, but diesel engines can hold much more oil.
There are a number of Cummins and PowerStrokes that hold up to 15 quarts of oil. When this is the case, it can easily take twice as long to drain it and refill it than a normal passenger car. Additionally, the cost of the oil change service will also increase.
#4. Wait Time.
When you do your own oil change, you don’t have to wait for anyone. When you are ready to drain the oil and refill the engine, you can just get to it.
But, if you go to a lube or dealership, you will have to wait for someone that was before you. If you arrive at a first come first served type of establishment, you can have longer wait time than you would have planned on.
Quick Lube vs. Service Center: Where to Get an Oil Change?
If you need help with a vehicle oil change, you have a couple of options. You can use a quick lube service or go to the dealership/wherever you normally service your vehicle. There are pros and cons to both options.
Let’s start with quick lube facility. This is going to be the fastest option since it’s basically all they do. Their system is largely the same as the oil change at the dealership, one car in and out after the other.
Because of the emphasis on fast oil changes, there is no time for anything else to be done or inspected on the car. The technicians do not look at anything other than the oil change.
You also may not be get the best oil filter or oil recommended by the automaker. The cost is typically about the same as a normal repair shop, but with no added benefit. The technicians can be entry-level and they don’t require special certifications. That is why some people leave with a stripped drain plug, or the wrong filter installed.
If you do go to a dealership or repair shop, they often provide other FREE services when doing your oil change. Most dealerships also check the wiper blades, battery, tires and lights when doing an oil change.
Since all of this is complimentary and a technician is checking your vehicle, it will take more time for the service. Also, a qualified technician will do this work, typically using brand-name parts and even OEM, if you are going through a dealership.
If you are in a hurry you might chose to go to your local lube, and that’s all right occasionally. In the long run it is still in your best interest to go through a dealership or service center for the safety and professionalism of the service.
How Often Should You Get an Oil Change?
There are several important things to consider when discussing how often should you change your oil. Most vehicles will require an oil change anywhere between 5,000 and 10,000 miles.
If you’re driving an older vehicle and using conventional oil, you probably want to change your oil every 3,000 miles. There are other instances when more frequent oil changes are needed, including:
- If you only drive short distances. This is usually considered five miles in normal temperatures or ten miles when it’s cold, since the engine doesn’t get fully heated up.
- The vehicle is heavily used to tow or haul cargo.
- You are driving on muddy, sandy, dusty and rough rides.
- You spend a lot of time driving in stop-and-go traffic.
Today’s modern vehicle typically will not need an oil change as often. If you’re driving a newer vehicle under normal use, and you’re using synthetic or synthetic blend oil, then an oil change should be performed no more frequently than every 5,000 miles.
In fact, in many cases it will go 7,500-10,000 miles between oil changes. If you’re unsure, it is a good idea to read the service manual or speak with a local mechanic.