Oil Change Prices

I started doing my Own when prices got close to $300. I know it doesn’t answer your question, but I often take it in for grease, watching them, while they grease everything. It’s $40-$45 now for Truck and Trailer. 2 tubes of the best grease, is under $10. But it’s a dirty job. Oil change is easy.$120 for 10 gallons at Wallyworld. 2 oil, 2 fuel filters. Still under $200, a little more if I pay for grease job. Sometimes I change fuel filters before or afterwards, in between, on the road, when needed. Again it’s pretty easy. It’s the greasing that’s a PITA. I did it myself last time, and found my driveshaft yokes dry. I’m going to grease it again myself, since I’m home, and need to change oil. I need a battery operated grease gun. Makes it a lot easier. I’ve changed my oil at the TA parking lot quite a bit, in wintertime, down south where it’s warm, or anytime it’s needed, on the road. I carried a container from the dollar store with a lid, Under the bunk for a while. A big piece of cardboard on the ground, and a couple boxes lined with plastic garbage bags works pretty good. Refilling the empty oil jugs, taking it inside and dumping it. Throw cardboard and drained filers and a big oily towel, in their trash. Can do it all in an hour or so. When it was only $200, or even $240, $250. It was worth it to pay. Basically 1 hr labor at $60 or $80 an hour. Couldn’t beat it. But it’s not worth $200 above supplies cost. Even if I pay for the grease, I save close to $200. It’s worth 1/2 hr. Labor, or $35-$40 to avoid crawling around on the ground. Wears me out. Oil and filters is easy.

 

Depending on engine and level of service, it could be considered a deal, or rape.

It's a shame most places relegate preventative maintenance to idiots.

FYI, at my shop we charged 1.5 hours labor plus parts. From the description I assume you have an ISX, and if they looked your truck over well I'd say you are good.

At my shop though the top hands did PM's, and made a list of repairs from urgent, to needed in the next months.

The difference in someone with experience vs inexperienced pm'ing your truck may not make much difference in oil level or grease zerts missed, even idiots can get that right. But experienced eyes find problems that are coming, saving you from Breakdowns on the road.

 

Bruckner's Volvo used to have a $199 Oil change special but it's an hour drive from my house and I don't know if they still do it. I have an EZ oil change valve installed. It makes it super easy to do it yourself. I buy a few containers of the 2.5 gallon DEF from Walmart and I use those containers to drain the oil. I carry a strap wrench for the filters. I usually do it at home in less time than waiting at the shop. In a pinch I've even done it in a Walmart parking lot, which makes it quite easy to dispose of the used oil.

 

Labor at my shop would've been $145.50, and parts around $228 for ISX. Plus tax of course