More expensive oil changes?
A Consumer Reports blogger noted an interesting observation: rising prices for oil changes, near its Yonkers, N.Y. headquarters.
Yet another price-increase story to file under "rising petroleum prices" ... affecting petroleum-based products as well.
Anyone seeing anything similar in the Baltimore area?
Car maintenance is not a place to cut corners. Your vehicle will operate longer and more efficiently with regular oil changes, according to the Car Talk guys.
How often should you change your oil?
Owners' manuals recommend anywhere from 3,000 to every 10,000 miles, but the Car Talk dudes say 5,000 miles is a safe gauge for most vehicles.
Of course, one way to combat these rising costs would be to change your own oil (and the filter too). The Car Talk guys say it's safe to attempt. There's also little risk of possibly damaging your vehicle in the process.
How difficult is it to do?
Comically, the Car Talk guys say people who have changed their own oil before should be able to handle this task.
This is the kind of endeavor I'm sure would fill me with a sense of virtue and accomplishment, but I have not yet attempted. Definitely, if you've got a killer commute and need this kind of maintenance frequently, then it could help save some cash.
(photo: Jed Kirschbaum/Baltimore Sun)
