what to charge for an oil change.

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bowlofturtle

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if a couple people from your neighborhood asked you to do oil changes for them what would you charge?

i have about 3-5 older senior citizen around me and they see my wrenching in my garage every now and then. They asked me if i was interested in doing oil changes and small fixes for them from time to time. They told me they are not liking the dealership's prices of about $85-100. They mainly have caddy CTS/STS/DTS w/e those big sedan boats are and a lexus RX300.

I dont mind doing it to help them. I see them drive their grand kids to school daily and etc. I figure i would help them, they told me they can buy their stuff at walmart as they go often.

I just dont know what to charge them. I was thinking $10 was a nice balance between fair and worth my time. Since i do it for my friends in exchange for a meal when i'm going my other own cars.
 
Its a little risky. You take on the responsibility when you are doing this so make sure you understand that first.

10 bucks seems about right since a cheap change would be 15-20 at a shop with bulk [censored] and non-name filters.

If it really takes some time, it may be better to be at 15 or 20 since most old people will throw you a couple of extra bucks as a tip.
 
Originally Posted By: Colt45ws
$20 plus oil and filter.

I agree, $20 plus your cost of oil and filter. For a 5-qt sump, the total cost should be about $40 for dino and $70 for syn. To most car owners, Mobil 1 is the only synthetic oil they hear and like.

PS You should have other fuids, ATF + Brake fluid + coolant ..., to top off as needed, and charge $5 if you top off more than 1 fluid. Also, check and adjust tire pressure too.
 
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It is risky. Some seniors can get a flat tire and blame you for an oil change you did 6 months previously. It can be a Logic free zone.

I do some Handyman stuff for some seniors, and one was convinced that the new Kitchen faucet I installed caused her toilet to leak, because they happened within a month of each other.

I wound up fixing the toilet at my own time and expense, and don't take her calls anymore despite apologies.
 
If they are driving cars that expensive, they can afford the dealer or other Independent shop. But if you want the cash go for it. What is a hour of your time worth, is what I would charge, plus materials.
 
To much liability. As previously mentioned, they will just nit-pick and blame you when other things go wrong.
 
I would tell them that my oil change rewards are fulfilled
above & beyond the call of duty more than they ever
actually need to be by just changing my own oil & filter
once or twice a year.

....or $75 per hour + parts 1 hr. min.
 
Do you know how much I hate oil changes? so much that I either ignore people or ask a lot.

If its a regular customer or someone in for a lot of stuff, Ill do it, but there is almost no profit at any price to do them.

First consider your zoning - are you ALLOWED to do light industrial in your house garage?

Second most insurance companies wont allow ANY commercial car work in an attached garage. (my shp for example is long detached, has a cement driveway and its own blanket insurance)

Liability. If that motor siezes for any reason, you are gonna get questioned.

Disposal. the EPA are jerks. well meaning jerks, but jerks. Most states have a sell/take law - if you sell oil, you must take it in. if you dont burn it in a waste furnace, you must store it in a hard to approve above ground tank and have it removed by a bonded carrier. they charge you to take away what they sell for about a buck a gallon (to shops with a burner)

rags and the such - you WILL valdez the floor, you will use rags, you will becovered in it - what is this worth to you?

jiffy lubes or whatever are a specialty biz for good reason. I keep 3, 5-gallon 'cans' to accumulate my oil and oil from engine rebuilds I do. If my construction buds dont take it to start stump fires, I have to schlep it to AAP or walmart...that sucks. (cuz I dont want the storage tank and annual inspections/fees)

seriously? the only thing worse you could do to a car besides change oil is paint it....
 
No good deed goes UNPUNISHED! If they have such expensive cars they can afford to have their oil changes done at a commercial business. You are only asking for expensive problems. Can you afford to defend yourself against a claim for "damages"? I doubt it. Be friendly, but leave it at that.

Even if they had beaters I still would not recommend changing their oil. Through no fault of your's you could end up replacing an engine because you were the last person to touch it. It's not worth it. Sad to say that's today's attitude.

Whimsey
 
I agree with many above.....pass on it. Even though you want to help, and I admire you greatly for that, it isn't worth the risk down the road. Leave it alone for your own safety.
 
Changed oil on a Cadillac becuase they were being cheap. The starter went out the next day. Guess who fault it was?

Never mind that a northstar starter is located inside the engine. I only change oil for family now. I tell people it's cheaper to go to jiffy lube. It is, I have better things to do.
happy2.gif
 
I did this for years and slowly my neighbor friends became almost enemies but, hardly speaking. I got calls for every little thing 24/7 until I had to say no more.
 
Originally Posted By: Whimsey
No good deed goes UNPUNISHED! If they have such expensive cars they can afford to have their oil changes done at a commercial business. You are only asking for expensive problems. Can you afford to defend yourself against a claim for "damages"? I doubt it. Be friendly, but leave it at that.

Even if they had beaters I still would not recommend changing their oil. Through no fault of your's you could end up replacing an engine because you were the last person to touch it. It's not worth it. Sad to say that's today's attitude.

Whimsey



+1.. no good dead goes unpunished...
 
"I got audited for having undeclared oil change income last year so I'm gonna have to pass."

"Cadillac has unwritten extended warranties but you need your receipts, so I'm gonna have to pass"

"Looks like you bought SM/SN oil. I really haven't worked with that newer stuff, so I'm gonna have to pass."
 
$10 for a friend that wants to pay otherwise not expecting much, $15 for customers. Not into it as a business though and I feel I'm worth it as I try to really help people.

I don't like charging any more because I actually like doing OCs.
grin.gif
 
I can only speek for the RX-300. The oil filter alone is a PIA and messy at that. Changing the oil itself...easy, open the drain plug and let it go. Can get under the car without ramps. But the filter!!!

I bought a cup style oil filter remover that fits Purolator. And using an ratchet/extension, I can remove the filter much easier but, keep rags handy. Of course, this only allows me to use Purolator filters #10241. It's OK, I don't mind as it's a good filter. As far as what to charge or what I would charge?

$20.00 at the most, on top of the oil/filter cost.

You may want to keep your services to just OCI's ONLY!
 
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