Two car questions, for a newbie

[PeterB]

... I know next-to-nothing about cars and car maintenance, that is to say I am a newbie...

1) How hard is it to change the oil oneself? (Where to get the oil, and what type to use?) I Googled for this, and it looked fairly complex, and not particularly easy without some way to elevate the car...

2) Is there a good site or sites that track/monitor the price of gas locally and/or nationally, and make assessments about upward or downward trends?

Keep in mind that I was not actually driving until this past year; I generally do not believe in cars... that is to say, I am a firm believer in public transportation... but that's a different issue.

[Mr Downtown]

Changing oil--harder than paying someone who knows how to do it the $15. Basically you have to pull a plug at the bottom, let the oil drain into a container, plug the bottom, and put oil in the top.

Gas prices are tracked on several sites, but no one can predict trends (that's what futures contracts are for). Also, keep things in perspective. For a small car, a ten-cent difference per gallon translates to a whopping dollar per fill-up.

[PeterB]

Mr Downtown, you mean (about paying someone the $15) to use one of these quick-change oil places? I thought that those were fairly unreputable?

[jdc]

not for changing oil -- finding a local menchanic is better

and its more than just changin the oil, gotta get the filter too, or you are wasting your time

if you lived in my city you would "believe" its public transportation sucked really, really bad

[M A V I C]

It's easier to do it than finding a place to do it. I haven't change my own oil in years, mainly because of restrictions on where I can do it (not in my apartment parking lot, not in the street...) I could do it in my garage now but don't have much room for a jack and all (though you don't need a jack, depending on the car.)

I haven't a clue where one can get their oil change for $15. Even the hole-in-the-wall, spells "Auto Shop" wrong, don't even like walking by it shop charges $18 here. And that's just to tell you it's only for 2qts of oil (guessing.)

Do you already have the tools for the job?

Anyway, I'm a firm believer that public transportation is a complete joke and waste of time in most of the US.

[AlphaDog]

Ask the people you work with; they've identified some reliable places by now. Depending on how new the car is, the dealer might be a good buy, too. My Toyota dealer is always sending out coupons that make the cost of an oil change there the same as the quickie places, and they'll do it in less than 30 minutes. I also located a good little independent place that I use sometimes, and I'm sure there are plenty of those around; you just have to ask around and see where to look.

Unless you just want to develop a new skill set, changing the oil in a car isn't one of the best ways to economize, because you're also going to have the hassle of doing something "approved" with that old oil you drain out. Gone are the days when you could dump it in the alley to keep the weeds down, like my dad always did.

[M A V I C]

[quote AlphaDog] Gone are the days when you could dump it in the alley to keep the weeds down, like my dad always did.
Most cities have metal grates in the street to dump oil in. Sometimes they put little fish icons next to them to help you know where to dump the oil

[PeterB]

OK guys, I should have added some more info:

1) Found a local mechanic based on the recommendation of a coworker; I was there earlier today and he wants $25 for it, I think, but would not do it "while you wait"-- I'd have to leave it there with him, which is a problem. I might want to have other work done on it though, in which case I could leave it with him while (for example) I'm out of town.

2) As for the other work I mentioned-- it could use some body work; also, it currently has the engine light on... I asked him if this is because it's overdue for the oil change, he seemed to think not. The last time it had the engine light lit, it turned out to be nothing (the mechanic who had just done a fair bit of work on it prior to my getting the car told us so, and we had completely trusted him), and the light just went out on its own. The other thing I've noticed is that I sometimes lose power steering-- this happens only very rarely, and almost always seems to happen when it has rained heavily outside (which around here, does happen but not that frequently). If it matters, it's a 96 Ford Contour.

As for public transportation ... I guess I'm spoiled, because in Boston it's fantastic, and it actually hurts you to have a car ... parking, traffic, rude drivers, etc.

[AlphaDog]

[quote M A V I C][quote AlphaDog] Gone are the days when you could dump it in the alley to keep the weeds down, like my dad always did.
Most cities have metal grates in the street to dump oil in. Sometimes they put little fish icons next to them to help you know where to dump the oil
Oh is that what those are for?! Wow, who would have thunk it.

[Racer X]

the oil helps them swim upstream. It cuts the coeffeciant off friction. gee, that college stuff did pay off.