Changing engine oil in an open street or the apartment garage is illegal. There are many reasons behind this rule & I’ll discuss them in the next segment of this article.
Later, I’ll show you how & where you can legally change your oil without facing little to no hassle. So, without further ado – let’s get started.
Why Is Changing Oil Illegal In Most Of The Places?
The engine oil changing process is very messy & expensive. Whether changing Subaru’s oil or Porsche, you’ll run into these problems.
Fair enough that nobody wants to suffer from the messiness your car engine causes & that’s why it’s illegal to change the oil in public streets or apartment garages.
That being said, you can’t change your car engine in a public street or apartment garages. If you do, you’ll be fined $50 or more, depending on your living state.
Where Can I Legally Change My Oil?
As you know, it’s illegal to change the oil publicly – what’s the solution? Well, there are several ways you can follow to change your oil legally. Here are they:
Sol. 1: Change Oil In Your Private Garage.
You won’t face any legal issues while doing the oil change in your private garage. Nobody should be bothered no matter what you do in your garage.
Sol. 2: Change Oil In Your Friend’s Private Garage.
If you don’t have a private garage, try getting into your friend’s garage. Your friend might even help you do the oil change job if you’re lucky enough.
Sol. 3: Convince With Your Neighbor Not To Call The Cops.
Assure your neighbor that you won’t do a messy job while doing the oil change. Tell them If something goes wrong, you’ll do the cleaning job.
Sol. 4: Pay Auto Shop To Do The Oil Change.
Suppose you fail to manage the neighbor or get a private garage, better contact your nearby auto shop. They will charge you around $50 to $70 for the oil change task.
That’s how you can change your engine oil without getting into legal violation.
When Should I Change My Car Oil: Six Major Symptoms
Though changing oil isn’t something you’ll love to do, you can’t avoid it either. Here are the six major symptoms that indicate the need for an oil change:
2. Dark & Dirty Oil
3. Irritating Engine Noise
4. Activated Oil Change Light
Consider changing your oil if you encounter any of these symptoms. Also, don’t forget to change your engine oil after 3,000 to 6,000 miles of driving.
DIY Oil Change or Auto Shop: Which One Should I Choose?
There are two ways of changing your car engine oil: By the auto shop or By yourself. Getting it done by the auto shop will grant you a secure oil change while changing yourself will save you some money.
DIY Oil Change: Pros & Cons
Pros: If you have proper space of your own, doing it yourself will save you $50 to $70 in labor fees.
Cons: Changing the oil will cause a chaotic environment & it requires a little technical knowledge. If you’re not following proper guidelines, you’ll have trouble doing the oil change.
Auto Shop Oil Change: Pros & Cons
Pros: If you don’t have a private garage, contacting an auto shop will be the best thing to do. You don’t have to worry about anything as professionals will do the oil change work.
Cons: The main disadvantage is the labor fees. Your oil won’t cost more than $25 in most scenarios. However, the labor cost will be around $50 to $70 – double of the actual oil price.
How To Change Engine Oil: Step By Step Guide
Changing your oil on your own isn’t something you can’t do or is very hard to do. Follow this segment to perform the oil change most safely.
Things You’ll Need:
- New Oil
- Jack & Jack Stand
- Oil Filter Wrench
- Wrench Or Socket
- Funnel
- Large Oil Drain Pan
After getting your equipment in place, follow these steps accordingly.
Step 1: Lift Your Car By 6 to 12 Inches
Step 2: Access The Oil Pan
Step 3: Set The Drain Pan & Drain Oil From The Oil Pan
Step 4: Refill The Oil Pan
Step 5: Recheck Everything & You’re Done
That’s how you can change your oil. If you’re looking for a more comprehensive guideline – follow this How To Change 2018 F-150 Oil article.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ
If you can’t perform the oil change on your own, call the mechanic for the job. Depending on your vehicle’s age, you’ll need to do an oil change after every 3000 miles (if it’s old) to 6000 miles (if it’s new).
No, you can’t change your engine oil in an open street. If anybody in your neighborhood calls the cops, you’ll be fined $50 or more. Changing the oil on an open road won’t take you to jail, but the fine isn’t something you’ll happily accept.
Yes, it does. If you can convince your neighbor that you’ll do the oil change in the cleanest way possible & take the responsibility of cleaning the mess – your neighbor should be convinced. If they are convinced, you won’t have to worry about getting fined.
Conclusion
I’ve tried my best to explain why it is illegal to change the oil in public & where you can legally change your engine oil. To conclude, I can say – do the oil change on your own if you or your friend have a private garage.
You can also talk to your neighbor regarding the oil change. If they allow it, you can do that without any legal issues. If everything fails, contact your nearby auto shop & they will do the oil change in the exchange of labor fees.
