Oil Change Maintenance Tips - Monthly Maintenance

You probably know the benefits of changing your oil yourself: it gives you peace of mind that the job was done right, it gives you an excuse to work on your truck, and it saves you money. If you've been changing your oil for as long as you can remember you know the routine, but for those of you who are looking for a way to keep some dollars in your pocket, here are some tips to think about. In our example, our project daily-driven Colorado, the oil-life meter was dwindling and we wanted to give it top-quality service. Since the vehicle does have an oil-life meter, we wanted to ensure that every product would last for the duration of the service interval, which could be a lot longer than the 3,000 to 5,000-mile intervals you might be used to. Changing your oil sooner than necessary is a waste of oil and money, so trust your oil-life meter or your service manual. By selecting the right products we could ensure a long life for our engine and protect our investment. For the closest oil recycling center, check out www.earth911.com.

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FROM THE DRIVER SEAT
Our local auto parts store accepts used oil and filters for free, so doing our oil change cheaply and safely was simple. To find a recycling center near you, visit www.earth911.com. We can't compare apples-to-apples, because there were other variables, but we did record our best-ever mileage to date on a single tank of fuel after switching to Royal Purple synthetic, so the added cost over conventional oil can come back to you in increased mileage. YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED Time Spent Working: Approximately 1 Hour
Degree Of Difficulty: Easy Parts Used:
Fram TG3606 Tough Guard oil filter $10.95
Royal Purple 5W-30 motor oil $8.95 (per quart)
Magnetic drain plug $4.50 (from local auto parts store) Total Cost: $60.20 (not including tax)