For weekend joyrides or longer expeditions into the wild, we are truly lucky to live in Placer County. With two national forests in our backyard, making sure our cars and trucks are road-ready has become routine for those of us who like to get our hands dirty. Having the DIY mindset is why we know firsthand the financial upside and convenience of changing our motor oil at home.

There are plenty of resources online that will teach you step-by-step how to change your own oil. Besides saving a couple of bucks each time you do it, there are plenty of environmental and personal benefits to consider, especially now that it’s more convenient than ever to dispose of used motor oil. Here are 3 slick reasons why you should change your own oil:

1. Out-of-pocket savings

More money means more freedom. An oil change typically costs between $20-$55 dollars, with $10-$15 of that being labor. So over the lifetime of your car, changing your oil every three months or so, that all adds up to hundreds of dollars staying in your pocket.

2. Choice of products
When you change your own motor oil at home, you’re in the driver’s seat when it comes to selecting the right products to maintain your car. Being able to change your own oil gives you the freedom to choose the exact quality of oil that is best for your specific vehicle.

3. Placer County makes it easy

Of the nearly 115 million gallons of motor oil sold in California each year, about 35 million gallons are not collected after use. That’s a lot of toxic sludge potentially wrecking our land and waterways. With free curbside pickup, you can get rid of your used oil and filters without breaking a sweat. WPWMA offers free curbside pickup throughout the entire western county!