Do oil changes actually pay for themselves? YES!

Okay, do the math.

While gas has come down in price a little, the principal is the same:

At $3.50 per gallon, a 24 mpg car costs $0.14 – 0.15 per mile for fuel.

If a full-service oil change costs $47 average, and increases gas mileage by just 1.5 mpg, and is done every 4,700 miles (close to the national average), the cost of the oil change is actually absorbed by the fuel savings. In addition, the long-term savings in maintenance savings and engine life are bonuses. Even if your gas mileage is higher, you save a substantial portion of the actual oil change cost.

Add to that the fact that full-service oil change facilities usually do a great job of spotting other maintenance issues before they become very serious. Things like oil leaks, worn belts, hoses with abnormal wear, and tire problems may be spotted when they are being checked over. Have your car checked properly, usually while you wait, and know that it really doesn’t cost much at all!

-thanks to JD for the math.