How Long Does It Take To Get An Oil Change? (4 Factors To Mind)

If you’re like us, you probably don’t want to devote too much of your time to mundane tasks like changing the oil. But oil changes are inevitable, so you should probably estimate how long they’ll take and work them into your plan.

But how often does your car truly need new oil, and how long does it take to get an oil change? In this article, Driverevolve will address all of your concerns.

How Long Does It Take To Get An Oil Change?

Planning an oil replacement for your car? It helps to get an idea of how much time you’ll need to set aside. We’ve highlighted 3 of the most common places for changing the oil.

Quick Lube Shop

No matter which drive-through oil change facility you choose, you can hope to be in and out in under 30 minutes. Waiting time is, of course, a significant factor to consider.

As these facilities rarely require reservations, you may find yourself standing behind a few vehicles that all arrived for the same purpose. However, if you go when there is no line, this is the quickest way to get your oil changed.

Dealership Or Repair Shop

Going to a service center or dealership for an oil replacement is convenient because you can book a reservation in advance. With this, you won’t have to worry about having to wait around like you might at other establishments.

How long does an oil change take at a dealership? It’s possible, though, to spend another hour waiting around if you take your car to a dealership or a regular service center. The oil replacement takes longer because of all the other maintenance tasks they perform in addition to the oil replacement.

When you take your car to a service center, whether a dealership or a regular repair shop, they’ll inspect any issues before they become major breakdowns.

DIY

Depending on your skill set and vehicle, the average time for an oil change at home could take as little as 60 minutes, which is much more time-saving than replacing an alternator. The reason is, draining liquids requires jacking up the front of the car, supporting it with jack lifts, and doing the job by hand for most automobiles.

Moreover, you’ll have to carry the used oil to a disposal location, which could take anywhere from a few minutes to many hours, depending on your distance to the nearest disposal facility.

This is the lowest-priced choice, but it requires you to put in the most time and effort.

4 Factors That Affect Oil Change Times

The above-mentioned periods are approximations, and several factors might alter the total time required for a professional to execute an oil replacement on your car.

In this section, we will discuss the 4 main factors that can prolong or shorten the time needed to perform an oil change.

Things The Mechanic Also Checks

Even though all you need is an oil change, most mechanics will spend the time to check out the rest of your automobile to make sure it’s in excellent condition. By doing so, they can anticipate when your car will require additional maintenance and catch any issues while they’re still manageable.

A comprehensive inspection is a benefit of bringing your vehicle to a more professional repair facility, so reap the benefits of it by letting the pros check over your ride.

The Mechanic’s Skill Level

This isn’t the primary consideration in how fast a business can replace your oil, but it does make a difference. It’s just a fact that some mechanics are more efficient at getting tasks done.

However, remember that a technician’s speed does not automatically make them the best expert. When you need a job completed, you don’t want it performed by somebody who will take shortcuts just to get more done.

The Shop Setup

When it comes to oil changes, quick lubes has a distinct advantage over dealerships, which has nothing to do with the competence of the professionals working there. The reason is that the store is geared toward providing quick oil replacements.

Since they don’t do any other services, they can tailor their business to ensure that oil replacements are performed as quickly as possible. As a result, we can finish the work much more rapidly thanks to this.

Compared to putting an automobile on a lift, replacing oil underneath the automobile in a service pit will save time.

Other Customers

You aren’t the only one whose car needs an oil replacement, so if you bring it to a popular service station, you may have to wait a while for them to get to your automobile.

Although getting an oil replacement typically takes about 30-60 minutes, you may need to wait several hours if there are several automobiles in front of you.

Before leaving the house, you should consult the provider site’s Google Business website. The peak hours of the day and the week periods for that site should be listed there. If you can avoid it, try not to do anything during those hours.

How Often Should You Change Your Oil?

The kind of oil you’re utilizing is an essential factor in deciding how frequently you should replace your oil. What we mean when we mention oil kind isn’t specific brands like Valvoline or Pennzoil, but somewhat conventional, synthetic, or a combination of the two.

Although it’s best to follow the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance schedule, we’ve included some averages for oil changes below, depending on the oil you use.

Oil Type	Mileage	Timeframe
Recycled	3,000 miles	3-6 months
Conventional	5,000 miles	6 months
Synthetic Blend	7,500 miles	6-9 months
Full Synthetic	10,000 miles	9-12 months

Always use a high-quality oil filtration system that is suitable for the recommended oil change periods.

What Happens If You Don’t Change Your Engine Oil?

You should be familiar with the functions of motor oil to grasp this. It’s useful because it eliminates heat, slows down wear, keeps out dirt and grime, and protects against rust and oxidation, among other things. Oil loses its protective properties as it ages, increasing the risk of motor overheating, component degradation, and contamination spread.

With each use, the oil’s oxidation will cause further damage to a different part of the engine, increasing the likelihood of issues in the future. In some cases, your oil might smell like gas.

Wrapping Up 

How long does it take to get an oil change? 20 to 120 minutes, depending on the method. An oil replacement is a bargain when weighed against the cost and time commitment of other maintenance tasks. Your motor and the ecosystem will both benefit from routine oil changes.

For related info, refer to our Fun Autopart section.