oil change $125????

[mkast]

Re: oil change $125????

The guy that lives across the street received the bill for:
changing the oil
replacing the (1) spark plug
clean the air filter
grease the fittings
replace the fuel filter and oil filter
adjust the belts
sharpen the blade.
$250 (one hour of labor) for spring service on his one cylinder lawn tractor.
I think you got off cheap for the service on your boat!
Or, are you complaining because you don't want to get your hands dirty?
Or, you think changing oil is so easy that any person can accomplish the task? When damage results from the improper change you'll be real understanding, won't you? "Anybody can change oil!"
Except you.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: oil change $125????

All this over a oil change from a dealership. In this economy I believe the OP ripped himself off by simply not asking how much period instead of settling with the answer just the cost of materials. Be like most people these days and DIY and stop complaining what shops need to charge to keep open .

 

[redone4x4]

Re: oil change $125????

my dad and i have a big boy topsider vacuum container. cost about 50 bucks to buy. if you bought this or one similar to it and used it twice, it would cost less than 2 oil changes. doin it yourself is the way to go, and its really easy. I charge 40 bucks to do it if someone brings the boat and the oil/filter to me. but i dont pay any shop space or anything, so 85/hour factoring in the overhead costs isnt bad at all. out here, its about 100/hr now. And, you have the pride of knowing that you did it yourself and have the extra money to buy that new marine radio or whatever it is you have had ur eye on lately. just my opinion on it.

 

[actionljackson]

Re: oil change $125????

YakYak Yak just a simple answer to the guys question would suffice no need for the bickering.

 

[boatguya1]

Re: oil change $125????

YakYak Yak just a simple answer to the guys question would suffice no need for the bickering.

Must be new here.

James

 

[redone4x4]

Re: oil change $125????

Must be new here.

James

ya, i thought forums were for discussing and suggesting options.....hmm....lol

anyways, i just changed my oil 2 days ago, swithced over to amsoil synthetic, it took right about an hour to do, but i was really taking my time so i didnt make a mess with it.

 

[littlebookworm]

Re: oil change $125????

Is $125 too much money to change the oil? Final answer, maybe yes; maybe no. I change my own oil. Our daughter and son-in-law have a twin engine Cruisers. They both work long hours and have four boys under the age of nine. Their free time is precious and they'd rather spend it on the boat with the kids than in the engine bay with the oil. They pay a mechanic to take care of evrything that needs to be taken care of on their boat. So, to them, $250 for oil changes on two engines is not a rip-off, it's money well-spent. You have to ask yourself: how much time do I have, and how much is my time worth?

 

[slongholio]

Re: oil change $125????

I recant. $125 doesn't sound like too much for a boat. Mine's pretty easy, but for a mechanic that has do lots of them on all random different boats, I can see where it wouldn't be a routine thing as I had thought. That and the overhead and other variable costs.

Thanks everyone for the feedback and helping bring me around to see the light.

 

[IVAZ]

Re: oil change $125????

$125 for an oil change is expensive. Its also justified for a business to charge that much. Boating is a luxury that not everyone can afford.
I personally hate turning wrenches. I do my own work because I hate spending money even more than turning a wrench. Learn to do it or pay the piper.
Always ask for an estimate before agreeing to let somebody fix something for you. Always let them know that you need to be notified before any additional items get repaired. With a few questions it should be near impossible to be ripped off.