How Long Does an Oil Change Take? Time, Factors & Tips for Speed
An oil change is something each car owner must do routinely to make the car run smoothly. However, if you’ve never had an oil change before, you might be wondering: how long does an oil change take? Knowing how long the process takes, what can influence that time, and a few handy tips can make the task more efficient, so hopefully, you’ll be ready for the next oil change.
How Long Does an Oil Change Take: Estimated Time
An oil change usually takes 30 – 45 minutes on the average. This estimated time however can differ for various reasons like the kind of oil used, the type of car it is and at which place the oil change is being carried out.
If you’re going to a quick lube service center such as Jiffy Lube or Firestone, typically it takes about 30 minutes. But it’s possible that more services, including tire rotations or fluid top offs, will take longer. Keep in mind that some spots will be busier than others, which takes longer as well.
The Factors That Contribute To The Time Interval Of An Oil Change
Several factors can influence how long it takes to complete an oil change:
Type of Oil Used:
Different types of motor oils include conventional, synthetic and semi synthetic. But they are more expensive, and they do give better performance and longer intervals between changes. Synthetic oil changes can be more pricey, but it takes about as long to drain and refill the synthetic as it does conventional.
Car Model and Engine Type:
How long it takes depends on make, model, size, and engine. Different factors would mean that some car services take longer than others, for instance, cars with bigger engines or more complicated designs. Compact sedans can require less time than sports cars, luxury cars or diesel engines.
Location of the Oil Change:
It will take as little as 15 minutes if you go to a fast oil change service centre, but if there are others ahead of you, it will take longer. Some auto repair shops or dealerships may service your car more thoroughly and take a lot more time to do so.
Additional Services:
Other services like a tire rotation, checking fluid levels or inspecting belts and filters may be included at participating service providers. Additional steps as such will of course add to the time for an oil change.
Oil Change Experience:
A technician who has been well trained at changing engine oil will do the work in a shorter period of time. That is, delays could occur if they have inexperienced staff or inappropriate equipment.
The Average Time for a Standard Oil Change
Typically, an oil change — where only oil is being replaced — takes 30 to 45 minutes. Draining the old oil, installing a new oil filter and then adding fresh oil into the engine is what a standard oil change is.
But don’t forget that this time can lengthen, especially if you have additional maintenance work performed at the same time. If you have a tire rotation or air filter change, that will take longer for example.
The Steps of Oil Change Process
Understanding the basic steps involved in an oil change can give you a clearer picture of the process and the time it typically takes:
- Preparation: The first step will be to lift the vehicle up using a jack or a hydraulic lift, so that the technician can get to the underside of the car, where the oil pan and filter are located.
- Draining the Old Oil: Then the technician removes a drain plug from the oil pan so that used oil can flow out. This often takes a few minutes and is often the longest part of the process.
- Changing the Oil Filter: As the oil drains out the old oil filter is replaced with a new one. You should change the oil filter as it is vital because an old or a clogged filter will take its toll on the engine.
- Refilling with Fresh Oil: The technician will remove the drain plug, remove the old oil, replace the drain plug with fresh, and refill the engine with precisely the correct amount of oil. It takes about 5 to 10 minutes.
- Final Checks: Then, the technician will check to make sure the oil levels are good, and sometimes will even run the engine briefly to ensure the oil’s going where it’s supposed to. They could also check out fluid levels or other vehicle components.
- Cleanup: The old oil and filter will be responsible dispose off and the technician will clean up the workspace.
How Long Does an Oil Change Take at Popular Service Centers?
Quick oil change services are provided by several well known service centers. Here’s how long they typically take:
- Grease Monkey Oil Change: Grease Monkey is known for its fast services and its oil changes usually take about around 15 minutes.
- Speedee Oil Change: Speedee is known for speed. And depending on which vehicle you’re dealing with, an oil change should only take 15 minutes or less.
- Firestone Oil Change: Typically, Firestone has an oil change that can take about 30 minutes. However, opting for further services may cause you to wait for longer.
- Mavis Oil Change: On average, the Mavis oil change process takes between 30 and 45 minutes, depending on how busy a service center is.
- Jiffy Lube: First up, Jiffy Lube will be among the fastest, with an oil change taking approximately 15 minutes or less depending on the volume of customers.
- AutoZone: Although best known for its huge selection of parts and supplies, some AutoZone locations offer oil changes. The average oil change takes 15 to 30 minutes; services involving extra tasks will extend that amount.
How to Make Your Oil Change Process Faster
While oil changes generally take 30 to 45 minutes, there are ways you can speed up the process:
- Make an Appointment: But if you want to avoid standing in line when you get there, call ahead for an appointment. You can book an appointment online at many service centers, saving you time.
- Know Your Oil: Be sure you know what type and how much oil your car needs. Doing it this way saves the technician time and allows him or her to grab the right oil quickly for your vehicle when you arrive.
- Skip Additional Services: Additional services like a tire rotation, air filter replacement, or fluid checks are best left for another day if you’re in a hurry. A standard oil change will be quicker.
- Go Early or Late: The busiest time for these oil change centers is on weekends or after work hours. Try to go early or late during the evening to beat the crowd.
- Check for Promotions: There are promotions at some of the service centers that will decrease wait time since they want to get you out and keep the customers flowing in.
- Ensure Your Car is Ready: Make sure your car is in good working order and that your oil pan plug and filter are easy to get to. It helps avoid any delay when parts are difficult to remove.
Conclusion
An oil change is a quick and important one to do to keep your car in good condition. Typically, the process takes about 30 to 45 minutes, but the process is often affected by oil type, your car make and model as well as the efficiency of the service center. Knowing the steps in process and the tips to speed it up will make your oil change go as quick as possible to keep your car in the best condition.
FAQs:
Even though some quick lube shops may put forth the promise of fast service, oil changes tend to take 15 to 30 minutes at least. If it’s shorter than that, it’s rushed or incompleted.
For larger engines, or engines that are in sports or luxury cars require specialty oil or filters, of course you may need extra time for the oil change.
Longer wait times are caused by busy times, more services, or inefficiency of the service center.
Depending on the kind of oil used and your car’s needs, most cars require oil changes every 3,000 to 7,500 miles.
Doing an oil change is not rocket science — if you know what you’re doing and have the right tools, it can be completely doable in less than 30 minutes. But for most people, it’s quicker and easier to have a professional do it.
