EdupradaYour car should be drained every 7 to 10,000 kilometers, or once a year. It consists of replacing the used engine oil and the oil filter. This is an essential operation to preserve your engine and the longevity of your car. Expect a price of €50 to €150 to do your oil change.
Why should you change your oil?
The oil is used to lubricate the various parts of the engine. The engine oil level gradually drops, especially if you drive in town. draining helps ensure the longevity, safety and performance of the engine, while slowing down corrosion and rust.
If you don’t change your oil on time, it could clog your oil or create an oil shortage. In both cases, it is very bad for the engine, some parts of which may become damaged. You may then experience starting difficulties, excessive fuel consumption or loss of performance.
What is included in an oil change?
In a car oil change, the following items are usually included:
- Engine oil replacement: Used engine oil is drained and replaced with new, clean oil. This helps maintain proper engine lubrication and eliminates impurities accumulated in the used oil;
- Changing the oil filter: the oil filter is replaced to ensure effective filtering of the new oil and prevent impurities from circulating in the engine.
- Oil level check: The oil level is checked and adjusted if necessary to ensure that it is within the range recommended by the vehicle manufacturer;
- Additional checkpoints: Some garages or mechanics also perform additional checks when changing oil, such as visual inspection of belts, hoses and other components to detect possible problems or signs of wear;
- Fluid upgrade: In addition to engine oil, other fluids such as coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid, etc., can be checked and topped up if necessary;
- Service Light Reset: After draining, the service light or drain light on the dashboard is usually reset to indicate that the operation has been carried out.
When to change your oil?
It is very important to do your oil change regularly: every 10,000 km for a gasoline engine and every < a i=3>7,000 km for a diesel engine. If you drive less, consider doing it once a year.
Remember to check the maintenance logbook for your car in order to maintain your manufacturer’s warranty. As a reminder, you can go to any auto garage to service your car while maintaining your manufacturer’s warranty.
The main sign indicating that you need to change your oil is quite simply the oil change indicator on the dashboard. It tells you how many kilometers you have left before you have to do it. As soon as you are notified, make an appointment with a trusted mechanic before a problem arises!
The real problems appear when another light comes on on the dashboard: the one indicating a fault in the engine oil or an engine failure. If one of these lights starts to glow, you may have delayed the drain too long.
How much do the parts for an oil change cost?
There is nothing simpler than an oil change: it simply involves replacing the engine oil in your vehicle. This engine oil ensures engine cooling, evacuation of impurities, protection against corrosion and lubrication of parts such as the clutch for example.
Over time, engine oil becomes clogged and no longer fully performs its role. The purpose of the oil change is therefore to renew this oil. Usually, an oil change includes:
- The engine oil replacement;
- The changing the oil filter;
- Vehicle control;
- Fluid upgrades;
- The reset of the maintenance indicator.
Do not neglect changing the oil filter: this prevents the new oil from getting dirty. It must therefore be done at the same time as the draining.
Overall, the parts needed are not very expensive. Count between 5 and 20 euros for the oil filter and 50 to 100 euros for engine oil. Depending on the type of oil, the price can double.
How much does the labor cost for an oil change?
An oil change is a very quick intervention. It usually takes less than an hour. Labor time is most of the time billed as a flat rate which can vary from 30 to 80 euros. Many garages, particularly car centers such as Norauto, Speedy, Midas or Feu Vert, offer a package including parts and labor.
Good to know: the tightening of anti-pollution standards has caused an increase in prices for oil changes, the oil used today is more expensive than before.
How much does a car oil change cost?
Once the cost of parts and labor are added up, count between 50 and 150 euros for your oil change ;engine oil. The type of oil greatly varies the price of the intervention. To get a slightly more precise idea, here is the average price of an oil change for ten vehicles sold in France:
| Vehicle model | Average price for an oil change |
|---|---|
| Oil change maintenance on a Renault CLIO 3 | €167.47 |
| Oil change maintenance on a Peugeot 207 | €109.13 |
| Oil change maintenance on a Renault SCÉNIC 2 | €136.29 |
| Oil change maintenance on a Volkswagen POLO | €73.46 |
| Oil change maintenance on a Peugeot 308 | €106.35 |
| Oil change maintenance on a Citroën C3 1 | €83.68 |
| Oil change maintenance on a Renault TWINGO 2 | €77.57 |
| Oil change maintenance on a Renault MEGANE 2 | €157.39 |
| Oil change maintenance on a Citroën C4 2 | €102.69 |
| Oil change maintenance on an Opel CORSA D | €77.37 |
If you want to know the exact price of an oil change for your car, go to our garage comparator: you can get a quote in 3 clicks!
How to pay less for your oil change?
Do your own emptying
The simplest way to save money on emptying your oil is to do it yourself. Simply empty the oil pan, unscrew and replace the oil filter and finally add new oil.
Be careful though, it is better to be well equipped. You will need a jack to raise your car, jack stands to stabilize it, suitable wrenches, a drain pan and a funnel. All this equipment can quickly get expensive.
Good to know: engine oil is very harmful to the environment. If you do your oil change yourself, don’t forget to take your dirty oil to a mechanic or recycling center!
Compare quotes from mechanics
To save money, the most effective way is to compare quotes from several garages.
Take advantage of network promotions
Auto centers like Midas, Speedy or Feu Vert offer most very attractive parts and labor packages for your oil change maintenance. Even better: they regularly run promotions on this type of intervention. These promotions can go up to -40%.
By carrying out your oil change on time, you will be sure to drive a high-performance car, which will age well, and in which you are safe. But to properly maintain your car, there’s more than just changing the oil regularly!