Motor oil, antifreeze and other car fluids all need to be changed on a regular basis. Many vehicle owners turn this routine maintenance into a do-it-yourself (DIY) activity.

What you may not realize is that if car fluids are not recycled or disposed of properly, they can easily make their way into our water supply and other natural habitats. Check out Earth 911’s tips on handling your fluids responsibly.

Both antifreeze (also known as engine coolant) and motor oil can have negative impacts on the environment. Let’s go more in-depth on each product.
Motor Oil

Check out these facts:

* One gallon of oil can contaminate a million gallons of water
* Used motor oil is insoluble, persistent and can contain toxic chemicals and heavy metals
* It is slow to degrade
* Oil can stick to everything from beach sand to bird feathers
* It is a major source of contaminated waterways and polluted drinking water

Antifreeze

Consider this:

* If discarded into sewers or storm drains, antifreeze will eventually make its way into bodies of water
* As antifreeze biodegrades in large quantities of water, it lowers the level of dissolved oxygen and kills aquatic life
* Antifreeze tastes sweet (take our word for it), which makes it enticing and potentially deadly to animals and children

Another thing to consider is that these resources are also made from non-renewable resources. This makes recycling them even more important, because it preserves the resources to produce them.

Both state and local agencies have set up recycling locations for automotive fluids. To find an automotive recycling center near you, use Earth 911’s recycling locator.

Most manufactures recommend that you change your vehicle’s oil and oil filter every 3 months or every 3,000 miles, whichever comes first.  You should consult your owner’s manual for the exact specifications for your vehicle or ask us for a Free Manufacturer’s Scheduled Maintenance Guide for your vehicle.  Some newer vehicles are programmed for up to 6,000 miles under “normal” driving conditions.  Your owner’s manual will have “normal” and “severe” recommendations.  Severe driving conditions include driving in stop-and-go traffic making frequent short trips (less than 5 miles per trip), lengthy high-speed trips, driving in extreme temperatures (over 90*F or below freezing), and towing and hauling.  The average driver probably considers his or her driving conditions normal, but the truth is that most of us drive under severe conditions far more often that we realize and should time our oil changes accordingly.

(For more information read our article Do You Really Need To Change Your Oil Every 3000 Miles?)

Personally, genuine positive reviews carry more weight for me than genuine negative reviews. It’s always easy to complain about cost and if someone was “rude” (when in reality they might have just been really busy). It seems rare that someone will go the extra mile to write a positive review. Online review sites seem to be a breeding ground for negativity and half-truths.

I take this in mind when reading reviews of oil change centers and, like Midas, I was impressed with the amount of genuinely positive reviews by real people.

Tuffy has lots of useful car care information on their website, printable in PDF format if you so desire. They seem to take an unusually high amount of care in making sure their customers are well-informed and up-to-date on the necessary care required for their vehicles.

As usual, oil change coupons and a dealer locator are available for their customers on their website, and are also obtainable at various sites on the web.

OilChangeCouponsList.com rates Tuffy as “Highly Recommended”

Pennzoil oil change centers are easily navigable through their website, where you can type in your zip code and find various locations. The location finder generally shows authorized Pennzoil oil change businesses, which can be as diverse as mom-and-pop stores as well as large franchises, like Tire Kingdom. Additionally, the company has Pennzoil 10 minute oil change locations that are also rapidly growing in popularity and usage. You can also often find oil change coupons available.

Reviews on sites like Yelp and others generally give the 10 minute oil change locations high marks, as they seem to be perceived as a more high end option than it’s other chain, Jiffy Lube.

Penzoil is a wise choice and is definitely a recommended option by this web site.

Relation to other brands

Through a series of mergers, acquisitions, and so forth, Pennzoil is also closely associated with Shell, Quaker State, and other popular oil brands. Jiffy Lube is a property of Pennzoil (actually Shell Oil Products).

For instance, Wal-Mart and Jiffy Lube might suffer from an inordinate amount of horror stories online. But the reality is that since these operations are so large it stands to reason they would have a larger amount of negative reviews. Percentage-wise many of these budget oil change places aren’t any worse than any others.

Here at OilChangeCouponsList.com, we have been slowly reviewing nationwide oil change centers. Check back frequently, as we’ll be updating these on a monthly basis:

• Firestone Oil Change
• Jiffy Lube Oil Change
• Midas Oil Change
• Mobil 1 Oil Change
• Pennzoil Oil Change (coming soon)
• Valvoline Instant Oil Change
• Wal-Mart Oil Change

Please feel free to offer your experiences with any of these oil change centers, as well as any information on how to get the best deal via oil change coupons, specials, or unique tips to make the experience more pleasant.

Thanks for stopping by!

Since 2008, with the generous support of its customers, the franchise group of Jiffy Lube service centers has raised more than $100,000 to help the local AHA office fight heart disease. Since 2008, Jiffy Lube service centers from across the country have donated more than $2.3 million to the cause, and in 2010 Jiffy Lube seeks to raise another $1 million.

Heart disease is the nation’s number one killer of women and men and the Jiffy Lube Maintenance Partners for Life campaign leverages the strong parallels between properly maintaining a healthy heart and a healthy vehicle. Nearly 2,400 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day – an average of one death every 37 seconds. and according to the Car Care Council, 80 percent of the vehicles inspected during 2008 vehicle check-up events needed either service or parts! The Jiffy Lube Maintenance Partners for Life campaign educates people about smart, preventive maintenance for their hearts and their vehicles.

“In the first two years, the Jiffy Lube Maintenance Partners for Life campaign has been remarkably successful in raising awareness and educating our community on heart and vehicle health. We are thrilled to embark on year three of the campaign and continue to raise much-needed funds to support heart disease prevention,” said Mike Beverly Jiffy Lube district manager. “Many people have been personally touched by heart disease, and I encourage everyone on the Central Coast to support the campaign and help us make an impact locally and nationally.”

During this past weekend, the Jiffy Lube franchise group on the Central Coast participated in a regional employee driven campaign that raised an additional $12,000 for the cause. Employees of the franchise group donated their personal wages to the campaign and participated in various service center events and activities. In all, more than 75% of the franchise group’s employees donated $50 or more from their wages!

The Jiffy Lube Maintenance Partner’s For Life campaign runs through March 14. During this time local Jiffy Lube service centers will promote heart health and vehicle health awareness with special events and the Maintenance Partner’s for Life Campaign. Customers can participate in the fundraising campaign by donating $3 to Go Red For Women at their local Jiffy Lube service center, and in return will receive a Maintenance Partners for Life book worth over $100 in savings.

“In the first two years of Maintenance Partners for Life, we have seen tremendous support and achievements in local communities by Jiffy Lube franchisees, employees and customers,” said Neil Meltzer, American Heart Association Board Chairman. “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with the local Central Coast Jiffy Lube service centers to raise funds that support critical research and education programs to help fight heart disease.”

For more information about the national Jiffy Lube Maintenance Partners for Life campaign, visit (www.JiffyLubeGoesRed.com).

About Maintenance Partners for Life
Jiffy Lube, America’s largest fast-lube company, and the American Heart Association are working together to fight heart disease. Through the Jiffy Lube Maintenance Partners for Life campaign, the goal is to raise more than $1 million dollars for the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement, which celebrates the energy, passion and power women have to band together and eradicate heart disease.

About Go Red For Women
Since 2004, Go Red For Women has captured the energy, passion and intelligence of women to work collectively to wipe out heart disease — the No. 1killer of women. We want millions of women across America to take heart disease personally. Go Red For Women engages women and the men who love them to embrace the cause. Healthcare providers, celebrities and politicians also elevate the cause and spread the word about women and heart disease.

For more information about Go Red For Women, please call 1-888-MY-HEART (1-888-694-3278) or visit GoRedForWomen.org.

About PCJL, Inc dba Jiffy Lube
PCJL, Inc is an independent franchisee of Jiffy Lube International. owned and operated by Edward and Natalie Petrilli and Sean Porcher. The franchise group operates 8 Jiffy Lube service centers on the Central Coast: Paso Robles, Atascadero, San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande, Santa Maria, Lompoc, Goleta and Santa Barbara . Visit www.MyJiffyLube.com to learn more about Jiffy Lube and vehicle care.

About Jiffy Lube®
Jiffy Lube International Inc. (“Jiffy Lube”), with more than 2,000 franchised service centers in North America, serves approximately 24 million customers each year. Jiffy Lube pioneered the fast oil change industry in 1979 by establishing the first drive-through service bay, providing customers with fast, professional service for their vehicles. Headquartered in Houston, Jiffy Lube is a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Shell Oil Company. Visit www.jiffylube.com to learn more about Jiffy Lube and vehicle care.

Note: Jiffy Lube International and Shell Oil Company are not responsible for statements or information communicated by independent franchisees.

In the Portland Oregon area, Firestone stores are the first in the United States to off an oil change service that is environmentally friendly. This oil change uses EcoPower quality motor oil. EcoPower oil is recycled and refined twice – which means it uses up to 85% less energy to produce than other motor oils. How is EcoPower performance-wise? It actually exceeds American standards for motor oil performance.

Reviews on sites like Yelp and others are generally favorable – moreso than many other comparable auto service centers. We highly recommend them.

STANDARD OIL CHANGE
Their value-priced basic service:

• install new filter
• install up to 5 quarts of Kendall® GT-1® Synthetic Blend motor oil
• lubricate chassis (if necessary)
• 3-month/3,000-mile warranty

HIGH MILEAGE OIL CHANGE
Designed for vehicles with over 75,000 miles:

• install new filter
• install up to 5 quarts of Kendall® GT-1® Synthetic Blend High Mileage motor oil
• lubricate chassis (if necessary)
• 3-month/3,000-mile warranty

FULL SYNTHETIC OIL CHANGE
Designed for newer higher revving engines that specify a full synthetic motor oil:

• install new filter
• install up to 5 quarts of Kendall® GT-1® Full Synthetic motor oil
• lubricate chassis (if necessary)
• 3-month/3,000-mile warranty

Firestone oil change coupons are often sent out via mailers as well as available in multiple locations online.

We are working hard to make the ads come up that are relevant to you and your state. We are also working with a few different agencies to get exclusive change oil coupons and allow you to print them off at home and take them to the dealership or automotive center.

To help in the decision making process we are also providing reviews and additional information about different companies and their history. To date we have Mobil 1, Walmart, Valvoline, Midas, and Jiffy Lube. There’s more coming!

ExxonMobil has several recommendations depending on the type of oil used in your automobile.

The official ExxonMobil site states:

We recommend a maximum of six months between oil changes for Mobil Clean 5000, Mobil Clean High Mileage and Mobil Clean 7500. On Mobil 1 Extended Performance, we recommend a maximum of one year between oil changes.

Mobil 1 Oil Change centers offer incentives for regular care of your automobile at their locations. The official website states: “As you earn Rewards, you can either redeem your Mobil 1 Rewards immediately, or save them and build towards a bigger reward. You will earn $5 in Rewards for each oil change or purchase during your Reward Accrual Period”

Reviews for Mobil 1 Oil Change Locations are generally positive for customer service, complaints, and so forth. Highly recommended.

Oil change prices depend on a number of factors, including additional services bundled in the oil change package.

Short answer? Anywhere from $20 – $50. It can be even less expensive if you do it yourself – but that’s a focus for another article.

The price you ultimately end up paying can depend on a number of factors really.

How Much Oil Does Your Vehicle Require?

This is not a mysterious factor. Obviously a Ford Excursion is going to require more oil than a Toyota Corolla. Extra quarts of oil means increased cost.

What Brand/Type of Oil and Filter?

Some oil change centers will offer lower oil change prices if you use their brand of oil. Walmart Oil Change centers will offer as much as $5 or more discount if you use their Walmart brand oil. Many of the oil change franchisees offer similar discounts.

Type of Oil Change Service Location.

If you go to your dealer service center, you will definitely be paying a lot more. Depending on your vehicle, peace of mind may trump cost and the dealer service center may be your preference. But you can get comparable service at a Quick Change location. Just be sure to ask the right questions and know what you are getting for your money.

Additional Services.

Dealer service centers as well as quick change locations will often bundle other items into an oil change. Items may include vacuuming the interior of the vehicle, checking and refilling all other fluids, window cleaning, and more. If these things aren’t necessary for you, find out what their bare bones oil change price is and stick with that price, declining other “value added” services.

Oil Change Coupons

Obviously the name of this site is a dead giveaway, but the best way to straight up get the lowest price possible is using oil change coupons. Our handy guide on the right hand side of this page allows you to search by state (and soon by city!).

Hopefully this helps you keep cost down and quality up on your oil change experiences. Regular oil changes definitely increase the life of your vehicle, minimizing wear and tear.

Walmart is one example. They do not have any oil change coupons at this time, but most Walmarts will match other coupons.

Again, this is usually on a location-by-location basis. So, you should call your local Walmart to see if they will match a competitor’s coupon and then get the best coupon price from other local oil change companies, or use a deal site online to search for oil change coupons.

A popular promotion this year (2009) is that people getting their oil changed at Walmart will receive $15 gift cards. Check your local Wal-Mart for details.