Mechanical services
Oil and Filter Change from $149
From $149 for engine oil and a new oil filter, using the correct grade for your engine. Usually done while you wait. That is the whole job, and there is no inspection attached to it that you did not ask for.
What is included
What $149 actually buys
- Old oil drained properly rather than sucked out through the dipstick tube
- A new oil filter, not a wipe of the old one
- A new sump plug washer
- The right oil for your engine, measured to the manufacturer's capacity
- Service sticker on the windscreen if you want one
It says "from" because engines are different. Some take four litres, some take nine. A low viscosity full synthetic costs more than what an older Camry drinks, and a European engine that requires a specific manufacturer approval costs more again. Tell us the make, model and year when you book and you will get the exact figure then.
No upsell
What we will not do
We will not hand you a list of eleven recommendations at the counter designed to turn a $149 job into a $600 one. If we see something genuinely unsafe while the car is up on the hoist, we will tell you, and then that is the end of it unless you ask us to go further.
If you want the car properly inspected, that is a different job and it is called a service. It starts at $330 and it includes a written report.
Full car service from $330The right grade
Which oil your engine needs
The specification is not a preference. It is printed on your oil cap or in your handbook and it exists because of the clearances, the oil pump, the variable valve timing gear and, on modern engines, the turbo bearings.
- Many current Japanese petrol engines run a thin oil such as 0W-20 or 5W-30, partly for fuel economy
- A lot of diesels run 5W-30 or 5W-40 to a low-ash specification, which matters if the vehicle has a diesel particulate filter
- European petrol and diesel engines commonly require an oil carrying a specific manufacturer approval number
- Older engines with more wear are sometimes better on a slightly heavier grade, though not if the manufacturer specified otherwise
Putting a thick oil in an engine designed for a thin one is not the harmless conservative choice people assume. On an engine with variable valve timing it can set a fault light and change how the engine runs. We use what your engine is specified to run.
Interval
How often, honestly
The book will usually say 10,000km to 15,000km or twelve months, whichever comes first. Brisbane driving argues for the shorter end for a lot of people. If most of your trips are under fifteen minutes, the engine never gets hot enough for long enough to boil off the moisture and unburnt fuel that end up in the sump.
If you do mostly highway kilometres, the published interval is fine. Do not let anyone talk you into changing oil every 5,000km on a modern engine that does long runs. That is money you could spend on brake fluid, which almost nobody changes and almost everybody should.
When to act
Signs you have left it too long
Oil going dark is normal and is not by itself a problem. What matters more is level and behaviour. A ticking noise on start-up that fades after a few seconds, an engine that sounds harsher when hot, oil that has gone gritty between your fingers, or a level that keeps dropping between checks are all worth acting on.
If the oil light comes on while driving, pull over and stop the engine. That light is pressure, not level, and driving on it does damage measured in thousands.
Diesels, hybrids and electrics
Diesel, hybrid and electric vehicles
Diesels get their own attention because of the particulate filter. Short-trip driving stops the filter regenerating, and the wrong oil accelerates the problem, so we use a low-ash oil to the manufacturer's specification.
Hybrids still take engine oil, and short petrol engine run times mean the oil often deserves changing on time rather than on kilometres. Fully electric cars have no engine oil at all, though the reduction gear oil, coolant and brake fluid all still need attention.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How much is an oil change in Brisbane?
Ours starts at $149 including the oil filter. The final figure depends on how much oil your engine takes, what grade it needs and how accessible the filter is.
How long does it take?
Most cars are done while you wait. Ring ahead so we can have the right oil and filter on the shelf.
How often should I change my oil?
Usually every 10,000km to 15,000km or twelve months, and closer to the shorter end if your driving is mostly short city trips.
Is synthetic oil worth it?
If your engine specifies it, you do not have a choice, and modern engines almost all do. On an older engine that specifies mineral oil, synthetic is usually still better but the benefit is smaller.
Can I just top up instead of changing it?
Topping up fixes the level. It does not fix oil that has broken down or a filter that is loaded up.
Do you change the filter every time?
Yes. An oil change without a new filter is not an oil change.
What oil do you use?
Whatever your engine is specified to run, including manufacturer-approved grades for European engines and low-ash oils for diesels with a particulate filter.
Will an oil change fix my oil leak?
No, and fresh oil sometimes makes an existing leak more obvious. If you are losing oil, get the leak found.
Does this count as a logbook service?
No. A logbook service follows your manufacturer's full schedule and gets the book stamped.
My engine burns oil. What should I do?
Some engines use a little between services and that can be normal. If you are adding a litre every couple of thousand kilometres, have it looked at rather than just topping up.
Do you dispose of the old oil?
Yes, through a licensed waste oil collector.
Can you do it at my house?
[CONFIRM: mobile oil change availability and service radius]