A DIY oil change (full synthetic oil plus a premium filter) costs about $33-$47 in parts, versus $120-$220 at a dealership or shop once labor and shop fees are added - a savings of $87-$173 per change. Changing oil every 5,000 miles at 15,000 miles a year works out to 30 oil changes over a decade, which keeps $2,610 to $5,190 in your pocket by doing it yourself. Recommended intervals by oil type: conventional oil every 5,000 miles normal driving (3,000 miles severe); synthetic blend every 7,500 miles (5,000 severe); full synthetic every 10,000-15,000 miles (7,500 severe).
Required gear includes rated jack stands (never work under a vehicle supported only by a jack), a hydraulic floor jack, an oil drain pan, an oil filter wrench, a metric socket set, and a torque wrench for the drain plug - typical torque specs are 29-33 ft-lbs for Honda/Acura, 27-30 ft-lbs for Toyota/Lexus, 19-25 ft-lbs for Ford/GM, 31 ft-lbs for Subaru, and 22 ft-lbs plus a new crush washer for VW/Audi. The most common mistakes are not checking that the old filter gasket came off with the filter, over-torquing the drain plug (a stripped oil pan thread is a $200-$500 repair), using the wrong oil viscosity, and not running the engine afterward to check for leaks. Used oil must never be dumped on the ground or in the trash; AutoZone, O'Reilly, Advance Auto, and Walmart Auto Center all accept it for free.