Choose an oil and filter, enter your engine’s oil capacity, how far you drive and your change interval. The calculator shows what each DIY oil change costs and what you spend in a year, and compares it with a quick-lube price if you enter one. Oil and filter prices are the lower of the two stores on the date we checked.
How the calculator works
Cost per change is the oil you use (price per 5-quart jug divided by 5, times your capacity) plus the filter. Changes per year are your yearly miles divided by your interval. If your engine takes more than 5 quarts you will buy a second jug, and the calculator shows that first-time cash cost separately; leftover oil carries over to the next change.
Use the oil viscosity and interval in your owner’s manual or your car’s oil-life monitor. Defaults are placeholders: 5 quarts, 12,000 miles a year and a 7,500-mile interval.
Saving on oil changes
- Promo codes rarely apply: Advance excludes motor oil from promo codes. Look for oil change specials and filter offers instead, such as Advance’s free Carquest filter with 5 quarts of oil.
- Same part number, same price: Mobil 1 5W-30 was $45.99 at both stores, so buy where the deal or rewards are better. See motor oil prices.
- Recycle used oil for free at both stores.
Frequently asked questions
With the prices we found, about $48 to $64 for 5 quarts of a name-brand full synthetic plus a filter, before tax, depending on the oil and filter you choose. Synthetic blends on sale brought it under $30.How much does a DIY synthetic oil change cost?
Follow your owner’s manual or oil-life monitor. Many modern cars on synthetic oil specify 5,000 to 10,000 miles, with shorter intervals for severe use like towing or short trips.How often should I change my oil?
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We compare auto parts on published specs, warranty terms and dated store prices, and we link every store policy to its official page. We do not run a lab, so we never claim hands-on tests we did not do. About us · How we compare · Editorial policy