Changing the oil is an important aspect to the longevity of your hunting truck. It's safe, it's easy — and when done with a FRAM — you can have confidence that you'll get the desired result.
August 15, 2022
By PH Staff
Hunters put a lot of miles on their trucks, especially during the peak of hunting season. That’s why it’s important to keep up with the maintenance of your truck. One of the best ways to keep a hunting truck running at peak performance is by regularly changing the oil. This can be a costly process, with dealers charging $75 or more for a routine oil change. Plus, it’s time-consuming, particularly if you don’t live close to a dealership or have to leave your truck at a garage all day hoping they can fit you in.
Changing your vehicle’s oil yourself has become something of a lost art these days, with most people leaving it up to the professionals. But in a tight economy, changing your own oil saves dollars that can go to other things—like a new hunting rifle or that new set of camo you’ve been coveting. And with a schedule that’s already packed full of work, chores and family commitments, hunters have little spare time to sneak into the woods. But changing your own oil—once you’ve mastered it—can take less than 30 minutes, and have your truck running in top shape the next time you head for the stand. Plus, when you do it yourself, you know you’re using quality products, like the best oil and the leading oil filters from FRAM .
Here are five of the top reasons you should consider changing your own oil:
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1. It’s Easy With the right tools, changing a vehicle’s oil is easy. Your owner’s manual should provide the information you need to get started, including the type of oil and filter to use, the location of the oil filter, and the recommended schedule for an oil and filter change. The oil filters on some vehicles can be hard to access, but a quick search on-line should also list a number of websites for oil-change instructions tailored to your vehicle, complete with step-by-step videos.
2. It’s Safe If you are nervous about doing it yourself, don’t be. Changing your own oil is completely safe if you take the necessary precautions. First, chock your wheels and put on your emergency brake. Make sure you safely jack up your vehicle and support with properly rated jack stands. After draining the oil into an approved container, you will need to take it to a recycling facility.
3. Changing Your Own Oil Saves Money Doing it yourself does require owning a jack, stands and the tools necessary to remove the drain plug and oil filter. But that initial investment in equipment does pay off in the long run. Considering that even bargain, quick-change places charge $50-$75 (or a lot more if you drive a diesel) for an oil change, you’ll save a significant amount of money every time you change your own oil.
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4. Watching Out for Issues The more time you spend under your truck, the more you can keep an eye on potential problems. You also get a better understanding of how your vehicle operates and what other problems might arise. When you’re changing your oil, check all the other fluids as well. The earlier you can spot an issue, the faster you can get it looked at by professional, which could keep you from getting stranded far away from the pavement and saving you an expensive charge from the towing company.
5. Putting the Best in Your Vehicle When you take your truck to the shop for an oil change, you might not know what quality of oil and filters they’re using. But I can promise, it’s usually not the top-shelf stuff. Instead, garages use bulk oil and off-brand filters because that saves them money. If you do it yourself, you know what’s going into your vehicle, and you can invest your money in best-in-class parts, like FRAM Oil Filters, that can enhance your car’s performance and keeping it running better, longer.
