Do You Tip Oil Change

Do You Tip For An Oil Change?

Introduction

If you’re having your car’s oil changed, you’re might be wondering if you’re supposed to leave your mechanic a tip. If you are supposed to tip for the oil change, how much should you tip your mechanic? That’s where our ‘Do You Tip – Oil Change’ tipping guide comes in handy. We answer these questions and more to let you tip with confidence.

4 Interesting Facts About Oil Changes that Every Vehicle Owner Should Know

1. Why Does My Car Need Oil? Oil is your car engine’s lubricant. Without it, your car’s engine parts would grind each other to bits, dirt and ground metal would accumulate in your engine, and your car’s engine would overheat. That’s why you should never drive your car if it’s low on oil since you’d be putting your entire engine at risk.  Replacing an engine is expensive!
2. Follow Your Vehicle’s Oil Change Interval Recommendations! Each vehicle manufacturer has their own recommended oil change intervals, which you can find in your car’s owner’s manual. If you don’t follow these recommendations, you risk damaging your vehicle’s engine. You’ll also void any car manufacturer warranty or extended warranty. Don’t do it! The possible exception here is if your car is older and recommends a conventional oil on a 3000 mile oil change interval. If you switch to a fully synthetic oil, it’s sometimes possible to go much longer between oil changes (7000 miles or more) but this depends on your specific car and it’s condition. Check with your mechanic first.
3. But Won’t The Warning Lights Tell Me When To Change My Oil? Not always! The unfortunate truth is that mechanics frequently forget to(or can’t) reset the oil change warning light after changing your car’s oil. This could make you miss your next oil change and damage your car’s engine.
4. Should You Use Synthetic Oil or Conventional Oil? There are good reasons to use synthetic oil but whether you should use synthetic oil or not depends on your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations. You can find this out by flipping through your vehicle owner’s manual or by asking your mechanic for recommendations on what is best for your vehicle.

That said, synthetic oil is often a good choice because it lasts longer, keeps your engine running longer, makes your car easier to start in cold weather, helps protect your engine in both cold and warm weather, and prevents sludge buildup. In other words, synthetic oil means you won’t have to have your oil changed as frequently, your vehicle’s engine will last longer, and your vehicle will go into the mechanic less often which will save you money. On the other hand, a synthetic oil change costs more than a conventional oil change.

How Much Do Oil Change Mechanics Make?

According to Payscale, the average oil change/lube technician earns $11.25 per hour. The hourly wage can vary based on experience, location, and who they work for. Top employers for lube technicians are Jiffy Lube, Valvoline, Walmart, Grease Monkeys, and dealerships of all the major vehicle brands.

While this might not seem like much money, it’s a job that requires minimal skills or certification. In addition, an oil change job is often used as a stepping stone into a higher-paid career as a skilled vehicle mechanic.

So, Do You Need To Tip For An Oil Change?

No, you don’t have to tip for an oil change. Besides never being required, it’s not customary to tip oil change so a tip will never be expected. Doing a good job is already included in the price of your oil change. If you do tip your mechanic for changing your oil, expect them to be very surprised and of course grateful!

How Much Should I Tip For An Oil Change?

Keeping in mind that you’re not required or expected to tip for an oil change, you might still want to leave your mechanic a tip. If you do want to leave a tip, a few dollars is more than enough. You” make your mechanic’s day and they’ll appreciate your generosity.

How Should Tips To My Oil Change Mechanic Be Left?

If you want to leave your mechanic a tip for changing your oil, you should leave a tip in cash only after they have completely finished your oil change. This ties the excellent service that you received to the tip that you are giving your mechanic. Make sure to tip the mechanic that changed your oil since the person checking you out is often not the same person!