The Going Rate: Oil Changes Start At $30

Changing the oil in your car’s engine at around 3,000 miles or three months, a practice becoming antiquated with superior technology, is still a standard. Around Piedmont, it costs between $30 and $50 for an oil change. That’s an average price as station managers say that different vehicles or different types of oil – synthetic for example – can drive up the cost.

At the Montclair Union 76 station at 2240 Mountain Blvd. at Montclair Village, the cost for an oil change is $29.95. Station owner Waheed Alsaidi cautioned that very cheap oil changes – say ones that are $20 – may be too good to be true in that they’re lures for finding additional problems in the vehicle.

At the Valero station at 340 Highland Ave. in Piedmont, the average cost for an oil change is $42, said owner Simon Ho, adding that he felt the price was “reasonable.” Valero also does car repair and service.

At the Grand Avenue 76 station at 3374 Grand Ave., the cost for an oil change is $25. “We do quality and honest work,” said mechanic Hoang. He added that the basic oil change price is actually $19.95, but that the additional cost comes from disposing of the oil and oil filter. The station does car repair in addition to oil changes.

The Piedmont Auto Care at 29 Wildwood Ave. likewise handles all kinds of repair work, including rotating tires, inspecting brakes, belts and hoses, and replacing filters, fluids and sparkplugs. Its website promises “quality auto repair at an affordable price.” The price of an oil change there is about $39.

The A & P Service Center at 3505 Piedmont Ave. also handles all kinds of car repair. The oil change is $30 which includes topping off the fluids. An employee there said the shop has a lot of regular customers. Car Service at 5865 Broadway Terrace has three gas pumps and three service centers available. An oil change there, which includes checking fluids and tire pressure, costs about $35.

A standard oil change at Firestone Complete Auto Care at 4238 Broadway is $32.99. A high-mileage oil change for cars with more than 75,000 miles is $42.99 and a specialized synthetic oil change goes for $54.99. True to its name, vehicles can be taken to Firestone for complete auto care.

At the Ken Betts Service Center at 6550 Moraga Ave. at Montclair Village, a basic oil change is $49.20, said employee Tommy Ng. The oil change includes looking at brakes, tires and fluids. The shop has been in business for 30 years and is conveniently located right off Highway 13 in Montclair.

At Oil Changers at 3418 Park Blvd., the cost is $40.40 for an oil change, said technician Roosevelt Graham. Cars needing synthetic oil cost more. Oil Changers also checks tires, tops off fluids, changes out the oil filter and washes the vehicle windows. Oil Changers at 640 West Grand Ave. offers the same prices and services.