Cost of an Oil change

[Sully]

Why does it cost so much for a 3 hole Oil change for a HD Triglide from a dealer or shop

Cheapest I've found is $199.00 from a shop, Dealer wants $250.00.....geez

[peteg59]

$110.00/hour shop labor rate @ many HD Dealership(s), plus cost of oils, environmental disposal fees, consumable shop supplies, etc.

And "Just because they can"....

[FRR]

That is pure robbery, period. You can change the oil on a Tri for less that $50.00 if you do it yourself.

[Lucky]

MUST BE A GREAT SERVICE. JUST PART OF BEING IN "THE FAMILY" I GUESS.

[rhino 2]

If anyone has ever had a business or ran one then they would know why they have to charge what they ,Have to charge...Its called overhead....Oh and i have never had/seen a dealer hold a gun to my head or anyone else's head and say you have to pay me what i want.......Remember we are talking about toys not hart transplants...

[Jack Klarich]

I am not defending the dealers

However, they have to pay huge fees to work with the EPA and disposal of the oils

I will keep changing my own oils

[Lee H. Mann]

Why does it cost so much for a 3 hole Oil change for a HD Triglide from a dealer or shop

Cheapest I've found is $199.00 from a shop, Dealer wants $250.00.....geez

Mom & Pop's Scooter Shop answers the question ...

"WHY ??"

4 Quarts of SYN3 for the engine @ $12.00 = $48.00

1 Quart of SYN3 for the primary @ $12.00 = $12.00

1 Quart of SYN3 for the trans @ $12.00 = $12.00

(more if you use real synthetic gear oil)

1 Oil Filter Chrome @ $13.00 = $13.00

2 Sparklers @ $3.50 = $7.00

That's $91.00 right there just in parts.

Usually a 3 hole (10-20K) service includes spark plugs, clean or change air filter, check charging system, check light functions and battery terminals, Tire air pressure, check belt adjustment, suspension air pressure, adjust clutch (non-hydraulic), check brakes, check brake fluid, and generally look for anything loose or out of place.

The whole job can take 90 minutes to 2 1/2 hours depending on what you find. Earlier models include Primary Chain Adjustment too. And, if for some reason, you have to adjust the drive belt, hold that thought !

I charge $60.00 per hour (dirt cheap) and that right there is at least another $90.00.

$180.00 plus tax when the labor rate is $60.00 @ hour.

[rhino 2]

Mom & Pop's Scooter Shop answers the question ...

"WHY ??"

4 Quarts of SYN3 for the engine @ $12.00 = $48.00

1 Quart of SYN3 for the primary @ $12.00 = $12.00

1 Quart of SYN3 for the trans @ $12.00 = $12.00

(more if you use real synthetic gear oil)

1 Oil Filter Chrome @ $13.00 = $13.00

2 Sparklers @ $3.50 = $7.00

That's $91.00 right there just in parts.

Usually a 3 hole (10-20K) service includes spark plugs, clean or change air filter, check charging system, check light functions and battery terminals, Tire air pressure, check belt adjustment, suspension air pressure, adjust clutch (non-hydraulic), check brakes, check brake fluid, and generally look for anything loose or out of place.

The whole job can take 90 minutes to 2 1/2 hours depending on what you find. Earlier models include Primary Chain Adjustment too. And, if for some reason, you have to adjust the drive belt, hold that thought !

I charge $60.00 per hour (dirt cheap) and that right there is at least another $90.00.

$180.00 plus tax when the labor rate is $60.00 @ hour.

I would add your not just paying me for what i do.....But also for what i know...

[MikeyTX]

Mom & Pop's Scooter Shop answers the question ...

"WHY ??"

4 Quarts of SYN3 for the engine @ $12.00 = $48.00

1 Quart of SYN3 for the primary @ $12.00 = $12.00

1 Quart of SYN3 for the trans @ $12.00 = $12.00

(more if you use real synthetic gear oil)

1 Oil Filter Chrome @ $13.00 = $13.00

2 Sparklers @ $3.50 = $7.00

That's $91.00 right there just in parts.

Usually a 3 hole (10-20K) service includes spark plugs, clean or change air filter, check charging system, check light functions and battery terminals, Tire air pressure, check belt adjustment, suspension air pressure, adjust clutch (non-hydraulic), check brakes, check brake fluid, and generally look for anything loose or out of place.

The whole job can take 90 minutes to 2 1/2 hours depending on what you find. Earlier models include Primary Chain Adjustment too. And, if for some reason, you have to adjust the drive belt, hold that thought !

I charge $60.00 per hour (dirt cheap) and that right there is at least another $90.00.

$180.00 plus tax when the labor rate is $60.00 @ hour.

That sir is right in line with what I pay my indie.

[hogcowboy]

I heard there was a guy that started a on call maintenance service in a metro area somewhere for just this kind of thing, oil changes. I've not heard a thing since so have no idea how it went but sounds/sounded like a good idea. Word of mouth alone should keep a guy busy. But it would have to be a in a major city to work I'd think.

[Mykneesbehurtin]

As long as I can still physically do my own I will.Installing a remote oil filter assy made the job much easier.If you run oil other than Syn 3 your cost will come down some,I run Lucas and my cost is $ 7.00 a quart so that alone saves me $ 35 over Syn 3,not knocking Syn 3 just not my choice.Will be switching to Lucas primary oil this spring also but will stick with Bel Ray in the trans.

[hardwickbv]

.Installing a remote oil filter assy made the job much easier.

I also changed over to the OUTLAW High Performance Cleanable Oil Filter from DK Custom this saves you from buying a $13 oil filter and pays back after 9 oil changes.

Bob

[Jack Klarich]

I also changed over to the OUTLAW High Performance Cleanable Oil Filter from DK Custom this saves you from buying a $13 oil filter and pays back after 9 oil changes.

Bob

A very good filter

Belive it, it outflows many higher priced filters

Whem Kevin and Devin had my Freewheeler they tried ( I think it was 6) air filters

The Outlaw did the best job

Kevin has the data if any one is interested in reading it

I am very happy with it

Plus it does not hang out far so there is no strain on the leg when riding

[MDO]

We have a HD dealership in my area doing an engine oil change for $39.99.

That is HD 360 conventional oil in 20w-50 or straight 50 weight & a black HD filter.

[MikeyTX]

Not a bad price

[MDO]

Not a bad price

Not at all. The dealership is under new ownership & I know they just want to build relationships.

Hell, if you go on the shelf & buy that stuff yourself, it cost more than that.

I enjoy doing it myself. I let the dealer in CA I got my Freewheeler from do the 1,000 mile service cause I was headed back to Missouri + my son picked up the tab.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

The thing to remember here is, as stated by others, the service schedule (owners manual) requires much more than just "an oil change, three holes".

The trap here is that by doing just a three hole oil change, lots of "inspections" don't get done. There are some biggies too. Drive belt deflection, clutch operation, etc.

You see this a lot with the Gold Wing owners as well. When the maintenance, other than oil change, doesn't get done, we see recalls like the Gold Wing Rear brake master cylinder recall (yes I know this is a Harley thread, but the example is right on point to my point). Honda says change brake fluid every 12k, almost no one does it, the rear master cylinder was getting gummed up and was starting to cause the rear brakes to drag. Because there was no bypass on the cylinder, Honda opted to replace them all with one that has a bypass. So, they now have a master cylinder that will bleed pressure, no matter how bad the fluid gets, even to the point of brake failure. My opinion, a band-aide.

Anyway, my point is, if you do you own oil changes, do all the required "inspections" when you do, especially if you still have a warrantee. And if you do have a warrantee, make sure you have the correct tools to do the inspections, for example, a drive belt deflection gauge. Hard to say you measured it if you don't have the gauge. Just my humble opinion, but, my local dealer's owner saw me buying oil and filter and told me I could void my warrantee on my tri by doing my own. I showed him my check list (available at some Harley web sites). And explained that I use Harley specialty tools and Harley oil and filter. I then told him he'd have a hard time convincing a court when I sue him over voiding my warrantee that the maintenance wasn't done, seeing as there's a place on the checklist to sign saying I had done it. He backed right down and said he would never try to void a warrantee, just wanted me to be aware (I've bought like 9 bikes from him).

[MikeyTX]

Not at all. The dealership is under new ownership & I know they just want to build relationships.

Hell, if you go on the shelf & buy that stuff yourself, it cost more than that.

I enjoy doing it myself. I let the dealer in CA I got my Freewheeler from do the 1,000 mile service cause I was headed back to Missouri + my son picked up the tab.

Yup.

[FRR]

We have a HD dealership in my area doing an engine oil change for $39.99.

That is HD 360 conventional oil in 20w-50 or straight 50 weight & a black HD filter.

That was my point earlier. Who in the world pays $12.00 for a quart of oil????

[MikeyTX]

High end synthetic will cost that. easy