"...It's a constant battle between practicality and actual fun."

HEMET—Oil changes, the routine maintenance task that is such a dragggg. As you prepare to crawl under your car and get your hands dirty, a familiar chorus begins to form. "Ugh, I should just sell it," is often the first thing out of your mouth. The thought of parting with your beloved shitbox seems more appealing than spending another Saturday wrestling an oil filter. As car enthusiast Marcos Perez puts it, "Every time I have to do an oil change, I start questioning my life choices. But then I remember to open a beer."

Next up in the symphony of grumbles is, "Why am I wasting my money on maintenance? I want more go-fast parts." The allure of performance upgrades is always tempting, especially when you're ball…elbow-deep in engine grime. Janice Santos, a self-proclaimed tarmac junkie, shares this sentiment. "I get it, maintenance is 'important', but sometimes I just want to splurge on a new turbocharger instead. It's a constant battle between practicality and actual fun."

Then there's the age-old debate: "Hand tight is fine, right?" You know, like when you're screwing on the new oil filter but forgot to bring down your torque wrench. Improper tightening can lead to big problems down the road. Mike Hernandez, a seasoned DIY mechanic, advises caution. "I've learned the hard way that 'hand tight' isn't always enough. Unless you're selling the car soon, then it's someone else's problem."

As the frustration mounts, the convenience of a quick oil change service becomes more appealing. Sarah Jackson often finds herself in this predicament. "I know doing it myself saves money, but sometimes I'm lazy. Probably most times, Actually. Jiffy Lube starts to look pretty good, but then I remember I want to be able to get the filter off next time."

In the end, despite the grumbling and second-guessing, there's a certain satisfaction in completing an oil change yourself. It's a reminder that you chose to be prisoner to that 30 year old pile that you drive to a meet once a month.