Ensuring that any vehicle you drive has a properly working engine is important. Ensuring that your engine is functioning as highly as possible in a vehicle as massive as a semi-truck is extremely so.

Because of this, understanding how much it costs to change the oil in a semi-truck to keep your engine working well is essential, and likely something that’s at the front of your mind. 

If you don’t change the oil in your semi-truck frequently enough, you could be creating a dangerous condition for yourself and other drivers on the road with you.  Refueling and pouring oil quality into the engine motor car Transmission and Maintenance Gear. Energy fuel concept.

Changing the oil in a semi-truck can cost anywhere from $200 to as much as $425. A good estimate is roughly $300. However, if you change the oil in your semi-truck yourself, you can expect to pay less.

There are many factors that go into the cost of a semi truck’s oil change, such as the cost of parts, oil, lube, and labor, as well as where you live and if the truck or engine has any other issues. 

Driving a semi-truck without changing the oil frequently enough can result in dangerous driving conditions and more expensive problems later.

It’s important to get an understanding of how much changing the oil in your semi-truck costs, as well as how frequently it needs to be changed so that you can set a schedule and budget. Sticking to those will ensure that your truck’s engine is always in tip-top shape!

Cost Breakdown of a Semi-Truck Oil Change

There are multiple aspects of a semi-truck oil change, each contributing to the cost. They are, on average:

How Much Does Changing a Semi Truck’s Oil Cost?

Depending on where you get your oil changed, if you change your oil yourself, and if your engine needs additional repairs, the cost of your semi truck’s oil change will vary. However, it will usually cost between $200 to $425. 

On average, you can expect to pay roughly $300 if you get your truck’s oil professionally changed and between $200 to $250 if you change your oil yourself.

Factors That Affect the Cost

There are a plethora of factors that will impact the cost of an oil change for your semi-truck. While some may be out of your control, there are definitely many that you can regulate.

• Labor: If you change your truck’s oil yourself, it will likely cost less. However, if you make a mistake in the process, you could end up with a costly repair
• Truck age: The older your truck, the more expensive your oil change costs will be, as you will have to change it more frequently and pay for more engine repairs
• Driver: If a driver is frequently stopping hard and suddenly, driving recklessly, or driving through rough terrain, you will likely be paying more in oil change costs. This is because these things can damage the engine, resulting in you needing to pay for more engine repairs before fresh oil can be added in.
• Location: Not only will the business you go to affect your semi-truck oil change cost but so will the state that you are in. You should expect to pay more in the northeast region of the United States and less in the southern region. 
• Type of oil: Higher quality oil will cost you more money. However, using high-quality oil will mean that you do not have to change it as often. Lower quality oil will be cheaper, but you will have to change it more frequently.

Where Should You Go to Get Your Semi Truck’s Oil Changed?

You can go to most any truck, vehicle, or auto repair shop. Some of the most highly rated and widely found ones are:

Why Is It Necessary and Important to Change Your Semi Truck’s Oil?

Oil changes help to ensure that your engine is lubricated. A properly lubricated engine helps the inner workings of it to move past each other smoothly and reduces the friction between all of the various metal parts. 

This is important because it maintains your truck’s good condition, prevents its parts from getting damaged, and improves its fuel efficiency, which means you spend less on gas and repairs.

Additionally, residues and moistures can build up inside your semi truck’s engine. Changing your truck’s oil can help to wash these away and keep your engine clean. If your engine is dirty, it will be more likely to break down, get damaged, and have lower fuel efficiency.

A clean engine will run better, last longer, and make your truck safer.

How Often Do You Need to Change the Oil in a Semi-Truck?

It is recommended that you change your semi truck’s oil every 10,000 to 25,000 miles. It is highly unadvisable to drive more than 25,000 miles without getting an oil change and is normally advisable to change your truck’s oil after roughly every 20,000 miles.

New advancements in oil and engine technology mean that semi-trucks can go longer distances in between oil changes. Another benchmark is that no matter how much or little your truck is being driven, you should never go longer than one year without getting your truck’s oil changed. 

A good tip? Calculate how many weeks or months it takes you to drive your truck 20,000 miles, and schedule your oil change on the same day after each interval. 

What Determines How Frequently You Need to Change the Oil?

There are multiple factors that go into how frequently you need to change your semi truck’s oil. The most influential one is how old your truck is. The older the truck is, the more frequently its oil should be changed.

The newer it is, the longer it can go without getting an oil change. Other factors include the terrain it is driven on, the driving habits of the driver, the condition of the engine, and the oil quality.

The harsher the terrain, the more reckless the driver, the more frequent the idle periods are, and the lower quality the oil is, the more frequently your semi-truck will need an oil change. You should take all of these things into account when deciding exactly how many miles your semi-truck can be driven before it needs another oil change. 

How To Change a Semi Truck’s Oil Yourself

If you are willing to invest a bit more time and elbow grease and are looking to save some money on your semi truck’s oil changes, you can certainly change the oil yourself.

However, this is a more complicated process than other auto repairs, so unless you have experience working with trucks and cars, it may be better to leave this work to a professional.

Steps to a DIY semi-truck oil change:

• Check your truck’s oil by removing the dipstick, wiping it down, and reinserting it. Take it back out to evaluate the oil level. If there is not enough oil, or if the oil is darker or dirty looking, it is time to change it. It should be amber in color.
• Make sure you have enough space and tools
• Run the truck for a few minutes to warm the oil up
• Set the emergency brake
• Place the empty drum under the oil pan
• Drain the oil out into the drum
• Replace the screws and prime a new filter with oil
• Insert the new filters and fresh oil

What is Involved in Changing the Oil?

You will not only need to change the oil in your semi-truck but also the oil filters and repair any engine issues. If you change the oil yourself, you will have to account for the time it will take you, and if you use a service to change your oil for you, you will have to pay labor costs.

Keeping up with your truck’s oil changes is the best way to ensure that your engine is always working as well as possible. This will both keep you safe while driving and save you money on fuel, as a clean engine means a more efficient one.

How Long Does it Take?

If you are bringing your semi-truck to a dealership or auto repair shop, you can expect the process to take roughly 40 minutes. If you are changing the oil yourself, you can expect it to take you anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how experienced you are. 

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Conclusion 

Changing the oil in your semi-truck will likely cost you around $300. However, there are a few different factors, like truck age, engine condition, location, and oil quality that can slightly change the price.

You should budget to change the oil in your semi-truck about every 20,000 miles you drive it in order to keep it running smoothly.