It’s the weekend, you’ve got a free afternoon, and you’re tempted to save a few hundred rand by changing your own engine oil. There are YouTube tutorials, there’s a store nearby selling oil, and how hard can it really be?
The answer (perhaps surprisingly) is: harder than it looks. And more expensive to get wrong than you’d think.
Here’s why your oil change belongs in the hands of a professional workshop, every single time.
1. The Wrong Oil Can Silently Wreck Your Engine
Engine oil isn’t a single product. Modern vehicles require specific oil grades and viscosity ratings, typically printed in the owner’s manual as something like 5W-30 or 0W-20, and using the wrong specification can cause serious harm that doesn’t show up until months later.
At Johan Behm Motors, we only use SABS-approved super grade or semi-synthetic oils that match your vehicle’s exact requirements. As an RMI (Retail Motor Industry) accredited workshop, we’re bound to source from approved suppliers, which means no dubious bulk oil from an unknown source, and no guesswork.
Pour in the wrong oil at home, and you may not notice anything wrong for thousands of kilometres. By the time you do, the costly repairs will make the money you saved look very small indeed.
2. Draining Is Only Half the Job
Most DIY oil changers focus on the part they can see: draining old oil and pouring in new. But a proper oil change involves several other checks that are easy to overlook if you don’t do this for a living:
- The oil filter needs to be replaced at every change. A clogged old filter defeats the purpose of fresh oil entirely.
- The drain plug washer should be inspected, and often replaced, to prevent a slow leak that contaminates your driveway and slowly empties your sump.
- The sump plug torque matters. Too loose and it will leak; too tight and you risk stripping the thread, an expensive fix.
- The oil level must be set precisely. Overfilling is just as harmful as running low, causing foaming, increased pressure, and potential seal damage.
Our technicians run through these checks as a matter of course. It is simply what a professional oil change is.
3. An Oil Change Is the Best Opportunity for a Broader Check
When a qualified technician has your vehicle in the workshop and the oil draining, they’re in an ideal position to spot things you wouldn’t notice on the road, or even on the driveway at home.
A small problem caught now is a fraction of the cost of a breakdown, or an accident, later. That is the real value of regular maintenance, and this kind of joined-up thinking is only possible when your vehicle is in professional hands.
4. Your Warranty and Insurance May Depend on It
This one surprises many South African motorists. If your vehicle is still under a manufacturer’s warranty or a service plan, the fine print almost always requires that every item on the service schedule, including oil changes, be carried out by an accredited workshop using approved parts and fluids.
Doing it yourself may invalidate your warranty entirely, leaving you exposed to major mechanical failures. The same risk applies to some extended warranty products.
As a registered RMI member workshop, Johan Behm Motors’ services are recognised and accounted for. We keep records of every service, which provides the paper trail you need should a warranty claim ever arise.
5. Used Engine Oil Is Classified as Hazardous Waste
This is the part nobody mentions in the DIY tutorials. Once you’ve drained your engine oil, you are holding several litres of classified hazardous waste. You cannot pour it down the drain (it’s illegal and contaminates groundwater). You cannot put it in your rubbish bin. You need to store it safely and find a registered collector to dispose of it.
At a professional workshop, used oil disposal is handled as a matter of course. It’s part of the process, fully compliant with South African environmental regulations. It’s one less thing you have to think about.
6. Labour Is Less Expensive Than You Think
The perception that DIY saves meaningful money often doesn’t survive honest accounting. When you add up the cost of oil (you’ll need the right spec, bought at retail price), a new filter, a replacement drain plug washer, and the time involved, especially if something goes wrong, the savings are rarely as significant as it seems.
At Johan Behm Motors, our rates are among the most competitive in the industry. We pride ourselves on transparent pricing and honest service, and we’ll always tell you upfront what a job will cost. There are no hidden fees and no unnecessary upsells.
You’re not just paying for the oil. You’re paying for 44 years of experience, the right parts, professional equipment, and the peace of mind that comes with knowing the job has been done properly.
Johan Behm Motors: Oil Changes Done Properly
Whether your vehicle is due for its routine oil change, a full service, or you’ve noticed something that doesn’t feel right, our team at Johan Behm Motors in Stellenbosch is ready to help.
We service all makes and models, and every vehicle that comes through our workshop doors receives the same level of dedicated, skilled attention.
Johan Behm Motors is an RMI-accredited workshop committed to quality workmanship, transparent pricing, and genuine care for every customer. Book your next service with us today.
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