Did I get the right oil?

Pennzoil motor oil
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joaks

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So after reading online about mistakes from quickie lube places I am a little paranoid...
So I went to my local NTB for an oil change. They are now using Valvoline to my surprise but I went ahead and asked for synthetic anyway (they used to have Pennzoil). I tried to watch the guy adding the oil but he was pretty far away but the bottle looked dark (looked black). The Full Synthetic is in a silver bottle, the blend is a blue bottle. Any chance I got the blend? Do shops get generic black bottles since they buy in bulk? Am I just too paranoid?
 
Valvoline Racing comes in a black bottle, but I doubt NTB uses that.

When you asked them which particular synthetic the used, what did they say? SynPower?
 
Yeah, I'm pretty sure it wasn't racing oil.

There is Valvoline STUFF (signs, promo offers) everywhere now, when there used to be Pennzoil. I asked about it and she said they do use Valvoline now because it is "better."
 
Me at this stage in my life I go back and ask. Asking us will never get you the answer. Going back and some instinct will atleast give you the answer of what is in the black bottle just ask"doesn't Syn come in a silver bottle ? The eyes always gives them away and this is assuming they can speak English too.
confused.gif
 
I actually was about to ask the manager to go back and check (or ask to go back myself) but when I was checking out the place was getting hammered with people coming in. They all speak English so no worries there and they have been pretty good to me so far. They did tighten my wheels with a torque wrench at least.
 
maybe they have bulk syn but just use a black jug to move it from the tank to your car?
 
Castrol Synthetic, Havoline Dino, Sears/Kmart Spectrum, and a few other off brands are the only oils that come to mind in a black bottle.

That's the problem with the quick lube places....you're never really sure what you're getting. Even if you bring your own oil, there is no "guarantee" that is what you will get in your sump.

It's better to do it yourself....and sleep good at night.
 
My mechanic knows someone who works at a Honda dealership in VA who almost never uses the fluids paid/brought in by the customer and just uses the bulk or cheaper alternative of what is available at the dealership. Supposedly he has thousands of dollars of oil/fluids that was never installed. I haven't been to the dealership in 10 years or so except for warranty work.
 
Originally Posted By: joaks
Is there a reasonably easy way to tell? A special "synthetic" smell maybe?


Others may be able to tell by smelling the oil. I can't.
 
I never let anyone work on my vehicles if they are unwilling to allow me to watch. They are famous for saying Insurance rules prevents customers in the work area. That's [censored]. All the insurance cares about is them paying their premium. They're afraid you might catch them putting in donkey urine rather than mobil 1. Needless to say I've walked out of lots of places when told I could not watch what was going on with my vehicle.
 
If you don't or can't do the OC yourself then find an independent and talke to them. Find out what oil options you have. If you don't like their options, then will they put in your own oil? I would stand and watch them doing the work, at least until you have full confidence in them. That would be my way and I don't like most quickie oil change places. That said, we have a local shop with a large yellow Pennzoil sign out front/ I stopped in and chatted with the service guys and took a look at their oil offerings. They use bulk oil from a tank that has Pennzoil stamped on it and many quart and gallon bottles of Pennzoil types. Appears to be a very good place and I noticed the oil changers were older fellas and no teenage long haired goof-off types.
 
The truth is, forget about it, you'll never know what they used. Even if you see the "black bottles", how do you know they weren't used bottles filled with bulk oil, that were poured in your car? Having worked in the automotive profession I wouldn't put it past them. Sure there are honest shops, then there are the dishonest shops too. Do a short OCI if it really bothers you, and next time either DIY, or watch like a hawk.
 
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
The truth is, forget about it, you'll never know what they used. Even if you see the "black bottles", how do you know they weren't used bottles filled with bulk oil, that were poured in your car? Having worked in the automotive profession I wouldn't put it past them. Sure there are honest shops, then there are the dishonest shops too. Do a short OCI if it really bothers you, and next time either DIY, or watch like a hawk.


From reading demarpaint's post I am so glad that I go out and buy my own oil and change it myself.
 
Originally Posted By: joaks
I tried to watch the guy adding the oil but he was pretty far away but the bottle looked dark (looked black). The Full Synthetic is in a silver bottle, the blend is a blue bottle. Any chance I got the blend? Do shops get generic black bottles since they buy in bulk? Am I just too paranoid?


Yes.
Check your dipstick. If it is full, then relax..
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