Jiffy Lube / Toyota dealership / somewhere else?

[Wishkin]

I NEED to get an oil change.

I am in a large metropolitan area in the US so there are many places for me to bring it to. I have experience with many places but there is no place that I am impressed by. (Some of them I failed to "look into" and form much of an opinion on.)

I thought my top choices are:
1- Jiffy Lube & give them parts, Mobil 1 oil, to use. Watch what they are doing to make sure no obvious blunders. Also, I thought that I can make sure they use the crush washer that I give them by looking under the car after they do the job. But now I just read on this forum that they might vacuum the oil out. I am starting not to like this option.
2- Toyota dealership. Interestingly, it seems like they are a little lower price than Jiffy Lube. Not that price matters much compared to getting it done right. My thinking is that they will do a little better job than generalists. But, it's totally behind closed doors. Also, they will be putting in whatever oil they have. Someone in the service department said it's Mobil. I said "Mobil 1?" He said "No."

I am pretty disappointed but guess I'll just have to bite the bullet. What would you do? (Besides the answer of "do it yourself?")

 

[methusaleh]

Well…despite your last sentence, this post begs the question of why not do it yourself? Being here, you’re a member of what’s probably the most rabid crowd of oil change hobbyists in the world.

 

[CleanSump]

You don't say what metropolitan area in the US. If you did, along with make/model/year of car, people could better help you.
When driving around you are likely to see a foreign car repair place with lots of Japanese cars in the lot and probably run by Hispanic mechanics. Drop in and ask what they'll charge if you bring your own stuff. They're probably doing a decent job at a good price or everyone wouldn't be filling the lot with their cars.

 

[Hirev]

I would not take my lawn mower Jiffy Lube.

 

[Urshurak776]

Interesting you said Toyota was using Mobil synthetic. Mazda dealerships in Charlotte use Mobil as well. It’s not Mobil 1, but their Mobil synthetic line. You can also use Mazda oil, but that’s gonna cost ya!

 

[morsk]

What would you do? (Besides the answer of "do it yourself?")

Do it yourself.

 

[3GTL300k]

I took my car to Jiffy Lube when I was a teenager and had no issues except a guy put a headline in upside down on my Saturn. Its amusing bc i brought it back a week later and a guy fixed it and laughed about someone putting it in wrong (and I remember he was the one that had screwed it up!)

I wouldnt go back nowadays bc Ive heard so many horror stories.

Similarly, I used to take another Saturn to the dealer and they did a good job. Nowadays, Ive read some horror stories from dealer service here that I would worry a bit. They put the new trainees to do oil changes while the experienced techs do other work, as i understand it.

I thought I read here that some people like when they do they vacuum procedure as that means someone wont be touching the drain plug and then possibly stripping it or overtightening it.

Surprisingly, I read a few posts here saying they liked Walmart. Walmart does the vacyum method and apparently you can choose what oil and filter to use. They only do tires and oil changes so they won't be trying to upsell you a bunch of uneeded services like the dealer or Jiffy Lube or possibly an independent shop would.

I have a realiable shade tree mechanic that I currently use but ive wondered what I will do in the future. I have a shop I trust for repairs but I am sure they charge a lot for just an oil change.

I also have pondered where to go when im on the road. I went 500 over last road trip. I figured it was fine bc most of the 5k was highway miles.

 

[AutoMechanic]

If it’s anything like the Jiffy Lube I worked at then I would not even send my worst enemy there. I could tell you stories that you’d never believe. Now as a Toyota dealership technician I’d say you’d get slightly better service from the quick lane at the dealership but just remember those are still the guys just starting out or who can’t fix anything else so there’s that to keep in mind too. Most of the time there won’t be any issues at the dealership though. We had a RAV4 towed in Monday from a Jiffy Lube and they left the drain plug loose and it was hanging by a thread and oil was all over the bottom of the car. Not saying that is going to happen but a lot of it just depends on the franchise itself who owns it and what standards they have.

 

[TmanP]

For what it's worth, a dealer tech left my engine air filter out completely after "inspection" at an oil change once, so there is something in the pro column for the drive-through bays where you stay with your car. I've used Valvoline Instant Oil Change a few times and Grease Monkey a few times, and think I might prefer the visibility there to what you get at a dealer, but they come with their own set of issues.

Now, I do feel that a solid independent shop is going to be better than either option. Think something with a "NAPA Car Care Center" sign, ideally something that's been around for generations.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Walmart is also an option most places. My son goes there as needed as they also use Valvoline Restore and Protect.

The quick lube places are more miss than hit IMO and like @AutoMechanic I used to work part time at Jiffy Lube for extra $$.

Quick lube places I called would use whatever I brought in if requested BUT labor still made that more expensive than dealer or Walmart.

As @CleanSump said check the busy shops around you. Ask for some recommendations from those you work with or live by. Are they happy with the service? Good, trustworthy independent mechanics are hard to find. You may need one for other repairs so would be a good time to build a history also.

 

[3GTL300k]

For what it's worth, a dealer tech left my engine air filter out completely after "inspection" at an oil change once, so there is something in the pro column for the drive-through bays where you stay with your car. I've used Valvoline Instant Oil Change a few times and Grease Monkey a few times, and think I might prefer the visibility there to what you get at a dealer, but they come with their own set of issues.

Now, I do feel that a solid independent shop is going to be better than either option. Think something with a "NAPA Car Care Center" sign, ideally something that's been around for generations.

That reminds me that I read another positive review here about their local Valvoline Instant Oil Change place. The poster reported that they seemed to have a good system of double checking everything verbally while doing the oil change.

Edit:
Did a quick search and this might have been the thread I was remembering: post 9 mentioned Valvoline and another post afterwards mentioned Wal-Mart

F

Thread 'Opinion on quick oil change centers?'

Oct 17, 2024

What's your opinion on quick oil change centers, such as Valvoline? I, for one, would never take my vehicles to a place that would suck the oil out of the crankcase through the dipstick, such as what Valvoline oil change centers do!

IMO, good ain't quick and quick ain't good!

• Fodeman
• Replies: 53
• Forum: Automotive General Topics

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