Need to learn how to do Oil changes I guess

[asker123]

I buy my own oil, filter and drain washer and take it to mechanic.
Specially now I know that on my 2003 Honda accord 4 Cyl, Cam shaft lobe has some pitting, I have switched to Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy 5w30, the green European bottle. I use Fram Ultra XG high quality filter as well.

So yesterday, I took my supply to the mechanic and specifically told that the oil, filter and washer is on passenger seat.

I come back to pick my car and I find the bill unusually high. When I looked , they charged me for oil and filter as well as labor so I told them that this might be a mistake and that I supplied my own oil and filter.

The guy goes in shop, comes back and say, sorry the mechanic forgot to use your oil and just put shop's oil and filter.

So here I am with whatever oil they put in the car, 0w20 I guess. The shop is reputable but the workload is so high, seems like my job is too small for them.

Long story short, they drained their oil and put my oil in . I just didn't want to create a big scene so I told them to leave their filter on.

So now I have that much extra oil ( what was in filter), probably an inferior filter and my Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy 5w30 mixed with some different oil .

I don't like doing my own oil change because it involves getting underneath the car and can be messy and I am not getting younger as years pass

 

[JayhawkRoy]

Find out exactly what the shop uses from the head honcho or head manager. When I was working and had little time to change my own oil I used a couple of independent mechanics who were happy to tell me what name brands they used. Even when I chose to do my own oil changes, I purchased a wide variety of oil on sale and had no issues keeping only one oil in the crankcase. You may be overthinking this.

I used their filters and never had an issue with any engine I owned since the 1980's. You may be surprised and not have to worry about going to the store to retrieve your "special oil change kit". Today's 0W20's are pretty good anyway if made by a reputable company. One oil change job was botched in the mid 1990's, and that's it. Maybe I was lucky.

I may be an outlier on this site, because I really haven't seen a major issue using someone's good bulk oil or oil filters. YMMV

Due to my health and moving to a different town, I am still in process of finding the "right" mechanics for my vehicles.

 

[ATex7239]

If it is that much of a concern for you then yeah you’re going to have to start doing things yourself.

But I will say that is a pretty small transgression and not a reason to completely write off a good shop.

You never made a mistake in your professional working life? Always did everything absolutely perfect?

 

[duck__dodgers]

If you have them around you, the Costa chain charges $19 for labor if you bring your own materials.

Never used them, no opinion about them, just the messenger.

https://costaoils.com/locations/oil-change/

 

[The_Jeff]

That happened to me once, winter was coming and I had 4 quarts of Mobil 1 5w30 on the passenger seat. (I was sold on it after I blew up a starter on conventional unknown oil the winter before.) Went to a pathetic tire chain shop (went out of business a year later) and told the service writer I wanted "the Mobil 1 used". He was more than cool with it; he suggested I should just go to WM and buy it.

Anyway they dug around my trunk (!) and found some Syntec blend 10w30 and put that in instead. What an aggressive miscommunication!

 

[Dave1027]

I can see how it caught the shop off guard. I wouldn't think it's normal for them to use somebody's carried in oil and filter.

My opinion is that if it's that important to you then you should be doing your own oil changes. Especially on a '03 4 cylinder Accord which is about as easy as it gets. I just did this job last weekend on my son's '12 Accord so I know. It does not have to be a messy operation if you use a specific planned out method. I do oil changes on all 3 of our vehicles and seldom spill a drop. Watch some Youtubes specific to your car for ideas.

 

[asker123]

If it is that much of a concern for you then yeah you’re going to have to start doing things yourself.

But I will say that is a pretty small transgression and not a reason to completely write off a good shop.

You never made a mistake in your professional working life? Always did everything absolutely perfect?

Thats ok. I am not too concerned on their mistake. Just wanted to rant a bit and thought of writing it here. lol

The shop has helped me a lot . Next time I will put a sticker on the steering wheel that the supply is on passanger seat or rather just put the supply on the driver's seat. lol

To the other poster who suggested DIY, honestly, I am little afraid getting under the car even on the jack stands. I know for some it very natural. I have seen friends/neighbors getting under with proper jack stands and sometimes even using beams but I am bit hesitant.

Easiest for me to take the car to quick lubes but taking to the mechnic has an advantage that they check the suspension components while the car is raised and old oil is dripping.

 

[ATex7239]

Thats ok. I am not too concerned on their mistake. Just wanted to rant a bit and thought of writing it here. lol

The shop has helped me a lot . Next time I will put a sticker on the steering wheel that the supply is on passanger seat or rather just put the supply on the driver's seat. lol

To the other poster who suggested DIY, honestly, I am little afraid getting under the car even on the jack stands. I know for some it very natural. I have seen friends/neighbors getting under with proper jack stands and sometimes even using beams but I am bit hesitant.

Easiest for me to take the car to quick lubes but taking to the mechnic has an advantage that they check the suspension components while the car is raised and old oil is dripping.

I hear you.

Being under a properly lifted car is orders of magnitude safer than driving said car on the highways.

 

[Tdog02]

If you have a place to do it yourself, you will save a lot of money and get to use your BITOG knowledge to get the best/greatest oil know to man.

I find it easy to do and fun. I use some ramps, a wheel chock, a drain bucket or pan and take my time. 30 minutes give or take, not hard just be methodical in your procedure.

 

[Dave1027]

How about using ramps? That should give you an extra sense of security. I use jackstands. If you have good solid jackstands, nothing can go wrong. But I still give the vehicle a few pushes before I crawl under just to be sure.

 

[thastinger]

If I ever get to the age to where I can't do oil/filter changes myself then I'll switch to EVs. We have 6 vehicles, plus some tractors, lawnmowers etc and I have NEVER had anyone change oil but me. I couldn't sleep at night knowing they sent that drain plug home with an impact.

 

[SC Maintenance]

So now I have that much extra oil ( what was in filter),

There was a cup of it in the filter maybe. Probably a quart stays in the sump during a normal oil change - the rebuild vs change volume. I think your way overthinking this.

Having said that - doing your own is always good if your physically able.

 

[shortyb]

Do you have any young, neighborhood kids willing to learn? I've had a few "sessions" with some of the kids in my neighborhood that were interested in doing light mechanical work/maintenance on cars. All now work on their own cars and one makes a few bucks doing oil changes for other neighbors. Worth a shot if you don't want to go crawling around under your car.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Does your Accord have the oil filter mid-block in the rear? If so, that's the only hassle.
You could even pick up a MityVac and swap the filter every 2nd service.

As long as you have a place to do the work, I say get some decent tools, especially a trolley jack, good jack stands and give it a bash.
There are probably a few BITOGers around you who would be happy to lend a hand.
Start with some Youtube videos. Have fun with it!

 

[asker123]

I hear you.

Being under a properly lifted car is orders of magnitude safer than driving said car on the highways.

Thats your assumption. Car is Mint and handles better than many later year cars I have driven that are not well maintained.
Seems like you are ticked off by something I wrote and not able to comprehend that not all old cars are crap.

 

[K2K2]

How about using ramps? That should give you an extra sense of security.

Ramps plus a couple of youtube(tm) videos and you'll find how easy it is. Also, getting a mechanic's creeper will make a huge difference in QOL

 

[Dave1027]

Does your Accord have the oil filter mid-block in the rear? If so, that's the only hassle.

On the '12 Accord I did last weekend, the filter is right there hanging down next to the oil pan drain plug. It doesn't get any easier!

 

[ATex7239]

Thats your assumption. Car is Mint and handles better than many later year cars I have driven that are not well maintained.
Seems like you are ticked off by something I wrote and not able to comprehend that not all old cars are crap.

Umm, no. I think you are misunderstanding. The statistical likelihood of injury or death working underneath a properly lifted vehicle as far less than driving on the roadways. There are many, many more variables on the road that are outside of your control which can cause harm. It doesn’t really matter how mint your car is if a semi truck runs a red light and T-bones you.

 

[asker123]

Umm, no. I think you are misunderstanding. The statistical likelihood of injury or death working underneath a properly lifted vehicle as far less than driving on the roadways. There are many, many more variables on the road that are outside of your control which can cause harm. It doesn’t really matter how mint your car is if semi truck runs a red light and T-bones you.

Oh I get that now.
Sorry, I mistook you as ridiculing my old car.... all good... buddy! . Cheers

 

[SOUNDMAN5000]

I should write a book and call in "My Quick Lube Mishaps over the last 40 years" I no longer as a rule use quick lubes,

First off, When I did I always would stand at the shop bay door and WATCH! No sitting in my car or or customer lounge for me and I'm watching these kids touch my car!

It all started in the mid 80's when the oil filter installed blew out the next morning 100' from my driveway as I started the car and the oil was cold and pressure was high...

It did this the next 3 mornings in a row after the shop came out each day and replaced the filter 3 times... I had to insist bring a name brand filter with you tomorrow, that fixed it...

In the 90's I watched a slow moving stoned or drunk tech go up and down into the pit at least 20-30 time trying a different socket sizes.. An hour + later my drain plug stripped, can't change my oil...

Used a quick lube to change my Fords transmission fluid with my supplied fluid, changed the fluid and I watch the tech check the dipstick and grabs the hoses hanging and tops of my Ford fluid I had supplied with a squirt of his his bulk Chevy spec fluid as I'm running in the dock door yelling at the top of my lungs...

I insisted he order my same supplied Ford fluid, drain and flush and start over...

Next transmission flush the tech hooks the flush machine backwards a hose blows and fresh red transmission fluid cover the under hood of my fresh detailed engine and white car... I made them pay me for a full car and engine cleaning and detail.

I could go on...

I'm getting older so my DIY changes are limited to my motorcycles and lawn mowers, I use the dealer for car / truck oil changes.

I have had dealer oil change misaps and one very bad that required a out of town dealer to send me a check for the damage his shop did to my car but that was a one off...

In general, I find all and all dealer oil service is the lesser of two evils, You do normally get a good OEM filter and good oil and the price is the same or less than quick lube...

One thing I do do at the dealer is I insit the service writer quote me on the shop order " customer says DO NOT OVERFILL and USE 5W-20" ( or whatever my car needs ) I look at the tech with a smile and say I check my oil level before I leave your parking lot, IF you guy OVERFILLS it YOU will fix it befor I leave...

Those words have fixed my bad dealer experience... I even take my step stool with me so I can check my trucks diesel oil before leaving the dealer...

When it comes to tire and oil changes, TRUST NO ONE!