Need to learn how to do Oil changes I guess

[Klutch9]

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 Mobi1 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 dont 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

I’ve never heard of Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy 5w-30… only 0w-20 and 0w-30. Did you mean ESP 5w-30? Also sorry for your plight!

 

[asker123]

I’ve never heard of Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy 5w-30… only 0w-20 and 0w-30. Did you mean ESP 5w-30? Also sorry for your plight!

Yes ESP indeed because it was recommended strongly here that will help my pitted cam lobes. I wish I used 5W30 from the beginning
I am all over the place today. Will fix OP and my signature as well.
For Winter I will run 0W30 ESP and Summer 5W30 ESP

 

[69GTX]

European bottle. I use Fram Ultra XG high quality filter as well.

The FRAM Ultra's went down hill about 5 yrs ago. The XG's are now longer considered top tier around here.....
inferior/defective relief vales that leak by for starters.

FRAM filters have mostly been pulled from the shelves as the company was in distress....and the line sold.
So the new "shop" filter you just had installed might actually be of higher quality.

 

[Donald]

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

You are overthinking this. Any oil that meets the engine's specs is pretty good oil. Unless bought at Dollar Store where who knows what spec it would meet.

I would have let it go 5000 miles on the oil your mechanic used. Your vehicle is a 20+ year old Honda not a 2026 Porsche. If it was my car I would use NAPA or SuperTech synthetic oil. Not pay for Mobil 1.

 

[Indydriver]

I am dumbfounded that you are so worried about which oil has gone into your 23 yo Honda 4-cyl! Really?!? Just make sure it has some oil in it and move on. Use high mileage if it burns oil (which it probably does). You could probably put vegetable oil in the car as long as it hit the dipstick.

 

[QwikKota]

I would not be worried about the small amount of oil that was left in the filter.

 

[D60]

If you feel the need to furnish your own parts you need to just go all the way and do it yourself.

And yeah, this was ONE oil change in the life of the vehicle. Any oil and filter they used will be good enough and there's simply no way it's going to shorten the life of your motor in any measurable way.

I understand they didn't follow directions, but being concerned about the quality of parts used for one OCI is needs-medication level OCD on an old Honda.

 

[SOUNDMAN5000]

If you feel the need to furnish your own parts you need to just go all the way and do it yourself.

And yeah, this was ONE oil change in the life of the vehicle. Any oil and filter they used will be good enough and there's simply no way it's going to shorten the life of your motor in any measurable way.

I understand they didn't follow directions, but being concerned about the quality of parts used for one OCI is needs-medication level OCD on an old Honda.

I get it D60 however I also get OP's situation.

I am no stranger to suppling my own parts / fluids as it started mid 90's with my Volvos and Mercedes and crap oil filters my local quick lube used back then... My local shop allowed my own fluids and filters and then one day, a new manager and policy and no more customer supplied filters...

I now actually choose the brand of car or truck I buy based on how far I must drive for dealer oil changes so problem solved for me.

Both my Volvo dealer and Mercedes dealer were well over a hour drive each way 2 hours round trip. Even as a young guy in the 90's it was times I could NOT do a oil change myself.

IMO, Nothing wrong with a car owner being "picky" as in this Great Land of the USA as long as one has the money, HE can be picky! Nothing wrong with customer supplied fluids and filters but many shops won't do it but find one who will. My local independent guy will do anything to my car for money, no problem but my dealers wont and is why I use both.

I'm picky, I don't settle and I am willing to pay for my pickiness and dang sure expect a shop that has agreed to use my fluids that are on the front seat to do what he agreed to do at a minimum and use my dang oil!

One mans OCD is the next guys simple expectations of a job well done.

However, I have leaned that IF you wan't it done right, do it yourself!

I find its always best to do ones own oil changes as with my OCD I know a young tech sure won't spend the time and care changing my fluids that I will.

However, I understand the aging process as I still do my own Harley services as I have a bike lift, IF I had a car lift I would continue to do my own car service but those days have passed as I'm not getting under a car on my back anymore.

If I was OP in this situation, as long as my oil and filter are now not leaking, I would drive the car and perhaps do a early oil change next time and give it no more thought. IMO, all oils are made to be mixed and my Harley oil cooler as example holds oil so I never get all the old oil out when doing a oil change...

If I felt comfortable with that same shop OP used and needed to use them again I would ask the owner, how do we keep this from happening again?

I would perhaps hand the service writer my oil and fluids or place then in the drivers seat and make them print on the work order "use customers oil" as some of these young shop guys MAY NOT be the brightest Star in the Sky...