Opinion on quick oil change centers?

[Fodeman]

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!

 

[Dave Sherman]

I've had less than stellar experiences with quickie lubes. Over-tightened drain plugs and filters, and they love to play the upsell game. "Oh, you can see dirt in your air filter! You should pay us large sums of money to change it!". Well, yeah, that air filter has about 5,000 miles on it, and they do tend to collect dirt. I will happily go out in freezing cold weather to change my own oil.

 

[Hall]

Pretty sure a couple German automakers recommend that procedure for oil removal. Plenty of members here do it that way as well. What's the issue ?

 

[ATex7239]

I have used VIOC, Take 5, & Kwik Kar before and never had a problem. The upsell tactics are annoying but whatever just say no thank you.

I actually prefer vacuum extraction in this situation so the drain bolt won’t get cross threaded or leak.

 

[tolian21]

I will summarize it for you:
Quick oil change place = bad

 

[Fodeman]

Pretty sure a couple German automakers recommend that procedure for oil removal. Plenty of members here do it that way as well. What's the issue ?

I'm not buying it. What you can't see can hurt your vehicle.

 

[The Critic]

I'm not buying it. What you can't see can hurt your vehicle.

I don't like it either - it is rarely as effective as pulling the plug.

The Germans seemed to use it in the mid 2000's but in recent models, they seem to have gone back to pulling the plug.

 

[ATex7239]

I'm not buying it. What you can't see can hurt your vehicle.

What are you concerned will happen?

 

[c502cid]

I've used VIOC on the road and was impressed with their double check call out on every thing they do. Are they perfect? No but I find they do a good job. There is always a coupon for them on social media too.

 

[burbguy82]

Oil changes, on some cars, can be the most simple thing to do, that if done wrong, can be very expensive to fix.

Millions of people get their oil changes at VIOC every year, and while I am sure they have bought an engine or two, overall, it is what they do. If you cant do it yourself, or are on the road, what choice do you really have?

I have not used a oil change service in years, just not something I want to trust to someone else.

 

[Fodeman]

I've used VIOC on the road and was impressed with their double check call out on every thing they do. Are they perfect? No but I find they do a good job. There is always a coupon for them on social media too.

A teaser will get you to come back ! Do you own or lease?

 

[nomas]

My niece asked me to ride with her to get her oil changed . I called a independent shop right around the corner from her house but they were having serious computer issues and were trying to work through it . She said she wanted to go to Take5 . Ok , whatever . They were busy and it took a little while but I didn't see anything to complain about . They didn't try to upsell her and they had a second guy that would check everything the first guy did . I don't know what it cost but her Dad was paying for it .

 

[Chris142]

Depends on the management and workers.

 

[Fodeman]

Depends on the management and workers.

Agreed. These big national companies have training programs to teach youngsters the way they want them to work, both by performing the work the most efficient (for them) way and also by encouraging them to sell accessories with a high profit margin.

 

[esandes]

What are you concerned will happen?

The solid carbon or sludge might be left in the bottom of the oil pan.

I change the oil when it's hot. I remove the drain plug to remove the oil. Then after the drain I pour some fresh oil in and drain it so it can pick up and flush out carbon or sludge.

I can see dirty oil at the start of the clean oil chaser after it drains.

I also don't want the oil overfilled. I also don't want brake cleaner sprayed into the open drain plug. I also don't want an impact to put the plug back or over tightened oil filters with no oil rubbed on the o ring.

Simply put, some of us want this important job done with care and done properly.

 

[BrendanC]

i despise quick lubes but if i have to, walmart has always been my go-to.

 

[RyanY]

I concur that quick lubes are iffy. Not because they suck oil put of the dipstick tube, but because they only care about fast profits. This can occasionally lead to various damages that they insist they didn't cause.

Also, I use the mity vac (knockoff) for my cars and it is great. Any sludge or deposits get sucked out with the oil unless, of course, it was badly neglected and requires a flush. Besides, several qts of old oil remain in the engine even if it drains for hours. There is no way to get all of it out by pouring in some clean oil with the plug removed.

 

[factorytuned2012]

Upselling, dirty untrained sloppy techs, poor management, lack of honesty -

Oil removal via extraction -
This isn’t bad at all less chance of leaks, stripped drain pan/bolt, no residual oil to drip off undercarriage and for some newer high end vehicle preferred or only method.

 

[ATex7239]

I change the oil when it's hot. I remove the drain plug to remove the oil. Then after the drain I pour some fresh oil in and drain it so it can pick up and flush out carbon or sludge.

Simply put, some of us want this important job done with care and done properly.

“Properly.” Sure, whatever.

 

[TurboZedd-R]

I have always taken my cars to an indy, a MB Amg center, or do it myself. Not only do I not trust their work I don't want dirty pants on my alcantara seats