Never used one, unless my Lexus dealership counts. Got a killer(?) deal when we bought the car. It gets warshed, vacuumed, etc.
Supposedly use M1, but who the heck knows?
Supposedly use M1, but who the heck knows?
Opinion on quick oil change centers?
- Thread starter Fodeman
- Start date
Oh my co-worker is contemplating a lawsuit against jiffy lube. She went in for a $39.99 oil change and did "$500" in work she didn't ask for. Plus they stole a pendant off of her keychain and after making a scene they gave it back.
Never used oil change places. As long as I can do it myself and later get grandson do it, nobody else is gonna touch my cars.
Engines with oil filter on top and dipstick and oil pan designed for extractor - then extractor is easier and actually removes more old oil.
Some engines you cannot put extractor down dipstick far enough to suck oil out.
Engines with oil filter on top and dipstick and oil pan designed for extractor - then extractor is easier and actually removes more old oil.
Some engines you cannot put extractor down dipstick far enough to suck oil out.
"Several quarts" remain in the engine? Seriously? You must be getting motor oil confused with transmission fluid.
No issues here, I have had VIOC, a local Kwik Kar, and a local indie mechanic's quick lube do OCI's on our vehicles with no issues.
Bring in my own oil and filter, and pay 20 bucks to have them change my oil. I'd happily DIY it, but 20 bucks is worth it to me to have them do the work including dispose of the oil, while I drink some "free" coffee, sit in the air conditioning, and get a written record of the work that gets submitted to Carfax in case I ever need it.
Bring in my own oil and filter, and pay 20 bucks to have them change my oil. I'd happily DIY it, but 20 bucks is worth it to me to have them do the work including dispose of the oil, while I drink some "free" coffee, sit in the air conditioning, and get a written record of the work that gets submitted to Carfax in case I ever need it.
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2024
- Messages
- 78
Valvoline Instant Oil Change are awesome. I went to them once with my own oil and filter. Their machine sucks all the oil out and no need to remove the drain plug. My Jeep's oil filter is in the engine bay and requires a torque of 18 ft lbs. They let me so the oil filter myself 
And I was standing by them to make sure they don't spill the oil in my engine bay. They charge $40 for the labor though, so only worth it when you are in a hurry or weather is crappy.
And I was standing by them to make sure they don't spill the oil in my engine bay. They charge $40 for the labor though, so only worth it when you are in a hurry or weather is crappy.
- Joined
- May 19, 2022
- Messages
- 159
Other than the price I had zero issues when I took my car to valvoline and I always had a good experience.
Now that I have a place where I can DIY again I don’t take my cars anywhere anymore but, if I had to, it would be valvoline
I’ve seen too many people have issues with Speedee, Walmart, Oil Changers etc.
Now that I have a place where I can DIY again I don’t take my cars anywhere anymore but, if I had to, it would be valvoline
I’ve seen too many people have issues with Speedee, Walmart, Oil Changers etc.
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2024
- Messages
- 78
Jiffy Lube are the worst
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2024
- Messages
- 78
The question is, does Valvoline's machine suck every drop of oil out? What if it leaves half a quart in there?
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2024
- Messages
- 78
I saw this the other day. Do they work as well as the Valvoline machine?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.
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2024
- Messages
- 1,476
Don't know what brand the big shops use but I'm sure for home use you'd be satisfied with an extractor like the one you shared. You'll never extract every drop same goes for conventional drain method there's always going to be residual.
wemay
Site Donor 2023
I often use Valvoline. Never had a problem. I bring my oil and filter and they perform the change seamlessly. Once done, they bark out check items to ensure things were done correctly. You even hear the click of the torque wrench being used on the oil drain plug.
....but they reuse the crush washer. It becomes a pointless exercise that is only for show.
I've been using the same quick oil change place for the last 49 years. It's ALWAYS done the work correctly, never stripped a drain plug (when it used to do that before extraction), used the proper oil/filter and filled to proper level, then triple checked their work, including engine start and service light reset. They also play the music I like best and have a beer fridge about 5 feet away stocked with my favorite IPAs. Best coffee in town (if a morning appt.) and super clean shop and bathrooms. Service is free, especially for relatives, but a little slow. The lead tech can be kinda grumpy, though and the name needs some work; Shorty's Garage. Lame.
I like to change my own oil and don't believe in those quick change places. I had asked for Mobil 1 synthetic in my old 99 Ford Expedition and they put in some other cheap oil. I didn't see them do it but could tell by the dipstick after 1000 miles or so the oil was much darker than the Mobil 1 I always used religiously when I changed it myself. I have had great luck with my MityVac on my Honda Civic. The other day I changed oil and filter therefore I pulled the plug since I had to get underneath the car anyway. About 2 ounces came out after the MityVac sucked it out. I have done this before and it's always just a little bit of oil will drain when the oil plug is pulled after the MityVac extraction. Plus, when I skip the filter I don't have to remove the time consuming aluminum belly pan that's a pain to remove and replace. With the ease of the MityVac and the Civic only holding 3.8 quarts warrants very frequent oil changes and when short tripping it's 2500 to 3000 miles.
In the past when I lived in an apartment without being able to change my own oil, I took my vehicle to VIOC. I have never seen oil extraction there, only typical drain and fill with the drain plug. Common upsell tactics were used which was annoying, but I didn’t have a bad experience. Funny enough, the best experience I’ve had was when Ford used to have “The Works” package for $50. Included oil change with OEM oil and filter, top off of fluids, tire rotation, and a multi-point inspection. Was good to get everything done at once for a good price.
The slovenly pig manager at a nearby VIOC assured me there was no difference in transmission fluids.
I wouldn't jump into that cesspool.
I wouldn't jump into that cesspool.
wemay
Site Donor 2023
Reuse of the crush washer doesn't bother me. I change it when i DIY on the subsequent oil changes. And to be honest, i don't even change it every service either.
The dealer oil change "stations" are just their version of a quicky lube. I had "free" aka forced pre-pay oil changes during the warranty period on our Toyota and had many problems - over fill twice, ruined air filter from their "inspection", once they didn't even change the oil.
Whenever someone else works on your car your beholden to the skill of the technician, irrelevant of where you go.
Whenever someone else works on your car your beholden to the skill of the technician, irrelevant of where you go.
If any car dealer touts "free oil changes for life", that's an open invitation for them to point out all the deficiencies and hazards on the vehicle, and they WILL find some!
