"Quick Lube Fail"

[JustinH]

I really wonder why more oil change operations aren't sucking the oil out of the dipstick instead of draining it..

It would eliminate most of the problems with stripped drain pans, crush washers, everything.

Does it take that much longer to suck it out than drain it?

 

[ThirdeYe]

highmilegeguy, can you share the name of this place? I need to make a note to never go there.

 

[finalyzd]

I really don't like these comments on quick lubes, yes a lot are pretty bad. But some are excellent. I work at a castrol quick lube and we charge 38.95 for castrol gtx but with that you get all fluids topped off and even gear boxes with the correct fluid synthetic or not. And tire pressure also wash windows and vaccuum the car. If we see anything that needs attention we let you know. its not up selling its just telling them customer there air filters caked and if u would like to replace we can. if I didn't do that I'm not doing the customer a good service because that filter will get worse and worse. We also use quality parts. Everything to the tee with manufacturer specs. Even torque drain plug, never have had a stripped pan. We also offer free top offs in between services for customers or even ppl off street. I had a mercedes came in and was a qt low we topped him off free qt of syntec he was so happy you have no idea. Couple weeks later he came back for oil change just becuz of that.

I guess my point is please do not hate on all quick lubes.

 

[AdRock]

Originally Posted By: finalyzd
I really don't like these comments on quick lubes, yes a lot are pretty bad. But some are excellent. I work at a castrol quick lube and we charge 38.95 for castrol gtx but with that you get all fluids topped off and even gear boxes with the correct fluid synthetic or not. And tire pressure also wash windows and vaccuum the car. If we see anything that needs attention we let you know. its not up selling its just telling them customer there air filters caked and if u would like to replace we can. if I didn't do that I'm not doing the customer a good service because that filter will get worse and worse. We also use quality parts. Everything to the tee with manufacturer specs. Even torque drain plug, never have had a stripped pan. We also offer free top offs in between services for customers or even ppl off street. I had a mercedes came in and was a qt low we topped him off free qt of syntec he was so happy you have no idea. Couple weeks later he came back for oil change just becuz of that.

I guess my point is please do not hate on all quick lubes.


It's hard to not hate on them when 80% or betterIMO hire guys that either don't know what they're doing or just don't care. Then throw in the pressure to be profitable and you get the problems that most places have. I've seen it first hand, worked at a few quick lube places, had the pressure put on me to upsell even if it wasn't needed. When I refused to do that I was on my way out. It's sad but true. I have some moroals and ethics and those things didn't gel in those places.

There are some places out there with competent people and quality service. The problem is weedeing through all the morons and theives to find these places.

 

[Jss21382]

Not to mention, it's hard to find a guy making 8 bucks an hour who cares.

 

[kohnen]

I've had similar experiences with quick lube places. In my case, it was a Jiffy Lube. They would always try to upsell things that I didn't need: air filters, radiator flushes, transmission fluid flushes and the like. They even tried to convince me that I needed a new PCV valve for my '89 Celica (which didn't even have a PCV valve).

This is what convinced me that I REALLY needed to do my own oil changes. Whenever I change the air filter in my cars, I write the date and mileage that I changed the filter on the filter itself with a sharpie pen.

When I took the car in for an oil change, the guy brought my air filter to me and told me that it needed to be changed. I tipped the filter so that he could read the date (from the previous month) and the mileage (about 2,000 miles less than the then current mileage). He walked away and put the filter back without even saying a word.

I know enough not to get ripped off, and I know enough to check their work afterwards and make sure everything was done right. But, between having to do those two things, it's just easier for me to do the work myself.

(Unless it's snowing here.

)

 

[zoomie]

im surprised they refilled the oil.

 

[ledslinger]

When I bought my Chevy truck they gave me 3 free oil changes. I had never had an oil change done for me before and decided to do it since I thought they would check all fluids and hit the grease fittings. I decided to double check their work, since I had a feeling they didn't check the diffs and transfer case. They hadn't and didn't grease it either.

Then I noticed the engine drain bolt leaking. Finger tight. They removed one bolt and didn't tighten it. I have two unused free oil changes.

 

[Deltona_Dave]

I did not mean to infer that I am bashing all quick lube places. I just had a couple of bad experiences. Near my parents' house there is an independent shop that the mechanics actually use a torque wrench on the drain bolts and hand tighten filters. They charge more, but they don't sell you services you don't need. If I lived closer, I would let them service my vehicle. If any of you live in the North Orlando Area, it is called Maitland Tire Company. When I lived in Maitland (and I am a retired MPD officer), I used them all the time.
Dave

 

[38sho]

Originally Posted By: finalyzd
We also offer free top offs in between services for customers or even ppl off street. I had a mercedes came in and was a qt low we topped him off free qt of syntec he was so happy you have no idea. Couple weeks later he came back for oil change just becuz of that.



man if I was your customer, I'd put you guys out of business at the rate this pig burns oil!

I have also heard of a place, that when given a coupon for a cheap oil change.... if it was their filter, they would just whipe it off and not change it..... also they wouldn' top off any other fluids besdies washer fluid(its the one you will notice the most) and they wouldn't even air up the tires!

I heard that from a mechanic who used to work there...... so its a pretty reliable source lol... cheap people make me mad


also they would only put in so much oil, no matter what capacity you had....... if you held 7, you got 5 anyway

 

[Bill in Utah]

So a place offers a coupon to get you in the door (that is the REASON for a coupon in the FIRST place) to show you how well they service your vehicle so you will COME BACK and pay the FULL price.

But instead they are NOT going to do the service, not change the filter and NOT going to do the rest of the service....

You REALLY REALLY beleive this? REALLY?

Man, marketing 1R.

Any place TRYING to stay in business will provide their BEST service BEYOND for those coupon customers.

Repeat customers, the gift that keeps giving.

Bill

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: JustinH
I really wonder why more oil change operations aren't sucking the oil out of the dipstick instead of draining it..

It would eliminate most of the problems with stripped drain pans, crush washers, everything.

Does it take that much longer to suck it out than drain it?


A LOT of dealerships and lube places are doing just that.

It does take a little longer but actually for most vehicles they get MORE oil out than a drain plug. Plus the advantages that you listed.

Bill

 

[AdRock]

Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
So a place offers a coupon to get you in the door (that is the REASON for a coupon in the FIRST place) to show you how well they service your vehicle so you will COME BACK and pay the FULL price.

But instead they are NOT going to do the service, not change the filter and NOT going to do the rest of the service....

You REALLY REALLY beleive this? REALLY?



Bill


YES, because it happens all the time.

Do you really have that hard of a time believing that there are shady quick lube places? If so, I wish I lived in that world. It would be so much nicer.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: AdRock

YES, because it happens all the time.

Do you really have that hard of a time believing that there are shady quick lube places? If so, I wish I lived in that world. It would be so much nicer.


So you think more people are ripped off at quick lube places than people getting service that is paid for?

Interesting....

And to answer your question. Notice that I type what I've SEEN with my own two eyes. I don't use the words "my friend", "a guy who used to work there", "my girl friends best friends cousin", "a guy I know", "I've heard" etc..

I've stood and watched many a service while waiting for my work vehicle to get serviced and each and every one gets the filter changed (the guy in the pit takes the new filter and places it on the floor for the guy on the top to verify it is the correct filter) and the guy on top gets the specs on correct oil weight and how much to put in.

Before he puts it in they talk to each other to make sure the plug is back in and filter on, by this time the lead has verified with the computer and top guy the correct amount and what type of oil they are using.

I don't know, I would not go to this place since I have the tools and time to change my oil, but MOST of the vehicles out there ARE getting their oil changed at these places and I'm not seeing them on the side of the road due to their oil NOT getting changed.

Bill

 

[ottotheclown]

Having traveled for 40+ years around the country, I have been in all states but N dakota and Montana. Did you ever notice the ad Pep Boys uses? that store must be in either Minn. or Utah. Why because look at the people shopping. In the real world this is not what you find. Here in NY Missing Links work on your car in these iffy lube places. Your viewing comes from living in Utah, a place you have to work at being stressed. If I lived in Utah my whole outlook would be different than it is here in NY> so we all see things not as they are but as WE are.Try south Fla. for service.. Or LA or Chic downtown, or Las Vegas, or downtown Detroit, or Boston, I could go on.Things not as they are but as WE are.....

 

[Bill in Utah]

In my previous job (where I commuted to NJ from here) I lived for up to 3 months at a time ALL over the US.

So I've been to a lot of places and spent more than a few days.

Lived outside San Diego for the last two years of that job then took a layoff since I did not want to move to NJ. (they did not want to pay for my commute anymore)

So to answer your question, I'm not in a bubble. I travel and am not wet behind the ears.

Take care, bill

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: ottotheclown
Having traveled for 40+ years around the country, I have been in all states but N dakota and Montana. Did you ever notice the ad Pep Boys uses? that store must be in either Minn. or Utah. Why because look at the people shopping. In the real world this is not what you find. Here in NY Missing Links work on your car in these iffy lube places. Your viewing comes from living in Utah, a place you have to work at being stressed. If I lived in Utah my whole outlook would be different than it is here in NY> so we all see things not as they are but as WE are.Try south Fla. for service.. Or LA or Chic downtown, or Las Vegas, or downtown Detroit, or Boston, I could go on.Things not as they are but as WE are.....

LOL it has to be a regional thing for sure. Last fall I flew out to WA to see my son. As it turns out he needed tires, and I didn't want to do business with Les Schwab, we had a bad experience with them. I ended up taking his car to a local tire shop. Honestly I might have come across with a little bit of an attitude from dealing with the jerks that work at Mavis Tire here on Long Island. Anyway this guy did everything he said he'd do, including a safety check which I didn't want him to do. He reported back to me that the car was in tip top shape, and had it ready exactly when he told me it would be done. No upselling, or trying to sell me parts we didn't need. Fair prices and they stuck to it! I thanked him and apologized, saying that I was conditioned from doing business with thieves from NY. We had a good laugh, too bad he's 3000 miles away he'd have my business for sure!

 

[ottotheclown]

Hey you should see what they are like in Portland, they come close to inviting you over for dinner. Wa. was and is my favorite area of the country, compared to Mavis, you must have been short of breath. Did it feel as if you were waiting??? and alas they stay great right thru. But the rain. Yuck.

 

[Brons2]

Originally Posted By: finalyzd
its not up selling its just telling them customer there air filters caked and if u would like to replace we can.


It's upselling if quick-lube tries to sell you stuff you don't need.

It's not upselling if you really need it, ie, the aforementioned disgusting air filter.

Unfortunately we've all see too much of the former.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

HWEaton, best of luck to you.