quote:
Where do you take your vehicle, how much do you pay, what oil, and why you have it done for you?
There is an independent mechanic I know (in the next town over), who runs a small "he comes to you" mechanic business (he mostly works on farm equipment, but he can also be hired for work on cars). I often have him do some of my more "strange" mechanic requests (for example, he is the one who installed my bypass filters). And if he is available, I sometimes use him to change the oil (and just pay his labor costs, as I supply the oil and filters).
When he isn't available, I often go to a local Midas Muffler of all places. Seems the shop manager at that particular Midas is OK with letting people bring in their own oil/filters, as long as they pay the normal cost of their normal/basic (non-synthetic) oil change. This is something of a win-win for everyone. The Midas shop actually makes slightly more money on me, as they charge me for a basic oil change, without using up any of their dino oil and filters (win for them). And it's also a win for me, as my price for a premium oil change, is just the cost of the synthetic oil + good filters + the normal (basic) Midas oil change price (which makes the total still less than I would pay for some regular "synthetic oil change" option at some other place)!
BTW: I use M1 5w30 full synthetic oil + premium full flow filters (previously NAPA gold, but I may be switching over to Amsoil EAO filters) + a Bypass filter system (oilguard brand).
NOTE: I now have some ramps, so it's no longer necessary to have a lift to change my oil. As such, I now have the option to change my own oil (where I didn't have the option in the past, due to the low clearance cars). However, I'll probably still let others do it at least some of the time, as it can be messy crawling under the car with the oil...
BTW: Many places won't let you use your own parts, but some will. And with a chain place (such as Midas), it may very between shops (based upon the decisions of the local shop management). So it doesn't hurt to ask! In the case of the local Midas, I found the shop by doing just that (walking in, and asking if it was OK). I was told that they allow it (and were in fact doing it for some other clients), but that they don't advertise this option, and I would still have to pay the normal (basic) oil change price for their labor (which was fine by me, as that still resulted in a very cost effective price for a quality synthetic oil change with premium filters).