None of the chain stores have uniform policies on this. It all varies by store or at least district. My PepBoys most certainly discounts oil they want to get rid of. Last summer they had cases of StartUp for $8 and 5 packs of Valvoline for $5. Not too shabby. They also had SynPower in 5W40 and 5W20 marked down to $3.
Why to change your own oil.
- Thread starter Panzerman
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I'll admit I've used Pep Boys for oil changes while visiting family and trying to get their cars serviced.
I've caught various Pep Boys quite a few times stealing my synthetic oil [ Mobil 1 or Castrol Syntec ].
The oil containers were nowhere near the vehicle and the mechanic was trying to use bulk oil. After the 3rd time I quit listening to the excuses from the Service Manager and quit wasting my time and risking my vehicle at Pep Boys.
I have seen enough stupid or dishonest behavior at the various quick lubes like Jiffy Lube, Wal Mart Super Center TLE's, Pep Boys, and other chains to wonder how these companies stay in business.
These national chain auto service businesses seem to damage cars, or make other crucial mistakes, at an alarming rate.
Dealerships are better, in some cases...but it really depends on the dealership and the Service Mananger/ GM/ and owner.... and maybe the dealer franchise. I think some car companies do more to set high dealership standards.
I've seen some dealerships where they really knew their stuff and did a great job. I've seen plenty where they were out and out crooks, or hopelessly incompetent.
I've had the best luck with doing the work myself [when possible] or by finding a good independent owner operated garage. But good garages and good mechanics are not easy to find.
I've caught various Pep Boys quite a few times stealing my synthetic oil [ Mobil 1 or Castrol Syntec ].
The oil containers were nowhere near the vehicle and the mechanic was trying to use bulk oil. After the 3rd time I quit listening to the excuses from the Service Manager and quit wasting my time and risking my vehicle at Pep Boys.
I have seen enough stupid or dishonest behavior at the various quick lubes like Jiffy Lube, Wal Mart Super Center TLE's, Pep Boys, and other chains to wonder how these companies stay in business.
These national chain auto service businesses seem to damage cars, or make other crucial mistakes, at an alarming rate.
Dealerships are better, in some cases...but it really depends on the dealership and the Service Mananger/ GM/ and owner.... and maybe the dealer franchise. I think some car companies do more to set high dealership standards.
I've seen some dealerships where they really knew their stuff and did a great job. I've seen plenty where they were out and out crooks, or hopelessly incompetent.
I've had the best luck with doing the work myself [when possible] or by finding a good independent owner operated garage. But good garages and good mechanics are not easy to find.
I change mine for several reasons..I research oil and
pick the best oil for my useage..I drain the car over night to get ALL the old oil out...I also use a quality filter for all my vehicles...And, crazy as it sounds, i like changing the oil in my toys..
Its faster and more convenient if I do it myself. I can change the oil quicker myself than driving to wherever and leaving it or waiting for it. Also gives me a chance to examine the nether regions of my car. Found a couple of torn CV joints and other odds and ends during a routine oil change.
[quote}I only go to one chain store NTB for tire rotations and wheel alignments & balancing. I get the 3 year alignment for $189 and they rotate the tire & check the balance & alignment every 5000 miles which is 4 times a year for me.
I bought a set of tires for the wife's CRX at NTB and she was very pleased so I went back when the Camaro needed tires. I was told so many lies at one sitting it almost defies description. I went across the highway to Discount Tire and did everything that the guy at NTB said it would be illegal for him to do so I send my business there now. Probably this reflects the blather of a single commission hungry salesman but it can sure sour a customer on a chain that way.
I bought a set of tires for the wife's CRX at NTB and she was very pleased so I went back when the Camaro needed tires. I was told so many lies at one sitting it almost defies description. I went across the highway to Discount Tire and did everything that the guy at NTB said it would be illegal for him to do so I send my business there now. Probably this reflects the blather of a single commission hungry salesman but it can sure sour a customer on a chain that way.
Thatwouldbegreat, you talk about people at quick lube places trying to steal synthetic oil. Or not putting synthetic oil in when the customer has paid for it. I know about that experience. I brought Mobil 1 to a Greasy Ape quick lube place and I caught them redhanded trying to put Mystik 10W40 conventional oil into my car rather than the Mobil 1 I had brought in. Customers were not allowed into the servicing bays but I stood there in the servicing bay and watched until they put the Mobil 1 in my car. They did not say a word. One of them had a bottle of Mytik 10W40 conventional oil in his hands and had been almost ready to put that in my car. The Mobil 1 was still in a bag and laying on the floor against a wall.
I would recommend that nobody pay for a synthetic oil change at any quick lube place. Regardless if you bring the synthetic oil in yourself or just pay extra for the synthetic oil there is totally no guarantee that you will actually have synthetic oil put into your engine.
And frankly there is no guarantee that you will have oil of the proper viscosity put in your engine. If there is some cheap 10W30 oil in that big tank that is what you are going to get even in the middle of a very cold winter.
Unless you actually stand there and watch as they pour oil from motor oil containers into your engine you have no idea what you are getting. And they will usually not allow customers in the servicing bays. And they usually fill the car or truck engine using a big tank. So what is in the tank? You will never know!
I would recommend that nobody pay for a synthetic oil change at any quick lube place. Regardless if you bring the synthetic oil in yourself or just pay extra for the synthetic oil there is totally no guarantee that you will actually have synthetic oil put into your engine.
And frankly there is no guarantee that you will have oil of the proper viscosity put in your engine. If there is some cheap 10W30 oil in that big tank that is what you are going to get even in the middle of a very cold winter.
Unless you actually stand there and watch as they pour oil from motor oil containers into your engine you have no idea what you are getting. And they will usually not allow customers in the servicing bays. And they usually fill the car or truck engine using a big tank. So what is in the tank? You will never know!
OUCH!!!
The other day at AZ they had a quality set of Rhino ramps on sale for $29.99.
Well now you can say you've heard it twice. I pre-fill my filters as well. How full? In my vertically mounted Camaro, all the way. It all depends on how tilted the filter is. However full I can fill it without it tipping out during the install.
Make it three times. I've done that for years. On some vehicles it's possible to fill the filter almost all the way up, others about half full.
Many years ago I bought a new VW Rabbit. I brought it in for the first service, 1k miles or so. Very important service, they were supposed to retorque the headbolts and adjust the valves, along with change the oil.
I was working for a Mercedes dealer parts dept at the time, so knew not to be too trustful.
I carefully marked the valve cover bolts and the oil filter.
Sure enough, when I picked up the car not one part had been moved.
I had an ugly confrontation with the service manager, who actually tried to deny the facts, even when shown the marks. I ended up watching the lead mechanic actually do the work.
Got a lot of good miles from that car. I wonder how long the valves, cam, etc would have lasted it I took the dealer's word on the work?
I was working for a Mercedes dealer parts dept at the time, so knew not to be too trustful.
I carefully marked the valve cover bolts and the oil filter.
Sure enough, when I picked up the car not one part had been moved.
I had an ugly confrontation with the service manager, who actually tried to deny the facts, even when shown the marks. I ended up watching the lead mechanic actually do the work.
Got a lot of good miles from that car. I wonder how long the valves, cam, etc would have lasted it I took the dealer's word on the work?
I hear you guys!
The problem with having to watch mechanics to make sure that they don't forget to do the work properly, or don't save the synthetic oil for their own purposes.....is that it is exhausting!
The problem with having to watch mechanics to make sure that they don't forget to do the work properly, or don't save the synthetic oil for their own purposes.....is that it is exhausting!
Audity I find your post very interesting. You are talking about experiences with NEW CAR DEALERSHIPS! You marked the oil filter and valve cover bolts and it was obvious that they did not even remove these parts! You mention that you had worked for a Mercedes dealership and therefore "...knew not to be too trustful." You do not talk about any of the expereinces that you had at the Mercedes dealership. But if you observed any problems with maintenance of vehicles at a Mercedes dealership what kind of service can people expect at a Chevy dealership, or a Ford dealership? And we are talking new car dealerships here! We are not even talking about the quick lube places. People, do your own oil changes!
And they will usually not allow you to watch the mechanics work anyway. It is my personal opinion based on my own experiences and the experiences of others that a person who pays for a synthetic oil change at a quick lube place (or brings in their own synthetic oil) has a very good chance of being ripped off.
It is also my opinion based on what I have heard that the cheapest possible 10W30 oil is often used at quick lube places (and even some dealerships) and that is what you are going to get in your vehicle regardless what viscosity is required and even in the middle of a very cold winter. Even diesel engine cars and trucks might get that same gasoline 10W30 oil.
Look what the guy who worked at a GM dealership said above. The Corvettes did get Mobil 1 (maybe they were afriad to put something else in in those) but everything else was getting some cheap 10W30 bulk oil. And newer GM vehicles of course require 5W30. Even a vehicle that can use 10W30 in the summertime probably should get a 5W30 in the wintertime.
Change the oil in your own car or truck, even if you are older and have some joint pain. And change the oil in your wife's/girlfriend's/sister's car.
It is also my opinion based on what I have heard that the cheapest possible 10W30 oil is often used at quick lube places (and even some dealerships) and that is what you are going to get in your vehicle regardless what viscosity is required and even in the middle of a very cold winter. Even diesel engine cars and trucks might get that same gasoline 10W30 oil.
Look what the guy who worked at a GM dealership said above. The Corvettes did get Mobil 1 (maybe they were afriad to put something else in in those) but everything else was getting some cheap 10W30 bulk oil. And newer GM vehicles of course require 5W30. Even a vehicle that can use 10W30 in the summertime probably should get a 5W30 in the wintertime.
Change the oil in your own car or truck, even if you are older and have some joint pain. And change the oil in your wife's/girlfriend's/sister's car.
Not just a reason to change your own oil, but to avoid Stealers all together...
I know a fella who works at a local dealer. He says he doesn't do it anymore, but used to this: When someone would leave their car for an estimate, he would sometimes figure their labor rate based on what their house looked like on the Internet. (In our county, properties can be searched on-line by last name. So within a few clicks, he could easily see what the person he was working with had for a home, and what it was worth.) This is an otherwise honest guy - as far as I know. But he works on commission, and even the best person sometimes falls to temptation.
I think sales writers working on commission is one of the worst trends to ever hit your average auto consumer. People's ignorance translates into big bucks for these crooks. I have no use for them at all.
I will always try and find the 'little guy' who owns and runs his own shop. His reputation is gold to him and he knows that everytime he touches a car. It doesn't hurt that he's $30/hour cheaper than the stealership too.
You guys have got me riled up!
I know a fella who works at a local dealer. He says he doesn't do it anymore, but used to this: When someone would leave their car for an estimate, he would sometimes figure their labor rate based on what their house looked like on the Internet. (In our county, properties can be searched on-line by last name. So within a few clicks, he could easily see what the person he was working with had for a home, and what it was worth.) This is an otherwise honest guy - as far as I know. But he works on commission, and even the best person sometimes falls to temptation.
I think sales writers working on commission is one of the worst trends to ever hit your average auto consumer. People's ignorance translates into big bucks for these crooks. I have no use for them at all.
I will always try and find the 'little guy' who owns and runs his own shop. His reputation is gold to him and he knows that everytime he touches a car. It doesn't hurt that he's $30/hour cheaper than the stealership too.
You guys have got me riled up!
The bad things Ive heard about a quick lube place here is:
- loose and a couple filters actually fell off
- forgot to put oil cap back on
- wrong filter
actually never heard anyone complain about the wrong oil or swapping the oil...but how would one know if you didn't watch them. It's the people working there...no work ethics, don't care, etc.
- loose and a couple filters actually fell off
- forgot to put oil cap back on
- wrong filter
actually never heard anyone complain about the wrong oil or swapping the oil...but how would one know if you didn't watch them. It's the people working there...no work ethics, don't care, etc.
The quick lube places around my way have huge class walls you can see whatever they do, but that don't mean the hose hanging from the ceiling that says 5w-30 is. I have taken a friends old work van to jiffy lube. All the extras the guy claimed to have done fill etc, was a lie. I checked later. The only think I saw was him change the oil. I should have not sat down. The tranny fluid was low. They could have sold me a quart or two if they had checked, so it worked negative on their part.
As for synthetic from a quick lube place..LOL. Unless your helping the guy crack open each quart new, then your taking a gamble!
I change my oil outside on the street, regardless of weather, if it needs to be done. Save the extra cost of a shop and buy yourself a beer for after your done
As for synthetic from a quick lube place..LOL. Unless your helping the guy crack open each quart new, then your taking a gamble!
I change my oil outside on the street, regardless of weather, if it needs to be done. Save the extra cost of a shop and buy yourself a beer for after your done
1. To know that is done to your satisfaction with the quality of oil and filter you want, not what they have. I have only used a quick change place once and it was hilarious. Glass walls and I was talking to the manager when the guy fired up my truck and spewed 2 quarts of oil all over a clean bay. He had left the filter off. The manager was out there in 30 seconds yelling for him to shut it down. He had moved my truck 5 feet and they pushed it back in place. The guy then topped the oil off and installed a filter (very loosely I might add, tightened it another 3/4 of a turn when I got home 2 blocks away).
2. Save money
3. I enjoy doing it and looking at all the fluids while I wait for the oil to drain.
2. Save money
3. I enjoy doing it and looking at all the fluids while I wait for the oil to drain.
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