Not bike related: 10 minute oil change shops..

[1BigDog]

Over the years I have always pulled my own maintenance on my vehicles, especially my bikes, however as I have gotten older I have found that changing oil on my cars has been somewhat of an issue with my arthritis. I started frequenting those 10 minute oil change shops such as Jiffy Lube and Texaco Express lube and each time there has been something lacking with their performance. So, after several years of using them I swore that from now on ill just tuff it out and change my own oil. It just seemed that they never did just what they advertised they would do. From something as minor as not washing the window or vacuuming the interior (as advertised) to rounding off the head of the bolt and not fixing it, leaving me to discover it at the next oil change. Sometimes I have found less oil in the engine then it called for. My Trailblazer for example holds 7 qts of oil and I am charged for the additional 2 quarts. When I get it home I usually found it down a quart even though I paid for 2. Of course they correct it but the hassle of going back is a PIA.

 

So, today I decided to change my oil in my Trailblazer myself and I bought 7 qts of oil and a good filter. Get the truck up in the air and discover an inspection plate that needs to be removed to access the oil bolt and filter was left off completely. Not a big issue but that only means that Texaco Express has a cover, 2 bolts and a snap clip laying around somewhere. I mean, where has quality control and pride of workmanship gone to? That old saying "if you want it done right then do it yourself" sure does apply here.

 

I guess it really is what it is!!

 

And I cant even claim this mild rant as winter blues since it was 75 here today....

[Eck]

About two years ago I decided I will be doing my own oil changes.

 

That is when they hit me up for $40 bucks just to change my oil and oil filter, that was it for me..no more..

 

I have not been back since and wont be for years to come (I hope)...

[BoomerCPO]

For them places to do my truck the cheapest price around heah is over $100. Can't see paying that and getting the job done half-a$$ed as well.

 

Boomer.....who gladly "supervises " the Warden and lets her do it.

[LilBeaver]

At least that is all they left off.

 

A good friend of mine's mother drove out of one of those places, to get about 5 miles down the road and have the motor on her almost brand-new Pontiac. She had just rolled over about 5,000 miles on it.

 

The JiffyLube overtigthend the oil-filter (cracking it) and failed to install the oil filler cap under the hood. So, between the oil spraying out of the oil filter and the hole under the hood - it didn't take long for the oil pressure light to come on and it to stop on her...

 

She pulled over as the car quit on her... I know these were the problems, becasue I am the one that picked her up, towed her car back to the JiffyLube... And I'll stop here. Just consider yourself lucky.

 

Needless to say, I cringe everytime I see someone pull out of one of those places.

[RandyR]

About 5 years ago the quicky oil place my dad was using failed to put any oil in his car. He got about 5 miles before the engine seized up. They paid to have the engine rebuilt.

[MiCarl]

I quit going to those places after one of their "techs" noticed that my fuel injectors were dirty and recommended that I buy an over priced bottle of crap to add to the fuel tank.

 

I thought about asking him to show me the dirty injectors on my CARBURETED engine, but ended up saying no thanks and just never going back.

 

I also had to replace all my oil drain plugs because they were cross threaded.

[midnightventure]

I took my daughters car to get it inspected a few years ago. The young man( teen ager) assigned to take the wheel off was a friend of my sons. I watched through a window as he used the wrong socket and rounded off the lug nut and didn't manage to get it off. I watched as he did the right thing and got his boss (owner) and showed him what he had done. The boss moved him to the other side of the car and showed him the right socket. They never said a thing to me. Now I have a pretty bad temper but as I have gotten older I have realized that if I never get started I am able to keep it under control so I just kept my mouth shut. It helped that I knew that I would be able to fix it. It wasn't long they were out of business and I would like to think that here in this small town that I helped with that.

There have been several exposes on tv about places like Jiffy Lube doing crooked stuff. especially out on the west coast. I started working on my own stuff because that was the way I was raised and it was what I could afford. Now I can afford a shop but don't want to let anybody else touch my stuff. My friends that take their stuff to the pros seem to have more problems than I do.

[Aimhigh]

About a year ago I had some work done on our 4Runner...while in the shop I asked my mechanic to go ahead and change the oil, too. He informed me that the quick change shop had messed up the bolts to the plate...and that it appeared the oil filter had not been changed in some time. At that time I decided that I would do the oil changes for all my vehicles from now on. Once the prepaid routine maintenance is used up on the bike...I will change that oil, too.

[aharbi]

Over the years I have always pulled my own maintenance on my vehicles, especially my bikes, however as I have gotten older I have found that changing oil on my cars has been somewhat of an issue with my arthritis.

 

I hear what you are saying. I'm getting older too. I do my own work or at least what I can or want to on my truck. I like full size trucks. The engine sits the way it should with the front pointing to the front. Room to work to change plugs without banging your knuckles. The oil filter just hanging there naked out in the open so you can grab it. It sits high enough so that you can poke your head under it and check things out. I like trucks.

 

Now my wifes car. You can't even see the oil filter without it being six feet in the air. The engine is covered up so you can't peek at anything and the "stuff" your allowed to look at or touch is painted yellow. Her car I'm afraid of, it scares me. I take her car to a local Midas shop. They allow me to walk around and under her car when raised in the air. They show me everything, give me a list of what the expect next maintenance cycle. And they put everything back they take off. I first noticed this when they put brakes on my truck and put back them little red rubber plugs in the backing plate (rear drum brakes). I was impressed with the work they did and sent Midas HQ a letter thanking them and mentioning the mechanic that did the work. I only ask for him and schedule my appointments just for him. Although the manager (front desk dude) that schedules the work says anyone can help me I INSIST on only him. I guess because of the letter I can do no wrong in his eyes and have never had a problem. My wife even bakes him cookies!

 

Maybe I'm just lucky or maybe you have to build a relationship with a skilled specific machanic to get the work done right.

 

ps. nobody, ain't nobody touching my bikes but me.

[KarlS]

I was an Auto Service Manager for 33 years at Dealerships, National Chains and local Chains. Doing a few thousand LOF's a months you are bound to have a problem once in awhile. BUT when one company I worked for wanted to get into the 10 minute oil change business they had me hire part time minimum wage people off the street. Spent way to much of my time and my mechanics time going over every car to look for and correct mistakes before car left. After one very good customer left with no oil in his motor and it seized up, I ended the 10 minute crap right then and there. I won't go to them because they hire any warm body they can find and the workers don't care if it's done right or not. I have a local Service Center do mine, takes longer but done right and they don't try to sell me everything under the sun.

[Freebird]

I agree. I used to change my oil all the time and still do on the bike. For the cars though, I just no longer feel like crawling under them. I am lucky that I have a very good Midas in Oberlin, OH right up the road. I'm not endorsing Midas in general as there are likely good ones and bad ones but this one is fantastic. They do great work, are very thorough, have never tried to rip me off and their prices are very reasonable. I've been using them for about 6 or 7 years now and they have had no turnover in employees. I know them by name and they know me by name. It is nice when you can take your vehicles to a place and have complete confidence that things will be done correctly.

[bongobobny]

Funny thing, they ALWAYS find metal in your differential oil or transmission oil and highly recommend you flush and change!!

 

Yah, they are first clas scumballs and lots of time you get recycled oil...

[Yammer Dan]

I learned not to go close to them. Will let Wally World change oil in cage if weather and time won't let me. Probally not a smart thing to do!!