Quick Oil Change Places

[L120]

Just watched a youtube on the different oil filter company's & quality.Interesting to see the inside of the filters as the man cut them all open laying the parts out side by side.

FRAM lost the challenge being a less than par oil filter with cheap cardboard inside & cheesy valve where oil can bypass the filter all together. NAPA Gold was the best then WIX. Can't recall the 4th other but it was the same filter as another just with different logo/brand name on it. I'm sticking on WIX from now on.

Link to YT I viewed

 

[NorTracNY]

A log time ago when the MRS and I lived in an apartment we went to Walmart for oil changes. After having them not put the plug in tight and the oil light come on I was done with them. I then switch to anther local place. They were not much better. I learned that it's better to pay a mechanic $30-40 than EVER go to a cheap $20 place. I tried one of the quick change places once where you stayed in the car while they did it. I was impressed with their communication and speed, but then learned that they spilled oil all over and it cost $45! Never again.

I bought one vehicle from a dealer that offered free oil changes for life. The last time I went there they didn't close the air filter (didn't asked them to even touch it - they were looking for things to up charge) and the car stalled.

I had one vehicle in for a recall at a dealer. They were looking for up charges too and too the radiator cap off. Luckily I opened the hood when I got home. I found the cap on top of the battery and insulation on the hood held it in place.

As a teenager I used to do my own. When I got a house I was prepared to do them myself, but the vehicle I had needed a lift as I couldn't reach the drain plug without the car being raised up.

 

[Gunny]

I know two people that had oil changes at those quick lube places and the "mechanics" failed to make sure the old oil filter gasket came off. One friend caught the mistake pretty quickly because the oil dripped on his exhaust and he smelled it, the other friend didn't notice anything until the engine overheated because of low oil.

 

[CobyRupert]

As a teenager I used to do my own. When I got a house I was prepared to do them myself, but the vehicle I had needed a lift as I couldn't reach the drain plug without the car being raised up.

CAR RAMPS

 

[Howling]

Took a car a quick change place years ago. Something odd about guy topping off tire pressure. Check when I got home. He had one side of car at 30 psi and other side at 40 psi. Seems like bored kid messing with people.

I would rather pay a little more to a trusted mechanic that will look at the car while on lift and tell me about any problems he sees.

 

[orangeandgreen]

I have always been nervous about taking a vehicle to the chain fast lube places because of the horror stories like in this thread. My local Ford dealer does oil change, rotation, inspection for $5 more than I can buy the oil and filter at Wally World, so I let them do it now.

 

[Oaktree]

IMy local Ford dealer does oil change, rotation, inspection for $5 more than I can buy the oil and filter at Wally World, so I let them do it now.

A lot of dealers do this as a loss leader. You do have to be on guard for up-selling though, and make sure they don't do anything else without your permission. They are very good at pushing services and "repairs" that you don't really need.

 

[Howling]

I have always been nervous about taking a vehicle to the chain fast lube places because of the horror stories like in this thread. My local Ford dealer does oil change, rotation, inspection for $5 more than I can buy the oil and filter at Wally World, so I let them do it now.

Depends on the dealer. We have a Ford dealer within a mile. But have always bought vehicles and had warranty/recall work done at dealer a few towns away. Even my local mechanic buys Ford parts from the dealer a few towns away instead of one in town.

 

[HillStreet]

The only reason I don’t do my own oil changes is because I just don’t feel like it. I do the tractors, UTV and mowers myself but it is easier than going to the dealer for service on this equipment. Plus each change is by schedule so often it might involve hydraulics, axle, etc. My truck is different, I drive to the place, check in, and its done. It is the after that scares me, I normally leave the shop and go to a nearby spot and let it sit for a couple of minutes—then move and check for oil leaks. I mean, anybody can screw up, but a worker that don’t care just don’t care. Oh, I am the OP on this thread and just thought I would chime in while I watch Gold Rush.

 

[STERLING351]

When I was in Lubbock TX I used a place called Boltons which was always awesome to use great service and quick. I was renting a place at the time with out a garage to store my tools and do the work. But before I moved from there I had them change my oil on my Ford 7.3 and crack my oil filter housing/oil cooler because they put the filter on with a wrench to tighten it!!!! They denied they were responsible for this mistake and that the damage must have already been there.