rant on Oil changers

[5030]

Auto transmission are very similar to the HST trans in smaller Kubota's but unlike a Kubota where they employ a swash plate to vary the speed of the HST, an auto trans uses a valve body to actuate the various clutch packs but they have one thing in common and that is, the fluid additive package depletes over time with heat and cool cycles and needs to be changed as well as the filter(s). If you go to a quick oil change place for a 'flush', all they do is suck out the existing fluid, filter it and put it back in. They don't renew it and they don't replenish the additive package either.

I seriously doubt any of them would drop the pan and change the filter. That is way above their 'pay grade'...lol

Modern automatics use synthetic fluid today and it's expensive to say the least.

 

[ericm979]

I'll admit the only tranny I've ever changed fluid on is Ford C6's, I had several of them on older hot rods in my 20's. I installed a drain plug in the pan on the last one, to make it less messy to drain down the pan before removing it. Until this current fleet of new cars, every other vehicle I've ever owned was manual transmission, which is quite easy to change. I have two ZF 8HP70's coming due for a change, so I guess I'll need to make a decision there.

With the transmissions without dipsticks there's a way to set the level- get the trans up to the specified temp range then remove a level plug. Sometimes the level plug is a smaller plug inside the drain plug, with a tube sticking up into the trans. Sometimes it's a separate plug.

It's not as convenient as a dipstick that you can reach from above but it's not difficult. You need a way to read trans fluid temp. I usually use an OBD2 reader. The hardest part is having the vehicle level but raised up so you can get under it (unless it's high enough to not need that).

 

[mrmikey]

Modern automatics use synthetic fluid today and it's expensive to say the least.

You aren't kidding. The trans in my 2019 Ram is a ZF 8sp, holds just shy of 10 liters at roughly $30 a liter. What really ticks me off is the specs for the ZF oil aren't available and the only one supposed to be compatible is Valvoline Maxlife. Compatible by Valvolines standards as they say 'comparable to' not 'appoved by ZF for use'

 

[azbinder]

A number of years ago I too the wife's jeep Commander into the local "quick lube" joints. Asked that they use Rotella, as I've run that in everything for more years than I can remember. They said no, can't do that. Bood doesn't call for it. I said fine and left. Took it to the local Jeep dealer and told them what I wanted. Said no problem, we'll just have to pick the oil up. They got 2 gallons, used what was needed and then put the jug with the remaining oil in the back seat.

 

[Jchonline]

I do my own oil changes on all equipment and my truck. So far our Jiffy lube in town has been fine with my wife's Subaru.

 

[5030]

My issue with the quickie oil change places is besides the 'death flush' for an automatic trans is you really have no idea what oil they are putting in your engine or what oil filter they use (unless you crawl under the car or truck and look).

They may advertise they use Pennzoil but is it really Pennzoil that is coming out of the fill nozzle? For all you know, could be cheapo Tractor Supply resqueezed oil.

In this state, there is no oversight at all other than they have to be a registered with the state company. seen way too many YT video's where quickie change places are advertising one thing and doing another.

Just took my wife's Suburban to the dealer where she bought it for an AC recharge and an oil change and it got a GM oil filter and premium synthetic oil. I know, I watched when the tech did it. Up on the hoist and pulled the drain plug unlike the quickie change places where they suck the oil out of the dipstick tube. Normally, I'd do it myself but it's just too dang hot to be fiddling under the car or under the hood.

On the way home we went past the local quickie change place. Sign out front said 'Help Wanted', top wage paid. Must have run out of high school kids looking to make some pin money. Kind of wondered what 'top wage' was. To me, top wage is around 35 bucks an hour, don't believe they are even close to that, maybe a dime over minimum wage....

If I was younger, I'd buy one of those franchises. I bet they are money makers.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

it all comes down to the person doing it.
A young friend just lost an engine due to low oil not long after an oil change, we can only speculate what happened.

 

[newbury]

Real nice to read how proud you guys are that you can change your own oil.
On my VW the first oil changes were part of the deal. When it got to the Escape I did the first (as mentioned) and was 900 miles away when the second one was done.
The rant was about places that don't know how to do a drain and fill.

 

[paulsharvey]

I always change the fluids on my own until wife bought a 2019 Charger RT. Can't get it on ramps without smashing bumper/air dam. My work car, I always take to the same place because they handle all the fleet lease BS stuff. Had son take wife's car up there, dang $120...

On the over fill, I assume they get lazy about vac'ing the old oil, and then add 'spec' amount of new oil. If they left 1 quart of old, then add 6 quarts of new, yep, that's gonna overfill. I think most places now just Vac the used oil, and refill; I don't think most of them pull the drain plug.

 

[California]

Wow. I've used the cheap oil change places for 60 years, never had a problem. (Aside from refusing premature air cleaner replacement or engine flush, many times!)

I do my own changes occasionally, but rarely, only if I'm also doing the tractors.

Bought a Fumoto drain valve for the Subaru but then I've used it maybe twice in 20 years.

Junk oil or filters could be a problem. But I've never had an oil-related problem. I do check the level after a change.

Only time I've been ripped off was the 100,000 mile major service that I had done at the Ford dealer. Claimed replaced the power steering fluid but clearly never took the cap off. I suspect they skipped nearly everything specified. But now several years later no problems have appeared.