Vehicle Oil changes
- Thread starter paulsharvey
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NEVER would I support an oil change business that would charge $175. It’s not an exotic car. I’d find a way to get under it and do the work myself.
Here's my experience at my dealer's service department. In my online reservation and when I bring ours into the drive-in bay, I mention that I will be supplying my own AMSOIL oil which I placed on the passenger seat. This time I waited in the lounge after being in Tim Horton's for a coffee. An hour passed by and I get the call that it's ready, paid the bill, get the key and get into the car and to my chagrin my AMSOIL has not been touched. Without giving my brain time to strategize my next move I go inside and blow my stack to whoever, didn't care who heard me. Heads turn in my direction while some suddenly disappear. When I get mad, look out. In conclusion, their response was quick to replace their oil with mine in less than it took for a second coffee which they supply from a coffee machine. The dealer sent me an email for feedback on my experience. Needless to say that I gave it with "both barrels".
Fields_mj
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My wife and I both have Toyota Camrys with the same problem. I built my own ramps by cutting and boards together (2x8). If you go this route, keep in mind that it doesn't need to be a big solid (ie heavy) chunk of wood when you're done. The boards in the middle can have gaps. I also double up a short 2x4 at the front end to serve as a chalk to keep me from driving off the end by mistake.
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Alan46
Elite Member
$13? In some places you can’t even get a burger for $13!
Alan46
Elite Member
Can you post a picture for us visual guys and gals? Thanks
GWagon
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When using the suction extractor are you leaving the old filter on? If so you should just pay to have it changed. The filter change is as important as changing oil.
GWagon
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Apparently not. What also would be nice is a tractor news, tips, and issues website.
Skrizan
Member
Many good points in this thread as well as bad. I have 2 examples of why you should do it yourself if able. 1. My brother had his changed at a Fast Eddie's chain. He left and a couple miles down the road his van died. He towed it to his house and called me a few days later asking if I could help him figure out what was wrong with it. I came over and heard the story checked the lipstick, it was bone dry. We went to fast Eddie's and they have video of every change for their liability. We sat down and watched it with the manager and watched all the steps to the windows washer refill. Then he closed the hood without ever putting any oil in it.
2. My daughter lived alone far from me so I could no longer do it for her. After several changes the place she took it to told her they didn't want to remove the plug all the way it was coming out hard with threads coming out also. She brought it to me and I took it out and it was stripped at some point and some sort of thread fix was applied that was failing. She had to get the oil pan replaced.
Ramps sound like a good Idea when possible, but I have never used them. I use a hydraulic jack on one side and a jackstand for security if the jack fails. Takes only a minute and gives a enough room to get to the plug and filter.
Probably for another post, but I have put millions of miles on multiple vehicles without any engine issue with Valvoline conventional and Fram filters in the old days, and Valvoline or Mobil1 full synthetic more recently. No need for fancy filters and oil if you are changing your oil when you should.
2. My daughter lived alone far from me so I could no longer do it for her. After several changes the place she took it to told her they didn't want to remove the plug all the way it was coming out hard with threads coming out also. She brought it to me and I took it out and it was stripped at some point and some sort of thread fix was applied that was failing. She had to get the oil pan replaced.
Ramps sound like a good Idea when possible, but I have never used them. I use a hydraulic jack on one side and a jackstand for security if the jack fails. Takes only a minute and gives a enough room to get to the plug and filter.
Probably for another post, but I have put millions of miles on multiple vehicles without any engine issue with Valvoline conventional and Fram filters in the old days, and Valvoline or Mobil1 full synthetic more recently. No need for fancy filters and oil if you are changing your oil when you should.
NoTrespassing
Elite Member
EV owners of today and tomorrow
Thought this would be a good thread to start where EV owners (INCLUDING PLUG-IN HYBRIDS) can share personal anecdotes and those thinking about buying an EV can ask questions pertaining to ownership. This is not a thread of non EV owners to bash and ridicule EV's and EV owners. Let's keep it...
www.tractorbynet.com
Unless "EV owners of today and tomorrow" counts as one...
bartjoebob
Silver Member
You were hosed. In our region there is a chain called Prompto. Most full synth oil changed are in the neighborhood of $50. Looks like $90 for something STR specific.
Pricing/ Products - Prompto 10 Minute Oil Change
PRICING/PRODUCTS - Basic Service: Synthetic Blend, Full Synthetic, Motor Oil Grades,Conventional, Motor Oil
promptooil.com
WinterDeere
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I had this happen to a buddy 20+ years ago, and my question for your brother is the same as it was to him: doesn't every vehicle on earth have an oil pressure light that lights up bright red right in the center of your gauge cluster, to tell you there's no oil pressure??? Maybe not everyone looks for this after an oil change, but... a couple of miles?!?
I can be pretty scatterbrained, and always worry I'm going to do this to myself, but I do watch that oil pressure gauge like a hawk on that first start-up after changing the juice.
Indiana haymaker
New member
I used to do all my oil changes, on my low cars I have some 2x12 cut offs that I stack with about 4 inches in between the starting point of each so they are easy to drive up on then onto the ramps, I have also used a pneumatic car jack stand that wil lift on side of the car and lock. I quit doing it several years ago when the local car repair shop was charging $20 for an oil change, now he is $45 but still a good deal, $120 - $174 is robbery, shop around or check their websites for coupons
Syncro
Platinum Member
Our new 2024 Rubicon came with three free dealer oil changes, however from past experience I'm very reluctant to have anyone touch any of my vehicles, even for simple things like changing the oil. Some years ago my mother-in-law bought a new Volkswagen and at the first oil change brought it to the dealer, when she got home I checked the oil level and it was one quart above the fill line and looked like the filter had not been touched. In another incident, my daughter brought her car into one of the quick change places and they over tightened the drain plug. Her car has an aluminum oil pan and it was a major job for me to fix that, I could imagine some gum chewing idiot using a breaker bar to tighten the filler plug! Most recently our new Ford Transit went in for an oil change at the dealer I bought it from, they reset the instrument panel to 100% but the oil and filter were not touched. I called it their attention and they promptly made up some excuse as mixing it up with a different vehicle. On another occasion many years ago after buying new Wheels for my new Ford F-150 I had one come off on the way home because the lug nuts were never tightened, so my reluctance in even having someone wash my vehicles. The peace of mind I have knowing it's done right is worth more than the money saved.
WinterDeere
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Updated it to the 2020's for you.
jdecaro
New member
Hi Paul,
My car has about 5" of clearance and I can't just drive it up the car ramps or it will hit and push the ramp before my wheels get close. I have to lift the front of the car up before it hits the car ramps. To do this (on each side) I lead the ramps with some stuff to get my wheels off the ground before I drive up the ramps. I drive over, a 2"x4", then a 3"? red brick. I put the end of the ramp on the red brick. That way I'm able to clear the ramps. When I lived in an apartment, phone books worked well.
Regarding places like "Jiffy Lube"; I've had issues. They are in such a hurry that they forget to replace stuff, like plugs and caps. Always check your oil and your caps/plugs before you leave (I do that no matter where I take it).
Jim
charlessenf
Gold Member
If you're not prepared to walk away, you deserve the 62% penalty!
There is absolutely no reason to be jammed up over an Oil Change. It is not critical - give or take a couple thousand miles or a week or two.
I like (the fella?s) suggestion that you fix your ramps somehow, then buy your oil and filters on sale and DIY. I hear the DIY guys vacuum the vehicle and do the winders!
If you must take it to an Oil Change Place call and ask the price. The tire shops seem to offer a free rotation with an oil change ('free' relative to what others charge for the service w/o rotating anything but the oil filter.
Shop around if you want a deal! Did you say $30 for a CABIN FILTER? Jeeze look on Amazon or Walmart (Wlamart often has better prices online than on the shelf (per recent experience buying bolts for my Side terminal Battery - but CORE CHARGE on a Battery is Higher if you pay on line and they give you a Walmart credit card when you bring in the old battery!)
Problem is - you've too much disposable income. If you had less to spend, you'd find ways to spend less.
"Watch the pennies" me maw maw would say, "and the dollars'll take care o' themselves."
charlessenf
Gold Member
Once in 1970 something I was headed North from Florida and decided to get an Oil Change in my '67 Opel Kadett 'L' on a Friday. When they put it up on the lift, they punctured the oil pan! They had to scramble to find a Buick Dealer with one in stock and wound up replacing it, changing the oil, filter, rotating the tires and apologizing - all 'on the house.'
Another time, my wife took the Hyundai in for brakes and they sold her a pair of rotors. Fortunately, my wife demanded they put all the old parts in the trunk (and checked). When I got down to Florida I called around to find the specs on the rotors (given the car's mileage there was no war she 'needed' new rotors). Armed with that information I went to the shop, explained the situation and asked for a refund of the parts and labor. The (manager?) checked the book and came out with his calipers to measure the rotors in the trunk: a) they measured within spec, and b) when he turned them over, he saw that his mechanic had written that number on the rotors themselves!
I got my money back - well her money back.
Skrizan
Member
You know, I never thought of, or asked that question. He is a chronic pot smoker though, so who knows? I would have thought the oil change place was the cause immediately, but I'm not a pothead.
charlessenf
Gold Member
"I'm not a pothead"
When I was stationed overseas (60's) one could purchase a large bag of weed (like a quart-size) for a dollar.
Two things. With all the brass about, I was hyper vigilant and, no one ever called me on it. Though once I did have an officer notice that one of the pins my NDSM ribbon had come loose (from across the room! eagle eyes!) and called out to me to correct it!
This by way of saying that, 'high as a kite,' I completed my work under such watchful eyes of those 'in charge' without any impact upon my performance.
Idiot lights BTW are supposed to illuminate every time you start the vehicle and every time the oil pressure drops below X.
To paraphrase grannie, "Supposed" spoils many a good story."
When I was stationed overseas (60's) one could purchase a large bag of weed (like a quart-size) for a dollar.
Two things. With all the brass about, I was hyper vigilant and, no one ever called me on it. Though once I did have an officer notice that one of the pins my NDSM ribbon had come loose (from across the room! eagle eyes!) and called out to me to correct it!
This by way of saying that, 'high as a kite,' I completed my work under such watchful eyes of those 'in charge' without any impact upon my performance.
Idiot lights BTW are supposed to illuminate every time you start the vehicle and every time the oil pressure drops below X.
To paraphrase grannie, "Supposed" spoils many a good story."
