[/quote]
The rain falls equally upon the just and the unjust.
I'd doubt that more than a small minority of these shops are dishonest ...
Caveat emptor. [/quote]
Respectfully disagree. For all others reading this, if you have friends, family who do not change their own oil AND filter, do them a favor. TEACH THEM how to be assertive at the oil change place, make the place show them the changing of the oil AND filter.
If it is not possible, do your friends and family a favor, scratch a mark in the oil filter for them, next time you see them, check the filter that it was changed.
Even if it was changed, you never know if it came off another car just before their oil change but most likely not as frequent.
Ill go out on a limb and tell you all right now, if you think your oil change place is honest, chances are slim you will be right. I say you have a 50/50 (at best) chance of getting an honest one. The more proactive you are, the MORE THE HONEST ONES will prosper, because they are honest.
Also, skip the expensive synthetic, chances are your not getting it anyway.
It WOULD BE GREAT if some people started doing this for friends and family (including your own mothers and fathers), then post the results.