Dumbest thing you have been told at a parts store

[Virtus_Probi]

Originally Posted By: sir1900
Not at a parts store, but at a dealership about 6 years ago:

You can switch from Quaker State to Pennzoil at anytime, but once you start using Pennzoil, you can't switch to any other brand after that.

That was the last time I had my vehicle serviced there.


That's like the common line that you can't go back to conventional after using synthetic because they don't mix.
But, they have synth blend oil on the shelf in plain view.

 

[RTexasF]

I was at an oil change place for a state inspection sticker. The manager (a self proclaimed tribologist) was pushing for an oil change. I told him I did my own changes with Mobil 1 0W20 but thanks anyway.

He said, "Great way to kill that engine, too thin." The car was a four cylinder Accord....0W20 or 5W20 was the only recommended oil.
I smiled and went outside to laugh while they were completing the inspection.

 

[cronk]

I once was in Autozone, trying to buy a transmission filter and pan gasket kit. The car was a 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, the first year that model went to front wheel drive.
The guy behind the counter tried to give me a filter kit for a 200r4 which is a rear wheel drive transmission.
When I told him that was the wrong filter, he tried telling me someone must have changed the transmission, because "this is what they came with".
I can't even begin to follow that logic, your car is front wheel drive, but came with a rwd transmission and someone must have changed it and it in a fwd transmission.

Ended up having to look it up as a 91 or 92 to finally find the correct filter kit.

 

[akela]

Quick lube place:
the guy pointing at the old Fram Ultra (just removed from my car), saying: "Fram? These are the worst. Never use them!"

 

[KCJeep]

Originally Posted By: chainblu
We should rename this thread to:
Dumbest thing you have OVERHEARD at a parts store.

I've heard countless whoppers coming from both sides of the counter. lol



Good point! I have heard some real doozies from both sides of the counter.

And I am not even in auto parts stores all that much.

 

[Virtus_Probi]

Originally Posted By: RTexasF
I was at an oil change place for a state inspection sticker. The manager (a self proclaimed tribologist) was pushing for an oil change. I told him I did my own changes with Mobil 1 0W20 but thanks anyway.

He said, "Great way to kill that engine, too thin." The car was a four cylinder Accord....0W20 or 5W20 was the only recommended oil.
I smiled and went outside to laugh while they were completing the inspection.


Slap some 20W50 in there and you are good to go!!!

 

[dan_erickson]

Auto Zone didn't have a part in stock so the counter guy told me to put a piece of black tape over the Service Engine Soon light.

 

[Nick1994]

I had a 2004 VW Beetle TDI - called for 5w40 505.01 VW Spec oil. VW then didn't want to stock 5w40 so they said you can use the new 5w30 507.00 spec oil.

I went into the dealership parts department for an oil filter and asked to see the bottle of 5w40 behind the counter so I could see if it had the 505.01 spec, the parts guy was arguing with me telling me the 5w30 is what they take now. He wouldn't even let me see the bottle.

I told him I want the 5w40 since those TDIs are WIDELY KNOWN to eat cam-shafts (mine ended up having a bad one) and a thinner oil is going to be of no benefit.
I'm the customer, give me what I want.

 

[SHOZ]

Took my lifetime guaranteed alternator that had locked up back to Advanced Auto. They said it wasn't warranted. Put it on their machine and it would not turn. They eventually figured out it was warranted.

Had some lifetime guaranteed rotors from Rock Auto. After they developed radial cracks in less than a year Rock Auto told me the guarantee was only until I opened the box.

 

[Yup]

I can't remember where, but I heard once that Fram OCDs kill numerous engines every year and that your car will die in 27 miles if you use them. Also, never buy an OEM filter and run it for 2 oil changes even though many owners manuals replace the filter half as often as the oil. Wix. Mobil 1. The only filters that will allow an engine to run for 150k+ miles.

 

[ledslinger]

Counter man told me there was no separate differential lube on my 2000 Concorde.

 

[justalubetech]

Originally Posted By: SuperDave456
Actually the cake was taken by a Employee/Customer shouting match.
I walked over to the isle with the huge breaker bars and wondered if I was going to have to use it on the Irate customer.

Employee:
"Sir, what type of car is it?"

Customer:
"It is an AUDI."

Employee:
"Sir. Yes, an Audi. What type of Audi?"

Customer:
"IT IS AN AUDI."

Employee:
"Yes Sir, an Audi, but what type? What year was it made?"

Customer:
"IT'S AN AUDI, YEARS DONT MATTER! YOU DON"T KNOW ANYTHING!"

Went on for a good 10 minutes with lots of cussing, several customers walked out.
I felt genuinely bad for the kid behind the counter.
I still wonder if the Manager was hiding in the back.

Oh, and all Auto Zone brand parts break within 2 months after their "warranty" expires. Stick with Brand names.


Hahaha that's great. I overheard our parts manager with a customer one day, he was trying to tell our manager he had a "Honda Acura". He was convinced that Acura was the model and started getting irate. Ended up walking outside and he had a Honda Civic lol.

 

[kc8adu]

was at autozone buying a head gasket kit for a friends ford escort.
asked if there were any revised torque specs listed for the particular kit i bought.
guy told me to just get them as tight as you can with a breaker bar.i asked if they stock an engine for that car as he will be responsible for the total destruction if i follow his stupid advice!the manager gave him a stern lecture and told him to never give any customer advice again.

 

[leeaspell]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
The dumbest thing I heard wasn't in a parts store it was at Mavis Tire a few years back. I was in for tires and an alignment and they were trying the typical hard sell telling me my E-150 needed ball joints. I said no it didn't, and the guy called me over to the lift and was pointing to the king pins, which have grease on them from years of greasing them. He told me they were leaking. I said learn the names of the parts and what they do and look like before you try and scam someone, those are king pins, and the front end is perfect. Then I stopped them from doing an alignment, had the tires installed and took it somewhere else for an alignment.


Had my truck in to the tire shop (kal tire) a few years ago for an alignment. After paying the guy hands me the keys and says "all ready to go, and we topped your pressure off to 80psi so now your low tire pressure light is off". When I told him the tires are only rated to 65psi MAX, he told me it was fine and they do it all the time. I walked out, let some pressure out of my tires and never stepped foot in that place again.

 

[tojo1968]

Wow these are some great stories! Thanks everyone!
I have one more about ball joints.
I lived in Pensacola for 10 yrs(87-97) and at that time I owned my beloved 84 Firebird. Took it to Big 10 tires for an alignment and was told i needed new ball joints. Huh? That's funny? Because in the glove box is a work order and receipt for installation of new ball joints FROM THE SAME BIG 10 SHOP 6 months earlier!
Manager was really uncomfortable that day due to my anger management issues back then. LOL

 

[KD0AXS]

I was at AZ buying out their stock of clearance PU 0W-40. As one employee was ringing me up, the other one says "What in the world are you going to do with 0-40?"

But then the guy that was helping me came back with a great line and said "Dude, it's synthetic and it's 2 bucks a quart."

 

[WiskyBadger]

Originally Posted By: KD0AXS
I was at AZ buying out their stock of clearance PU 0W-40. As one employee was ringing me up, the other one says "What in the world are you going to do with 0-40?"

But then the guy that was helping me came back with a great line and said "Dude, it's synthetic and it's 2 bucks a quart."
When I went in the last time the manager asked how I knew about the clearance. I told her sone guy on some website haha

 

[CrackyWainwright]

Back in the mid-80s I had a 1980 Audi 5000S that was in CONSTANT need of parts and repair. The first time I ever went into our local small-town parts store and told them I need such and such part for the Audi, the manager asked, "What kind of Chevy is that?"

 

[hjones]

Your car doesn't have a pcv valve

 

[ejes]

These are all good, lol. This is why I generally only purchase parts online anymore. Only reason I might go into a store is because I can't wait for it to be shipped and I need to get it done right away. I used to feel bad not supporting local businesses, but more and more of the hometown franchises are all gobbled up by big chains now anyway.