One More Reason To Not Change Your Own Oil

[NHHEMI]

WOW! Some of you folks are really paranoid about having work done. Some of you need therapy badly. It is almost comical to me reading about the fear some of you have about letting someone touch your vehicle and the idea that every dealer and/or repair shop is crooked. I have worked in the auto field( dealer and aftermarket )and had my vehicle worked on as well. It is not any where near as bad out there as some of you make it sound.

If dealers and places like Firestone service centers were really as bad as some of you make it out - everywhere - they would go broke fixing all the problems they caused and no customers would ever deal with any of them. YES, sometimes they do make mistakes and screw things up. No question about it. However, 99.999999% of the time you will be just fine. Not every dealer and/or repair shop hires incompetant help, uses sub standard quality items, and will try and upsell you to death. Good lord folks get a grip.

If you know for a fact that sub standard items are being used obviously it is not a deal. You have already been told however by the OP that Firestone is using Kendal oil( name brand excellent product )and a Champ Lab's filter( may not be a M1 but still decent )so $15 for the OC is a great deal. You are not forced to accept any upsell attempts ever and a simple no thank you ends it. If the shop damages your vehicle they are on the hook to repair it and then you don't have to go back but don't assume they will do so 100% for sure.

Firestone Service Centers( here anyway )do an excellent job. I use them for tires when I need them. All of the FSC shops here use ASE certified mechanics as well. $15 for a Kendall oil/Champ Lab filter OC is a very good deal. I know the local FSC here use Kendal blend oil as well which makes the $15 even better vs conventional oil. It is a deal I would not hesitate to use myself if it was what I wanted for that vehicle.

Again, the anti dealer/mechanic paranoia around here at times does get a little nuts. No question there are some bad dealers and repair shops, and incompetant mechanics, out there( seen them and worked at one myself )but it is not to the level some of you feel and it is not ALL of them.

No offense intended just sayin folks. Some of you need to relax.

 

[Ausfahrt]

I am surprised that no one has mentioned the value of time. I can change my oil in about 15 minutes. Once you fork over your keys at Firestone, you are at the back of the line and they will get to your loss-leader oil change when they get around to it.

No thanks.

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: NHHEMI

No offense intended just sayin folks. Some of you need to relax.

I am relaxed, why I've been changing my own oil for 44+ years... I did have a friend change it in 1969 when I had to work and was going on a weekend long, out of town, date that evening...

I took a VW head to the dealer to be repaired in 1970(for same girl friend as above), otherwise the only trips made to the dealer have been for recalls, or buying parts... Oops OK I lied, I had a front end alignment done at same dealer on her Bug...

The dealer gave me free oil changes for three years when I bought my '07 Grand Marquis in '08, haven't been back yet, I'll still be changing my own oil when I have to drag the walker under the car with me... Well probably not but service will not be from a dealer or quickie lube shop...

 

[EricZoom]

I just like changing my own oil, because I know it will be done right, and I could put in my oil of choice.

 

[glum]

I can't stand bringing my car in--for anything. Too many bad experiences. I've gotten cars back with filth all over the doors and seats. I've gotten a $44K vehicle back with little holes, scratches, and gouges in the leather seats. One time, within minutes of dropping my car off, some idiot (I assume it was the tech) backed it out carelessly and smashed into another vehicle with it. I've seen 300-pound guys leaning on my car as if it were a park bench. These incidents did not happen at the same shop.

And I don't think I have ever had my oil changed and not had the crankcase overfilled by at least half a quart, and very often by a full quart. I find this extremely irritating, and "They can't keep track of how much oil every vehicle takes" and "Overfilling won't hurt anything" doesn't cut the turd.

When I change my own oil, I know what oil and filter is being used. I get to choose each, and I'm a picky %$#%*@. I know the drain plug and filter won't be too tight or too loose. I'll know the filter was pre-filled with oil and that the seal was coated with oil. I know as much of the old oil as possible will be drained.

If I'm rotating my own tires, I'll know, well, that it has been done and done properly (without having to mark the tires ahead of time to make sure they do it). I'll know that the lug nuts weren't grossly over-torqued.

And to date, I've never tried upselling to myself.

I also get a sense of satisfaction from doing it myself. That hasn't always been the case. For me, it depends how I feel about the vehicle. If (as with my last car) I detest the thing and don't care much about it, I may bring it in to have it done.

I'm not knocking anyone who prefers to just have someone else do it. To each his own. And I do realize there are good shops and techs out there. I just can't name any offhand.

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: SLCraig
Originally Posted By: The Critic

But I don't have to get under the car. I'd much rather stand outside the service bay and watch them like a hawk (and chat with the tech).


You are not a true BITOGer... No one is changing my oil but me

Agreed, about like being on a shooting forum and not owning a gun...

 

[demarpaint]

I'm pretty relaxed too, last time I went for service to one of the big chains, a tire shop the hard upsell was ball joints for my E-150. At least if you are going to try and screw someone know the name of the part you are trying to sell. My E-150 has King Pins, no ball joints. I might add they are perfect as confirmed by the two local shops I've grown to trust. When they failed at selling me ball joints they pulled the rear brake drums. They told me when you can see the rivet heads its time for brakes. I laughed and informed him that they were well within spec, in fact close to new. Then when they smashed 4 center caps and destroyed them to balance the wheels I was twisted. I paid with a CC and disputed the damage with the CC company, I got my money for the center caps. I needed tires but, for an oil change it is not worth the hassle from a big chain store.

Maybe its just the metro NY area. Two years ago I was in WA on Whidbey Island and my son needed tires. I told him it was my treat and I went to a local tire shop. They included a free safety check, which coming from NY I was locked and loaded for the upsell. I was polite and left the car. When I came back not only did they charge the price quoted they commented on how everything was fine with the car and it needed nothing. I shook the guys hand, laughed and said I wish I could drive from NY next time I needed tires! If you can find a shop you trust it is truly a beautiful thing.

I'm going for a state inspection this afternoon, and I know my guy won't play any games with me. If I couldn't do an OC I'd pay him $35 he wants for an OC, I know I won't get hosed or sold anything I don't need.

 

[tonycarguy]

Reasons not to take it to a shop like Firestone:

1. Cost of gas and depreciation on the car to drive there ($0.25 per mile for a typical $30k car).

2. They use some mystery filter of unknown quality

3. The tech kicks the lower door panels while getting in and out, and gets grease on the steering wheel

4. It takes 1 hour of your time to drive to the shop, wait for the work to be done, and drive back home


The cost of doing it yourself:

1. $9 for 5 quarts of Supertech, and $4-5 for an oil filter of known quality. $0.10 for nitrile gloves to protect your hands

2. 15 minutes of your time

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: tonycarguy
Reasons not to take it to a shop like Firestone:

1. Cost of gas and depreciation on the car to drive there ($0.25 per mile for a typical $30k car).

2. They use some mystery filter of unknown quality

3. The tech kicks the lower door panels while getting in and out, and gets grease on the steering wheel

4.5. Cro-Magnon lube tech tightens drain plug to 160 ft-lbs.

4. It takes 1 hour of your time to drive to the shop, wait for the work to be done, and drive back home

 

[Dupree]

In between my family and my wifes. Lets see three wheels have come off within 5 miles of the place, thats three different cars three different shops. 2 cars have had oil drain plugs either not installed or installed too loosely causing it to come off, one of these resulted in total engine failure. One has had an oil drain plug stripped. Oil filter fell off of one car. I had my transmission fluid and filter changed on my tow rig. I was working overtime and figured a highly regarded professional transmission shop would handle it fine, when I got the time I checked there work they had stripped 3 transmission pan bolts. So while some think its fine and dandy, ill climb under my own vehicles rather than roll the dice on 15 minutes of expertise changing my oil. I am sick of fixing everyone else's rides when they do get them screwed up at the quick fix places

 

[dsmdriver2588]

My dad had his drain plug come off the next day after going to a quik lube when he was 80 miles away. Unfortunately, by the time he pulled over, it was too late and destroyed his whole engine. Sure, the place installed a lower mileage engine and paid for a rental car, but what a headache. U think he still takes his car to the quikie lube?

 

[typ901]

My wife's SUV takes 8.5 quarts,(9 quart sump) cartridge filter, and factory fill is M1 0w-40. Last time I was at a quick lube was circa 2003. Without a coupon it was costing me $50 as I had them put in PP (charged add.$5 per quart).

These oil change specials are great if you have a vehicle that takes dino, and is

 

[caprice_2nv]

I just recently had my oil changed by a dealership for the first time in a long time. Since I finally retired my rusted out 89 Caprice and started driving my mint condition 83 Caprice, I figured it was good enough shape to let someone else underneath it. Being really busy in school and due for an oil change, my mom was getting her oil changed on her new Taurus at the Ford dealership she bought it at, in Stirling, Ontario. They've had a good rep for a long time, so I got an appt at the same time as hers so we could go for coffee. I already had Rotella T5 5w40 synthetic and an oversize filter for it so I supplied that.

The best part IMO is that I get a 2nd set of eyes in case there is anything wrong that I didn't notice. I can verify anything they show me, so i'm not going to get taken advantage of. For the $15 I had the work done, a very large report card which looked to have actually been filled out carefully (non applicable items like shocks and cv boots were checked N/A), the front end was all greased, same with the hinges, etc.

The only thing they noted on the report card was that the windshield was cracked, which it is. The rest of the car they told me was in really good shape. It's nice to have that confirmed by someone else sometimes.

 

[ag_ghost]

Originally Posted By: TFB1
Originally Posted By: NHHEMI

No offense intended just sayin folks. Some of you need to relax.

I am relaxed, why I've been changing my own oil for 44+ years... I'll still be changing my own oil when I have to drag the walker under the car with me... Well probably not but service will not be from a dealer or quickie lube shop...

+1; I will admit being lucky to find a local guy that I let change the oil when something's in for other service and the OCI coincides. He's unbelievably competent and honest, and will use the oil I specify. A couple of times, he pushed me to a dealer for TSB work that was done for free even when I was willing to pay him. Otherwise, fuhgeddaboutit.

 

[glum]

Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
WOW! Some of you folks are really paranoid about having work done. Some of you need therapy badly.

No offense intended just sayin folks. Some of you need to relax.

No offense, just some of us "need therapy badly"? OK, color me confused over how that makes sense. That's like saying "Your wife is ugly and smells funny. I mean that with all due respect of course." I just wish people would have the courage to do direct replies rather than just saying "Some of these posts" or "Some of you". This isn't the first time I've seen that sort of thing here.

As far as relaxing goes, the way I relax is to do stuff myself, when I can. How can you "relax" about having someone work on your car after having some moron at a dealership smash the front end of your car, or any of the other anecdotes that have been shared here? There are too many nitwits out there masquerading as mechanics for some of us to trust them.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: glum
There are too many nitwits out there masquerading as mechanics for some of us to trust them.


That, if you ask me, is the most important issue. It generally doesn't pay to have a journeyman mechanic doing oil changes, so they have someone at minimum wage or slightly higher masquerading as a mechanic. If he screws it up, at worst, he'll be fired from a minimum wage job. At best, it's up to a real mechanic to fix.

Thanks, but I can change my own oil. If the wrong oil or filter are used or if the filter or plug are improperly tightened, there's only one person to blame, and that's me. And since I don't tend to make those errors, it's not an issue in the first place.

 

[spasm3]

I do almost all of my own service on my vehicles. The interesting thing is, i have never had a torn cv boot on any of my vehicles, ever. Makes me wonder how many times a jab with a screwdriver and then go get the customer to show him. I always hear about people having to replace boots, and i just never have to. I live on a gravel( dirt) road and sometimes drive across tall grass fields, yet never a torn boot? Just makes me wonder.

 

[spasm3]

I do almost all of my own service on my vehicles. The interesting thing is, i have never had a torn cv boot on any of my vehicles, ever. Makes me wonder how many times a jab with a screwdriver and then go get the customer to show him. I always hear about people having to replace boots, and i just never have to. I live on a gravel( dirt) road and sometimes drive across tall grass fields, yet never a torn boot? Just makes me wonder.

 

[glum]

One time, back when I was really hardcore into vehicles (circa 1987), I had just installed new struts (DIY) in my Camaro. It needed an alignment after that, and of course, I didn't have an alignment machine. So I took it in to get it aligned.

Within 10 seconds of the freak pulling it onto the rack, he told me I needed new struts. Yeah, those shiny new ones I had installed earlier that day.

Then he took a steel bar that must have been 48 inches long, and tried convincing me that my tie rod was bad, because it would move. I told the dishonest slob I could move the earth with that bar he was using, then told him to back my car out so I could be on my way.

 

[Brons2]

Yeah so I took my car to the dealer for it's 30K, partially because I find antifreeze and ATF difficult to dispose of. They charged me $480 and the [censored] tech didn't tighten my lugnuts. It sounded off as I drove down the road so I took it back. Tech actually admitted to re-torquing the lugnuts! idiot. Vehicle has not been out of my sight since. (now at 52K...)