A neighbor asked me this a while back. I feel compelled to repeat the story here. I worked 17 years at a large paper mill (now closed) here in West Michigan as an industrial maintenance mechanic with a heavy emphasis on hydraulics. Yes, I was the hydraulics guy. This mill had it's own coal fired power plant, 2 paper machine's, and a large sheeting facility. It used a very large amount of various lubricating fluids, hydraulic fluids, and even heat transfer oil's. Using exclusively Mobil product's from a local distributor, they were there quite often with their tanker truck. Turn over for their truck driver's seemed to be fairly high. These tanker trucks had several different compartments with different oil's in them for other customer's. As became habit with my boss, he, 99% of the time, had me adjust the in plant valve alignment to allow the tanker truck to pump our oil from the truck into our bulk tanks. They used a 2" hose about 50' long to reach our riser. After unloading our oil, the driver would shift the valve alignment on their truck to purge the hose of our paper machine lube oil with the oil for their next stop. This was supposed to happen after each delivery. One day this didn't happen. I asked the driver about this, and he said not to worry about it. Upon further questioning, he stated his next stop was the local Lincoln-Mercury dealer (this was in the late 90's) So our local Lincoln Mercury dealer that day got about 10 gallons out of their 150 or so, of paper machine lube oil in their delivery. Some customer wound up getting it in their car. I'm sure things like this happen a lot. Also after doing a particle count on the bulk oil as delivered by this distributor many times, I found it to be fairly consistently "dirty". Another incident. One day many years ago when my son was little and we were short on time, I stopped at a local oil change it quick for you place. Had my own oil because they raped a customer wanting Mobil 1 in their vehicle. I was watching this young fellow do the work, and because he was using oil/filter that I supplied, he needed a funnel. He stuck this dirty, filthy, dirt all over it funnel into my valve cover. I went ballistic! Came very close to a physical confrontation with that youngster. He didn't have a clue why I was so upset. You guy's think you're doing yourself a favor by bringing in your oil for someone else to change, look out! Watch for this! They don't care about your beloved vehicle! These reason's along with the fact that for the most part I do enjoy working on my own vehicle is why I change my own oil and will as long as I am able. Your comments and experience's are welcome!
Why I change my own oil-true story!
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As always: if you want it done right, do it yourself.
here is another one i was waiting at a dealer a few months ago for parts for the shop and watched one of these oil change guys change someones oil he opened the oil drain plug let the oil drain and as it was still draining slower but steady he put the drain plug back in changed the filter then dropped the oil cap on the dirty floor put oil in and picked up the dirty cap and put it back on filled it up with oil revved it up then shut the engine and checked the oil within a minute before the oil had a chance to totally drain down so he put more in.
All this while looking totally stoned. you cant make this stuff up
All this while looking totally stoned. you cant make this stuff up
I change my own oil too. Nobody cares about your car(s) as much as you do. It takes me about 45-60 minutes to do an oil change, because I do it slowly and carefully, this long time includes clean up all the tools I use before put them away.
You'd be amazed at how particular I am about my funnels. They have to be surgically sterile before I'll stick them in my engine. I got to the point where I can't even stand having paper towel dust in my funnels and started blow drying them with a hair dryer.
I have to change my own oil since I can't find a shop that can install the canister filter on my Vue without twisting it up. When I do it the filter stands tall no twist. They claim won't hurt anything but way I see it if Chevy wanted it twisted they would have made it twist from manufacture. I even told Goodyear I can show his Master Tech oil change guy how to put a filter in but he stated I couldn't go back there for insurance reasons.
I knew one of those quickie oil change places where all of the employees were stoned on something. We used to have the fleet autos sent there for their oil changes. They used to be A-OK
But a new manager came on duty there, and he started to hire his buddies. This new manager was a young fellow whose eyes were always bloodshot. There is just no way that he could have done the job right in his condition, so I quit using them once I noticed this consistently going on at that lube place.
Word also got out around the community that illegal drugs were getting sold there. The drugs became their main line of business and their work became riddled with mistakes.
About two months later, there was a big drug bust, and the guys working there all got arrested.
But a new manager came on duty there, and he started to hire his buddies. This new manager was a young fellow whose eyes were always bloodshot. There is just no way that he could have done the job right in his condition, so I quit using them once I noticed this consistently going on at that lube place.
Word also got out around the community that illegal drugs were getting sold there. The drugs became their main line of business and their work became riddled with mistakes.
About two months later, there was a big drug bust, and the guys working there all got arrested.
i think the other lesson is if you're not going to do it yourself, spend some time to find a place that is competent.
I get that doing it yourself is the highest level of service, but if you don't want to do that, don't immediately just compare it to the cheapest joint around.
It's like a chef who typically cooks his own food but can't do it one weekend, so then goes to taco bell instead of a peer's restaurant then criticizing them for not having food up to his standards.
There are plenty of good shops that will do good work.
Face it, you can't handle all your car repairs, so it behooves you to know and find the shop you can trust.
If you can't find one that does an oil change right, where are you going to go when you need major repairs?
If you're freaking out over dirty filter, what are you going to do when the same guys are stripping your sparkplugs or overtorquing your valve covers.
I get that doing it yourself is the highest level of service, but if you don't want to do that, don't immediately just compare it to the cheapest joint around.
It's like a chef who typically cooks his own food but can't do it one weekend, so then goes to taco bell instead of a peer's restaurant then criticizing them for not having food up to his standards.
There are plenty of good shops that will do good work.
Face it, you can't handle all your car repairs, so it behooves you to know and find the shop you can trust.
If you can't find one that does an oil change right, where are you going to go when you need major repairs?
If you're freaking out over dirty filter, what are you going to do when the same guys are stripping your sparkplugs or overtorquing your valve covers.
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Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
I change my own oil too. Nobody cares about your car(s) as much as you do. It takes me about 45-60 minutes to do an oil change, because I do it slowly and carefully, this long time includes clean up all the tools I use before put them away.
Exactly! Setting up, performing the task and putting everything away takes me about the same time. Maybe longer sometimes! I often go and fill up with gas(gets the engine warm) and then do the OCI
I look at anything I can see while I am under the car. Torn CV Boots, something leaking/dripping etc.
Every time I do a job on my vehicles, I am looking at other things too while I am in the vicinity. I have found issues and fixed them on the spot.
I am known as the 4 hour guy! Everything takes me 4 hours(not OCI's) but, it's easy for me to tinker with a car for 4 hrs, no problem!
I change my own oil too. Nobody cares about your car(s) as much as you do. It takes me about 45-60 minutes to do an oil change, because I do it slowly and carefully, this long time includes clean up all the tools I use before put them away.
Exactly! Setting up, performing the task and putting everything away takes me about the same time. Maybe longer sometimes! I often go and fill up with gas(gets the engine warm) and then do the OCI
Every time I do a job on my vehicles, I am looking at other things too while I am in the vicinity. I have found issues and fixed them on the spot.
I am known as the 4 hour guy! Everything takes me 4 hours(not OCI's) but, it's easy for me to tinker with a car for 4 hrs, no problem!
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I see why he doesn't add oil, he cant reach the fill point with the car on the ramps. But the even crazier part, is he takes the time to get out of the car with no oil engine running to move the ramps before shutting the car off.
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Recent experience at a local quick lube - my buddy took his V6 Impala in for a change - they put in 6 quarts....it only takes 4 quarts. They thought it was a V8. Luckily, he checked the oil level before he left - they drained all the oil and refilled it correctly.
For me its more than knowing it was done right. Aside from the obvious like the right oil and filter were used, the oil was drained long enough, the drain plug isn't stripped, and I won't need King Kong to remove it. It's also about keeping my vehicle clean. I don't want grease from the mechanic's shoes all over the floor, grease on the seat from his pants, and grease all over the steering wheel from his hands. Trust me this has happened just bringing in a car for a state inspection, and at different shops. The guy I use now for state inspections is a bit neater than most, but still changing my own oil and doing my own work is the way to go.
Here's a good reason ---->
Watch this: http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/episodes/2013-2014/greasy-business
Watch this: http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/episodes/2013-2014/greasy-business
I stopped at a chevy dealer for parts and they kept the transmission funnel (with plastic accordion hose) in a kitty litter pan. Yeah there were clumps of kitty litter in the crevices of the accordion.
Gross!
They later dropped their chevy affiliation (or were forcefully dropped) and are now an independent used car dealer.
Gross!
They later dropped their chevy affiliation (or were forcefully dropped) and are now an independent used car dealer.
Hermann
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Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
You'd be amazed at how particular I am about my funnels. They have to be surgically sterile before I'll stick them in my engine. I got to the point where I can't even stand having paper towel dust in my funnels and started blow drying them with a hair dryer.
They make pills for that problem
You'd be amazed at how particular I am about my funnels. They have to be surgically sterile before I'll stick them in my engine. I got to the point where I can't even stand having paper towel dust in my funnels and started blow drying them with a hair dryer.
They make pills for that problem
I change my own oil since I take pride in doing it. I do as much as I can without taking it somewhere, changing brakes, anything else I can learn to do etc.. for the other work, its between an excellent INDY mechanic, or my dealer (I have a friend who works there). I have used both places for years and have been happy with both. Bigger jobs go to the INDY, and Coolant flushes, brake fluid flushes I go to the dealer for since I cant be bothered with those. Go out and find a quality INDY and you wont be disappointed. I put in M1 EP and a TRD filter just so I can run an extended OCI so I dont have to get the oil changed during the winter months.. Should run this to about 12-15 000 kms. Almost double as the recommended OCI by Toyota.
i'll admit i was lazy for a brief period of time years ago and had a quickie place doing my changes. the people were good but the last time i went they did the change and on start up it rattled loud and i just made a uhhh sound and then the top guy said "it always does that" of course i knew mine never does that then the bottom guy is hollering cut it off as oil is spraying everywhere underneath. the filter looked like a rattlesnake had bit into it with two holes in the side.
that's the day i started doing all my changes again at home.
this story is actually happening right now. I took a 99 Malibu to the dealership to diagnose an issue. it takes multiple cranks to start which i was tolerating but then it started dieing as i as driving and that was just dangerous so i broke down and took it to them. the first day they call and want $590 to change coil cover, coils, spark plugs and boots. i had just changed one coil, spark plug and boots less than 11k ago so i ordered a coil cover ($43.00 compared to there $134) and i already had another coil i had bought for $24.00 vs them wanting $89.00 each soo i took the parts tot hem and they call and say that didnt correct issue { i knew it wouldn't } then they want $480 for a ignition module so i tell them i need a part # and i ordered it for $115.00 so i took this to them and they call me and say the module i bought is bad. so at this point i get a little vocal and voice my opinion cause i think its the ignition switch pass lock [censored] that is bad but then they tell me he put a known good module on it and it fired right up and its not the switch bad. so. . . . i tell them to go ahead and put on their expensive module and if it will start 20 times without missing a lick i will pay them extra for it. she says ok and she would call me when its ready. all day no call. the next day no call so i call and guess what. she says something is still wrong. she thanked me for asking them to start it 20 times because their is still something wrong and they cant figure it out. then she says "but he is sure its not the ignition switch"
so they wanted over $1200 worth of parts to supposedly fix a $400 car and still not fixed anything. it just makes me feel bad for people who don't know anything and get ripped off with such exorbitant prices.
i really don't care what the problem turns out to be i just want my car fixed.
that's the day i started doing all my changes again at home.
this story is actually happening right now. I took a 99 Malibu to the dealership to diagnose an issue. it takes multiple cranks to start which i was tolerating but then it started dieing as i as driving and that was just dangerous so i broke down and took it to them. the first day they call and want $590 to change coil cover, coils, spark plugs and boots. i had just changed one coil, spark plug and boots less than 11k ago so i ordered a coil cover ($43.00 compared to there $134) and i already had another coil i had bought for $24.00 vs them wanting $89.00 each soo i took the parts tot hem and they call and say that didnt correct issue { i knew it wouldn't } then they want $480 for a ignition module so i tell them i need a part # and i ordered it for $115.00 so i took this to them and they call me and say the module i bought is bad. so at this point i get a little vocal and voice my opinion cause i think its the ignition switch pass lock [censored] that is bad but then they tell me he put a known good module on it and it fired right up and its not the switch bad. so. . . . i tell them to go ahead and put on their expensive module and if it will start 20 times without missing a lick i will pay them extra for it. she says ok and she would call me when its ready. all day no call. the next day no call so i call and guess what. she says something is still wrong. she thanked me for asking them to start it 20 times because their is still something wrong and they cant figure it out. then she says "but he is sure its not the ignition switch"
so they wanted over $1200 worth of parts to supposedly fix a $400 car and still not fixed anything. it just makes me feel bad for people who don't know anything and get ripped off with such exorbitant prices.
i really don't care what the problem turns out to be i just want my car fixed.
Originally Posted By: Arctic388
i'll admit i was lazy for a brief period of time years ago and had a quickie place doing my changes. the people were good but the last time i went they did the change and on start up it rattled loud and i just made a uhhh sound and then the top guy said "it always does that" of course i knew mine never does that then the bottom guy is hollering cut it off as oil is spraying everywhere underneath. the filter looked like a rattlesnake had bit into it with two holes in the side.
that's the day i started doing all my changes again at home.
this story is actually happening right now. I took a 99 Malibu to the dealership to diagnose an issue. it takes multiple cranks to start which i was tolerating but then it started dieing as i as driving and that was just dangerous so i broke down and took it to them. the first day they call and want $590 to change coil cover, coils, spark plugs and boots. i had just changed one coil, spark plug and boots less than 11k ago so i ordered a coil cover ($43.00 compared to there $134) and i already had another coil i had bought for $24.00 vs them wanting $89.00 each soo i took the parts tot hem and they call and say that didnt correct issue { i knew it wouldn't } then they want $480 for a ignition module so i tell them i need a part # and i ordered it for $115.00 so i took this to them and they call me and say the module i bought is bad. so at this point i get a little vocal and voice my opinion cause i think its the ignition switch pass lock [censored] that is bad but then they tell me he put a known good module on it and it fired right up and its not the switch bad. so. . . . i tell them to go ahead and put on their expensive module and if it will start 20 times without missing a lick i will pay them extra for it. she says ok and she would call me when its ready. all day no call. the next day no call so i call and guess what. she says something is still wrong. she thanked me for asking them to start it 20 times because their is still something wrong and they cant figure it out. then she says "but he is sure its not the ignition switch"
so they wanted over $1200 worth of parts to supposedly fix a $400 car and still not fixed anything. it just makes me feel bad for people who don't know anything and get ripped off with such exorbitant prices.
i really don't care what the problem turns out to be i just want my car fixed.
...this is where you do things yourself, and I hoped you paid with a credit card.
i'll admit i was lazy for a brief period of time years ago and had a quickie place doing my changes. the people were good but the last time i went they did the change and on start up it rattled loud and i just made a uhhh sound and then the top guy said "it always does that" of course i knew mine never does that then the bottom guy is hollering cut it off as oil is spraying everywhere underneath. the filter looked like a rattlesnake had bit into it with two holes in the side.
that's the day i started doing all my changes again at home.
this story is actually happening right now. I took a 99 Malibu to the dealership to diagnose an issue. it takes multiple cranks to start which i was tolerating but then it started dieing as i as driving and that was just dangerous so i broke down and took it to them. the first day they call and want $590 to change coil cover, coils, spark plugs and boots. i had just changed one coil, spark plug and boots less than 11k ago so i ordered a coil cover ($43.00 compared to there $134) and i already had another coil i had bought for $24.00 vs them wanting $89.00 each soo i took the parts tot hem and they call and say that didnt correct issue { i knew it wouldn't } then they want $480 for a ignition module so i tell them i need a part # and i ordered it for $115.00 so i took this to them and they call me and say the module i bought is bad. so at this point i get a little vocal and voice my opinion cause i think its the ignition switch pass lock [censored] that is bad but then they tell me he put a known good module on it and it fired right up and its not the switch bad. so. . . . i tell them to go ahead and put on their expensive module and if it will start 20 times without missing a lick i will pay them extra for it. she says ok and she would call me when its ready. all day no call. the next day no call so i call and guess what. she says something is still wrong. she thanked me for asking them to start it 20 times because their is still something wrong and they cant figure it out. then she says "but he is sure its not the ignition switch"
so they wanted over $1200 worth of parts to supposedly fix a $400 car and still not fixed anything. it just makes me feel bad for people who don't know anything and get ripped off with such exorbitant prices.
i really don't care what the problem turns out to be i just want my car fixed.
...this is where you do things yourself, and I hoped you paid with a credit card.
Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
here is another one i was waiting at a dealer a few months ago for parts for the shop and watched one of these oil change guys change someones oil he opened the oil drain plug let the oil drain and as it was still draining slower but steady he put the drain plug back in changed the filter then dropped the oil cap on the dirty floor put oil in and picked up the dirty cap and put it back on filled it up with oil revved it up then shut the engine and checked the oil within a minute before the oil had a chance to totally drain down so he put more in.
All this while looking totally stoned. you cant make this stuff up
Was This in Colorado??? hahahaha
here is another one i was waiting at a dealer a few months ago for parts for the shop and watched one of these oil change guys change someones oil he opened the oil drain plug let the oil drain and as it was still draining slower but steady he put the drain plug back in changed the filter then dropped the oil cap on the dirty floor put oil in and picked up the dirty cap and put it back on filled it up with oil revved it up then shut the engine and checked the oil within a minute before the oil had a chance to totally drain down so he put more in.
All this while looking totally stoned. you cant make this stuff up
Was This in Colorado??? hahahaha
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