I needed an oil change and I didn't have time to do it myself so I decided to go to the new Valvoline Instant Oil Change (they bought out a terrible, terrible Pennzoil 10-Minute Oil Change place) and I was very impressed with the military-style efficiency they had going on there and how thorough they were.

I got conventional for $45+ taxes and fees but I found an $8 coupon while I was sitting in my car so it was like $44 out the door. Not unreasonable at all, but not exactly cheap either.

If you want Maxlife synthetic blend it's $70 and full synthetic is $100 and that's for 5 quarts... Way too rich for my blood!

I was talking to one of the guys that works there and the average ticket price is over $160 and they move 90-something cars a day on average. Then again around here there are a lot of fancy European cars that require synthetic and take more than 5 quarts so I see how they can get to $160 easily if they add an air filter or headlight bulb or something.

On the downside, I wanted to cut open my old filter so I brought a leak-proof bag for them to put it in but they said they can't give it to me. Lame. On the other hand, next time around I'll do it myself and we'll get to see the inside of a Valvoline oil filter

I live in a condo so I understand the need to take it somewhere for an oil change. I've scouted some of the places, deals out there. Not only for the oil but using a decent filter as well. With that being said Walmart here advertises Castrol Edge oil changes with a Fram filter for $45. And a basic full service oil change with PYB is $29 which includes interior vac and windshield cleaning. Pit Crew oil change service with QS for sub-$20.

Hey at least it's done!

I go to a local tire place for oil changes lately and they use Valvoline and do a rotation. Prices are below. I just received a coupon for a free oil change which the car is due for. Expires 7/15.

dogememe
You paid 1/3rd too much. Should have been $30 after taxes and disposal.

Never spend money on a whim. Always try to shop for best price first. You could have a folder on your computer that shows the area's 3-4 Oil Change Shops with phone numbers. Call each one first for best price of the day, before leaving the home.

Triple_se7en you paid too much my last oil change was 14$ including 5qts of motul 5w30 and a bosch filter.

I have never been in an Oil Change Shop for an oil change. The only reason I know the price is having my wife's transmission fluid changed on her 2003 Malibu. It has lifetime fluid and no dipstick. But the guy there has a new high-tech machine with two hoses that work both sides of the transmission lines and can suck it out and refill it, all at the same time.

It's pretty cool to watch the one hose go from almost black to slowly become red again, when it circulates thru my tranny lines. Anyways, I asked him for a price on oil changes. That's how I know.

He also said I could bring my oil and filter for a $19 oil change. I just laughed at him..... immediately. I would never supply the oil and filter - then pay an additional $19.

Which quick lube shop had that awesome deal ?

Rand's Quick Lube. Good coffee there to since he roasts his own beans.

Yep, right turn into the driveway - then stop suddenly, about five feet short of hitting his 2-1/2 car garage. Don't ever roll over the grass either

If you are satisfied with the service, you didn't pay to much. Some places are cheap for a reason.

Its San Fran area, everything is expensive. these oil changes places have their place in the oil change pecking order. lots of people have a lot more money than time and don't care about the price .

A Valvoline oilchange shop is the ONLY franchise I would use. After several differnt stores , I noticed their lock step, double check procedure practiced at all of them. That is the difference and it is worth a premium price.

Hmm... Around here, I used to pay my mechanic $10 to change the oil/filter that I bring him, but now he charges $20. He does rotate the tires and fills up the fluids like windshield washer fluid. Car takes 8.5 quarts and one of those synthetic fleece filters. I do it myself normally, but if I'm there for some other work and it's due, I let him do it while it's there, otherwise it's not really worth the drive to go there.

Give it a break.

That sounds about 7-10 dollars more than the typical oil change franchise price for conventional in the SF Bay Area but if it's worth it to you that's what counts. I usually change my own oil, but in the past I found the "call and response" floor show with the military precision of these places can have varying degrees of "professionalism" involved.

I know I wouldn't take my Fumoto valve there as a test of their customer service capabilities or skill level even if I let them know the circumstance and told them about the lever release. It's too ripe for problems for even "professional" handlers at these time-sensitive places that I've heard will typically remove and replace the Fumoto and not use the lever.

Median home price SF, $1.3 million. Median home price in Detroit, the remainder of SF price not worth mentioning.