Quick Change Oil Services

[SmokeOnTheWater]

you been charged for nitrogen filled tires? Useless powersteering flush? How about a yearly transmission flush. What services have you authorized your dealer to do on your vehicle? Brakes? Dealerships usually charge less for oil changes but its everything else they make their money on. Always recomending brakes, tires balancing, tie rods, sway bars links etc.

I'm sorry If I'm so biased. I have NEVER paid a shop to do anything, i believe that everyone should take a basic auto class to do things yourself. I am sick and tired of seeing people ripped off... but I guess thats the world we live in.

You are assuming so many things by my simple post. No one is ripping me off I can assured you. Like I said quite the contrary. No idea what you are talking about in your first paragraph. Never happened ...

[Becky737]

Not everyone has the time, or the know how, to do their own oil change and in that case oil change services are great. Sometimes just paying the $60 is easier than taking time out of a busy day to jack up your vehicle and lay on the ground and change it. I used to use oil change places all the time till I learned how to change it myself (or till i started making my boyfriend do it lol) and from time to time I still do use them just for the convince or if I have other things I need done at the same time. But you do have to be careful which ones you choose. Cheaper is definitely not always better! I have known quite a few people that have worked at lube shops and they were all great at their jobs and very thorough, checking absolutely everything. But like I said, You do have to be careful which ones you choose as some are not as good as others. And of course they will try to up sell you as they are on commission, but you just have to use your common sense and ask them if you really need it, they won't lie to ya. Also, I have never paid for a service and not gotten it.

As for those of you that do your own oil change every time, More power to ya! ;)

[kelowna_proud]

One thing alot of people should know about quick lube and dealership transmission fluid flushes is if the vehicle is over lets say 180,000 to 200,000km's or 10 years old, I would never in my life have a machine hooked up with high pressure to extract the oil.

Pro Driveline shops will tell you the crud and built up stuff in the check balls and valves can be the only thing holding it together and once you blow a piece of crud into a valve or passage you can ruin the trans by blocking the fluid movement.

On all my chevy's I can drop the pan an extract 4 litres of oil which is only around 1/3-1/4 it holds. Or I can pump it out the trans cooler 4 litres at a time and keep adding what I take out that will do a 75% thorough job. On my one ford trucks I can drop the pan and on the torque converter there is a drain plug. I was able to remove 16 litres of old oil.

[Woodenhead]

Sometimes I do it myself, sometimes not. Never been "ripped off" or overpaid (lol) - it's mostly been a matter of convenience &/or lack of facilities. (I'd rather not do it in the snow/cold/rain on the side of the road, for example)

[Rjamer]

To the person with the VW, if you are changing your oil with a $12 jug of oil I can assume you are doing it wrong.
http://www.my-gti.com/2543/volkswagen-o ... -audi-seat

Most VW's take a specific oil along with most german vehicles. Some must be synthetic, low ash, non wax etc. You can seriously lower the life of your engine not knowing the details. Your lube specialist should know this when you change your oil. Dexos for newer GM vehicles is another example, tho not mandatory they should atleast give you the option.

Dealerships base driveline fluids on mileage, dates etc... I will never go to a dealership. Find a lube shop that you are comfortable with and stick with that one shop to build a history. They check all of your differentials and you can ask to see what everything looks like and leave the decision with you to change it or not. If you change your own oil, what are the chances of you checking all the differentials, transmission fluid (on a standard or auto), greasing everything etc. Most reputable shops have strict policys to make sure everything is done, checked and re-checked. Lube shop techs make commision, so sure they will try and sell you absolutely everything, but they are checking things like cabin air filters, pcvs, air filters, battery tests, serpentine belts, wipers, bulbs etc. I can name a handfull of quick oil shops that I recomend, and some that I will not go to. Sure, the kids working on your vehicles are not mechanics but they are in this line of work because they are ambitious to learn doing their absolute best. Lube shops r a WILL NOT put an in-experience guy in the pit. They use their most experienced person, usually who has being doing this for 3 plus years. Now everything is on camera, even downstairs... if you have a problem that something was not done you can have it pulled back up on video. Some shops are switching over to "live feed"!!!

I have worked in lube shops for 6plus years (I am now a mechanic) and if I do not know the answer to something, or a specific fluid for a vehicle we have computers which are pretty damn accurate. Dealerships are now saying dont change your oil for 12,000km's or more!!! This is *bleep*. They are implementing this because of their "free oil changes for life" Is it benifiting them? Yes... You car will start having internal issues just out of warranty and expect you to return for servicing. At a minimum I will use semi synthetic or a full synthetic due to the different properties in the oil. I change my oil at 7000km's or if I am lazy at 10,000kms and a filter at 5000kms. Afterall, a $4 filter is insurance for a good running engine.

What I'm saying, is find a shop you are comfortable with. Do your research. cheaper is not always better... and if they tell you a specific oil will not work in your car... dont argue. I dont care if you've been running the wrong oil in your BMW or Audi for the past 4 years... do the switch to the proper more expensive oil.

On a side note, Need your oil changed? let me know

This is a 1975 VW Westphalia and a 1979 gas rabbit we are talking about and this was about 30 years ago.. Show me where it was wrong.. I have a Mazda truck and a Mazda car and I use synthetic oil that I buy for about 47 dollars a jug and I change oil about every 7000 KMs.. If you read a little more carefully ,I say anybody can buy oil for 12 dollars on sale,,usually Valvoline.. a jug and change their own

[dodgerdodge]

I have worked in lube shops for 6plus years (I am now a mechanic) and if I do not know the answer to something, or a specific fluid for a vehicle we have computers which are pretty damn accurate. Dealerships are now saying dont change your oil for 12,000km's or more!!! This is *bleep*. They are implementing this because of their "free oil changes for life" Is it benifiting them? Yes... You car will start having internal issues just out of warranty and expect you to return for servicing. At a minimum I will use semi synthetic or a full synthetic due to the different properties in the oil. I change my oil at 7000km's or if I am lazy at 10,000kms and a filter at 5000kms. Afterall, a $4 filter is insurance for a good running engine.

Changing oil every 7000kms is bleep and changing filter without changing oil is also bleep.
Look at the manufacturers spec these days and then look at the European spec on same cars. 10,000 MILES is normal not Kms in Europe. Do you really believe that we should do it so often, is our weather really that much different from parts of Europe.
I cannot see any logical reason why a lube shop would recommend an oil change on a Ford Focus (for example) every 5000 kms when the Ford dealer in Europe recommends 10,000 miles.

[twofingers]

Top marks for Midtown Automotive on the West Side for honesty, integrity, and great service for oil changes or for minor or major mechanical repairs.
Same goes for Tops Automotive on Enterprise Way

[Bsuds]

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/22/ford ... 500-miles/

So Ford now says 7500 miles or 12000kms. That's a far cry from the 5000kms my mechanic recommends. I figure if I go 8000kms I should be safe.

[OvalTrackRacing]

Changing oil every 7000kms is bleep and changing filter without changing oil is also bleep.
Look at the manufacturers spec these days and then look at the European spec on same cars. 10,000 MILES is normal not Kms in Europe. Do you really believe that we should do it so often, is our weather really that much different from parts of Europe.
I cannot see any logical reason why a lube shop would recommend an oil change on a Ford Focus (for example) every 5000 kms when the Ford dealer in Europe recommends 10,000 miles.

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/22/ford-officially-extends-oil-change-interval-ot-7-500-miles/

So Ford now says 7500 miles or 12000kms. That's a far cry from the 5000kms my mechanic recommends. I figure if I go 8000kms I should be safe.

And that's why every 2004-2008 Ford F-150 needs the cam phazers done or an engine rebuild. Do understand Auto Manufacturer's are not looking out for you to a have a vehicle the runs great for the rest of your life. Those days ended back in mid-90's. They want your piece of garbage to blow up right after your 5 year power train warranty is up. Ford F-150 states you should change your transmission fluid every 160,000 km's. 75% of F-150 Transmission's don't last past 200,000 km's. My friend had a 2007 F-150 Triton 5.4l right at 4000 km's it would start to tick and he would go into to get the oil change. They would say "Sir your not do in till 7000 Km's" As soon as he pulled out of the dealership the tick was instantly gone.

OIL VISCOSITY PEOPLE!!!! The Okanagan see's -25 to +40 think about the condensation in your steel oil pan.

[underscore]

There are typically two ratings for how long you can go between changes on newer vehicles, normal use and "extreme" use. You can go a lot longer if you fall into the normal use category but sometimes it can get cold enough here to put you under "extreme"

As far as oil change places go, I'm slightly biased as I have several friends that work at one in town so if I go anywhere I go in there, I've never had a problem. I would never bring my car to a dealership, they're called stealerships for a reason.

[Impulse_rs]

And that's why every 2004-2008 Ford F-150 needs the cam phazers done or an engine rebuild. Do understand Auto Manufacturer's are not looking out for you to a have a vehicle the runs great for the rest of your life. Those days ended back in mid-90's. They want your piece of garbage to blow up right after your 5 year power train warranty is up. Ford F-150 states you should change your transmission fluid every 160,000 km's. 75% of F-150 Transmission's don't last past 200,000 km's. My friend had a 2007 F-150 Triton 5.4l right at 4000 km's it would start to tick and he would go into to get the oil change. They would say "Sir your not do in till 7000 Km's" As soon as he pulled out of the dealership the tick was instantly gone.

OIL VISCOSITY PEOPLE!!!! The Okanagan see's -25 to +40 think about the condensation in your steel oil pan.

Thank you. I agree with everything you said. Well put. 10,000MILES Thats not going to happen with me. Fluids do break down... why risk your engine. For the price of the fluid changes vs the price of your vehicle its just not worth it.

[Liquidnails]

I usually change the oil myself, but I have on occasion used various quick lube type places when I don't have space to change my own oil. I find them to be convenient but overpriced.

[xjeepguy]

If you have voted NO, maybe why the no would get this topic flowing.

I usually do maintenance myself but when time isn't on my side , I take my 4Runner into the Toy dealer and get the same if not a better price then any of the quick lube joints . Last time I was in there I had an oil change ( I use synthetic too ) , genuine Toy filter and the inspection and a car wash and vacuum inside all for 90 bucks .

[xjeepguy]

I have worked in lube shops for 6plus years (I am now a mechanic) and if I do not know the answer to something, or a specific fluid for a vehicle we have computers which are pretty damn accurate. Dealerships are now saying dont change your oil for 12,000km's or more!!! This is *bleep*.

You cant say that for sure either . The only way you can really determine what your needs are for intervals is do an oil analysis . I happen to have access to getting them for free and it really opened my eyes up on the oil change interval theory. My 4Runner runs synth and gets a change every 12000KM and so far over 300,000 trouble free KM's . Everyone should do an engine oil analysis just once .

I would have 0 zero issues pushing to beyond 15K+ changes if need be .

Also , the Prelude I used to own , 495,000 KM's on the original engine and that thing is still around town after I sold it . 15K changes since new

[Bleach]

I have very little money, so I have to do everything myself. I have got free oil change coupons, so that is the only time I can use the serviced. If I had the money I would have someone else do it. Not because I am lazy, but it helps keeps local people employed.