Stupid oil change question

[D2Cat]

At my local Chrysler dealer I get 4 oil changes for $64. Doesn't have to be their brand either. Can't fiddle with it for that.

 

[CobyRupert]

Same problem with my VW. Get some scrap boards, set the incline side of the ramps on one end of the board and have the boards so that the car tire drives onto the other end of board and raises the car up before the front spoiler hits the ramp. Boards only need to be about 3' long

 

[clemsonfor]

What - no Jiffy Lubes in your area? I decided I was way too old to change oil anymore - SO worth the extra $20. Just not having to deal with the old stuff is worth $20 to me.

But you then have some moron kid under your car that may leave a plug loose or not top the oil all the way. My buddy just lost the engine in his F150 due to thinking they underfilled it. he has no way to prove it and its partially his fault for not checking the oil at all!!! but still.


Oh and to the OP, get a jack a low profile one is needed if your gonna drive small cars esp.

 

[clemsonfor]

i Change my oil in all the newer stuff with Mobil1 you cant buy an oilchange for a large SUV for what i do it for and i use a premium filter and Oil. Now if you find a place that lets you bring your own supplies in and chatges you $20 for labor and disposal and your alright for paying somone $80+ an hour to change your oil (an oil change takes 15 mins). go ahead. I will continue to do my own for now.

The guy getting 4 oil changes at chrysler for $64 your getting the cheapest filter and bulk oil possible if that includes the materials and no way would i put that stuff in my oldest trucks!!!

 

[Capricious]

I change my own oil because there is so little else I am capable of doing on today's autos.

And I can bring the used oil down to work where they will burn it in the boiler, so it's not a problem to get rid of it.

 

[clemsonfor]

many people say that Capricious. But lots of stuff still applies to all your cars today. Diagnostics have changed a bit with computer controlled stuff but mechanical knowlege of things still applies to cars today. all the brakes and suspention stuff is similar to the last 30 years. You can still do a tune up, just plugs and wires today. Coils only need to be when go bad but then you need to diagnose them. Computer just tells you about missfires and then only gross repeated missfires. there so dumb that just cause you pull a wire off dont mean you get a misfire code. You need to look, swap coils, could be a bad coil, could be a cracked plug or even bad wires. transmissions still need fluid changes...well some of them. Water pumps, belts, hoses, batteries, alternators etc still go bad, little has changed there when you get down to it other than you might remove a plastic shield now a days before you start

 

[newbury]

What - no Jiffy Lubes in your area? I decided I was way too old to change oil anymore - SO worth the extra $20. Just not having to deal with the old stuff is worth $20 to me.

IF they do it right. There is a whole section of you tube on Jiffy Lube scams.

But you then have some moron kid under your car that may leave a plug loose or not top the oil all the way. My buddy just lost the engine in his F150 due to thinking they underfilled it. he has no way to prove it and its partially his fault for not checking the oil at all!!! but still.


Oh and to the OP, get a jack a low profile one is needed if your gonna drive small cars esp.

Or just as bad as when they overfill it.

The only way to get it done is to see what they put in it and check it when it comes off the rack, or do it yourself.

To the OP
My VW jetta is low. I drive it up on some 2x4's then jack with a HF jack and rest it on jackstands.

 

[Capricious]

many people say that Capricious. But lots of stuff still applies to all your cars today. Diagnostics have changed a bit with computer controlled stuff but mechanical knowlege of things still applies to cars today. all the brakes and suspention stuff is similar to the last 30 years. You can still do a tune up, just plugs and wires today. Coils only need to be when go bad but then you need to diagnose them. Computer just tells you about missfires and then only gross repeated missfires. there so dumb that just cause you pull a wire off dont mean you get a misfire code. You need to look, swap coils, could be a bad coil, could be a cracked plug or even bad wires. transmissions still need fluid changes...well some of them. Water pumps, belts, hoses, batteries, alternators etc still go bad, little has changed there when you get down to it other than you might remove a plastic shield now a days before you start

Oh, I try to do what I can:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/trailers-transportation/334620-ranger-repairs.html


Got a "check engine" light last week. Disconnected the battery to kill the light. So far, it has not come on again, but haven't driven it much. Walked over to the auto parts store
today at lunch and bought an air filter element, on the chance that the old one is plugged-up.

If the check engine light comes on again, I guess I will have to go to the trouble of having the auto parts store read the code for me, so I can decide if
it is something I want to deal with.

Since this truck HAS to go away next year (long story) I don't want to put too much money into now.

 

[Mace Canute]

.........The guy getting 4 oil changes at chrysler for $64 your getting the cheapest filter and bulk oil possible if that includes the materials and no way would i put that stuff in my oldest trucks!!!

Yeah, I had the same thought too. At the going shop rates and at that price they must be highly pressured to get it done and out the door.

 

[Capricious]

Yeah, I had the same thought too. At the going shop rates and at that price they must be highly pressured to get it done and out the door.

Oh, I don't know. It might be a pretty good deal.

I figure it is a loss-leader; the place is counting on finding something else that needs done while the vehicle is in the bay, and that is where they will make their
profit. Employees at these sorts of places (and virtually all retail businesses) are under pressure these days to "upsell" services. I understand that the guys are just
doing their jobs- what they are told to do, but it annoys me, and is one BIG reason that I like to buy online instead of at the local stores, assuming the shipping/sales tax works
out. I can buy what I want without someone trying to sell me something else.

If the guy can get into and out of the shop with just an oil change and without being sold other services, it is probably not a bad deal.

However, I find that I can change my own in a lot less time than taking it to a dealer. It MIGHT be faster at one of those "quickie lube" kind of places, if there is not line and I was driving by the place anyway, but going to a car dealer takes too much time.