Quick Oil Change Shops (Cars)

[Diggin It]

Heard quite a few bad tales on some of these boards. I've never personally had a bad experience though.

I need to make another (hopefully the last) 4-500 mile round trip run to the hand clinic later this week. Car I'll be taking is well overdue by time, but not by mileage. Not really in a position to do it myself this time like I'd prefer. I'm thinking of having a shop do it this week before I go. On the fence about going with old oil vs. having a shop change it and maybe screw something up. Car is a '96 with 90K+ and I'll be on 70MPH divided highway most of the way. Weather will be cool; warming a bit after the bitter cold snap and hopefully clear.

Thoughts?

 

[shovelmike]

I despise those quick change shops, if I was in your area I would gladly change it for you rather than trust those people with it.
If the mileage on that oil isn't too much I would go ahead and make the trip as is.

 

[seville009]

i use Valvoline places for oil changes and nys inspections. They do fine - they check stuff off as they do it, and have video cameras so that you can watch them.

i just have them do the oil and filter though; nothing else.


pricey, but convenient

 

[Jstpssng]

My father always complained that they don't allow time to let all of the oil out; but a you're talking about a few drops vs a crankcase of old oil.

 

[shovelmike]

My father always complained that they don't allow time to let all of the oil out; but a you're talking about a few drops vs a crankcase of old oil.

A shop cross threaded the drain plug on mom's car, a co worker blew up an engine because the filter was double gasketed.

 

[Patches]

I don't concern myself with time, as long as it isn't years. Mileage is much more important than time. How long do you think that "new" oil has sat around in the container?

 

[Diggin It]

How long do you think that "new" oil has sat around in the container?

No where near as long as this has been in the engine (yeah, years). This car normally only gets about 2K a year and it's had 8-900 just in the last two weeks of clinic visits. Plus, it's 'dirty' oil, not new, fresh, just bottled.

It needs to be changed, but I'm not sure I want to tackle it one winged and only 3 weeks into healing a deep cut. I can probably get the car on ramps safely and get under it, but getting the filter off can be an issue. Then there's the shifting and scooting around to get into position and the possibility of oil from the drain plug going to the wrong places.

 

[Deere Dude]

Go to a regular mechanic. Around here, you buy the oil and filter wherever you feel like and they lift the care, change oil and filter and check tire pressure for $10. I trust them over jiffy lubes.

 

[dasranger]

I go to the 10 minute oil change by me. They are adding new oil in way less than 5 minutes. No way that old oil is not still streaming out when they plug it. I go there because there are three guys that have been there forever. Very professional. There’s no doubt in my mind I get ripped off a little but the guys above ground make up for it. Oh, and it’s a fleet vehicle.

 

[Fallon]

The first oil change "I" ever did on my brand new 2009 Tacoma... The Grease Monkey in Castle Rock, CO as we were still in the process of moving. Come back from walking the dog & see them finally working on my truck. The dude dumps in 5 odd quarts & I watch it all drain out as he'd forgotten to put in the drain plug. Before I got there he jumped in & started the engine with 3,000 miles on it with no oil in the oil pan. I tan up screaming & it only ran for a few seconds, but I was pissed. No worse than a cold startup I imagine. But I only have real mechanics work on my vehicles now. No more rent-a-drunk employees at a quick lube for me.