Quick Oil Change Places

[Gem99ultra]

Last time I had an oil change at one of those "Quick Lube" places, they put the oil drain plug in finger tight. The car was pouring oil out the pan by the time I got to a service station. The SS attendant tighten up the plug, topped off the oil, 3/4 quart low already, so I went right back to the "Quick Lube" stop.

Asked for the manager. She came out and I explained what happened. Her comment "Sh*t happens." hmm - lot of concerns on their part...

 

[CobyRupert]

I always change my own oil. Not only is it easy, and you can be certain it's done right, but it gives time to look at other things in and under the car you otherwise wouldn't bother looking at and that a quick change flunky wouldn't either.

In 30 years of having cars, I've bought 1 new one. For some reason I thought it was important to take it in for the 5000 mile service and oil change at the VW dealer. (Who knows, maybe they have to check the torques on certain bolts or some such? Like I said, it was 1'st new car.) It was the ONLY time I've ever had someone else change any oil on any vehicle (right now we have 5 at the house).

You guessed it: Couple days later I notice oil spots from a leak in the garage. The flunkies hadn't screwed oil filter cover on tight. If I had parked over dirt and not noticed it and drove it for a few thousands miles and blown up a brand new car I'm pretty sure the local VW dealer scumbag would of said "Your fault. Manual says to check oil at each fill up."
In my book they're batting 1.000 (100%) when it comes to screw ups.

 

[Dftodd]

I've had really good luck with one speedi lube place in town. They were right by my work. With a demanding job, lack of flat space at the house in the driveway, and can't fit a vehicle in the garage, it's just more convenient to use someone else. Plus, I could catch them on my lunch break and get it done.

I tried a new place in town while killing time with the wife at the hair dressers. Place was clean since it was new. You sat right in the vehicle and watched the whole time. Very good at communicating what they did. I was fairly impressed till I actually walked around the vehicle afterwards. Then I was p@@sed.

Wife's vehicle is a jeep wrangler unlimited. They used the bumper and fender flares as a table while they were doing the oil change. Which I couldn't see with the hood up.

Oil jug was covered in oil, so they got a bunch of stains shaped like a jug bottom or larger on the front fender flares and bumper. Took for ever to clean them out of the plastic. They also spilled oil all over the engine, and didn't wipe it up either. So you smelled burning oil for a couple days after.

I left them an honest review, via a text message from the manager, and never used them again.

 

[plowhog]

Where I used to live, it was well known that many of the quick lube stations were staffed by recent parolees. It's hard to find work when you get out of the joint, and being down in a well under a car, or, away from customers was supposedly a "good re-introduction to society."

I have used them but always watch what kind of oil they are putting in. One of my vehicles requires 5W-30 and I caught one guy starting to put 15W-40 in. I don't know what the consequences would be if he had filled it with the wrong oil.

 

[kcflhrc]

I have been using a certain, national company for doing my oil changes for 20+ years. I serviced my company cars as well as my own without any problems to speak about. I went again to one such place today and it went like this:
I drove up to the door where an employee came out to greet me. He asked what I wanted and I told him full synthetic oil change, grease, and rotate tires. He said sure, but tell the guy that checks you in what you want. I asked him why he is asking me what I want when I have to tell the other guy what I want. I asked 電on稚 you guys talk to each other? And he walked away saying sure.

Then 30 minutes in the waiting room (only three customers the total time and they were in front of me), and the boss comes in to check me in. He pulls up the truck file (I知 a regular) and he says last time you had a synthetic oil change. I said right, as I told the last guy. He said he did not talk to the other guy. And I asked him 努hy do you guys talk to me for redundant information but don稚 talk to each other while servicing my truck? He said 的 didn稚 talk to the other guys? I said 典hat痴 my point? He has an air filter in his hand that looked like the type my truck has. He walked back into the shop, and I asked him if that was my air filter. He said yeah, I brought it to talk to you about it. I said, but you carried it into the waiting room, checked me in, never showed me the filter, then walked out, what is it that you want to talk to me about the air filter? He said its clean, you don稚 need a replacement.

When it was over, he presented me a receipt printed with my information but it was printed with the letterhead upside down. Then he said the vacuum doesn稚 work so 田ome back another time when the vacuum works and we will vacuum it?

Then I very politely, and confidentially told him that he needs to reevaluate how this company does business. Some of the things I said 1. Receive customers with a purpose妖o not come out to say hi, what do you want if you don稚 care what I want. 2. If your employee tells me that you will check me in in 30 minutes I will leave because that is too long to just wait at a quick change place, and 3. If your vacuum is broken do not tell me to come back when the vacuum does work (wait in line again?), just knock off $5 to show your sincerity. 4. If vacuuming is part of your advertised service, then make sure it works. Have a preventive maintenance program, have a checklist that will identify these things, have a spare, OR compensate customers for the lac k of your advertised service.

I know that I should call the company but I do not want to complain about somebody痴 livelihood. Maybe I expect too much but a simple oil change is just that?*? simple task. I just don稚 have confidence in these people that they will do it right.

What is up with the weird characters in your post? I'm worn out just trying to read it.

 

[YLee Kioti]

Where I used to live, it was well known that many of the quick lube stations were staffed by recent parolees. It's hard to find work when you get out of the joint, and being down in a well under a car, or, away from customers was supposedly a "good re-introduction to society."

I have used them but always watch what kind of oil they are putting in. One of my vehicles requires 5W-30 and I caught one guy starting to put 15W-40 in. I don't know what the consequences would be if he had filled it with the wrong oil.

Many of today's vehicles use variable valve timing. A orifice built into the gear driven cam system is pumped with oil to adjust timing.
The wrong viscosity will alter timing, resulting in poor performance.
Each vehicle maker has a slight different method to accomplish this. This can result in having a bad day to a bad valve train if a valve smacks a piston.

Blessed to have found a NAPA dealer with a shop. All the folks are locals and I can watch them do the work. Now tranny fluid change out on 4Rnnr is another story. Like all modern vehicles they are sealed and have a complex process for a total fluid change out. No method of viewing the work at the dealer. So....9nuther story, nevah mind heh)

Sad reflection of of our society. Guess the old adage of do the right thing, it will astonish most; hold true.
Have a great day yah'll.

 

[CobyRupert]

What is up with the weird characters in your post? I'm worn out just trying to read it.

Typically one sees this if they copy and paste text into TBN; it's usually the apostrophes in words that cause the gobbly-gook to appear.
For example, in above text the
"don't" you guys talk to each other,
"I'm" a regular
"that's" my point
vacuum "doesn't" work. etc...

 

[HillStreet]

I am the OP and love these comments. I went to this place for convenience of no appointment, no waiting, not far to drive, and service was good—no leaks. But I never really knew what was put in for oil even though I asked for synthetic. Synthetic oil change was over $80, probably over priced.

As far as the characters go in my post ——— I type the text just fine, briefly proof read so I don’t sound like a dummy. When I see the text after posting, it turns to what you see now. Probably something like Coby is talking about.

 

[4570Man]

I am the OP and love these comments. I went to this place for convenience of no appointment, no waiting, not far to drive, and service was good—no leaks. But I never really knew what was put in for oil even though I asked for synthetic. Synthetic oil change was over $80, probably over priced.

As far as the characters go in my post ——— I type the text just fine, briefly proof read so I don’t sound like a dummy. When I see the text after posting, it turns to what you see now. Probably something like Coby is talking about.

It’s not your typing it’s some problem with the forum. I can’t screenshot the whole thing at once but here’s part of your first post.

 

[deserteagle71]

I always change my own oil. Not only is it easy, and you can be certain it's done right, but it gives time to look at other things in and under the car you otherwise wouldn't bother looking at and that a quick change flunky wouldn't either.

^ This.
While the oil is draining I spend a few minutes THOROUGHLY checking everything from underneath the rig using a strong light. Through the years I've found leaks, loose bolts, broken bolts, worn u-joints, frayed fan belts and other potential problems that I was able to fix before they became a real problem and left me stranded or broken down.