This is just a stupid rant, but I now hate instant oil change places. (not like I liked them previously either) I was about 500 miles past-due for an oil change on my car. I used to change it myself, but now in the 'burbs things are different.

Fail 1: I go to a Valvoline Instant Oil Change. They inform me that they don't have my filter and can't do my oil change but my filter will be in tomorrow. They were really apologetic. They actually seemed shocked that I refused a top off of windshield wiper fluid and air in the tires (since it comes free with a oil change anyway).

Fail 2: So I decide to drive over to the Midas right next store. They're closed on Sunday.

Fail 3: On Monday I decided to to back to the Valvoline since it's the close to my house and they should have my filter. To save them and me time, I tell them right off the bat check if my filter is in stock since it wasn't yesterday. Nope, the need to pull up my record, enter in millage, scan bar codes, open up the hood, check the current oil level, etc. They come back to me and say they don't have the filter like it's a big surprise. I think to myself "no shit". Thankfully they didn't drain the oil first. Supposedly they'll have my filter in 'tomorrow' again.

Fail 4: So Tuesday after work I'll try a difference town near my job. I go to a Jiffy Lube that I've also used before and don't mind too much. I pull in, and the place looks closed, but there is a single car in the lot. I drive around back to enter the garage and wait....no one. The place was totally closed. Don't know if they shutdown or relocated or what. Not even a sign or anything.

Fail 5: (Partial fail) So now I go to a Delta Sonic and I'm in somewhat of a hurry since I have plans later that evening. They have two oil change bays each with cars currently being worked on. Once car is almost done and good to go, the other looks to be in the middle of service though. They direct me behind the car which is not done. 30 seconds later the car in the other bay drives a way and a new customer pulls in and they direct them to the open spot. I just got passed over by a SUV douchebag.

When it's my turn, I explain that I just need a basic oil change. The manager guy asks me to put on my 4-way flashers, I comply. Then stop on my breaks, I comply. Now high beams, and whoa I'm like WTF?. If you didn't already know I'm sort of a privacy nut and also when I say "I just want a basic oil and filter change", it means exactly that. So I ask, "can I ask what all this is for?" He replies something about just checking to make sure all my lights work. Good enough, but I tell him I'm just here for the change.

Now I have to fill out paper work with personal information. He's lucky I gave him my address even, I left things like phone number and email address blank. He explains that he needs that info. I explain that I'm just here to pay cash for a basic oil change. Luckily for him he didn't debate that one more.

They see that my inspection is past due and ask if I'd like an inspection today. NO thank you, I just want an oil change keeping my composure.

They check my air filter and of course they think I need a new one. "NO, I just want an oil change". This time the guy get the fucking death look while I say it. Finally they left me alone and changed the damn oil.


OMFG. How hard does it have to be just to get a no-hassle oil change these days? I need to find some local shop that isn't retarded.

Don't get me going on these crappy places!!!!!! I have a rant here way back. I needed a tranny service. Ya know filter and the whole deal. I found out after the service that they did not replace the filter. War begins! How do you do a tranny service without a new the filter? Ripp the new fluid right on through the old filter. In the end I got my money back but what an ordeal that was.

Fine print my big white girl ass! They say that I am due for tranny service per my maintenance schedule for my vehicle. Fuck! Tranny service is not new fluid. It should read

Transmission service. We employ no one with enough of a brain to perform anything more complicated than a basic oil change. We have trained our idiots to sell you an oil change without a filter for a discount price if you are dumb enough to opt for it! Lets see what else we can screw you on.

First of all "my big white girl ass" - LOL Shellyl!

Now, with that being said . . . . I have NEVER gone to one of these Jiffy Lubes, Oil Doctors, etc etc without getting the complete run around. They always find that I need a new this, I need a new that, I should really do this, blah blah blah.

Trent, make believe your deaf the next time you go. It works wonders.

Posted by Debi Trent, make believe your deaf the next time you go. It works wonders.

Hah, that might work, and be credible. I live in an area with one of the largest populations of deaf people in the country.


EDIT: Or I could just be myself and come across as retarded.

Yeah, I always found the cheap oil change price was just a lure to get you in there so they can sell you other, perhaps useful, but not urgent, more expensive shit.

It seems like they were trying to find something to charge you for. Ive never been asked for more than a first and last name out here. But who knows, companies are trying to do anything to get an extra dollar out of you..

just curious what kind of car is it ?

Posted by sYnOnYx just curious what kind of car is it ?

Meh, nothing special. They're all over the place here. Just a Hyundai Elantra. The first place for some reason just didn't have filters like they normally do.

Samurai the automotive safety elephant sez:
NEVER EVER NEVER EVER EVER EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TAKE YOUR CAR TO ONE OF THESE PLACES.
EVER.

My cobalt is kind of a pain in the ass to do an oil change on because it sits really low to the ground and the supercharger is right over the oil filter housing. I take it to my GM dealer and have my own oil and filter, they charge me $10 and I am in and out. I stand right there and watch the tech do the change. The car never leaves me sight. I hate changing oil, period, so even my Monte Carlo goes to the dealer. There's a garage right here in town that charges me $8 to use the lift and change my own oil (its because my brother worked for the guy for almost 12 years and i worked off and on for him as well). Nine times out of ten, i still take both cars to the dealer.

Those isn't change places are a sham and most of the people (there are always exceptions, and I hate making blanket comments) that work at these places are fucking morons. They use shitty, cheap oil (valvoline excepted... i use valvoline in most of my cars.) and get all pissy when you have your own filter and oil.

i remember a Dateline NBC or something like that, that investigated a number of Jiffy Lubes, Midas, etc... half the time they weren't doing the work and charging for it.

Posted by Samurai Samurai the automotive safety elephant sez: NEVER EVER NEVER EVER EVER EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TAKE YOUR CAR TO ONE OF THESE PLACES. EVER.

Haha, I know you'd yell at me a little bit for posting this. Yah, they really are a rip off. Valvoline is like $40, and the others are like $30. Ridiculous for maybe $10 worth of oil and a filter. I guess some of what the cost is for is convenience. Those guys can sure as hell do a change faster than I can.

They make me nervous though. I've heard the horror stories. If I ever see my oil light go on after a change. I'm immediately cutting the engine right there because they probable forgot to put the oil pan plug back in.

I'd use my dealer more, but it's such a hassle. Takes 50 minutes sometimes just for a change.

I used to do my own oil changes, but its a pain in the ass , not to mention a mess disposing of the oil.

I take my 2008 car to the dealership, Ive heard hyundai is anal about honoring warranties unless your car gets all of the services done there. $30 and a 45min wait gets me the oil change, and a car wash and my interior cleaned.

I thought you were going to say you had a BMW or some other car thats hard to oil filters for(My old roommate managed a jiffy lube)


Damn I havent wrenched on a car in about a year, Its starting to make me feel like less of a car guy.

Posted by sYnOnYx I used to do my own oil changes, but its a pain in the ass , not to mention a mess disposing of the oil. I take my 2008 car to the dealership, Ive heard hyundai is anal about honoring warranties unless your car gets all of the services done there. $30 and a 45min wait gets me the oil change, and a car wash and my interior cleaned. I thought you were going to say you had a BMW or some other car thats hard to oil filters for(My old roommate managed a jiffy lube) Damn I havent wrenched on a car in about a year, Its starting to make me feel like less of a car guy.

Hyundai is anal about that. We had one for a little over two years until my stepdad smashed a deer with it. Well, considering how badly the car was damaged, more like the deer destroyed the car. Insurance company decided that they could fix it. It never was right afterwards, but they wouldn't total it, which they should have.

We have someone that's a close friend of my family that does all our work, they had a fit when we told the dealership we got the vehicle from that we weren't going to drive 70 miles to Burlington, VT. to their dealership to get a stupid oil change. I trust the guy we always call more than I'd trust a dealership. With the way things are, I'll probably never buy a new car anyway.

Shael

Posted by trent If I ever see my oil light go on after a change. I'm immediately cutting the engine right there because they probable forgot to put the oil pan plug back in.

the dealership I worked at some years ago replaced 2-3 engines a year because the moron techs forgot the plugs... you want it done right do it yourself.

$10 for an oil change?? I can't even but the oil and filter for that. But yeah you get what you pay for. And since there never was and possibly never will be any money in oil changes, I see a problem with the quickie lubes. And yes they can sevice the transmission without dropping the pan. They run 12-14 qts of fluid through the cooler lines with a flush machine. Although I do recomend changeing the filter at LEAST every other time. And some vehicles don't even have a transmission filter, yes on an automatic. Kia is good for that. The service manual says if the fluid is contaminated severely to replace the transmission. NO SHIT, I had to tripple check that one.

Posted by junkyard $10 for an oil change?? I can't even but the oil and filter for that. But yeah you get what you pay for. And since there never was and possibly never will be any money in oil changes, I see a problem with the quickie lubes. And yes they can sevice the transmission without dropping the pan. They run 12-14 qts of fluid through the cooler lines with a flush machine. Although I do recomend changeing the filter at LEAST every other time. And some vehicles don't even have a transmission filter, yes on an automatic. Kia is good for that. The service manual says if the fluid is contaminated severely to replace the transmission. NO SHIT, I had to tripple check that one.

As much as I hated to admit this, GM for a number of years didn't even have a dipstick on their automatics. You had to have the car serviced at a dealer at the 100,000 mile mark. I was going to have the transmission serviced in my 99 Monte Carlo (4T60E 4-speed), but I have talked with a couple of old school GM guys who say that if the thing is shifting ok, leave it alone.

Who to believe?

As for Kia and Hyundai, their warranties are a joke... You know how they tout their 100,000 mile powertrain warranties? Read the fine print when it comes to the automatic... if you live in a mountainous area (like where I live), the warranty is only 30,000 miles. A friend of mine went round and round the warranty bush with his 07 Tiburon GT V6. I've never heard of someone being so fucked around on a warranty... even horror stories about shitty GM/Ford dealers!

Posted by Samurai You know how they tout their 100,000 mile powertrain warranties?

EVERY company markets their best feature. American, Japanese, Korean, etc.

Posted by big dave EVERY company markets their best feature. American, Japanese, Korean, etc.

but of course... i was doing some research into warranty bitches.
EVERY COMPANY SUCKS A FAT BABIES ASS WHEN IT COMES WARRANTY TIME. Even Honda... they were shining owners on even when they knew the transmissions in the Civics had problems.
my biggest bitch with my own car is the transaxle. the one dark spot in an otherwise happy happy joy joy... it's fragile. I mean, without the LSD, it's wicked fragile. GM knows it's fragile and has instructed that transmissions that come in with certain fractures in the tranny case and differential NOT be covered under the powertrain warranty.

subtext... own a 2005-2007 Cobalt SS Supercharged coupe without the G85 option? Don't spin, bitch.

It is never a good idea not to flush a transmission unless the fluid already looks like coffee. There have been many cases where that has hastened it's demise. The customer usually gets pissed, but the real reason is that somebody didn't take care of it like they were supposed to, be it them or the previous 4 owners. The flushing actually gets rid of some of the varnish built up inside and I hate to say it but that's what at that point was keeping it together. Like flushing a nasty radiator where the buildup was sealing the pinhole leaks. And Sam on those transmissions without dipsticks (bad idea in my opinion) they can be serviced by anyone with the car level and off the ground enough to get under it. You run it up to temp and pull the plug by on the right side by the axle shaft with the car running. Fluid should be level with the threads. If not pour some in with a long funnel into the fill hole until it runs out. We did have a guy wreck 2 of these by pulling a pressure plug. It's hard to miss the right one if you have a picture. Also put the plug back in while running or you will lose quite a bit of fluid and have to start over.

I'm lucky enough that I have a couple of good mechanics to go to for service. We almost destroyed the engine on my wife's Shadow because some slobbering moron at Speedy didn't put enough oil in the car. I had checked the oil an hour after the car was given back and found no oil on the stick. Two quarts were needed and I told the guy off. They offered me a free oil change and I accepted.

When the oil change was done and I got the car back, I checked the oil myself in front of everyone and when the mechanic told me that was not necessary, I told him that I just want to make sure they didn't screw up again. That was the last time I ever went to those idiots.

We have a good mechanic to go to so this is no longer a problem. However, I still check my own oil after the change is done just to be absolutely certain.

That's part of the problem. Most people think that anyone wearing the uniform is of equal intelligence and experience. This is not true. There is a BIG difference between a Master Tech and a high school dropout / oil change guy. A good tech will have more invested in his tools than your average brand new SUV.

Rainman... you never have to worry about running a 2.2L/2.5L Chrysler out of oil! I had an 86 Dodge 600 with the 2.5L in it. Every other day, you had to add a quart or so of oil. It was driving me batshit because I couldn't find where it was going! Finally, one night on the way home from a friends, certainly in the middle of nowhere, the OIL light came on. I arched an eyebrow, laughed and said, 'fuck you bitch. i got no oil, go or blow.'
35 miles with the oil light on... never even fazed that miserable bastard of a car.