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Yeah personally I grow my own oil in my garden. That way I know it is organic and it saves me money.
1 replies
Yeah personally I grow my own oil in my garden. That way I know it is organic and it saves me money.
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i would strongly advise everyone to learn how to change your own oil (and replace your own filter). there are lots of websites that can teach you how and im sure they're some youtube vids out there for specific models.
it saves lots of money...
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@porcuPINE: As has already been mentioned, not everyone has the sapce or time. I am not changing my oil in my apartment complex parking lot. And yes, I have friends, but everyone's schedules are different. It's much easier to call up my mechanic and drive by after work.
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@porcuPINE: If you are practicing your first oil change, I'd recommend having someone experienced helping or at least overseeing.
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@dragonfire81 (stupid reply button doesn't work)
i can't change my oil in my apartment complex (no auto work whatsoever, no washing of the car, nothing...)... sometimes it's just easier to pay someone to change it... of course not Jiffy Lube (i usually go to the honda dealership that's 1/2 mile from my apartment, they won't be ripping me off)
I used to work in a Sears Auto Center, Somewhat less scammy then Jiffy Lube, but still bad. I had to peddle these \"Coolant Flushes\" all the time but did so poorly, and only sold them to SUV Owners. Most quicky places are like this, so I take my honda to the dealer.
Last time I had it in, they told me that my Power Steering Fluid needed replaced and my timing belt needed replaced, and was badly cracked.
It's a DX without any power steering, and the Timing Belt was replaced one month before, and is not visible easily.
I spoke with the Service Manager, he seemed genuinely bothered and offered two free oil changes.
@Jonathan Quinn:
usually dealerships are pretty good about stuff like that, I own a mazda 3 and go in to the local dealer every couple months, they once threw in free tire rotation (which is only like 15$ anyways) but they tend to take care of you whereas the Lube-X around here charges easily double what the dealership charges and tries to push all kinds of crap on you, once was enough to know not to go back.
Yes, changing your own oil is extremely easy. If you live in an apartment complex, make friends with someone who isn't so you can use their driveway/road :)
Save the headache of being upsold a bunch of crap you don't need yet and know it's done right by doing it yourself.
@christoj879: Yeah, and then you need to figure out schedules with your friend. It's much easier to just call up a trusted mechanic.
I don't know 'bout you, but my mechanic doesn't try to upsell me anything.
Plus the oil filter is a pain in the ass on my car.
@christoj879: To anyone who does not normally work on cars, I would trust a mechanic to do it right more than I would myself. Having it done right isn't the problem, it's when they tell you you needed all the extra stuff. Like the OP said, the oil and filter were changed.
I'm pretty sure that Peak makes anti-freeze solutions. I guess they charge extra to top off fluids?
Boo reply button bug. Makes it hard to follow discussions and post my own comments.
@Chris Walters - Yes it does and it goes great with my home sewn Louis Vitton bags and designer jeans. I just knew people would start posting about why the OP should do their own oil. It's just too tempting for all the blame the OP people.
@Raekwon: Whenever changing oil is talked about here, there are 8375835 people who ask, \"But...why don't you do it yourself?!\"
Jiffy Lube is such a ripoff scam place. They take advantage of women all the time.
I wouldn't trust them to fart on a drain plug, they'd probably find a way to strip it.
Either change your own oil and learn to check other fluids or find a competent trusted independent mechanic to do it for you.
@minsky: I am very wary about going to get my oil changed on my own at those scammy places. I have a new car so I use my dealership instead, but when I had my old cars, those places would try to tell me they wanted to change this or that, and I just told them my dad would do it. I NEVER dropped off my car for an oil change. EVER. Only once with my old cars did I get my oil changed at a place where I had to get out of the car, and it went okay. It was at a dealership. But I'd never ever leave the premises of one of the smaller/scammy places.
Screw Jiffy lube! It takes 15 min to do it yourself. I got to the VW dealer with my own container and they fill it up for a lot less then buying individual quarts from the auto parts store, not sure if other places do that or not..
From a time benefit analysis going to a quick oil change shop is a much better value. I do not want to put my car on a ramp, get under it, go to get the oil, pay to dispose of the oil, and take the time to take it back, and then have to shower after I do it. There are plenty of things that you CAN do yourself, but sometimes its just as well to pay someone to do it. I pay people to shovel my snow and plow my driveway, I pay people to take care of my landscaping, I pay people to do my drycleaning. Could I do these myself? ABSOLUTELY. Do I want to? Nope.
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Agreed, and since I usually bring the ole laptop, I am on the clock when I get auto maintenance and washes. Definitely more cost effective than doing it in the front yard
Is it a crime to do something in a convenient manner? I know nothing about my car and as thus adhere strongly to schedule maintenence schedules.
However, I take it to a local guy I can trust. It takes a little longer than 15 minutes but I go away with my mind set at ease that what I asked him to check on the car is checked, I haven't been upsold, and I supported a local business that supports my local business.
Do you really think it is alright for every person to go dickering around in their car interiors? Is that really a good plan? Lemme grab a socket wrench and come over then. There are some people (ME) who do not need to go near intricate mechanical devices unless you have some terrible urge to see them destroyed.
@Dansc29625: And not everyone can learn well enough to feel comfortable enough to fix a very complicated machine that could kill you if you do not do it right. This is why mechanics have the experience and know-how.
Besides that, I LIKE paying my local, trusted mechanic.
@Crystal Wojcinski: Agreed.
Then when you mess it up, who knows what the warranty will cover when something needs to be repaired because you didn't know how to work on your car, but some person on consumerist.com told you it's super easy to change your oil yourself. Some people should not take apart cars beyond pouring wiper fluid in. Myself included.
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I'm not ashamed to get my oil changed by someone else, but I, too, go to someone local I trust.
I knew JustBrakes was evil and pulled crap like this, but I guess I'll add Jiffy Lube to the list too. Oy.
@HeyBickley: B-But at Just Brakes they really do care! Are you telling me the advertisements are wrong?
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I live in a high rise in Chicago, so can't really change my own oil. I went to Jiffy Lube this weekend to get the oil changed (They have a $5 off coupon on their website), and inspected the car after they finished up. I looked at my receipt, and it said that they washed the windows. They obviously hadn't.
I pointed this out and they sent a guy out and they washed them right away. It's not a big deal, but it makes me wonder what else they hadn't completed that I had paid for.
I am changing my own oil from now on. I used to go to Walmart just so I wouldnt have to deal with it. The last time I went some new guy decided to try to change the transmission fluid. He didnt know it was a sealed system so they had to pay to have it towed to a transmission shop and refill the fluid because they didnt have the required tools. So instead of 30 minutes the whole ordeal took 4 hours. Luckily I was meeting a friend for lunch so she just took me to get my car. I was going to have to get a rental just to get it.
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How do you do-it-yourselfers dispose of the old oil?
@IfThenElvis: Here the garbage company will give you a thing to put your oil and filter in and they collect it on trash day. I usually just take it into autozone or a shop where i can leave it for free.
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@IfThenElvis: Here, the city recycling plant will take up to 5 gallons for free so I just put it back in the bottles that the new stuff came in and leave it in the garage until I have milk-crate full, then when I know I'm going to be going by there I just toss the crate in the back of my truck and voila'!
Most cities have some place that takes it.
I am pretty sure that most auto part stores and oil change places will take used motor oil.
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@IfThenElvis: Many auto parts stores and oil change places will take it for free, or a small fee depending where you live.
There are plenty of us who are quite capable of changing our own oil but prefer not to. Let's see: go to auto supply store, buy oil & filter, go home, change oil in either cramped garage or steeply sloped driveway, collect oil & return it to auto supply store…done. Nevermind that I live in the Upper Midwest and have no interest in working outdoors on my car for about 4-5 months of the year.
So yeah, $35-$40 to get the oil changed is fine by me.
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@JiminyChristmas: Same here on paying $30 or so to avoid the hassle. I just asked a female co-worker where she takes her car, and she told me a good local place that didn't try to screw me over. Took about 10 minutes on my lunch break, too. So I'll probably stick with that.
Like others, I live in a place that doesn't allow oil changes in the parking lot. I try to ask around to make sure I don't get screwed, but other than that I'm fine with it.
Word to the wise -- Avoid Mr. Tire as well; I took my rig (minivan) in to a local MT for one of their oil changes; 15 minutes later the guy tells me I need a new power steering unit and a complete transmission \"service\"
Grand total, you ask? $1300!
I told him to forget it, the mechanic stumbled out of the back and conveniently told me that I would regret it when my transmission locked up.
I went to Walmart, bought some transmission fluid and some power steering fluid. Cost me $8.
Topped of the fluids and still going strong many months later. Beware of these hacks; low fluids are a common occurance and indicate nothing more than NORMAL wear and tear most of the time.
FWIW - I usually go to the Valvoline Oil Change Center, they change the oil and have never tried to upsell me on anything AND you get to stay in the car while they work
The do-it-yourselfers can dispose of the oil at the local dump or just google to find a place. A good way to hold the oil for transport would be to use a milk jug. For those worried about how to change their oil in an apartment complex my recommendation would to find a local high school's parking lot and change it on a Saturday or Sunday. I do feel sorry for the OP but everyone should know Jiffy Lube is involved in some shady business practices.
@ DaddyMagicBritches:
Your automobile is not designed to USE any fluids other than washer fluid and gasoline. Having to top something off generally means there is a leak somewhere (with the exceptions sometimes of brake fluid).
I work at an Automobile service chain (hasn't been mentioned here; hasn't received any negative attention from consumerist) and just because a technician tries to sell you something, doesn't always mean they're making it up. Always, if you have any doubts, ask if you can see the item needing replaced, or the fluid needing replaced. Generally they will show you and explain to you why it needs replacing. Fluid maintenance is something that should be done at the manufacturer specified intervals if you want your automobile to function like it should for years to come...
Next time take it to the dealer or the little independent guy. I really feel bad for the OP because many women don't know how to avoid these stupid charges. I took my car in for an alignment once and a service guy tried to pull the same thing on me by telling me my shocks were on their way out. He shut up pretty quick when I told him my husband is a former auto mechanic. It was kind of one of those \"oh never mind\" type reactions. I drove the car 800 miles from DE to AL the next weekend and on mountain roads we had no trouble with the shocks. That was over a year ago and multiple interstate drives later I still have yet to have a problem with the shocks. He was CLEARLY lying in that case!
Ladies, if you doubt what a quick lube guy tells you is wrong with your car; tell them that your boyfriend/father/uncle/husband, etc is a mechanic or knows a mechanic and that you'll take the car to them if there are any other problems. Even if its a bluff, it still gets them to back off a little.
@Megan Squier: \" because many women don't know how to avoid these stupid charges.\"
Have you read some of the Jiffy Lube posts? Many men don't either. Jeez.
\"I would recommend to any woman to take a father/SO/brother/whomever \"
Yaaaaaaay sexism!
@Megan Squier: That's exactly what I do. My dad used to fix major stuff on my car and I just took it in for oil changes when it was convenient. Whenever they told me something needed fixing or replacing or filling, beyond the basics, I told them I would tell my dad to do it.
I would recommend to any woman to take a father/SO/brother/whomever with them when she gets something done on her car. They will scam you. And what sucks was that the OP was there when this crap went down, and they still took advantage of the girl.
@Christy Casper: Or, you can be an adult and stand up for yourself?
Sorry, I don't start going, \"oh oh oh my daddddyyy.\"
I'm 27 years old. My daddy doesn't take care of me any longer.
I've never had any major issues with Jiffy Lube. I just get tired of them trying to sell me an air filter every time I go. I also beat all of the dust out a few times before I buy a new one.
@IfThenElvis
Auto parts stores will generally take used oil and transmission fluid for free. Some stores let you dump in on your own; others just take your jug and dump it for you. Its mainly the chains that will do it; AutoZone, Advance Auto, O'Reilly Auto Parts (LOVE the Hazel Green, AL location, by the way) and I think Pep Boys all do it.
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To all the people preaching that we should all change our own oil; is it such a crime to spend a little bit of money to have a trusted local mechanic do it?? I'd never advocate taking it to Jiffy Lube, but believe it or not, most areas have at least a couple of shops that aren't scam artists. And not all of us enjoy crawling around underneath our car...
@cc82: If you want to take it to someone you trust that's your prerogative, I personally can't justify paying someone else 50-60 bucks for something I can do for 20 min and about 18 bucks. :shrug:
But if there is someone you trust and you can take your car there and would rather do that, more power to you. I understand not everyone wants to crawl around under a car.
@Alden Merchant: Why are you paying $50 for an oil change? I've never paid more than $30, and that was because I forgot to ask for the basic oil change and got the premium deal. Unless you live somewhere ridiculously expensive like NY or LA or something, you're paying way too much. Most of what they do in the \"premium\" ($40+) changes is stuff you CAN do yourself (pour washer fluid in, since it doesn't involve getting under your car; check your blinkers; wipe your windows; scratch your butt).
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If your car requires synthetic oil, why are you abusing your car and getting it changed at Jiffy Lube. If your car doesn't require it, then just get regular oil. All the national oil change places are scams.
I tried that last summer. I must have done something wrong; at one end were it didn't get quite enough water I grew Diesel and the other end got too much water and I had gasoline. Oh well, that was when gas was $4.50 so it worked very well.
1. Never visit Jiffy Lube without a coupon and they are easy to come by.
2. Never buy synthetic oil. They ASK and you simply decline. Not sure why your GF said yes.
3. NEVER NEVER let them do any additional repairs. I simply thank them for the info and tell them my car is about to go into the dealer and will mention it. DONE.
@PLATTWORX: I tend to use Valvoline but also agree that #3 is very, very important.
With some of these places it's their mission in life to sell you additional services. On one particular trip they tried to sell me: transmission flush, coolant flush, new air filter, new battery, and a tire rotation.
They even run little tests to show you that your coolant or battery are out of whack. The last time they did their little battery test they gave me a readout that said my car may fail to start at temps under 25 degrees. I proceeded to drive the car through a winter that saw temps as low as -25 degrees with no problems.
You know if you do want to get your oil changed and you have a mechanic you trust, it's not particularly expensive to have them do it. Sometimes it takes longer, but if you do need anything else, your car is there on the lift and then you have it done by someone you trust without having to deal with being ripped off.
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Are you SURE they changed the oil and filter? I make a habit of reaching under the car and making a un-notiveable specific mark on the filter so that I know it was the old one, as well make a mark on the oil pan with a crayon lightly in-line with a mark of the oil plug to ensure it was actually removed. Sounds like alot of work, but after being a service manager for Wal-Mart for 3 years and seeing what the local Jiffy Lube did to customers, I won't take any chances with anyone.
Peak Global Lifetime is a brand name for one of Peak's coolant products:
http://www.peakantifreeze.com/peak_global_lifetime.html
My guess is they put in some coolant and tried to charge for it. Normally, fluids are topped off as a courtesy.
One of my Jiffy Lube techs stole checks out of my car and bought gas gift cards from a gas station down the road. Stay Classy Jiffy Lube!
You guys are so awesome, changing your own oil. I'm suddenly stricken with a huge inferiority complex because I take my car to my dealership for free oil changes. Ain't gonna impress people that way! I must befriend someone with a driveway post-haste so I can join the cool kids' club of self-oil-changers.
SO COOOOOOOL.
I took my car to Jiffy Lube this weekend and was in and out in about 15 minutes and I watched them do everything with my son. I skipped the radiator flush (that's a rip off and it's almost time to go in for maintenance within the next couple of oil changes), but I did agree to the cabin filter. a) I didn't even know where it was and b) the one he showed me, which I did see him take out of my car was nasty. They knocked 9.99 off the price of the filter, but I'm sure it's still horribly marked up. But for the money it's worth the convenience.
I *have* changed my own oil in the past and I don't mind doing it. But with two kids running around here and evidently monsoon season hitting this week, it was worth it to just pay the money and get it done.
Oh, and I stockpile the used oil (from the mower as well) until hazmat collection day and bring it over then.
Yes, Jiffy Lube is serious. At some point these incidents should stop being news, because it's just how those franchises do business. You think they make any profit on a $19.95 oil change?
IF you are going to use JL for convenience, assume they are going to try to upsell you or tack on extra charges for bogus invented reasons. If you're really worried that they found something wrong with your car, just say thanks, I'll have my regular mechanic check it out. And then your mechanic will tell you there's nothing wrong.
It also helps to keep good records, so when they tell you it's time for some kind of service, you know how recently you did it.
More than half of the times I've been to Jiffy Lube, or any of those other instant oil change places, I've had them come to the waiting room with \"my\" air filter, a disgusting looking air filter, clogged with dirt. After telling me that \"my\" air filter needed to be replaced, and the whole B.S. that they gave me, I say something like \"That's interesting...I have a K&N air filter\" (a reusable, cleanable, high performance air filter) and it's usually followed by some stammering and me asking for the manager, followed by a short argument which has occasionally resulted in a 50% discount. Knowing the crap that those places usually pull on people, it's usually just worth watching them try to pull their foot out of their mouth.
If I didn't live in an urban apartment, and had a place to change my own oil, I'd do it in a second to not have to deal with those lying slimeballs at Jiffy Lube, or any of the other instant oil change places.
Peak is in fact a brand that makes automatic transmission fluid ([www.peaklubricants.com]), so it's possible that the $6.00 charge would be for that, but if so, it's pretty poorly named.
Especially because the cashier and the mechanic both seemed to assert it was for transmission fluid, and the discrepancy was whether or not it had actually been done.
I have known places to do this. In my shop, that poo poo wouldn't be tolerated. The people under me (yes, I had women techs too!) knew wether or not to call someone by the look if their air filter. They also knew what the K & N's looked liked and how to tell if they needed cleaned. We would tell the customers when they needed cleaned, and they knew we were honest because we didn't sell the cleaning kits, hence we had nothing to gain but their trust.
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Jiffy Lube made it onto my shit list after I caught 2 different locations changing my oil but NOT the filter. My car used one of those more expensive catridge-style filters and apparently they didn't feel like they would make enough profit if they changed it.
I've discovered a Meineke location nearby that's turned out to be pretty trustworthy, at least.
People still actually take their cars to these chain oil change or tire places? Six years ago, I took my car to the ford dealer for oil changes, brakes, etc. Never had a problem with them. They did a brake job for me (at the time I didn't have the know how or a place to do the work - so I had them do it). One month later, I'm on the other side of town and get a flat tire - so I went to one of those Firestone places for a pair of tires (they were almost bald anyway). They said that in addition to the two tires - I needed new front brakes (despite them being a month old), a timing belt replaced, and wiper blades. I strongly said No to anything other than the tires. They argued with me until i pointed out that my car had a timing chain - and that a timing belt was not only unnecessary, it was an effort of getting easy money out of me.
Moral of the story - if you can do simple things yourself - do them, and for anything that you can't or don't feel comfortable doing - have the dealer or an independent mechanic with a good reputation do the work for you.
@Christy Casper (stinking reply button not working!)
I definitely agree! Although if the quick lube guy saw my husband he probably wouldn't try to pass anything off on us. He's 6'5'', looks like a young version of Burt Reynolds and is usually dressed in black jeans, his favorite motorcycle T-shirt and motorcycle boots. Basically a clean cut biker. Most people peg him as being a mechanic; little do they know he's now a software engineer ;)
We went to buy a laptop last summer at Best Buy and the Geek Squad guy who was handling the sale tried to feed us a bunch of bull about what we couldn't do if we didn't buy an extended warranty. I guess the salesman thought based upon the way we looked that we didn't know anything about computers. My husband pulled out his business card from the defense contractor he works for and showed it to the Geek Squad guy. Not a single word about extended warranties after that!
My dad taught me a long time ago to never judge someone based upon appearance because you will be surprised :)
@Megan Squier: \"My dad taught me a long time ago to never judge someone based upon appearance because you will be surprised :) \"
And when a male mechanic (or any man) starts judging me because I'm a woman, instead of doing exactly what they expect by calling my daddy or boyfriend, I stand up for myself.
Somebody needs to make jiffy Lube pay for what they have done for a very long time: Scamming almost every customer that walked through their door.
DON'T GO TO JIFFY LUBE!! Find a mechanic you trust and let them change your oil. It may cost a couple bucks more, but you'll get the truth.
In this day and age, you really don't save much by changing your oil yourself, especially since I drive little enough that I usually only need to get mine changed about once a year. I always take my car to the dealer when I need my oil changed. It costs about $30, only 12 of that actually being labor and with it I know that I'm getting OEM parts, a full inspection, and they even wash my car as well. Between the hassle of having to drive my car somewhere where I'd be allowed to work on it, having to schlep the used oil somewhere for proper disposal, making sure not to get anything dirty that I should't, and having to invest in the tools necessary to do the job I can't see how it would be remotely worth my time to do it myself.
call your local advance auto or autozone. im sure some one can tel you where the filter is. if not get a set of ramps which are 40 bucks for the good ones, and get a set of wrenchs , and take the oil plug out which is at the bottom of the oil pan on the bottom of the engine. then let it drain in a pan(you can buy them for 5 bucks) and then replace the plug. then take the filter off and let it drain upside down on the pan.
open the new oil and stick your finger in it and rub oil on the new filter seal and screw it back on . then put the plug back in the oil pan on the engine. then dump the oil down the oil filler cap on top of the engine.
how much more simpiler can it get. most cars take 4.5 qts(the .5 makes up for whats always in the filter).
and come on its only a 6$ charge. what do you expect. if you cant do a simple task of changing your oil then ur expected not to see a 6$ fancy worded charge.
You paid 75.99 for an oil change? WTF...
A quick price check on the local places here shows me I could get 3 oil changes for that, and yes I mean the full synthetic...
A second search shows if I'd like to do it myself I can get 15 quarts and 3 filters...
I could do my own oil change. But I don't want to. And I don't see why people seem to think it's acceptable thay others get scammed when they pay for a service to be done just because they could do it themselves.
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@nakedscience: The really frustrating thing is that it shouldn't even be something they'd consider saying given the nature of the site. This isn't \"Howtobeselfsufficient.com\", it's \"The Consumerist\".
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-222420-100x100.png\")
My wife HATES taking our car for service for this very reason. So when I can't do it myself, I call ahead, get exact prices, services and parts. I write it all down for her with the total cost. Then when she checks out, she looks at my list and compares it with the dealer's invoice. They seldom match, so she has to take time to go over each detail. Then she calls me on the phone and it takes me a few minutes to straighten out the mess. The result is usually unnecessary charges they tacked on to the bill. My response is always, remove the unapproved service/parts. When I go myself, I seldom have the same problem. Go figure.
I like this comment. The small, locally-owned oil change shops tend to be pretty good in my experience, too. They hook you up with a newspaper, maybe even a coupon for free ice cream, they do the job right, they don't upsell you, and it's faster than ol' JL.
Oh, reply did not work like I thought it would. That was replying to a way early comment by Verucalise.
After saying no to all of their offers, they told me that my air filter needed to be replaced. I replied, \"really, that's strange. I don't have a standard air filter box\" He had a puzzled look on his face and then told him that i had a cold air intake. The only way to see the aftermarket filter was to remove the tire and remove the splash guard in the wheel well. That was the last time i went there...that was about 4 years ago or so. They also charged me an extra $5 per oil filter because i had a special filter. Apparently my 03 pontiac was special with a standard GM filter.
Peak Global Lifetime is an antifreeze & coolant. See http://www.peakantifreeze.com/peak_global_lifetime.html The 100% means that they filled the coolant to 100%. Why was the coolant low but they had said it needed to be flushed? Was it low to begin with? If so, a flush isn't going to solve anything. I suggest you at least learn to check your own fluids and either do the work yourself or take it somewhere and tell them what needs to be done.
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6 quarts of oil (my truck holds 5 1/2 quarts) and a filter cost 15.71 with tax at the Autozone.
The shop across the shop across the street from the Autozone will change it for 12.99.
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Guerilla oil changing: I lived in a small Northeastern US town renting an over under duplex that only had two off street spaces in a dirt parking lot behind it with no lights. I found a local self service car wash that was perpendicular to the street it fronted and was lit overnight. Ergo temporary garage especially when it was raining since- who washes a car when it rains? Or who washes a car on Friday night after 8:30pm? I would pull into one of the last bays, jack the car, dump the oil, change filter, rebottle the used oil and be done within about an hour- maybe two if I rotated the tires. Then I realized that the property next door was a local auto parts place which had its unlocked oil dump tank (a former fuel oil tank) behind it with an upside down funnel over the fill pipe. Even better that I didn't have to rebottle the used oil but walk it over next door.
That said I have also used quick lube places when traveling if I still had about 400 miles or till the next oil change and wanted to run out the mileage to get to my destination but didn't want to run the dirty oil back. Probably didn't matter but you never know...
One recommendation I heard for modern cars is to change every 5,000 miles so you never worry about figuring the need- if the thousands is a 0 or 5 the car is ready for a change and tire rotate also.
$76 for an oil change may be a fair price. The original poster did not tell us what the vehicle is. My wife's car requires 7 quarts of 0W-40 which ranges from $7 to $10.50 per quart.
If one more woman or man suggests I, a woman, take a boyfriend/father/whatever with me because as a woman I certainly can't handle mechanics myself, I'm going to punch them in the face.
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Not sure if this has been pointed out yet... but Peak Global is coolant... Not transmission fluid. Surprising that the \"mechanic\" didn't know this.
And also, this story doesn't mention what kind of car it is, and how many miles it has on it. Why would that matter? because some cars require synthetic oil, and depending on the maintainence schedule, it may be time to change the coolant and belts... check the owner's manual.
Jeez, and another thing: Who drops their car off at a quick lube shop?! it's a 15 minute oil change! This story is full of holes, and I'm not buyin it.
@jfielder23: What if she ran next door to the walmart or something?
There is always a \"oh my god it is TOTES THE VICTIM'S FAULT!\" person here. Jiffy Lube is known to screw people over. What is your problem?
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Daniel, $75 for a synthetic oil/filter change! Dude, change her oil yourself for around $35 and take her out to the movies and a bite w/ the savings--she'll be impressed. IMO, Jiffy Lube is worse than taking your car to the dealership. At the dealership, the work is most likely going to get done but you are going to get hosed w/ he price. At Jiffy Lube, you'll get both--ripped off at a high price!
@Barney_The Plug_ Frank: Synthetic Oils can range from 4-8 bucks plus 10-15 for an oil filter and labor, 75 dollars isn't too terrible of a price. For my car I need 6 quarts of synthetic which comes to about 35 plus 15 for OEM filter plus labor.
nakedscience: (reply not working)
Your last comment has a flavor of the comic strip Dilbert whose coworker, the female engineer Alice, exhibits her \"Fists Of Death\" on occasion...
Maybe this could help with Jiffy Lube:
[blog.oregonlive.com]
Dear Chris,
I work for Jiffy Lube and was disappointed to read your post from May 4, 2009 and it's description of Daniel and his girlfriend's recent visit to the Los Alamitos, CA Jiffy Lube. The practices described by Daniel are unacceptable and contradict Jiffy Lube training. I would encourage him, or any customers that have an experience like this, to contact our Customer Service department at 1.800.344.6933 or email jiffy-lube-customer-service@shell.com.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention,
Paul Brown
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Most Jiffy Lubes are privately owned, not corporate. Just because one Jiffy Lube is a piece of crap doesn't mean they all are. If you have problems, contact the franchisee, most of the time they will help you.
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For $25 + tax, my local mechanic who my family has been using for years does an oil change, tire rotation, etc. (the other routine maintenance) and checks all the hoses and fluids and any other parts that might need fixing. If he finds something, he'll fix it (depending on what it is for no extra), otherwise we know what we're getting.
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I do not think Jiffy Lube can survive without scamming customers. They likely loose money on every $23.00 Oil Change they do.
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I'm no lover of Jiffy Lube as a brand but our local Jiffy Lube usually gives me oodles of discounts for various reasons. So my 15 year old car's ~$80 oil change (synthetic oil blend, etc.) usually ends up around $50 or $60.
I have learned three things from past articles and comments:
1. If you live in an apartment complex blah blah blah blah can't do it blah blah blah.....don't go to Jiffy Lube.
2. Yes, changing your own oil is better blah blah blah blah blah it's so easy blah blah blah.
3. Just don't go to Jiffy Lube. And to all the boyfriends and girlfriends who called me 10 mins later and said the fluid obviously wasn't changed!!!!!! blah blah blah blah just shut up already thank you.
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Am I wrong or is not relatively easy to change your own oil?
Seems like that would be a much better alternative than dealing with the quick lube places.
@dragonfire81: You have to get slightly dirty, have an oil pan, and dispose of it properly. To a lot of people (myself included, especially since my dealership does a ton of other stuff besides the oil change), the $20 or $30 that normal, non-scammy oil change places charge is worth not having to do the work by oneself.
@dragonfire81:
I have a good mechanic that charges $30 for a change and once over... I can do the oil change myself... I have done it many times before.
But with a hectic work schedule, the time it takes to pick up the supplies, do the change and *properly dispose* the oil, I figure my time is worth more than doing it myself.
Plus I get to keep in touch my mechanic, throw a little business his way and since he works on my cars, knows them very well.
@dragonfire81: I know how, and it's not hard, but I really can't be arsed to do it myself. I hate it. I figure it's enough that I can tell when maintenance is needed and if I'm being ripped off.
Also I am currently 9 months pregnant so I feel good about my decision to take my car to the mechanic for a tune-up and a cleaning on Wednesday before the baby arrives ... so it's nice and safe and because there's NO WAY IN HELL I'm crawling under that thing. Even if I'd fit. ;)
@dragonfire81: My bulding does not allow any work on your car in the lot. Its a liability to have people laying around where cars are driving.
Also, I can get the oil in my SUV changed for <$40, if I did it my self, it would cost me about 30-40 minutes of my time (including getting tools out and clean up) plus the cost of the oil and a new filter. Say 25 for supplies, and thats less than $15 for labor. My hourly pay is more than $15 for 45 minutes, so Id lose money by doing it my self. So while I have, changed my own oil (when I lived at my parents and could do so in their drive way) I did, but now that i make enough money that its not worth my time, I choose not to.
I still do other work on my car when I feel like working on my car, but stuff like oil changes arent exciting, so whats the point.
@dragonfire81: Also, the place where I usually take my car (a national chain, but not a quick-lube) charges very little more than what the oil would cost if I purchased it myself, and I don't have to worry about either the mess or disposing of the used oil. The convenience is worth it for many of us!
@dragonfire81: I can and used to do so, but I have a trusted local mechanic, and income to support my ownership of a car. If I were to become unemployed, I'd change my own oil, but then I'd be driving 60 miles less per day, too. Sometimes the time value of money makes it worth it simply pay.
@dragonfire81: It's easy to do, but depends on the car and your mechanical inclination. On some cars, it's a pain getting to the filter. Some cars are too low to crawl under without ramps or a lift. Soemtimes the filter is more or less stuck on the block and you need more than the $4 oil filter wrench you bought from Pep Boys. Did you remember to not overtighten the filter, but make sure it's tight enough so the oil doesn't leak out and you throw a rod later on? Did you remember to put the drain plug back in or are you going to have 4 quarts of oil in a puddle underneath your car?
It gets to be more trouble than it's worth to some people and they just take it to the corner Jiffy-Lube or whatever.
Of course, you also have to schlep your used motor oil to a parts store to dispose of properly... you're not pouring it down the storm drain, are you?
@taking_this_easy: true. you can always trust car dealerships. :)
@dragonfire81: It's not a crime to pay for an oil change. You should just be careful where you bring your vehicle. I prefer small local businesses instead of Walmarts and such. It is very easy to change your oil, but sometimes, you just can't.
I like having a receipt with the mileage as proof that I am taking care of my vehicle for warranty purposes. Some automakers, even with receipts to prove you bought the filters/oil still will try to get out of big repairs saying it was your fault.
This Peak Global Lifetime crap is ridiculous, though. Last I heard, that was antifreeze and not transmission fluid. Just because she paid for it, doesn't mean she understood and accepted the charges.
Thanks for warning the ones who aren't aware of Jiffy Lube's \"questionable\" practices, Daniel.
@dragonfire81: This is the second time I'm pointing this out today: not everyone is allowed to change their own oil.
I know how to do it, for instance, but the terms of my apartment lease state that performing maintenance in the lot puts me in violation of my lease.