Oil change

[Silver R/T]

So I was thinking about how some people take their vehicles to jiffy lube, wal-mart, etc to $16 or $20. I buy my own filter/oil and I don't see how you cane make profit after spending ~$16 average on oil (non-synthetic, Napa brand) and then $5 filter. They must be getting very good discount on oil/filters if they can change it for people for $16 or whatever. Perhaps they use substandard parts?

[tan top]

use to do all my cars & parents cars also    .. now just get the main dealer to do a service every year  ..
as for the charger no one touches it  execpt me 

[NHCharger]

The jiffy lube near me uses Fram filters and Pennzoil, the two crappest products out there. I'm sure they get a big discount. They prey on women. My friends wife took her car for an oil change. They showed her some bad looking tranny fluid and antifreeze and recommended she change them. That oil change cost him over $200.00

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

I let the dealer do the first one on the new cars because its free...after that its all me on all my cars...

[moparguy01]

a girlfriend i had in high school went to a jiffy lube, and i got off early and met her over there. they walked out with this nasty old air filter, a rectangular one. I said thats not the filter from that truck. "oh it sure is!" i doubt it, its a 84 dodge ram. they have round filters.

ever since then i cant in good faith take my vehicles anywhere for oil changes. thats one reason i like my bronco, I dont even have to jack it up to change the oil.

[WingCharger]

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[bull]

It's fine if you have a place to do it but if you're a 19-year-old girl who's living in an apartment and it's 8 degrees outside...

I've had the Jiffy Lube-type places change my oil lately because the immobile Charger is hogging the garage right now. But I always take an OE Mopar filter with me and have them use it instead of the Fram. And I don't believe that Pennzoil is crappy. Maybe it is but you can easily find 10 people who will say 10 different brands are just as crappy.

[Sublime/Sixpack]

I do my own, that way I know it was done right.

[mikesbbody]

I do my own, that way I know it was done right.

couldnt agree more!

[rusty lee]

just changed my oil yesterday. with oil and filter was 15 bucks.  knowing I put the drain plug and filter on....  priceless

[Ghoste]

If it's under warranty I take it to the dealer but anything else I do here.  One local dealer does it cheap enough that it's almost worth getting the other vehicles done there too... almost.

[ITSA426]

I watched one of their clowns put some leaves from under the hood/cowl area onto my air filter and bring it to me saying I need a new one.  Also check your dipstick before you drive off.  I've seen them "forget" to put in the last three quarts of oil.  I quit using them a while ago.  I can do it just as poorly for almost nothing.

[Ghoste]

I seen places put in far too much as well which can be just as bad in different ways.

[RECHRGD]

Nobody touches the Charger but me.  But, a few years ago I took my truck into a Jiffy Lube for a quicky oil change.  I live off of a gravel road and always make sure my air filters are in good shape.  I had replaced the air filter just a few days before going to the Jiffy Lube.  Sure enough, the guy comes into the waiting room with an old greasy filthy filter and tells me that I needed a new one.  When I went off on him about trying to rip me off (in front of the other customers), he of course, denied it.  But when I told him I was going to call the cops, my filter miraculously reappeared.  I'm sure they lost more than just me as a customer that day.   Bob

[Aero426]

Don't forget that the oil anti-wear package formulations have now changed.   So the current grade SM oils the quick change places use, and "most" off the shelf oils are not friendly towards your flat tappet engine.  I believe there's a lengthly thread here on this board already.   If you have not looked at it, you should do so. 

[Fitz73Chrgr]

I used to be one of those "clowns" that worked at Jiffy Lube back in highschool.  I wasn't really one of the clowns, I was one of maybe 2 people who actually tried to to their job correctly.  I have seen them charge people for services they never performed many times...especially the transmission service.  If they can't get it hooked up right, they just won't do it.  I've seen guys just leave old oil filters on cars because they were too hard to get to.  From my first-hand experience, I would tell anyone to never take your car to a quick oil change place. 

As far as making a profit from a $15 oil change...they don't, especially when you take into consideration paying the employee (not that they paid well).  The profit comes from BSing people into buying services they don't need.  I always refused to lie to people to make a sale.  Hell, I wasn't getting paid on commission, why screw people out of their hard-earned money? 

Wal-Mart?  I wouldn't even consider that.  I've heard multiple stories of people's wheels falling off after getting new tires from Wal-Mart.

[Ponch ®]

I do my own when I can. Sometimes I just don't have the time to do it (like the next-to-last time...I found out I was going on a road trip 2 days before, and between work and other stuff, i had to take it in).  I actually just changed the oil on the 08. My buddy came over with his 07 Daytona, and we did both cars. The biggest advantage to DIY is cost. 7 qts of synthetic + the filter ran me just under $50. If I'd had it done at the dealer or a jiffy lube type place, it would have cost me between $80-$100.

[Charger_Fan]

I've only paid for someone else to do my oil change once...ever.

Last summer, some guy came around trying to drum up business for a local dealership, by offering pre-paid coupon books for their service center. The asking price was fairly high, so I shut him down. He counter offered enough that eventually the price of the total book got down the price I normally pay for the oil change coupons alone...so I bought one. The rest of the crap in there is essentially free now.

I still have yet to use it. I guess I'll give it to some family member for a B-day present, or something.

[Sublime/Sixpack]

Nobody touches the Charger but me.  But, a few years ago I took my truck into a Jiffy Lube for a quicky oil change.  I live off of a gravel road and always make sure my air filters are in good shape.  I had replaced the air filter just a few days before going to the Jiffy Lube.  Sure enough, the guy comes into the waiting room with an old greasy filthy filter and tells me that I needed a new one.  When I went off on him about trying to rip me off (in front of the other customers), he of course, denied it.  But when I told him I was going to call the cops, my filter miraculously reappeared.  I'm sure they lost more than just me as a customer that day.   Bob

Its good that you caught that, and the guy got what he deserved when you chewed him out, but what did he possibly do to your engine after he went back into the shop area? Maybe a little oil dry or dirt off the floor into your crankcase just to get back at you?   Crap like that really happens.  Hope you kept an eye on him!

[Neal_J]

For the Charger, I do it myself. 

Other than that, my opinion seems to be in the minority here:  for my daily driver and the wife's, I take it to a local oil change place I've used forever and let them do it.  My time is valuable to me and I don't enjoying changing oil.   The extra $10 is worth it to me.

Neal

[dodgecharger-fan]

For those that do it yourself, where do you take the old oil?

I used to do all mine, but I had a place to take the oil - a friend of my Dad had a shop.

[resq302]

My town has an oil collection container at the towns recycling center.  Think it costs me like 50 cents per gallon or something.

[Foreman72]

i change my parents cars most of the time and the only time it goes someplace to get changed is in the winter

[Ghoste]

For those that do it yourself, where do you take the old oil?

I used to do all mine, but I had a place to take the oil - a friend of my Dad had a shop.

I just take it out in the countryside somewhere and dump it in a drainage ditch along with any used up gasoline/draino cleaning solutions. 


Actually, the municipality has a place to take it.

[Sublime/Sixpack]

I take mine to the place I buy parts from. He has a guy that buys the used oil from him, and that guy uses it to heat his shop.

[Silver R/T]

For those that do it yourself, where do you take the old oil?

I used to do all mine, but I had a place to take the oil - a friend of my Dad had a shop.

Local schuks has recycling drums, they take it for free, of course you can make a profit by selling to guys that run oil heater in their homes

[Troy]

Most auto parts stores around here will take used oil for free. I change my own most of the time but I had it done on my daily driver when I had a coupon for alignment, tire rotation/balance, air filter, and oil change.

Troy

[69bronzeT5]

I do it myself.

[Ponch ®]

Most auto parts stores around here will take used oil for free. I change my own most of the time but I had it done on my daily driver when I had a coupon for alignment, tire rotation/balance, air filter, and oil change.

Troy

Same here in Califas. Most auto parts stores (Autozone, pep boys, Kragen/Checkers/O Reilly) and even oil change places like Jiffy Lube take in any used oil. I don't know if it's a state law or not, but I suspect it is.

[moparstuart]

Most auto parts stores around here will take used oil for free. I change my own most of the time but I had it done on my daily driver when I had a coupon for alignment, tire rotation/balance, air filter, and oil change.

Troy

I'll take all the used oil you wanna send me  LOL

  we have an oil clean burn furnace in the shop here at the yard , we love used oil .
 

[Charger_Fan]

We have a huge waste oil container at my work, so I just add mine to it every six months or so. A big truck comes along once a month & sucks it all out...measures the amount of gas, water & antifreeze in the mix & sends the company a check for the difference.

I know Checker takes waste oil free, but they may snivvle if it's in a milk jug...that's when you just come back after they close & leave it by their door.

[72chargerSE]

You can't trust people with oil changes nowadays!!! ONLY person who changes oil, washes, repairs,  etc..to our vehicles is ME.

[bull]

For those that do it yourself, where do you take the old oil?

I used to do all mine, but I had a place to take the oil - a friend of my Dad had a shop.

Box it up and UPS it to Gowdy. He'll dump it out on the lawn with the Drano and gasoline.

[Martian R/T]

I have a buddy here at the dealership do it for me, he is the only one that I trust besides me to change the oil, there never seems to be any time to do it myself anymore, I got a call the other day from a repair shop pricing an engine for a late model Chrysler, it just so happened that they took it to Wally World for an oil change and they didn't drain the old oil, they just put 5 new quarts in on top of the old and sent the customer out the door, sad thing is I know the guy who works for them and he has the mechanical ability of a sponge, very scary but I got a good laugh at that.

[dodgecharger-fan]

I just did some digging and found that my only option is the Hazardous Waste drop offs run by the Regional Government - they only happen once a month during the nicer months.

Next best thing I could find is that Jiffy Lube will take the empty containers, but not used oil. 
You'd think they'd be happy to take it, but I guess if they can't control what goes in to their holding tanks, they don't want to deal with it. All it would take is one guy to bring some oil mixed with something else to mess up the batch. Sure, it can be separated, but it costs...

I gotta find someone with a waste oil furnace.

[Silver R/T]

For those that do it yourself, where do you take the old oil?

I used to do all mine, but I had a place to take the oil - a friend of my Dad had a shop.

Box it up and UPS it to Gowdy. He'll dump it out on the lawn with the Drano and gasoline.

lol that is good one lol

[Charger_Fan]

.

Next best thing I could find is that Jiffy Lube will take the empty containers, but not used oil. 
You'd think they'd be happy to take it, but I guess if they can't control what goes in to their holding tanks, they don't want to deal with it. All it would take is one guy to bring some oil mixed with something else to mess up the batch. Sure, it can be separated, but it costs...

That's when I just go back after they've closed & leave it on the door step.

[1969chargerrtse]

Nobody touches my Charger and I use the Valvoline ZR1 oil with the zinch.  As for the Honda Pilot, I take it to a quick lube.  I just started this last year for the first time.  I'm 52 and getting tired of being on my back.  I do go longer on oil changes.  I used to change my oil no longer than 2,500 miles max.  Now, after what I've learned about oil and how things are better built today, 10,000 miles wouldn't scare me in the least.  I normally go at about 6,000. 

[JoeyGowdy]

Box it up and UPS it to Gowdy. He'll dump it out on the lawn with the Drano and gasoline.

If you say so... 

[Tilar]

I take it to the local service station. Yes we still have one around here. They charge me roughly $32 for my suburban. He changes the oil and filter, Checks ALL fluid levels including the transfer case and both differentials and tops any fluids off that may be low including the windshield washer fluid. He checks the air pressure in all the tires and sprays WD40 on all the door hinges and inside the door locks.  For that price it's like a sore peter, just can't beat it.

Now my equipment is another story, I do all the oil changes on them. I put all my used oil in a 55 gallon drum and use it when I need to burn brush.

[TylerCharger69]

The reason these oil change venues make money is  1.  They get their oil in bulk  and possibly the most crappy brand there is  (Pennzoil)  2.  Following up on number 1....they offer a particular brand of oil  and if you ask for something else...the price goes up.  3.  Those assclowns that work there work by the hour.  So if they do 10 oil changes  a day or 100 a day,   they still get paid the same  4. A lot of people have no idea how to do it themselves much less have any knowledge of the products that are being used.   For what it's worth.....I change my own oil.  My Oil of choice is conventional Castrol GTX....always been good to me.

[Silver R/T]

The reason these oil change venues make money is  1.  They get their oil in bulk  and possibly the most crappy brand there is  (Pennzoil)  2.  Following up on number 1....they offer a particular brand of oil  and if you ask for something else...the price goes up.  3.  Those assclowns that work there work by the hour.  So if they do 10 oil changes  a day or 100 a day,   they still get paid the same  4. A lot of people have no idea how to do it themselves much less have any knowledge of the products that are being used.   For what it's worth.....I change my own oil.  My Oil of choice is conventional Castrol GTX....always been good to me.

You've explained it pretty well. I wish more people would understand this, or maybe not. Afterall stupid people support our economy lol.
They do use cheapest oil, cheapest filter and they sell you stuff you dont need. After hidden taxes, fees, etc your $12 oil change goes all way up to $30 or more and $20 can be $50 easily

[green69rt]

I've always done my oil changes, anti-freeze, windshield wipers, tire changes or anything else that didn't require a computer expert or a scanner.   This is the time that I get under the hood or under the car and look around.  This is when I find a bad grease boot, or a bad belt, worn tires, bad brakes or all those other things that happen to cars but don't cause problems till too late.

[TylerCharger69]

Silver R/T....not to get off topic, but aren't you the one I sent the transmission brackets and linkages to about a year or two ago?...If so....did they work out??

[Dodgecharger74]

I change all my oil & repair evrething if it needs an engine brakes or anything else  I have 6 work trucks and 74 charger 85 short box cheby pic up another hot rod  66 dart convert 82 dodge pic up 440 and other misc stuff 

[Silver R/T]

Silver R/T....not to get off topic, but aren't you the one I sent the transmission brackets and linkages to about a year or two ago?...If so....did they work out??

Ive sandblasted them and painted them. They're still in the tool box. I just can't figure out how to put it all together myself. I was thinking about getting car to trans shop that rebuilt my trans. I didn't have parts at the time so I've had trans rebuilt anyways (it wouldn't even go in reverse) and now it's in garage getting body work done.Thank you again for parts.

[jaak]

When I was younger I changed oil at a dealership, the bulk oil they bought was Havoline, as stated, oil changes is not a big profit item.....finding other problems is. So my main job was finding something else wrong to turn a $30 oil change into a 200-300 repair bill, as an incentive I got a commission off it.

Jason

[MichaelRW]

I do the Charger myself but take the other cars to a local oil changing chain. They have only 4 stores and their bulk oil provider is Chevron. I have been going to them for 15 years and have never had a problem. They never have tried to bamboozle me. I have seen the tech open the air filter cover, look at the filter and put it back in. The only time he tries to sell me a new one is if it is dirty. They also stock numerous other brands of oil in the plastic bottles. For example I use Motorcraft synthetic blend in my Aviator and Mobil 1 in the wife's BMW. They stock both.

A few of you have knocked Pennzoil. I don't use that brand but why are they considered so bad? If they meet the SAE standards they must be just as good.

[TylerCharger69]

Silver R/T....not to get off topic, but aren't you the one I sent the transmission brackets and linkages to about a year or two ago?...If so....did they work out??

Ive sandblasted them and painted them. They're still in the tool box. I just can't figure out how to put it all together myself. I was thinking about getting car to trans shop that rebuilt my trans. I didn't have parts at the time so I've had trans rebuilt anyways (it wouldn't even go in reverse) and now it's in garage getting body work done.Thank you again for parts.

Cool....I was wondering how they worked out....I'm sure theres an illustration in this forum somewhere on how they connect.    (Pssssst......we should probably discuss this in another topic....haha)

[69rtse4spd]

Do my own on the chargers, and all other cars when it is nice out. Use to take the other cars to a quick change place years ago, knew the guy & always pulled up a chair & watched. He passed away sold to another guy trusted him, did the same thing watched. He sold, and it seamed like they had someone different doing it all the time. Well they messed up the drain plug bolt, had to get a new one, but not the pan hole, have not been back since. Winter gets here, check the DODGE dealer for price, trust them & can always test drive some new cars while watting.