dmatt
Ventura County, CA
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Joined: 07/29/2003
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Kennedycamper wrote:I haven't used Quicky oil change places, but will tell you how to beat the stripped oil pan bolt. Fumoto oil valve. Thread one into your pan & oil changes become a little easier. IMHO
I looked them up. Seems like a great idea. How long have you used them? Any problems with them? Thanks
2007 Four Winds Dutchmen 29R-Ford E-450 V-10 towing a 2008 Toyota Matrix XR
2007 Toyota 4Runner(V-8) towing a 2006 Reinell 220LSE, 5.0L, 280hp GXI
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Flyfisherman128
Broadalbin, NY
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I pulled into my local Jiffy Lube at 6:31 pm last week. The manager told me they close at 7:00 and there wasn't enought time. The price on the sign said "oil change $17.99". If oil and filter run about say $6 (there cost)...how long can it take them and still make some $$$. I asked the manager and he said more than 1/2 hour. So I went to the local Advanced Auto to get a filter and oil. Stood in line for 11 minutes (I timed it cause I was not happy). Drove back to my garage about a mile away. Dug out my ramps and changed my own oil and was done at 6:57pm. Glad they didn't want to do it.
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Skid Row Joe
On the road in America
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Joined: 04/26/2006
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Chris Bryant wrote:I've used quick change oil places twice- both times due to time restraints, like you.
......the second time they overfilled by a quart (two different places 1500 miles apart). Free oil! Now you can't beat that, now can you Chris!
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missouguy
Springfield, MO USA
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I just do my own. Even on the road. It takes longer to drive to a place to have it done and back, then there is the fuel to get there and back plus you don't know if your wishes were followed, as "Due to insurance regulations customers are not allowed in the service area."
Nuff said.
Frank
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AO_hitech
SF Bay Area
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Joined: 08/09/2004
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traxtermax wrote:Has anyone had similar experiences with quick lube outfits, particularly stripped drain plugs?
Jiffy lube in particular has a bad reputation for those. I've also heard enough complaints myself to avoid them like the plague.
My brother took his brand new dodge truck to one for it's first oil change. They came back and told him he needed to have them run a cleaner through the engine because it was sludged up! They held to the story even when he told them it was brand new! He told them to just put the new oil in.
I've had good luck with Speedy Oil change. No high pressure upsells.
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AO_hitech
SF Bay Area
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dup post.
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happyjack2
Winchester VA
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I had heard some quick lube places were scams. I bought a late model SUV off my cousin a few years ago and when I did the first oil change on it I found the air filter really dusty and dirty. When I asked her why she didn't change the filter she said a quick lube place always changed when she had the oil changed it and charged her. It was an GM filter and it looked like it had never been touched.
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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In small town USA the quick lube places are often manned by the owner with the spouse in the office. One can fine top quality service but it takes some foot work but that is hard to do when you are on the road.
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jwduke
Ice Cream Capital of the World (Le Mars), Ia.
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dmatt wrote:Kennedycamper wrote:I haven't used Quicky oil change places, but will tell you how to beat the stripped oil pan bolt. Fumoto oil valve. Thread one into your pan & oil changes become a little easier. IMHO
I looked them up. Seems like a great idea. How long have you used them? Any problems with them? Thanks
I have one one my Dodge. It really makes oil changes a snap! I just drain it in old jugs, and take them to a place that recycles it. No mess of trying to dump 3 gal. of oil in a jug!
2004.5 Flame Red Dodge Ram 2500 Quad cab 4x4 w/CTD
1991 29' Holiday Rambler Alumalite 5er.
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adondo
Pasco, Washington
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After 20/20’s Expose’ on JL about a year ago, the local one that I pass every day on the way to work stays empty. The employees stand out in front of empty bays, holding signs that say ‘’COME ON IN!!’’ I think their stock plummeted also after the investigative report.
It was pretty sad… they had a team of crack mechanics check out several cars. The ABC team put ‘’ABC NEWS’’ on newly installed parts with invisible UV ink. (It shows up under a UV light)
Then, an ‘’Executive’’ a ‘’Housewife’’ a ‘’college student’’ (complete with text books and McDonald’s hamburger ‘pods’ in the back seat) and a ‘’Redneck’’ type guy. The various marks would have their oil change service work done, hidden cameras rolling.
The one that really slammed them bad was the ‘’college student’’ whose freshly serviced car ‘’needed’’ a new air filter, fuel filter, engine flush and a host of other unneeded items. (To the tune of about $450) Back at the ABC news shops, the mechanics put the UV light on the ‘’new’’ fuel filter, which clearly showed ‘’ABC NEWS’’ still on it.
Then, the full camera team went back and confronted the manager, who actually dug around in the dumpster looking for the ‘’old’’ (and non existent) fuel filter. When he was showed the tape of the ‘’ABC NEWS’’ on the filter, he practically melted away like the Wicked Witch of the West.
Needless to say, I do my own oil changes, at least on my small rigs. I do have Cat service the coach every year, but the world of ‘’heavy’’ rigs (semi trucks etc.) is very UNlike car dealers and service shops. Cat’s attitude is the engine is their baby even though you actually own it. Same with Allison service people. There may be incompetents out there in the trucking service world, but I haven’t seen one yet. (Knock on wood. ) IMHO, I think everyone needs to avoid the oil change places. How could ANYONE possibly be up to date on the endless range of model years and vehicle brands as to using the proper spec oil, having the right tools, etc. etc. A poster’s comment of a manager saying ‘’We haven’t change the oil in a motorhome before.’’ about sums it up. RUN AWAY from such a place!
The OP’s story about several drain plugs in the tray is NOT a good thing either. Who’s plug got left out? Someone before you? And if there’s already some lying there, what makes anyone think an employee with an attitude is going to put the RIGHT one back in?!? He probably didn’t, hence the stripped threads on yours. (He forced the wrong one in)
It sounds like the OP has a gas powered coach, which does make it much easier to deal with. The problem with large diesels like the Cat, is that you have to deal with 8 gallons of used oil. (Not to mention multiple foot-long oil filters) You can buy a plastic oil change container that has a drain pan top with a plug. You can take it with you and dump it later, so you could change your oil at a rest stop if it’s that much of an emergency. Use disposable Nitrile gloves to stay clean.
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