My daughter took her 2010 VW model CC with 2.0 motor for oil change twice and 1st time converted hte oil filter from external threads to internal threads and low quaility filter. The 2nd time seemed OK until I decided to change the oil for her and drain plug came out hard all the way, needless to say here was parts of the threads on the plug and pan lokked suspect. I am changing out the pan for her, they claim will PAY for damages.
- Thread starter 8850dave
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Texasmark1
Well-known Member
I know that they are getting popular, but I do my own. Just don't know what kind of person is doing the work, what kind of parts you are getting, don't know that it gets done right.
There was an idler arm on my '97 Tahoe, that required greasing as part of the chassis lube. The zerk was behind a wiring harness that went thru a hole in that location. Had to move the wiring harness over to see it, much less get to it.
Just wonder how many of those get/got overlooked. Gotta know it's there and be willing to grease it.
Then there is the dirty zerk. How many employees that grease your stuff wipe off the zerk before shooting the grease. I have seen it being overlooked.
Then there is how much grease do they use? Different amounts required for different functions. What quality is it?
How many wipe down the mating surface of the oil filter prior to installing your new filter?
How many pre-fill the oil filter so that you don't have a dry start? I had an '88 Ford 302, that even when you did fill the filter, it would do a little valve train rattle before the oil got up there until I went to full syn and that was the end of that.
How do you know that the oil you ordered and paid for is what went into your vehicle?
Not pointing fingers. Just things that I think/worry about and if I do it myself, I know what I am getting.
Mark
There was an idler arm on my '97 Tahoe, that required greasing as part of the chassis lube. The zerk was behind a wiring harness that went thru a hole in that location. Had to move the wiring harness over to see it, much less get to it.
Just wonder how many of those get/got overlooked. Gotta know it's there and be willing to grease it.
Then there is the dirty zerk. How many employees that grease your stuff wipe off the zerk before shooting the grease. I have seen it being overlooked.
Then there is how much grease do they use? Different amounts required for different functions. What quality is it?
How many wipe down the mating surface of the oil filter prior to installing your new filter?
How many pre-fill the oil filter so that you don't have a dry start? I had an '88 Ford 302, that even when you did fill the filter, it would do a little valve train rattle before the oil got up there until I went to full syn and that was the end of that.
How do you know that the oil you ordered and paid for is what went into your vehicle?
Not pointing fingers. Just things that I think/worry about and if I do it myself, I know what I am getting.
Mark
Billy Shafer
Well-known Member
I now do the service on the forklifts at work. After I pointed out the company that was doing them. Was ripping us off. Owner bought the same air filter three trips in a row. You could make out the hour meter readings from the last services. Also was being charged one tube of grease for each forklift. I can grease all three and have grease left over with one tube. Plus one oil filter was clean on top but dirty on the bottom.
One of the sales ploys of these places is to have the guys wear neat uniforms and use military style chants and churps that suckers buy in to.
It still amazes me after all of these years that people can be fooled by the exact same techniques.
These guys are always looking for a way to increase sales, even if they have to twist the facts. They are the not the best of the best.
My last trip to one of these rip off places was 10 years ago. I took my truck in for an oil and filter change. A guy in a neat uniform came in the waiting area and announced my name like it was a doctor's office. He came over with his clip board, and in a very sincere and serious tone, told me that my cabin air filter was almost clogged and he can "fix" that for me for only $19.95 and they have my filter in stock. I thought for a moment (knowing my F-150 did not have a cabin air filter), and I said, "sure, let's get that fixed."
He smiled and as he was leaving I asked if I could come out in the bay area to watch as long as I did not get in the way. He hesitated and then said OK.
It was so funny watching them watch me as they figured out that I was on to them.
Finally, the "manager" walked over to me and said he thought maybe he had made a mistake that they could not "locate" the cabin filter on my truck. I said, "if that is the case, how did anyone here know that it was almost clogged"? He starting acting like a jerk and would not answer me.
He then walked back up to me and asked me to pay my bill and leave.
I did, and have not been back there or any of the others since.
They prey on people that do not know what is really going on under the hood.
One of the well know francises is owned by a man that proclaims to be a God fearing Christian. Yea, right. He knows what goes on behind the scenes.
It still amazes me after all of these years that people can be fooled by the exact same techniques.
These guys are always looking for a way to increase sales, even if they have to twist the facts. They are the not the best of the best.
My last trip to one of these rip off places was 10 years ago. I took my truck in for an oil and filter change. A guy in a neat uniform came in the waiting area and announced my name like it was a doctor's office. He came over with his clip board, and in a very sincere and serious tone, told me that my cabin air filter was almost clogged and he can "fix" that for me for only $19.95 and they have my filter in stock. I thought for a moment (knowing my F-150 did not have a cabin air filter), and I said, "sure, let's get that fixed."
He smiled and as he was leaving I asked if I could come out in the bay area to watch as long as I did not get in the way. He hesitated and then said OK.
It was so funny watching them watch me as they figured out that I was on to them.
Finally, the "manager" walked over to me and said he thought maybe he had made a mistake that they could not "locate" the cabin filter on my truck. I said, "if that is the case, how did anyone here know that it was almost clogged"? He starting acting like a jerk and would not answer me.
He then walked back up to me and asked me to pay my bill and leave.
I did, and have not been back there or any of the others since.
They prey on people that do not know what is really going on under the hood.
One of the well know francises is owned by a man that proclaims to be a God fearing Christian. Yea, right. He knows what goes on behind the scenes.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Say it idn't so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG.............. :shock:
He was a stranger.. and I TOOK him in......
Stephen Newell
Well-known Member
This type of thing is why I never let anyone work on any of my vehicles anymore. I had a mechanic catch my truck on fire one time working on the fuel system when it had a stuck valve. I replaced the truck with a van and found that a bolt was missing on the smog pump so it being in a difficult place to get to took the van to another shop to fix. The first time I drove it I was in heavy traffic and found I was loosing all my coolant. Before I could get it off the road the engine ceased. The mechanic had taken off the lower radiator hose and when he re-installed it put the hose in contact with the fan belt. I hate working on a car more than anything I do but it's worth it.
Janicholson
Well-known Member
I believe the difference is the management. My Best friend in Indiana owns a Valvoline Quick Lube. He and his Son are honest and fulfill highest standards of service. South edge of Michigan City on 421 East side of HW.
30% of new customers come in because the oil light comes on from lack of oil. (never checked it never changed it, 31000mi. or more!)
Many come in with stripped or rounded off plugs, and must be repaired on site. (he keeps OEM, repair plugs and threading systems on site)
Each customer is treated as a repeat customer such that they leave knowing how to check their oil, refill their fluids, and for some reason they come back as repeat customers.
No hup hup hup lingo, no over selling, just real honest best practices. Jim
30% of new customers come in because the oil light comes on from lack of oil. (never checked it never changed it, 31000mi. or more!)
Many come in with stripped or rounded off plugs, and must be repaired on site. (he keeps OEM, repair plugs and threading systems on site)
Each customer is treated as a repeat customer such that they leave knowing how to check their oil, refill their fluids, and for some reason they come back as repeat customers.
No hup hup hup lingo, no over selling, just real honest best practices. Jim
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Quite a few gasstations here have that tube on thier air/water island. Older VW's and some others with the upside down filter were real easy to just slip in and change your oil. Purpose of the tube tho was so folks could bring in jugs of old oil and dispose of it.
I took a case (jury trial which we won) for a client that went to a local big name box store for an oil change and they did a good job of draining her old oil BUT FAILED TO PUT IN ANY NEW OIL HMMMMMMM. Her engine locked up not far away.
I didnt find out if that employees still works there lol
John T
I didnt find out if that employees still works there lol
John T
Wheat Farmer
Well-known Member
Bought a new CJ5 jeep in 1970. Got home and something smelled hot. Not a drop of oil in the readend. Bought a new CJ5 jeep in 1974 told the saleman about the 1970. Got it home and it was knocking. 5 qt low on engine oil. Bought a new 1984 F350. Two fuel tanks. Filled both and soon after fuel pushing out of one fuel cap. They had the return lines to the wrong tank. Now THEY check everything while I watch before I drive it off the lot.
Son worked a oil change place. He did 43 hot changes in one day at 50 cents each for him. The help stole from the owner and every once in a while the sheriff would role in and hook up some of the help and away they would go. Not high on my list where I would take a new vehicle or come to think of a beater. NO faith!
That reminds me of a story from back in my younger days. Had a neighbor who sold snowmobiles. Most of us around here raced and the dealer sponsored us. One of the guys has a son now who races dirt track stock cars and my son builds his engines. My son forgot to tighten the drain plug one time and it came out during a race. Doug,the kids father,started calling my son "Quick Lube". I told my son to ask him about the time he took his snowmoblie to the Soo to run the I-500 with no oil in the chain case with a snowmobile that got nicknamed Oil'er. That put an end to the Quick Lube name.
I remember that snowmobile sitting at the dealer one night right after that. A bunch of us were sitting around there one night,Doug wasn't there. Ronnie picked up his air brush and wrote "Oil'er" right across the hood. Ah,good times.
I remember that snowmobile sitting at the dealer one night right after that. A bunch of us were sitting around there one night,Doug wasn't there. Ronnie picked up his air brush and wrote "Oil'er" right across the hood. Ah,good times.
fixerupper
Well-known Member
I don't go to those places for oil changes. But the stuff they screw up on can happen at the better places too. Years ago I took my 62 Rambler to a local gas station for an oil change. The guy there had been doing oil changes for many years and knew what to do and what not to do. He drained the oil from the Rambler, started screwing in the plug and the bell rang. A car had pulled up to the pumps so he left to go pump gas. Came back from pumping gas, lowered the Rambler back down, filled it up with oil and sent me on my way. Did you notice I didn't mention anything about him TIGHTENING the plug after he came back? A few days later when Marilyn and I were on our way to church in the Rambler the plug fell out and the oil light came on so I shut it off right away and coasted to a stop. No damage done.
Dad tells the story about the service station attendent who drained the oil out of a customers car for an oil change and then went out to pump gas. This was back in the days when they actually had to hand pump the gas so this was probably back in the twenties or thirties. While he was pumping, the oil change customer got in his car and drove away with the oil drained out, making it to the next town ten miles away. I can't believe that one, but it's a good story. Jim
Dad tells the story about the service station attendent who drained the oil out of a customers car for an oil change and then went out to pump gas. This was back in the days when they actually had to hand pump the gas so this was probably back in the twenties or thirties. While he was pumping, the oil change customer got in his car and drove away with the oil drained out, making it to the next town ten miles away. I can't believe that one, but it's a good story. Jim
bob featherstone
Member
one of the reasons i use my " normal " garage for anything, including oil changes
if you can find an honest, dependable place, they are worth their weight in gold
oil change might be $35, compared to $ 20 at a quicky place, would rather pay it & have piece of mind
if you can find an honest, dependable place, they are worth their weight in gold
oil change might be $35, compared to $ 20 at a quicky place, would rather pay it & have piece of mind
My BRAND NEW VW Golf went to the dealer ship for a free oil change. Got the car back took off for Boston. Got there, did what I had to do then jumped in the car to head home (about 4 hours away). I was doing 75 MPH on I-93 when I noticed a film on my back window, hit the wiper and in smeared....I instantly knew what it was. I put the clutch in and coasted down an off ramp, through a light that turned green at the perfect time and into a service station. Turn the engine off and got out to see a big puddle of oil forming under the car.
Same deal, they forgot to tighten the plug. I ended up having it towed to a VW dealer in MA where they kept it for a week before looking at it. All they did was put a new plug in and fill it up. To add insult to injury they were going to make me pay for it as well. I did get around paying for it but boy was I mad.
The dealership the messed up just sort of shrugged when I complained to them, VW American wasn't a whole lot of help either. The car now has over 200,000 miles on it so I can't complain to much but I will remember how I was treated when it comes time for a new one.
K
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Pulled out of the Ford dealer lot after they changed the oil and fortunately just went around the corner to another store. The oil was gushing out because the dealer did not tighten the filter. Another time the Mercury dealer did not replace the filter during the oil change so brought it back and they did the whole job over with new oil.
Now I do it myself and then I can cuss myself if it isn't right.
Now I do it myself and then I can cuss myself if it isn't right.
I have watched them tip the dipstick end up so the oil runs to the full mark and them come around to the drivers door and show that the oil is "Full". Get home and check and it's a half quart low, I'm not the only one who noticed this at two very separate Jiffy lubes. They also left off or did not get the Diff plug tight on my truck one time. I do it myself or have my regular mechanic do it now.
37chief
Well-known Member
- Location
- California
I was mowing with my MF and noticed a dark streak of oil on the ground on the return pass. Some idiot forget to tighten the drain plug. No damage was done I caught it in time. I am the only one that workes on my tractor. Case closed on that one. Stuff happens.Stan
Ellis Kinney
Well-known Member
Good old Jiffy Lube. One very cold day I deceided to use Jiffy Lube to change my oil. Took my own synthetic to have changed. While the kid was down in the pit I just had to open my mouth. I said check the 90 weight in the transmission while you are down there. No one had ever shown the kid what a drain plug looked like. He pulled a bolt out and dropped the shifter linkage for reverse and over drive. $585.00 to fix. They were nice about repairing it though. Ellis
Rollie NE PA
Well-known Member
A mechanic at work changed the oil in one of the pickup trucks, let the lift down and went to lunch. Another guy comes along and sees the truck down off the lift and figures it is ready to go and takes it for parts. You know the rest of the story. Klunk Klang, Bang. Then the finger pointing starts.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Thanks guys, after reading this post I went back to work where I have been servicing some tractors. I checked my work only to find 1 loose clamp, 1 loose drain plug and 2 loose filler plugs. Getting too old for this!!
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Not always apparently.
Kris Golden
Member
Father-n-law had the local service station change the oil in his '93 Dodge W150 about six months ago. Guy had it on the lift and when he was done he started the engine to check for leaks - only problem was it is a 5 speed and in gear without the park brake set. Guy opened the drivers door and hit the key and the truck drove right off the lift while up in the air. Luckily the work bench stopped the truck but now the one owner never wrecked pickup has a bent bumper and a cracked plastic grille housing. Their idea of a repair was to JB Weld the hole in the grille and smear some silver paint on the chrome. After FIL refused the repair they bought the new grille but wouldn't install it.
my wife took her car to Se_rs to get the oil changed before a long trip. They checked the brakes which she did not ask for. 1/2 way thru the trip the car started shaking so she pulled off the interstate and into a gas station where one front wheel promptly came off. The lug nuts were left loose.
rodgernbama
Member
These are the reasons I change my own oil.
When my 3 daughters got their driver's licenses I had them take the cars to the local Uncle Ed's for oil changes. They wanted me to do it as I always had, but I wanted them to know how to handle the situation. i told them that no matter what the guy said, JUST GET THE OIL CHANGED. I told them that even if they said the motor was going to blow up unless they did [insert problem], JUST GET THE OIL CHANGED. I knew that they would not be doing their own changes when they moved away and wanted them to know the scams these places try. Sure enough, every one came back (over a period of years) with "the guy said the filter was dirty"[had maybe 3k miles on it], another said "fan belt is frayed, need a new one" [it was less than 1 month old and had some fraying on the edges, otherwise fine], etc. etc. In fact one kid did mention the motor WAS going to blow up because there was a drip from the oil pan gasket.
I also remember a time I was at Undle Ed's and watched a young lady in the next bay get a $400+ bill for stuff. She looked bewildered. Another time, I saved a girl a battery they were trying to sell her because the car wouldn't start in the bay. I got out of my car while they were changing my oil, looked at the battery, grabbed a wrench out of my truck, removed & cleaned and re-tightened the cable and it fired right up. Uncle Ed's guys didn't look happy but none of them dared say a word as I gave them a look as I got back in my car. Yeah, I'll change my own oil but if it's winter, cold and blowing snow, I'll take it somewhere.
I also remember a time I was at Undle Ed's and watched a young lady in the next bay get a $400+ bill for stuff. She looked bewildered. Another time, I saved a girl a battery they were trying to sell her because the car wouldn't start in the bay. I got out of my car while they were changing my oil, looked at the battery, grabbed a wrench out of my truck, removed & cleaned and re-tightened the cable and it fired right up. Uncle Ed's guys didn't look happy but none of them dared say a word as I gave them a look as I got back in my car. Yeah, I'll change my own oil but if it's winter, cold and blowing snow, I'll take it somewhere.
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