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oil change

Indiana Mike

Indiana Mike

Nov 18, 2005
3,049
3,883
#1
Soooooo...

Girlfriend had her oil changed at the same " quick lube " last October , then again in February.

I changed it today because I had time and it's $20 cheaper.

The oil filter I removed was dated and initialed in sharpie 10-12.

Really awesome they didn't change the filter in February.
Glad nothing was damaged.

I had to vent.
 
#2
I'm done going to those type of places. I had one break my oil dip stick tube and when I went back the day after the oil change they claimed no responsibility. $200 or so later and it was fixed..

I actually found a local garage who does a great quick job (though I have to schedule an appointment) and he charges half of what the quick lube places do.
 
#7
I only ever went to those quick lube places because I didn't have the skills, ability, time or the want to do my own oil change. Not wanting to schedule an oil change at a garage I trusted just made me even lazier. Lesson learned.
 
#13
Floyd Eye said:
Many years ago I was a manager of a Jiffy Lube.


Never, ever, EVER take your car to Jiffy Lube.
Click to expand...

Maybe if JL (or any other chain oil change place) paid guys more than minimum wage you may actually get people that know and/or care about what they're doing. I've worked in a repair shop for 30 years and I can tell you when you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.
 
#14
As a teen my old datsun leaked about 1 quart a month, i never changed the filter for like 4 years and the oil was always new cause it leaked so much and got a fresh quart every month.

when i sold that thing it still had the old filter, and i tried to kill that motor....i really really tried. it just did not die. bought it for 500 and sold it for 500.

The "new" truck I got after that gave me more problems than that old piece of #### datsun



but still wow!!! never changed the filter at a "pro" oil changer , still better than crusty old oil I guess.

one thing that always bothered me is it is hard to confirm the filter being changed, you can observe and smell the oil to make sure it has been changed. filter takes slightly more effort I guess.
 
#15
Floyd Eye said:
$12? How does that work? You get some sort of deal with a new car or something? $12 won't even buy the oil for most cars.
Click to expand...

Most of the new car dealers in our area offer "oil changes for life." Obviously they hope they can ream the customer for every other wallet flush when they show up for their "free" oil change.
 
#16
BogeyBass said:
As a teen my old datsun leaked about 1 quart a month, i never changed the filter for like 4 years and the oil was always new cause it leaked so much and got a fresh quart every month.

when i sold that thing it still had the old filter, and i tried to kill that motor....i really really tried. it just did not die. bought it for 500 and sold it for 500.

The "new" truck I got after that gave me more problems than that old piece of #### datsun



but still wow!!! never changed the filter at a "pro" oil changer , still better than crusty old oil I guess.

one thing that always bothered me is it is hard to confirm the filter being changed, you can observe and smell the oil to make sure it has been changed. filter takes slightly more effort I guess.
Click to expand...

Most engines have a filter bypass setup in the oiling system, so if the filter becomes plugged or can't handle what the pump is trying to shove thru it you'll still get oil to the rest of the engine. Unfiltered oil is better than no oil any day of the year. Some guys plug the bypass on racing engines to ensure all the oil gets filtered.....it's a move I myself would never make.
 
#17
Mike N said:
Maybe if JL (or any other chain oil change place) paid guys more than minimum wage you may actually get people that know and/or care about what they're doing. I've worked in a repair shop for 30 years and I can tell you when you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.
Click to expand...



This is most definitely true. When I was managing JLs, I was making about $8/hr. Techs were making minimum wage ( at the time it was around $4/hr).

Not to mention that the training you receive from these places is, uh, not really training at all.

I once got a call from an elderly customer who had just left my shop. His car was making a horrible knocking noise. I sent my assistant manager down the street to get them and their car. Turns out the genius upper bay tech let it go out with no oil in it. I called the district manager and he told me to fill it up with GL5.:rollno:

I refused, went and told the old man what happened and informed him that he needed to sue if necessary to get JL to pay for his motor. I was of course, fired.
 
#18
Mike N said:
Most engines have a filter bypass setup in the oiling system, so if the filter becomes plugged or can't handle what the pump is trying to shove thru it you'll still get oil to the rest of the engine. Unfiltered oil is better than no oil any day of the year. Some guys plug the bypass on racing engines to ensure all the oil gets filtered.....it's a move I myself would never make.
Click to expand...

Depends on the RPM of the motor and bearing clearance.

Also has to do with the age old high performance thing most feel is needed the classic "high volume oil pump"

which is just the guts of a big block pump mounted inside a small block case.
What has been found is that all the extra volume the "high volume pump" puts out is too much and just holds the bypass open. Which can actually lower pressure on the top end of the motor, going high RPM it will kill the valve train.

So the cure is 400 horse or under motors actually dont need high volume pumps, And 400 horse and over high RPM motors
have the bypass welded shut or the bypass is shortened and a very very heavy spring is installed so the pump under normal pressure wont open it at high rpm. With high volume pump the top end will get the oil it needs. Usually this happen to 500 horse and over motors though, most of them never touch the street and see many miles on trailers. hence race only.

Or likewise better heads or dedicated race block that has enlarged oil passages, can use a high volume pump and still have the bypass. Again race only motors dont need bypass.

A work truck getting daily use, absolutely bypass is a good idea

am i off topic yet? lol ;)
 
#20
BogeyBass said:
As a teen my old datsun leaked about 1 quart a month, i never changed the filter for like 4 years and the oil was always new cause it leaked so much and got a fresh quart every month.
Click to expand...

I had a '78 Honda Civic that leaked about a liter a week. I just put another liter of oil in every time I got gas. I bought the oil in cases at the grocery store. High quality stuff!

But I had a really nice oil undercoating.
 

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