Are full-service oil change places dependable?

Question

i've been told NOT to take my car to places like Jiffy Lube because they're just a bunch of kids who don't really know what they're doing. Are these places reliable or should I find somebody else?

Answer 1

that is the only place I would take my car. The dealership is the worst place in the world to take your car unless you like getting screwed. They claim to know everything about your car. That is crap they just have big egos and think that they are better because they work on the same type of car everyday all day. A quick lube works on all makes and models of cars every day so They have a lot more diversity. Ford mechanic works on Fords only pretty much. Honda dealer only works on Honda I think you get the idea. A quick lube will do an oil change on a Honda and the next car could be a ford and so on. As far as the workers it is all about who you hire and how you train them. Just because someone is 40 years old doesn't mean they are a good mechanic. A teenager if trained by the right person is just as capable of changing oil as a old man at a dealership. Most of the young kids working at quick lubes like working on cars and are going to school to get a degree in the automotive field.

Answer 2

I own an automobile dealership (Dodge) and advise against it. Yes, many have unskilled people doing the work.. I have see instances in which they put the wrong type of oil filter on a car. I have seen when the gasket for an oil filter was not replaced and there was a leak the ruined the engine. You are always better off going to a franchised dealer. If you find a place like a Jiffy lube charges you $19.95 and the dealer is $24.95, approach the dealer and ask them if they will meet the price. Most will. Take care of your car and it will take care of you!

Answer 3

Those places are convenient not reliable and yes it usually is kids that don't really care about your $30,000 vehicle.
It may not be as convenient but have it serviced by your regular auto technician they know what to look for and advise you of what may be needed in the future. Most quick lubes need to up-sell you on little items to increase there ticket and profit. The manager get paid bonuses for up-sells. Stay away from franchise companies because its all about sales not repairs. If somebody tells you that changing oil is easy just let me show you how many engines my shop has changed for some of those so called quick lube shops. Watching through the window will not tell you if the correct filter has been installed or the drain plug is properly torqued.
Dave (Shop Owner)

Answer 4

So you'd rather have a Jiffy Lube oil filter than an original equipment manufacturer's oil filter that was designed for use on your car? And you figure that the Jiffy Lube technician is better trained than the Dealer's technicians? And when they service your car, who's most likely to know how to fix that brand of car? If you own a Ford, don't you want Ford technicians working on it? You get the idea, I'm sure.

Answer 5

There are reasons to avoid places like those, but I wouldn't say expertise is one of them. Sure, the guys doing the oil changes are just teenagers. However, you have to be pretty dumb to screw up an oil change, so I think they are capable of doing the oil change just fine. When you think about it, most dealerships don't have their master mechanics doing oil changes anyway. The problems arise when then try to sell you the other stuff. They see a bull's eye on every woman that walks in the door. They will want to flush your radiator, etc. I would have that stuff done by a mechanic that you trust, not a teenager working on commission. Many dealership service departments are commission based as well. Good luck.

Answer 6

I have found that many of these places have minimum wage, unexperienced people doing the work. I have seen where they have put oil in the brake system master cylinder BIG NO NO and lots of $ to fix. I have seen the wrong filters put on cars and I have seen where they have left the drain plugs loose. A former boss of mine used to work at Iffy Lube (trademark infringement) and they like to upsell stuff that you don't need because they have a quota to meet and besides you don't make money on an oil change. It is up to you what you want to do.

Answer 7

rapid lube places are like that - that's how they get a lot of earnings - however the point of coaching is abominable. i do no longer use rapid lube shops yet once I did i might in no way have confidence them to maintain my motor vehicle. in specific, I disagree with the almost time-honored prepare of topping up brake fluid. My philosophy is that if brake fluid is low it potential something - regularly merely that the brake pads are worn and could be checked, yet there's a leak. In the two case topping up the fluid hides the desire for brake inspection, that could get high priced in a hurry.

Answer 8

I wouldn't take my car to any of these places. They do employ inexperienced kids. I know of one case where the technician drained the oil from an automatic transmission, replaced the drain plug, checked his manual to determine correct quantity of engine oil he thought he had drained, added this to the engine. You can imagine the results. I have heard too many of these interesting stories to put faith in these quickie lube shops.

Answer 9

i'm sorry to say that they are a bunch of kids, but there is really nothing to changing the oil and filter on most cars.
if i were you i would take it to a dealership according to the model of your car.
you will get exactly what your car needs

Answer 10

If it takes less than 10 minuites they didn't check it to well, Dealer or a local respectable shop, if it takes less than 20 min for them to change oil I probally wound't take it there.