I rolled into my usual Valvoline oil change shop. Usually don’t bring my wife’s Armada but it’s a pain for access. They pull out some type of pressurized oil suction device that looks like it should be in an ER. Very clean, looked brand new and out of place. Hmmmm, let’s see how this plays out. They suck out about 4.5 quarts of the nearly 7 quart capacity and we’re going to call it good. I told them you’re going to have to drop the skid plate and drain the rest. I guess they didn’t want to do that work originally. Makes me so mad to have to watch every little move and the bullshit work around company’s come up with. Just change the damn oil the correct way. Guess I’ll have to add this vehicle to the other rotations.

I tried the closest Valvoline oil change location once. I will never go back for many reasons including trying to sell me a cabin filter.

To this shops credit, I frequently used it with no issues with a different vehicle when working as I drove a lot. But when did engine oil suction become a thing???

I'd never use a "quick lube" type place like that. Too many horror stories of half-ass work and huge mistakes, not to mention the inevitable upselling.

My local independent mechanic charges me $34 for an oil change, including the lift, labor, disposal, and an all-over inspection. I provide my own oil and filter, which is another $37: $25 for 5 quarts of Mobil One 5w30 and $12 for an OEM filter and gasket.

So $71 in total cost, and I know it's done right with quality components by a mechanic I trust.

I could do it myself a little cheaper, but the $34 shop charge is well worth the minimal cost over doing it myself at home, with no risk from jacks or ramps, no chance of a mess, and no disposal afterward.

I've had some bad quick change experiences:

annoying - try to sell you a $9 cabin air filter for $29

Maddening - didn't even hand tighten oil filter and it dripped about a pint on my garage floor

Cost me money - took off the oil filter access plate on the plastic "skid plate" and didn't put it back on. Didn't realize it in time so had to buy a new one.

I'm luck as my buddy lives 5 min away, and when he retired had a lift installed in his garage. I can do oil changes and even brake jobs there, and his son is so enthusiastically into wrenching on cars I just hand him tools.

---

Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.

I do the topside extraction on my daughter's Subaru. Just did it last week. Got out 4.5 qts. Oil filter was on top as well. Was quick and easy.

Did my first oil change on my Alfa and it took forever. Had to remove like 30 bolts just to access the drain plug and filter. This car has no dipstick. None of my BMWs had dipsticks either.

I haven't been to a quick change in almost 30 years. The last time I went was to a Valvoline on my Cutlass Ciera. They didn't do a good job. I started doing my own after that.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:

I'm luck as my buddy lives 5 min away, and when he retired had a lift installed in his garage. I can do oil changes and even brake jobs there, and his son is so enthusiastically into wrenching on cars I just hand him tools.

Man, I'd love to have a lift. But I'd need a garage, first, to put it in.

I don't think I've paid for an oil change service [DIY] in nearly a decade.
Built some very sturdy ramps, since my floor jack won't lift my Expedition.

I have a friend that owns a specialty shop, some fleet work and in house restoration. He charges me $27 and I supply my own oil and filter, I use Mobil 1 and genuine Chrysler filters.

I can do my Wrangler on the ground but the Liberty’s filter is no bueno unless it’s up in the air. It’s just not worth it to me, I’ll just pay for the labor.

Yeah, I do my own stunts as well.

Changing ones oil gets kinda tricky when it involves more than two gallons.

I like knowing that the drain plug wasn't put back on with an impact gun and the filter doesn't have two gaskets.

Last time I went to a Valvoline quickie place they didn’t get the air cleaner box put back together right after they inspected the filter. Fortunately I checked it before I left the parking lot and got them to do it right.

I’m not going to give them another chance.

Very opposite experience for me. Same chain, Valvoline. But I tip. Fluid change, summer/winter wheel/tire swap, tire rotations. I ain’t rich but I make sure whomever, I buy them lunch because plenty of ass holes they have to deal with. So many with the entitlement.

Last oil change at Valvoline, my own oil, filter, and Blackstone kit for an oil sample. I was getting a car inspected and mentioned to the guy that my Amsoil shipment just got to the house. Give me your best oil guy and I’ll tip him $20 to do the oil in the truck. But I’m swapping from 0W-20 bullshit (used factory weight while under warranty) to 5W-30 so I don’t want the quick deal. I want that crap thin oil to drain out. He says no problem, I’ll do it, I’m certified master mechanic. I mention it will take me 30-35 minutes because I have to go home, swap vehicles, drive to work to use the CU ATM, but I’ll be back. He’s good I’m good. Well I get back and that guy is gone so I explain to another guy. “Damn I want to do it!” Guy let me watch everything, and start my truck a few times. They checked the dipstick for me several times as they added oil. No hurry, no fuss. I did have to remind him to take the oil sample mid pour while he was in the pit but that’s OK. I’m quite sure I’m the only person who has ever told him to take an oil sample and put that hot engine oil in this little plastic container. When it was time to leave I tried to pay labor and I heard him say from across the bay “Nah, he’s good.” That was it, no labor charge, just the $20. And I even got an email receipt for my records.

I do this with summer/winter wheel/tire swaps, tire rotations, fluid changes, etc. I had to put new tires on this same truck earlier this year. I’ve used the same Discount Tire manager for years. He usually does this himself but he said his back was temporarily fucked up but he would put guys he trusted on it. I had 4 dudes like a damn Indy/Asscar pit crew on it. I was in and out in less than 15 minutes. Not a mark on my Enkeis. I had punk strip out a wheel stud one time and ever since I make them do it by hand. They’ll do it however you want them to if you tip. Same DT manager gets me the smoking deal on tires when I need them. Some courtesy and some jawing to get the right person can go a long way.

The only time a stranger will put their hands on/in my truck is if it needs something I can't do. Alignments, transmission work, stuff like that. The lift in my shop is just too damn handy.

When I negotiated for my Grand Cherokee, I included 5 free oil changes. Dealership only for me.

quote:

So $71 in total cost, and I know it's done right with quality components by a mechanic I trust.

I had one of those in Phx. Referred to by a friend of mine that I worked with.
The HUGE selling point for me was when he was talking about doing a brake job on my buddy’s girlfriends car.
He said, “Hey Layla, I’d be happy to do a brake job for you but you don’t need one yet.”
Didn’t use another mechanic for the rest of the time I lived in the valley.
Unfortunately (kind of) I haven’t found that type of mechanic in Podunk…so I do it myself and KNOW it’s done right.

ETA: The dealership is a NO GO for me! They put the lowest guy on the ladder rung doing oil changes.
No thanks.

A highly rated quick change type place opened near me a few years ago, not a chain but an independent. Seemed to get good ratings overall so I decided to try them. NOPE.

They still do the hard sell air filter BS which is pure profit and drives me insane.

Watched them try this routine on a woman sitting near who to her credit actually got really pissed off and told them A. that's NOT even the size the filter I use and B. I changed that filter just before I came here, idiots

I had a chuckle over them doing this, they thought they had an easy mark:




I never went back.

Are these quick change places building upsell into their biz model? Like, they offer the change for cheap prices relying on upsells to improve their margins to their targets (and making assumptions of percentage successful upsells)? Or is the upsell just pure icing?

If the former, are quotas being built into the employees compensation? Otherwise, why should the employees care if the upsell gets pushed or not?

I only used the quick change places 30+ years ago when I had limited income and an old POS car (or changed the oil myself). Haven't used them for decades now.

quote:

Are these quick change places building upsell into their biz model?

They pretty much have to, as there isn't a lot of profit just doing discounted oil changes. However, the parts and services must be actually needed.

quote:

If the former, are quotas being built into the employees compensation? Otherwise, why should the employees care if the upsell gets pushed or not?

What does quotas built into compensation mean? You probably mean commissions ("spiffs") on additional parts and services. This is true of every kind of retail business.

quote:

Originally posted by ScooterX:
To this shops credit, I frequently used it with no issues with a different vehicle when working as I drove a lot. But when did engine oil suction become a thing???

It's been "the thing" for quite a while at shops that can afford the equipment.

I've been going to an independent Mercedes shop for service for my 1999 ML and 2003 C230K for many years and that is what they use. Labor is about half the price what the local dealer charges

I asked them the reason they use suction to drain the oil and they told me they're only leaving .5qt still in the pan...about the same as when they pull the plug...and there is less chance that the plug gets cross threaded when reinstalled. Using synthetic oil and installing a new filter runs me about $90. They keep a pretty close eye on fluids and will top me off as needed. The big savings is the time it takes for me to get out of there...hardly longer than if I went to one of the "quicky shops"

Went to a Jiffy Lube back in the days of the pandemic from hell, as it was open, no appointment needed...Guy dashed in at least three times to upsell me on cabin air filters, engine air filter, drain and flush because there was a cobweb on the oil filler cap...have never gone back.

Just brought home a 2024 Trailblazer ACTIV for my kid. I'm not really sure why but the skid plate has holes to access everything. I can get to the oil filter and plug without having to remove the skid plate. But I'll probably do topside extraction as well. Will have to drive it up on some blocks before so I can get to the oil filter. It has less than 300 miles on it but it's been sitting on the lot for a year and they said they'll change the oil for free (for the first 3 changes) when the computer says it's time. So I'm going to change it next week when I finally have time off.

I told my son to NEVER take it to any of the quick change places and after the three free dealership changes, he can start changing his own since I'll teach him next week.