Bad experience at Mr. Lube (Question about changing own oil)

[GameBoy27]

I'm not a mechanic . Oh no did I say that . What do you mean NO TIME . You make time for what's important to you . Right service . What are you kidding me . You trust these bozos at the dealer ship ? I had a service light on in my truck last fall . I took it to the dealer and put it on the scanner or what ever it's called . $115 just to read the codes . They wanted $1100 to fix the problem.

I'm trying to follow what you said. You took it to the dealer and put it on the scanner ($115 just to read the codes) and then they wanted $1100 to fix the problem. Based on that, you must have paid the $115. How else could they quote you $1100 to repair the problem? You said it. "It's easy to take money from a FOOL." lol

You could've saved some money by purchasing a scanner and reading the codes yourself. Or like you said, take it to a mechanic who will read the codes for free.

 

[ogibowt]

I have never taken my car for an oil change to a dealer....you might as well hand over your wallet...…….I quit going to Mr Lube years ago...…………..but I got lucky, I live in the west end....there is a car wash/oil change place on West Mall between Queensway and Dundas St ….and yes they have sitting room with a tv and newspapers, the guys never upsell, and you get a free carwash with every oil change...cost40$ or so....been going there for years...

 

[danmand]

I'm trying to follow what you said. You took it to the dealer and put it on the scanner ($115 just to read the codes) and then they wanted $1100 to fix the problem. Based on that, you must have paid the $115. How else could they quote you $1100 to repair the problem? You said it. "It's easy to take money from a FOOL." lol

You could've saved some money by purchasing a scanner and reading the codes yourself. Or like you said, take it to a mechanic who will read the codes for free.

Oh, Lord, please stop trying to get a fight going over oil changes.

 

[anon1]

Oh, Lord, please stop trying to get a fight going over oil changes.

Cars are like women, men will constantly fight over who has more talent in handling them.

 

[stinkynuts]

Get one of these....

But like I said, always use a back up system. Put the tires under the car, put the jack under the car.

Interesting, thanks!

 

[stinkynuts]

rAISING
Even better: Put on an old jacket and get down on your back. On almost all cars you can change the oil without jacking or ramping them.

Interesting, thought there would be not enough room, but I should try at least. I also heard that you can just park half the car on a curb, but that would require it to be parked on the sidewalk...

 

[JohnHenry]

I got an oil change this morning. I didn't know a 2018 F150 5 litre engine holds 9 litres of synthetic oil. total 149.50 tax in with a filter.

 

[danmand]

Interesting, thought there would be not enough room, but I should try at least. I also heard that you can just park half the car on a curb, but that would require it to be parked on the sidewalk...

It is not comfortable, but you are sure the car will not fall on you.

 

[bver_hunter]

Also, did you notice that Mr. Lube have a grade of oil called semi-synthetic. Apparently some dealers offer it as well. This is a total conn, and do not opt for it at all. The oil contains less than 15% synthetic oil and does not offer any advantages.

 

[Big Rig]

I use synthetic oil so I change it once every 10 thousand kilometers. I overpay at Mr Lube because they are fast and you do not need apt.

You are paying extra for their quick service. I have zero issue with that and I am happy to overpay.

Yes, they try to upsell big time but I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH THAT EITHER. THEY ARE A BUSINESS. Learn to say no. Caveat Emptor.

 

[John Henry]

I got an oil change this morning. I didn't know a 2018 F150 5 litre engine holds 9 litres of synthetic oil. total 149.50 tax in with a filter.

Cummins 6.7 engine . 12 liters ... $150.00 with filter and not synthetic oil .... 7 years ago .

 

[John Henry]

It's called common sense dumbass...

Not everyone here has the same "skill level" as you when it comes to car maintenance...yes you have time to do car maintenance...so you call names on people who have none...my oil change is $50...I get diagnosis FREE...all I did was advised the OP that if you're going to spend $$$, why bring it to Mr. Lube instead of Dealer...it doesn't make sense.

There you go sport . That's you calling me a name . What was it that you called me? Oh yea DUMBASS . All I said was how I do my own oil changes and that I use ramps . Free diagnosis . What they check your air pressure and top off the windshield fluid . Wow . I make time for what's important to me and doing my own maintenance if I can is important to me.

 

[Big Rig]

there you go sport . That's you calling me a name . What was it that you called me? Oh yea dumbass . All i said was how i do my own oil changes and that i use ramps . Free diagnosis . What they check your air pressure and top off the windshield fluid . Wow . I make time for what's important to me and doing my own maintenance if i can is important to me.

all that trouble to save a few bucks?

 

[John Henry]

I'm trying to follow what you said. You took it to the dealer and put it on the scanner ($115 just to read the codes) and then they wanted $1100 to fix the problem. Based on that, you must have paid the $115. How else could they quote you $1100 to repair the problem? You said it. "It's easy to take money from a FOOL." lol

You could've saved some money by purchasing a scanner and reading the codes yourself. Or like you said, take it to a mechanic who will read the codes for free.

That's right . Codes don't tell you what is needed to make the fix . Wanted to see what the experience dealer had to say . After I found out that it would cost me $1100 plus taxes I said forget it .Then afterwards my buddy told me about his mechanic . The service light went out but I still brought it to him . No charge to read the code . A $20 fix and that was it . Many people trust the dealer . I don't . They can be just as crocked as any garage on the street .

I would have brought my truck to my mechanic but he retired so I had no choice but to bring it to the dealer at that time. Now I have a new mechanic that I trust .

That's right it's easy to take money from a fool . I don't pay over $150 for a simple oil change when I can do it myself for half the price . Time is money . People could be doing their own oil change instead of yapping on Terb . LOL

 

[John Henry]

all that trouble to save a few bucks?

Yea all that trouble . It's not 1 vehicle but 4 and it's not a few bucks . Some people say why bother to go see a SP and spend all of that money when you could just jerk off and get the same effect .

You may think it's all of that trouble but I don't . I like working and maintaining my own stuff when I can . It's called a hobby .

Why bother going South when you can get a box of sand , get a heat lamp and drink yourself silly at home . Why go South . Because you can. Not everyone has the same priorities in life .

 

[The "Bone" Ranger]

I use ramps, wheels choks and engage the hand brake - prefer to do the oil changes myself rather than have the monkeys damage and overtighten everything. Saves me a few bucks and is theurapetic for me. I buy the oil on sale and filters from the dealer. Fifty dollars for a fully sythetic oil change and no fucking appt required!

 

[essguy_]

I have an oil extractor at my cottage which I use to change the oil in my boat. Then I started to use it to change the oil in my tractors (I have two Massey Ferguson’s an old full size and a mid size (used mainly for cutting grass)) . Both are diesel and I change the oil at the end of every season. As long as the engine is warmed up enough that the oil is hot, this is the simplest way to change oil. Advantages are that everything is done from above the engine, including filter if it’s in an easy location. Also, no need to undo any oil drain plug, which is where many oil drips begin (from poorly threaded, or over tightened plug). Also, everything is neatly sucked into the container, including sludge. Then you can simply refill the new oil containers with the contaminated oil for recycling. Cons are you may not get all the old oil out - it depends upon the configuration of the oil pan and location of dip stick tube. I’ve never tried doing any of my cars with it simply because while under warranty, I always use the dealer for service. The extractor I have is similar to this:

 

[Mazzi]

I have a 3.5L v6 it costs 80bucks at mr.lube for filter and full synthetic, I don't know what you were being charged for for 150 bucks. Mr.Lubes I believe are franchises, so complain to the owners and to Mr.Lube itself, that will turn up the heat more than complaining here.

I too have debated doing it myself, its not hard at all, but you do need to get under the car. Options for that are - Jack Stands, Ramps, and you can actually get a car-hoist in your garage. I would do a 4 post hoist myself, but the payback is long (its about 5k to do it, so assuming you save even $50 a time, thats 100 oil changes - thats 25 years at a minimum.

The most cost effective and imho safest solution is ramps, and you drive up them to a couple feet off the ground - easy to get around under that with a creeper. So if you are going to work in your garage, and its a car, suv or van watch the garagedoor / ceiling height. The ramps which are metal you extend those out past your garage and you build a 12 to 15in wide riser in your garage, at least the lenght of the vehicle. The riser can be made of solid pressure treated 6x6x12 posts (about $50 each at home depot) bolted together and bolted in the concrete. Make sure you have horizontal stays screwed into, so that the main load bearing suraces don't move inward or outward.

So you drive up on that, emergency brake, chock the wheels, go to town.

Lastly - please please please take the used oil and filter to an oil reclaim facility, DO NOT put it in the sewer system or garbage.

 

[stinkynuts]

People may think that it's only saving a few dollars, but it's more about the control you have. Doing it whenever you want, no appointments, no waiting, no hassles with the upsell. Knowing that you are getting a proper oil change. Plus it feels good to do things yourself, and it seems like a lot of fun. I think I can save $100. That is like 5 hours pay for me. So why not?

I would like to teach myself more about cars so I can do other things such as brakes, etc... But one step at a time.

Another skill that I invested in is cooking. Before I could not cook to save my life. Now I can cook anything, often better than your average restaurant. It's so fun to cook, and nice to be able to eat anything I want whenever, without going to a restataurant, waiting, overpaying, and having to tip.

The point is that I would like to acquire as many skills as I can to better myself. If I can save money on top of it, it's a bonus.

 

[John Henry]

I have an oil extractor at my cottage which I use to change the oil in my boat. Then I started to use it to change the oil in my tractors (I have two Massey Ferguson’s an old full size and a mid size (used mainly for cutting grass)) . Both are diesel and I change the oil at the end of every season. As long as the engine is warmed up enough that the oil is hot, this is the simplest way to change oil. Advantages are that everything is done from above the engine, including filter if it’s in an easy location. Also, no need to undo any oil drain plug, which is where many oil drips begin (from poorly threaded, or over tightened plug). Also, everything is neatly sucked into the container, including sludge. Then you can simply refill the new oil containers with the contaminated oil for recycling. Cons are you may not get all the old oil out - it depends upon the configuration of the oil pan and location of dip stick tube. I’ve never tried doing any of my cars with it simply because while under warranty, I always use the dealer for service. The extractor I have is similar to this:

Got one of those as well . Use it on my inboard / outboard engine in my boat . Just run the motor in the driveway with the outboard in a tub of water to warm up the oil . Then suck it out . Works great .