Wait….How much??!!

[ants]

I have always done my own oil changes. But my wife recently bought a car that just sits too low to get under and do the change. It was due for an oil change so today she took it to Valvoline instant oil change. When she got home I almost flipped when she told me what she paid for a basic (conventional) oil change…$44.99 plus an additional $3.99 for an extra quart. Her car takes 6qts.

 

What??   Have I been out of the quickie lube game that long?? I figured it would be like 20-30 bucks….

[BuckThornBooners]

check this out . https://youtu.be/-avpx8UTakI

really shows you the shady side of business

Edited October 11, 2015 by Odorless

[jjb4900]

yeah, they're no bargain.....use them sometimes when I'm in a rush, my favorite part is when they walk over with your air filter and try to show you how dirty it is and try to get you to buy that too.

[ny hunter]

No bargain at all and then its the up sale of stuff you don't need....Invest in a good jack and a pair of jack stands...They pay for them selves in no time..

[Hock3y24]

Not at valvoline, try a local garage

[ants]

Maybe Im just out of touch, but I think that 50 bucks for a basic oil change is just plain BULL S..T!!!

[ny hunter]

I agree I remember when I turned wrenches in the 80s an change was 29.95..We are getting old bro..

[jjb4900]

but, I think you really only save about $10 doing it yourself......

[ants]

I agree I remember when I turned wrenches in the 80s an change was 29.95..We are getting old bro..

No way an oil change was $29.95 in the 80's… Unless you worked for a dealership. 

[ants]

but, I think you really only save about $10 doing it yourself......

 

Right now I change my own oil in my truck, with full Synthetic oil and a premium filter, for about 30 bucks……. Been doing it for years

[greensider]

the local dodge dealer is 27 for regular oil 70 for synthetic for my wifes dart i dont pay for my gmc so i dont know what they charge now

[jjb4900]

Right now I change my own oil in my truck, with full Synthetic oil and a premium filter, for about 30 bucks……. Been doing it for years

ok, so maybe saving $15-$20, not a total screw job by any means.....I'm certainly not gonna crawl under your car and dispose of the waste oil for any less.............just the other BS that they try to sell you and the sales tactics that keep me doing my own 90% of the time.

[grampy]

If I go to one of those places, I give them the grumpy old man routine. Before they even lift the hood I say, "Look, I came here for an oil change and filter, right? Don't bother me with all the other crap, just oil and a filter. Understand? " Works everytime. lol...

[ny hunter]

No way an oil change was $29.95 in the 80's… Unless you worked for a dealer

Ants it was a Pontiac dealership....You are right...

 

Edited October 12, 2015 by ny hunter

[philoshop]

My trusted mechanic was a good friend of mine. He charged me $70 an hour and I didn't complain because I never felt he was ripping me off, and I just don't like doing that sort of work. He asked me two years ago to build an addition on his shop and screamed bloody murder when I qouted him a rate of $35 an hour.

After the mennonites he hired to build the addition screwed up the job he asked me to come in and and fix it. I told him that if he brought his addition over to my shop I'd be happy to fix it for $70 an hour.

 

I have a shop and a fixed base of operation with many of the same overhead costs, but I'm expected to pack and transport all of my tools and materials to his job site for half of what he charges?

 

My current mechanic is a Jamaican pot-smokin' Rastafarian retired from the auto industry who does a little side work. I do not partake of his sacrament, but he also drinks beer, so we get along just fine.

We mostly trade services. I have a great-running truck and he has a really nice kitchen.

[jjb4900]

hourly rate of mechanics in my area are $90-$105 an hour...........the part that's tough to swallow, is if a job calls for 1.5 hours of labor, that's what they bill, even if it only took them 1/2 the time.

[BizCT]

BMW. Free oil changes and maintenance for first 4years/50k miles.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Nomad]

I use an " independent " mechanic , two bays ,two lifts no sign or advertising .

$50 and hour and does not mark up the parts, which many places will mark up as much as 200% or more.

$50 for a diagnostic check , no further labor charge if he can fix it in under 30 minutes.

Honda timing belt and water pump $600 at dealer, same belt and a better pump from Don

Was $400.

I have not used a chain or dealer in years.

[WNYBuckHunter]

The instant oil change places are a screw job. I worked for VIOC during and after high school. The shady stuff that was done there was crazy. I wouldnt take my car there, an oil change isnt an emergency thing, and can be done in less than 20 minutes at home with a set of ramps if your car sits too low to scooch under. I do a full synthetic oil change on my truck for less than $50, and take the waste oil to a mechanic I know that has a waste oil furnace.

[The_Field_Ager]

I use a relatively expensive synthetic oil and generally buy better grade filters when doing my own changes at home. I want it done right. Comes in about 40 bucks, all told. 

[jjb4900]

there's no doubt that those places are shady.....but does anyone honestly think that paying someone $15-$20 bucks to do it for you is outrageous? like I said earlier, I'n not crawling under someone else's car for less.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

You'll be paying them $40 to crawl under it just as soon as a making a big Mac get's $15 an hour.

[turkeyfeathers]

Just took wifes car in last week to Basil Chevrolet . $31 out the door

 

Few years ago I took my Subaru into a little oil change place for oil change. I got in car, drove 50 feet and awful grinding noise. Walked in to talk to manager. He has the balls to tell me it wasn't anything they did. Turns out they drained the tranny fluid and then filled oil. Car was undrivable  had to flatbed car to dealership to have it fixed. They paid for the service and I got personal guarantee from them stating if I had tranny problems down the road they'd cover it. And a couple of free oil change coupons. Um, yeah, no thanks !! 

[Five Seasons]

valvoline has damaged the gasket on our old rav4 twice. i do my own vehicles but rarely do the wives. I will never go back to them again.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

Just took wifes car in last week to Basil Chevrolet . $31 out the door

 

Few years ago I took my Subaru into a little oil change place for oil change. I got in car, drove 50 feet and awful grinding noise. Walked in to talk to manager. He has the balls to tell me it wasn't anything they did. Turns out they drained the tranny fluid and then filled oil. Car was undrivable  had to flatbed car to dealership to have it fixed. They paid for the service and I got personal guarantee from them stating if I had tranny problems down the road they'd cover it. And a couple of free oil change coupons. Um, yeah, no thanks !! 

My daughter's Forester have NEVER gone into a quick Lube place and not had a leak on either the drain plug or the filter. Even after I tell them to pay attention to it, it leaks.