$75 for a mobile oil change - ok Boomer

[70STOVEBOLT]

I will never trust anyone to change my oil except me. Too many stories about the "Jiffy" guys forgetting to tighten the drain plug, stripping the drain plug, forgetting to put oil in the engine, etc. Plus, there is not one of them on the planet that does not have a sign saying they are not responsible for engine damage due to their negligence. If I forget to do something and cause engine damage, I only have myself to blame. I always look up my own parts too.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by 70STOVEBOLT

I will never trust anyone to change my oil except me. Too many stories about the "Jiffy" guys forgetting to tighten the drain plug, stripping the drain plug, forgetting to put oil in the engine, etc. Plus, there is not one of them on the planet that does not have a sign saying they are not responsible for engine damage due to their negligence. If I forget to do something and cause engine damage, I only have myself to blame. I always look up my own parts too.

I find myself hard-pressed to believe there are signs in shops exempting them from engine damage due to their negligence. I've never seen that, but if I did, I'd never take a vehicle to such a place. I pay people to repair things, not further break them. That said, I do my own work on my truck, except I had a shop I trust align it after I upgraded to disc brakes and rebuilt the front suspension.

[dmjlambert]

Whether they are negligent or not it still doesn't help that you drive away and your vehicle needs further help. My wife took her car for an oil change and called me afterward saying the hot light was coming on. I told her to pull over and shut it off and tell me where she was. I took off to find her, arrived there and she was gone. I called her again and she said she drove some more, told her stop and turn it OFF and stay put. I went to where she supposedly was and she was gone again. I found her at home. Funny story but I was mad at the time. I told her don't run the car if the hot light is on, I didn't want something gone wrong such as blown head gasket when it could be avoided. Anyway I opened the hood and found the radiator cap off and a hydrometer stuffed in there, oil cap not put back on, and a couple of wrenches under the hood. I was not happy. I topped off the oil and coolant and put everything back together and (very generously) took their tools back to the shop and got a refund for their crappy attempt at an oil change.

I try to change the oil myself when I can, but sometimes still get it done by somebody else. I really don't like changing the oil in my wife's modern cars, the car makers do stupid things like putting the oil filter in inconvenient places that result in an oil mess, and messed up plastic panel fasteners when changing the filter. And cabin air filters, WTF is that all about? On the wife's Nissan you have to be skinny as a stick and standing on your head to get that filter put in there, and you still end up with a broken panel cover after spending $39 on the filter. I've now bought my last (I hope) cabin air filter cover and before oil changes I tape a cardboard sign right in the way of the panel that says "DON'T TOUCH THIS FILTER". If anybody is going to touch that filter it's going to be me (having gone wacky crazy) or the car dealer grease monkey.

I've been threatening to get her a 69 El Camino for her next car but she hates that idea and I'm a softy and keep getting her the darned modern vehicles. She asked me just today if I prefer driving her nice modern car or my old truck and I said right away my rusty old truck is much better. My old 69 truck has been my daily driver for years now. Changing the oil on that is pretty easy. And driving it down the road with my arm hanging out the window is pretty easy too.

[70STOVEBOLT]

Maybe not every shop has one, but here is an example of ones I have seen:

NOTICE

We are not responsible for engine damage that occurs after the vehicle leaves our premises. Please ensure regular maintenance and check-ups to avoid any issues.

This means that if they leave your drain plug loose, or forget to put oil back in the engine, you are on your own.

[70STOVEBOLT]

The thing I hate most about changing oil on modern cars is those damn plastic drip panels that need to be removed to access the oil pan plug and filter. On my wife's Chrysler 300 I have to drive the car up onto 4X4s to gain enough clearance for my low profile floor jack and then remove that damn panel. But at least the oil filter is on top of the engine, right in front. Easiest job I have ever had replacing an oil filter. Don't spill a drop oi oil.

[IT Cowboy]

I had a 2020 F150 that had a plastic oil pan and drain plug and it would drain right onto the steering linkage and splash all over. I finally found a flexible silicone funnel that I could mold to direct the oil in the pan.

I try to do as much as I can myself because at least if I screw something up then I did it to myself.

[GSP7]

Fords you cant even check tranny oil . No dipstick

At least the last newer f100 I worked on about 10 years ago didnt have one. You had to put the truck up on a lift and there is a secret spot with a tiny short dip stick.

Maybe that was a california law cause they made it illegal to check you own oil in Calif ?


.

[mongocanfly]

GM is the same way....no trans fill or dipstick....I guess your forced to go have that done..

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by GSP7

Fords you cant even check tranny oil . No dipstick

At least the last newer f100 I worked on about 10 years ago didnt have one. You had to put the truck up on a lift and there is a secret spot with a tiny short dip stick.

Maybe that was a california law cause they made it illegal to check you own oil in Calif ?


.

Watchoo smokin'? There is no such law. I'd also say that checking the fluid isn't likely necessary, if it ain't leaking.

[leddzepp]

2003 was the last year Toyota 4Runners had a transmission dipstick.