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Non Dealer Oil Changes

5K views 24 replies 22 participants last post by  hemirt 
#1 ·
For those who don't change their own oil, does anyone besides me go non-dealer? I have a place that I trust to tell me when things need to be done. I trust my local dealer as well, but they still try to sell me on every little thing.

I'm just wondering if I'm the only one b/c it seems like most people on here go to the dealer. And subsequently complain that they are constantly getting ripped off.
 
#2 ·
My dealer never tries to rip me off, and they don't pester me with sales pitches. If you trust your dealer service, and their prices are reasonable (get on the email discount coupon list), use them. Some service writers are pushed to sell services, but you can just say no.
 
#3 ·
I don't think I could ever fully trust a dealer or an independent shop. We take my wife's Honda to the dealer for regular maintenance and never had an issue though.
Not sure where I got this mentality from, but I have never been a fan of little independent shops. Everytime I see a shop like that the parking lot is just full of beaters, the guys inside look filthy, and because they work on any car that comes in, they certainly don't know your vehicle inside out where as atleast dealers specialize on that specific vehicle and have worked on it day in and day out.
Ok i'm done venting :) So for me its dealer or do the work myself.
 
#4 ·
Yes, sometimes my "earl changes" are done by an independent service provider. (non chain, local) The last few have just been more convenient to do at the dealer because of other factors and I now have two freebies coming because of a technician forgetting to install a lug-nut after a tire rotation. For me, it's all about convenience as the cost is about the same to the dollar.
 
#7 · (Edited)
No, you're not the only one :). The owner/manager stands in front of my JGC and the filter changer/oil remover shows him the old gasket and filter and then the new filter/gasket. The owner pours in my full synthetic oil, checking the oil level after he's poured in the last qt. I stand just off to the side and monitor both of them :).

Dan
 
#10 ·
I too primarily go the dealership for my oil changes - mainly because they have a quick change lane for that type of work, so I'm out fairly quickly and I can usually find a coupon online that makes it very reasonable cost-wise. They might even start putting in the right amount of oil now that I've installed the correct dipstick in my Hemi. I wish they'd quit smearing oil all over the inside of the driver's door too.
 
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#12 ·
I've trusted my local repair shop owner for many years and I've been in the automotive parts industry longer. He has all of my service records as do I. I stay proactive with service and repair work. The local Jeep dealer is always after me for additional work when I go in for warranty service.
 
#14 ·
I rarely go to the dealer for any of my vehicles. I change the oil and filter myself with old fashioned ramps, or if it's winter or I'm too busy, take my own filter and full synthetic Mobil 1 or Castrol Edge 5 qt jug from WalMart to a tire place walking distance from my office. For $20.00 they'll change it with your filter and oil, rotate the tires and glance at your brake pads. They even reset the oil monitor in my WK2. It's cheaper and more convenient for me than the dealer. My local CDJR dealer doesn't have an Express Lane.
 
#21 ·
If my selling dealer had Express Lane I might try them. But they don't.......and when I asked about full synthetic motor oil at another Jeep dealer close to my work with an Express Lane, they said I didn't need it because the standard Mopar oil change is better oil, synthetic is not recommended, synthetic might void the warranty. Just bull.

If it was a leased car I wouldn't care what they put in it but its a purchase, and I want synthetic whether it's better or not. They don't want to stock it or do it for some reason, and based on their excuses if I told them I wanted it and paid for synthetic I just don't believe I would get it.

So that's why I just stay away from the dealers, and have my tire place beside my office do it with my jug of synthetic oil and filter so I know what went in it (supposedly), or I do it myself if its a nice weekend and I have the time.

And I use www.mycarfax.com to enter it all myself on the vehicle CarFax history.
 
#22 ·
I change my oil, period. It's easy and cheap enough, faster, and more convenient for me. But, if I had no space to do an oil change I wouldn't discount going to a quickie lube. I'd just bring them my synthetic oil and Mopar filter and watch them change it.

Guess I'm just not too trusting. I'm sure they're 99% perfect with what they do, but I'd be that 1% and I just KNOW a little oil shop would cry and drag their feet over replacing a $10k motor.
 
#24 · (Edited)
Can changing your own oil impact a Maxcare Lifetime warranty? Essentially none of your oil changes would be documented by a dealer. Just curious if that's something they could blame on an owner down the line and decline a warranty repair because of no "service" history.

Is there anything in the Maxcare fine print stating oil changes must be documented by a dealer or authorized service center?


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