YACT: Jiffy Lube is trying to screw me!

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Bryophyte

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
13,430
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Hope you get your money back from them.

But I really just wanted to say BEST THREAD TITLE EVAR!!
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Originally posted by: goodoptics
Originally posted by: rahvin
Jiffy lube and all the quick lube places take the oil plug and oil filter off with the air guns, they also put them back with the air guns and any car that goes there is going to have an oil leak by 50K miles. This is why some of us change our own oil even though the price difference is only $10.

:thumbsdown: to Jiffy Lube

It's a lot more than $10 to me and why I choose someone to change it. The job is perhaps 30 mins in a driveway checking out stuff along the way...however, then you have to dispose of the stuff 'properly', add in another 30 mins plus carting oil in your car.

I can get $10-20 changes from top notch outfits hopeing for a secondary sale. They lose money if everyone just took the change.

If it's going to be replacing an intake manifold or timing chain etc, I will do that job on my car. Complex jobs, I don't know if it's just me...always leave me something I have to fix anyway once completed. My car dented, scratched, the part leaks/makes noise/over torqued the next time I try to remove it.........etc

plus I enjoy getting out in the sun with some wrenches and beer. Doing car maintenance is a no-brainer for me with the factory service manual and my tools. I get a lot of thinking done (no interruptions).

If I had a lift or pit, I would do my own oil changes though.
 

rahvin

Elite Member
Oct 10, 1999
8,475
1
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Originally posted by: alkemyst
It's a lot more than $10 to me and why I choose someone to change it. The job is perhaps 30 mins in a driveway checking out stuff along the way...however, then you have to dispose of the stuff 'properly', add in another 30 mins plus carting oil in your car.

My oil drain pan is also my container and autozone or any of the parts shop take used oil no questions. Every car I have ever seen that has had it's oil changed at the "oil shops" has had an oil leak by 50,000 miles without exception. Most leak from the drain plug because it's been overtighented. It's gotten so bad that people actually think it's normal to drip a little oil after a few years. I won't let one of the quick lube places touch my car for oil changes even if they paid me. Just my opinion though, some people value their time more but for me it gives me a chance to get underneath and get a good look at things like the CV joints and suspension.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Originally posted by: rahvin
Originally posted by: alkemyst
It's a lot more than $10 to me and why I choose someone to change it. The job is perhaps 30 mins in a driveway checking out stuff along the way...however, then you have to dispose of the stuff 'properly', add in another 30 mins plus carting oil in your car.

My oil drain pan is also my container and autozone or any of the parts shop take used oil no questions. Every car I have ever seen that has had it's oil changed at the "oil shops" has had an oil leak by 50,000 miles without exception. Most leak from the drain plug because it's been overtighented. It's gotten so bad that people actually think it's normal to drip a little oil after a few years. I won't let one of the quick lube places touch my car for oil changes even if they paid me. Just my opinion though, some people value their time more but for me it gives me a chance to get underneath and get a good look at things like the CV joints and suspension.

I am listening and understand...however I have had the best of containers leak...oil is slippery....

I am not talking oil shops though...I can get my oil changed $19.95 at Nissan with a 4 month a year coupon that comes out (do the math).

I don't understand the plug issues as 1) by $50k you should buy a new ($3 at most) plug...but if really over torqued...oil pan...which is a easy to huge job depending on make/model/year.

If I ever want to see the underside of my car it's a jack two to four stands and 30 mins.

less than an oil change.

however I work on cars, trucks and boats a lot, like easily each weekend....or a PC...unless it's boating season..then I am out on the boat, first beer shortly after sunrise and the bait well full ;)

My last near distaster was R&R a 98 mustang GT intake manifold with just notes on torque specs...no pictures. I had a 88 GT 5.0 and figured it'd be close, I did heads and intake manfold on a 96 351 Eddie Bauer Bronco (really 408) as well...but this was WAY different....pulled it off though. Found out she didn't know I was married.

 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
Originally posted by: rahvin
Jiffy lube and all the quick lube places take the oil plug and oil filter off with the air guns, they also put them back with the air guns and any car that goes there is going to have an oil leak by 50K miles. This is why some of us change our own oil even though the price difference is only $10.
Not ALL quick lube places do that. Some are better than others. IMO, Jiffy Lube and Wal-Mart are the worst of them, while Valvoline Instant Oil Change is the best.
 

CRXican

Diamond Member
Jun 9, 2004
9,062
1
0
If I recall correctly this girl I knew in high school took her Mustang to Jiffy Lube and they forgot to put the drain plug back in her oil pan. Long story short, she got them to pay for a new engine for the car.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Originally posted by: CRXican
If I recall correctly this girl I knew in high school took her Mustang to Jiffy Lube and they forgot to put the drain plug back in her oil pan. Long story short, she got them to pay for a new engine for the car.

I think this girl went to everyone's high school.

anyway, more than one oil change place had done this. Especially those with two guys.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
My wife took her car into wal-mart to get the oil changed. She watched them drain the oil and change the filter. then lower the car put the oil cap back on and star the car to back it out.

When the guy got in to start the car my wife ran out and starts screaming at them to stop. People are looking at her like she is crazy. She yelling that they did not put in any oil. the guy said that they did put oil in and they were not that stupid and went to back out again. Again my wife starts yelling and telling them not ot move the car.

Finally the manager comes over to see what is wrong. My wife tells him what happened and that she watched the whole thaing. Again the guy said there was oil in it. So they checked. yeap NO oil in the fricken car.

Another time She watched one person put oil in and walk off. then another came by and put in oil agian. My wife bitched until they drained it and found it had like 3.5 qourts more then it needed.

Needless to say we do not go back. No matter how cheap it is. Now i do the oil changes myself and take it to the dealership in the winter.

Also i noticed that places do over tighten stuff. It really makes it a pain to get the stuff off.
 

Googer

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
12,576
7
81
Originally posted by: Vic
Jiffy Lube sucks. I wouldn't let them work on my moped if I owned one.

I won't let Jeffey Lube wash my windshield no less touch my engine.

I change my own oil now, It is much cheaper, Convienent, I use the OIL I want, and I know it is done right. A set of Ramps Cost $20, Oil Filter Wrench $5, And If you dont have a wrech for the OIL Plug then that is another $5-7. Add it up and it costs the same as going to Jeffie Loobe just once. The second time you use it and change the oil, it will have paid for it's self. Changing the OIL is not Hard to do, Unscrew the plug, watch the oil drain in to a pan, unscrew the filter, replace filter*, place plug back in the hole, and Refill the Engine with the Recomended Oil level specfied in the owners manuel.

After everything is paid for you can start changig your oil every 3,000 miles for around $5-8. I can change the oil in my ford escort for about $5.50 or less.

*When replacing the filter dip your finger tip in the oil, place a thin oil film around the rubber gasket to help ensure a good seal and to prevent the gasket from sticking to the engine. Also pour some oil into the filter and get it wet. About half way up should be enough oil, any more and it will spill out.

 

RbSX

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2002
8,351
1
76
Originally posted by: Spike
I had a YACT thread a little while back, here. After taking the car in to University Mazda here in Seattle they mechanic said the issue was something about the oil filter being tightned too much or something along those lines. I am not a car person so I did not understand much about it.

I dropped off the paperwork and filed a claim at the Jiffy Lube that did the work for reimbursment for my oil repair (~$90) a little over a week ago. Today I called them and they bascially said they assumed I was full of crap and were not going to do anything. This was decided last week but they never actually called me back. I left a message with the district manager for Jiffy requesting he call me and mentioning things like the BBB.

I just spoke to the dealership and they are going to pull my file and get together even more info so hopefully that combined with actually speaking to a district person will allow me to get my money back.

Any ideas on any other course of action? thx for the rant...

-spike

BBB Won't recover your money for you, they're not for profit. I ran through this issue with a computer store a few months ago.

 

NogginBoink

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2002
5,322
0
0
Talk to the district manager. Be polite, be firm, but don't swear or be belligerent. State up front what your problem is and what you want him to do about it.

Explain to him the evidence you have that the damage was caused by Jiffy Lube.

They have insurance to cover things like this.

If the district manager refuses to help you, file a lawsuit in small claims court. It's relatively inexpensive to do and small claims is geard to non-lawyer-average-citizen types.