Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives oil/filter changes - besides the dealer

I have always taken my vehicles (And most recently my 2021 F150) to the dealership for oil changes. Good bad or indifferent, never had any issues other than having to say no to a new cabin and new air filter every single time.

But I am over due now for a change and the dealer is somehow booked out another month for Oil Change services. Thinking of just going to like a Jiffy Lube, or Einstiens pull in, to get it done. Anyone ever ran into an issues taking it to a non dealer chain shop?

The fast oil change places have put a lot of money in my pocket over the years. Don't you have any good independent repair shops in your area?

I am sure there are (900k people in the Treasure Valley now)...guess I just need to do some research, call around.

No car I own will ever drive into in a fast oil change place. If I can't see what kind of filter they are using or oil along with care taken I want no part of it. I do my own oil changes , I trust myself . My wife's car gets done by the dealer and for some reason they do an excellent job and I follow up after every oil change they do.

Only fast lube place I have been to is Valvoline.

My last place of employment used them on all light vehicles. I was in 4 different stores and all of the employees actually seemed to know what they were doing

Some guys wear suits and don't like to get their hands dirty.

I take my Porsche and Audi to a place called Bavarian Auto Repairs. Excellent work and fairly priced. I change the oil on my Tundra, Mach 1 and Dart. Here in Idaho I take my F150 and Suburban to Walmart every two years. I specify the filter and oil. I just had both done, same old guy that has been there for years. Never an issue.

I quit using the fast change type shops a long time ago, too many screwups: wrong grade oil, too much oil, not having right wrench for oil drain plug, not having correct filter in stock...

Had them try and charge me for 7 quarts of oil one time in a truck with 6 qt capacity. Manager went back and pulled dip stick - overfilled. Drain and repeat. They aren't so quick when you have to make them fix the screwups.

What fast change type shop was this?

Jiffy Lube and others use the 'one size fits all' wrench

I don't doubt that. I usually do my own trucks, but the cars are a pain because of the low ride height. There is a pretty large place here called Rocket Lube that seems to have some well-trained guys. They do my wife and daughter's cars. My wife did me a favor a while back and took in my F150 to save me some time. When I changed that oil the next time, it took 30 minutes just to get the filter off with oil filter pliers. It was like they had snugged it with a breaker bar. No thanks.....

I had Jiffy Lube forget to put the oil cap back on.I see some of them use a pump to pull out the oil thru the dip stick tube.How much sludge is left inthe pan that way?

I prefer to change my own and let it drain for a half hour or so.

My Duramax gets free oil change as part of the extended warranty.The shop manager bitches about that as I get a a 3 gallon oil change and they get a warranty payment for a $79, 6 quart change

I've forgotten the Brand/Franchise names, they were shops when I was in Huntsville AL and Alexandria/Franconia VA in the mid to late 90s.

We pretty much do whatever needs doing around here. Can't imagine paying someone to change the oil in our vehicles or vessels.

The fast lube joints are good at stripping the drain plug

I had that from a car dealer at 5k. I am surprised the oil pan did not drain out. If the filter is facing downward I fill it with oil before screwing it on, I doubt a dealer or fast lube does that. Oh and I also clean up around everything when done.

How many have they stripped of yours?

mark your filter before you take it in and check the mark when you get the vehicle back!!!

my brother caught them leaving the same filter on.

I went to Valvoline for oil changes for maybe five years. Never had any issues.

I will usually do all my vehicles, except every year or two one of them comes due on a wet rainy/slushly week in the winter then I may take it in have it done rather then lay in the slush. ( boats pretty much fill my garage in the winter). I drive a company car and have to go to a commercial place for that one. I mostly use Valvoline when i do need to take the car in. No real complaints, its just that by doing it myself, I can change into Mobil one with a Wix filter for less than they would charge for the standard valvoline stuff. When you count the 30 minutes of driving/the wait, I can do all three of my cars in the driveway faster than they do one.