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Oil Change Shop

March 06, 2015 03:23PM
I have an oil change shop today, and I have to ask an open-ended question to the tech. Does anyone have any ideas for a good question? Thanks!
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More About Oil Change & Car Service Mystery Shopping
March 06, 2015 06:24PM
Is synthetic oil really worth it??

How often should I really change my oil inspite of what the dealer said???

Are expensive oil filters really worth it??

Hoe long should I warm up the car in the cold winter so as to not drive with cold oil??
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March 06, 2015 06:55PM
Ask them why are you putting on the oil change sticker for you to change this expensive fully synthetic oil again in only 3,000-4,000 miles when it says right in your owners manual to change it every 8,000 or 12 months?
(Look it up before the shop.)

Then make them change the sticker.

Ask them if they can reset the oil change dash indicator, if it illuminated or not. It will likely go off before you return if your changing it before the factory recommended interval.

I don't trust those quick lube places and stand outside the chain as soon as I evaluate the waiting room and rr.

Yesterday, they were about to put air in my freshly rotated and nitrogen filled tires with the bright green caps. I had to yell into the shop to stop them from letting the nitrogen out of my tires as they checked them with the leaky air hose tire pressure gage.

When they try to push flushing services before the manufacturer recommended interval for transmission and radiator service, you should ask them why they are going against the manufacturer.

Then they will show you a filter that is one month old and tell you with a straight face that you need a new filter.

Same goes for your fuel filter. They don't know when you changed it last, but they will want to.
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March 06, 2015 08:48PM
Arch has good questions!
I do these all the time. I especially like the one where they have cameras under the hood so you can see exactly what they're doing. I always listen to what they have to say needs doing, and then disregard it as my regular mechanic is on top of things.

They just want to see if the techs are "upselling" everything, which believe me, they are.

Kona Kathie
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March 07, 2015 01:01AM
Read this expose and your eyes will fall out, even if you are mechanically knowledgeable, you still mane be taken and the media won't say boo because they are their major advertisers: "What Auto Mechanics Don't Want You to Know" by Maek Eskeldon
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March 07, 2015 05:13AM
I am always a little nervous when I do oil changes. My car is 17 years old and has 187,000 miles on it. If they look at all they will find a multitude of problems from broken secondary supports to more than one thing leaking oil or another fluid. My new line is "hey, it's got problems but it still gets 30 miles to the gallon!" I usually have to fill up with 2 quarts of oil a month since I burn it but now I do oil changes and get the oil for free!
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March 07, 2015 11:14PM
I asked, "Why is it necessary to get your tires rotated?" I asked that because that is a question I actually know the answer to. They did a great job, but absolutely zero "upselling." That, to me, made it a great oil change experience. If I lived in the town of this oil change place I would consider going there for all of my oil changes, but it is an hour away. And I did 4 other shops in the town, so it was worth it.
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March 08, 2015 02:01AM
Open ended cannot be answered yes or no, I usually ask about oil option. "What other oil types can I use" , Why rotate tires is also a good one.
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March 08, 2015 04:40AM
@scanman1 wrote:

Ask them why are you putting on the oil change sticker for you to change this expensive fully synthetic oil again in only 3,000-4,000 miles when it says right in your owners manual to change it every 8,000 or 12 months?
(Look it up before the shop.)

Then make them change the sticker.

Ask them if they can reset the oil change dash indicator, if it illuminated or not. It will likely go off before you return if your changing it before the factory recommended interval.

I don't trust those quick lube places and stand outside the chain as soon as I evaluate the waiting room and rr.

Yesterday, they were about to put air in my freshly rotated and nitrogen filled tires with the bright green caps. I had to yell into the shop to stop them from letting the nitrogen out of my tires as they checked them with the leaky air hose tire pressure gage.

When they try to push flushing services before the manufacturer recommended interval for transmission and radiator service, you should ask them why they are going against the manufacturer.

Then they will show you a filter that is one month old and tell you with a straight face that you need a new filter.

Same goes for your fuel filter. They don't know when you changed it last, but they will want to.


OMG Scanman, I did a lube shop, and ever since my oil light keeps coming on, I took it to another place and they said that there is nothing wrong with my car. You post was really a big help to me. I won't do another oil change and the lube place.

****************


Motivation increases when we assume large responsibilities with a short deadline.
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