1303 miles went in for my first oil change. They tried to tell me I didn't need it until 3750 but we wanted to do it now. I also wanted to move to synthetic. When I made the appointment they told me they use a blend...so much for the appointment takers knowledge.
I get there for my 10:30 appointment and they tell me its either regular or synthetic...no blend, and its Kendall. Synth is $24 in additional to the regular $24 for the change. No problem....BJ's is $24 for 6 Mobil 1. Yeah, I don't have the spare quart but I also don't have to make the trip to BJ's.
A hour later I see my truck outside so I go to the service tech and ask. Oh, they're going to get to it right now. I have to leave by noon to pick up my child. 11:45 I finally see them take in my truck. They were done at 12:05. Service tech comes over and say, I've taken care of it for you. Sorry for the wait.
Wooo Hoooo.....$50 oil change.....free!!! Guess I'll go back to them again.
Yessssss.
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Wendy
Drive Fast, Take Chances
2006 LE, Storm Gray w/Desert....and loving it!
Wendy, learn to do it yourself. Be proud and save money.
sometimes it just makes more sense to have someone do it for you. for synthetic motor oil, you could pay upwards of $30 or more for the 6 quarts that the new Frontier needs. you then would need to run to the store to get it yourself. the dealer usually does a 14 point inspection where they top off all of your fluids, except of course the fluids only accesible frim underneath the car.
so, $30 for oil, time to get the oil, supply of various fluids, and doing it yourself. there is quite an arguement for paying $50 to have the dealer do it for you. the other plus is that the change is documented.
Whether or not I can justify it financially, I HATE to change oil and will gladly pay someone else to do it. I'd rather do suspension work than change oil.
I'm not a sucker however and I won't let myself get ripped off or accept shoddy work. I am particular about who I let change my oil.
__________________ 2005 Frontier Nismo CC 4x2 -- Aztec Red, Rockford-Fosgate, Sunroof, Side Curtain Air Bags, Tow Package, Bed Extender, Hard Tonneau (finally!!), Microfilter, Manik Step Bars, Nissan iPod Interface, Ground Wire Kit, and more to come . . .
"sometimes it just makes more sense to have someone do it for you."
Unless you can't do it yourself (live in an apartment and have no place to work on your car, for example) this is never true.
I buy a top quality synthetic blend for $3 per quart (or conventional for $1.50) and a filter for $4. So, that's a maximum of $22. Step up to Mobil 1 for about another $10.
That's better than going to a dealership and having them put oil in my car that might be merely bulk oil (often contaminated with microscopic debris) and charging me $50 or so.
Oh, and you can take that 14 point inspection. Holy cr@p. When I'm checking my car, I probably do a 40 point inspection.
Learning to take care of your car makes you a better owner, saves you money and can even a better driver.
Be proud that you get your hands dirty. I wouldn't have it any other way.
"sometimes it just makes more sense to have someone do it for you."
Unless you can't do it yourself (live in an apartment and have no place to work on your car, for example) this is never true.
I buy a top quality synthetic blend for $3 per quart (or conventional for $1.50) and a filter for $4. So, that's a maximum of $22. Step up to Mobil 1 for about another $10.
That's better than going to a dealership and having them put oil in my car that might be merely bulk oil (often contaminated with microscopic debris) and charging me $50 or so.
Oh, and you can take that 14 point inspection. Holy cr@p. When I'm checking my car, I probably do a 40 point inspection.
Learning to take care of your car makes you a better owner, saves you money and can even a better driver.
Be proud that you get your hands dirty. I wouldn't have it any other way.
and how much time does it take you do this? 30mins? 1 hr? 2hrs even? i'm leaning more towards 2 hrs not because it takes you 2 hrs to change the oil and perform the 40 point inspection, but i'm factoring in the additional time to purchase the necessary items you need to perform this oil change. imagine what you could be doing in that amount of time. time is money my friend. $50 synthetic oil change to me is money well spent. (especially if the dealer knocks off $30 for my first 6 changes...so really it is $20 plus tax - but that is beside the point)
"Learning to take care of your car makes you a better owner..."
disagree...learning to take care of your car does not make you a better owner than someone who takes their car to the dealer or certified mechanic for regularly scheduled maintenance. save your ego. you would still have to take care of your car the right way. if you maintain your car incorrectly, you have noone to blame but yourself.
"saves you money and can even a better driver."
it may save you money in the very very very long run but, in my opinion, my time is better spent doing something else.
there is no way learning to take care of your car can make anyone a better driver. that statement is just absurd. sorry for being blunt. only learning how to be a better driver can make someone a better driver.
I guess it is all about who values there leisure time more.
I'd rather sacrifice some of my leisure time and do the job myself. I too have a hard time believing what exactly it is they are putting into my truck. when I'm sitting in the customer lounge with the truck out of sight.
After reading the manual tranny thread, I wonder what exactly they toped my tranny off with when they repaired a drive shaft input leak?
Back to the point. I prefer sacrificing time in preforming the job myself and taking a little sense of pride with it. (kinda like hank hill on King of the Hill on how he takes care of his truck. Yeah yeah, I know it just a cartoon).
I also like saving the pennies here and there so that they can be spent on fun things like aftermarket parts.
But I also believe that it wont make you any less of a good owner to have someone else do it for you.
I guess it is all about who values there leisure time more.
Some of us also consider working on our cars/trucks "leisure time".
Doing your own work also gives you the opportunity to build a collection of tools, and tools last a lifetime (sometimes several lifetimes).
I used to be the same way about oil changes. Even though I did all of my other maintenance, I never wanted to do oil changes because of the mess and the general pain in the ass factor. But after youve heard enough horror stories about some jackass newbie tech that flunked out of highschool forgetting to tighten down your oil filter or drain plug, only to lose all your oil in your driveway or worse on the highway -- well, you tend to not trust the so called "experts". I would bet you dont need to be ASE certified to change oil, even at a dealership.
I also used to bring my own synthetic oil AND pay the dealer to put it in... parts and labor total was running me over $50/oil change. It does add up.
It doesnt make you a bad owner if you pay someone to do the work, though. Some of us are just paranoid about monkeys.
This reminds me of the ordeal I had with the dealer I bought my 2004 Frontier from. ( I later traded it for an 05 Frontier at a different dealer.) I took the 04 Fronty in to have it's 8500 checkup and state inspection. Since they were going to do an oil change I put 5 quarts of Castrol synthetic blend oil and a new filter on the passenger front seat and instructed the service advisor to use this oil and filter for the change. He said no problem. (The 8500 mile change would be the trucks 3rd since I change oil about every 2~3k miles.)
Later in the day the dealer called to tell me to come get the truck; it's ready. So when I arrived, I saw it sitting on the lot and I went over to check on it. Well there on the passenger seat was my 5 quarts of Castrol sythentic blend and filter. Unopened.
I went inside and this time I headed for the service manager. I asked him why they did not honor my request and use the oil and filter I provided. He asked me if I had a specific brand I prefer to use. Duh! I said no, I like to use mulitple brands and mix them in a oil cocktail so my engine doesn't get bored. I got a blank stare from him. I then said yes that's why I provided the oil. He asked which brand I use. I told him Castrol. He said, well we use a quality oil too. I asked which brand would that be. I got another blank stare. He then hollered across the room and asked Bud, a service guy, what kind of oil they use. Bud said, Holtzman. Well Holtzman is a local oil distrubutor not a brand of oil. (They sell Chevron)
I ended up getting the oil change taken off my bill. Bottom line is unless you can watch them do it, do it yourself.
Pretty soon the oil change place will state you need a new pan because some (NOT THEM, of course) stripped out the drain plug threads by overtightening them. Then you'll start making time to do it yourself. I once had a Chevy Luv manual transmission that the mechanics wanted to put 80-90 wt transmission oil into, but the manual insisted upon 30 wt. engine oil, so yes, that job was done by me as well. Now, with four vehicles newest 1998 Frontier, oldest 1971 VW, I'd say two visits to mechanic per year, max.
“And how much time does it take you do this? 30 minutes? 1 hour? 2 hours even? I'm leaning more towards 2 hours, not because it takes you 2 hours to change the oil and perform the 40 point inspection, but I'm factoring in the additional time to purchase the necessary items you need to perform this oil change.”
OK, let me step back and explain my car care habits and it may shed some light on how I view this whole issue.
I don’t view time spent with my car as ‘drudgery’ or ‘hell.’ Yes, I’ll admit there are times I think waxing my car is a big job and I put it off … but simple routine maintenance is quick and easy … and I like doing it in small bits throughout the year. I tend to spend an hour or two checking out my car (fluid levels, tire pressures, various cleaning, etc …) at least once or twice each month. Others do a lot more work on their vehicles (project cars) and they find it highly rewarding. I understand them perfectly even if I find a pure project car not worth the hassle (been there, done that).
I currently do two (2) oil changes on my car each year. When I drove more, I used to do three (3). It’s not a big deal. I take my sweet time listening to music or news on the radio, looking over parts of my car as the oil drains, tidying up the garage, etc … and this relaxed pace means the oil change takes about an hour. If I was in a rush, I’d be done in 15 minutes (easy) … but I sorta look forward to this, why rush it? What else am I going to do on a Saturday morning … watch cartoons? Housework?
The oil (Schaeffer oil – their excellent PAO synthetic blend) and filters I got via mail order ($3 per quart including shipping and $4 per filter from Courtesy Nissan because I ordered 10). But even buying locally … I’m already at Walmart, how much trouble is it to pull 5 quarts of Havoline off the shelf and place them in my cart? Returning used oil is the biggest hassle … but then again, Walmart takes it and I go there a lot more often than I change my oil. Not a big deal and very little extra time out of my life.
“A $50 synthetic [dealership] oil change to me is money well spent.”
Most synthetics on the market these days are merely highly processed mineral oil and not ‘true’ synthetics like they were several years ago. Mobil 1 is an uncommon exception to this truism. To me, a $50 oil change with mineral oil (even good stuff) is a rip-off … and I, like Mitchell35758 and MrFancypants still don’t trust others to work on my vehicle. Too many friends getting socked with overpriced work and even damage such as over-tightened (stripped) drain plugs, etc … not to mention the time spent going to the dealership, waiting for them to even begin work on my vehicle, etc …
“...learning to take care of your car does not make you a better owner than someone who takes their car to the dealer or certified mechanic for regularly scheduled maintenance.”
It may sound absurd the first time you hear it, but getting to know your car (how it works, etc …) makes you a better owner and driver. This is especially true over a couple decades after you’ve had a number of vehicles, worked on them all, having crawled underneath them, seen damage from road debris, etc … seen how your tires and brakes are wearing from your use. It all adds up to you knowing how your car reacts to the way you treat it … and if you care about being a really good driver, this information will gradually shape your driving style.
I assume you know that being able to drive a standard transmission makes you a better, more aware driver? Working on your car has the same effect … just in a much subtler way.
You can wax poetic about the virtues of ‘certified mechanics’ all you want but oil changes are often left to the greenest, least-skilled member of the team … and those folks are rushed to get ‘em in, then send ‘em out … ASAP.
Years ago I worked at a dealership and saw several cars owned by people who obviously did not show their cars any real TLC but brought them back to the dealership for all scheduled maintenance. They often looked and felt neglected when I test drove them. There’s no substitute for a car guy (or gal ) who loves his/her car and takes personal pride in maintaining it.
If you find what I say absurd, then I suggest you are not (yet) much of a true car person … and haven’t even hung around many. It’s a way of thinking about your vehicle and not merely taking it for granted, trusting others to do maintenance for you. Knowledge is power and the only way to really know your ride is to perform the work on it yourself. Oil changes are a good place to start.
Bror Jace, One of the most thoughtful, best-written responses I've ever seen on a forum; you captured the essence of vehicle ownership perfectly. Most of my friends think I'm nuts because I do all of my own routine maintenance, but I really enjoy most of the process and I truly believe that doing the small jobs helps prevent problems with the large ones. Thanx for your input...
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jack <><
05 Frontier K/C LE 4X2
http://www.reverendbiker.com/frontier/frontier.htm
Another reason:
If I do decide to keep this truck until it dies. I will be able to take pride in saying that it lasted as long as it did because of me. It may sound dumb, but that is one thing I look forward to doing some day.
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