Jiffy Lube and Shell Oil

[Timsup2nothin]

In defense of dealerships...

A dealership service department is subject to the franchise agreement between the dealership and the manufacturer. They are required to buy specialized diagnostic equipment, and required to send their mechanics through specialized training that they have to pay the manufacturer for. Since that equipment and training is not available elsewhere the dealership is theoretically "better" at fixing your car, justifying a higher labor rate to recoup the costs.

In practice, this leads to an effective business model where a grease monkey with a garage says "take it to the dealership and find out what's wrong and I'll fix it." They don't waste time on mysteries, and they don't spend the big money on diagnostic equipment, so they can charge a much lower rate for the basic 'take it apart, replace some parts, put it back together' repair.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

I googled waste oil heaters, seems to be rather popular - EPA says dont use them for the home but shops and garages can use them.

The question to ask him is whether he actually has a waste oil heater, or is just burning waste oil in his heater. Not that there are people who want the benefits without paying the higher cost for a waste oil furnace.

 

[Zelig]

It's not like you can buy artisanally-crafted oil, produced and refined by a small family owned business. It's a commodity, produced by big business and autocracies. Just get whatever is cheapest for the specs you need.

In my car, changing the cabin air filter is more work than changing the oil. I change the oil myself, because it's easy and convenient, but next time I need a new air filter, I'll be paying someone else to install that nonsense.

 

[Berzerker]

new cars are nice, but working on them sucks

 

[Timsup2nothin]

It's not like you can buy artisanally-crafted oil, produced and refined by a small family owned business. It's a commodity, produced by big business and autocracies. Just get whatever is cheapest for the specs you need.

In my car, changing the cabin air filter is more work than changing the oil. I change the oil myself, because it's easy and convenient, but next time I need a new air filter, I'll be paying someone else to install that nonsense.

I refuse to slither around on the cold ground for ten bucks. I would change your air filter for you for twenty if you bring the car and filter to my house.

 

[Zelig]

Yeah, paying to get oil changed is a fair choice with the low markup oil change places have... I'm kind of locked in though, since I always have some leftover oil from the previous change to use up, and my car doesn't burn any oil.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Enough people bring me stuff to work on that a little spare oil always finds a home, even if it is just wetting an o-ring.

 

[Cutlass]

In defense of dealerships...

A dealership service department is subject to the franchise agreement between the dealership and the manufacturer. They are required to buy specialized diagnostic equipment, and required to send their mechanics through specialized training that they have to pay the manufacturer for. Since that equipment and training is not available elsewhere the dealership is theoretically "better" at fixing your car, justifying a higher labor rate to recoup the costs.

In practice, this leads to an effective business model where a grease monkey with a garage says "take it to the dealership and find out what's wrong and I'll fix it." They don't waste time on mysteries, and they don't spend the big money on diagnostic equipment, so they can charge a much lower rate for the basic 'take it apart, replace some parts, put it back together' repair.

I did the first oil change at the dealer because, new car, let's see what they're up to. An hour later the car comes out, I'm talking to the service rep and he's showing me where the dipstick and stuff is, and seems like the mechanics with specialized training put 2 quarts too much oil in. And since they couldn't figure out how to take just 2 quarts out again, they dumped it all and gave me another oil change from scratch. This cost me $100 and took an hour and a half.

2nd oil change at a local garage I've known the guy at for years, $50, 15 minutes. And it was only that expensive because the factory says I have to have 0w20 synthetic oil.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

There is nothing on this planet that would make me get an oil change at a dealership. I'll pay for access to their diagnostic equipment, but not to have the lot boy change my oil.

Oh.

Surely you didn't really think they use their highly paid mechanics to do oil changes?

 

[Cutlass]

There is nothing on this planet that would make me get an oil change at a dealership. I'll pay for access to their diagnostic equipment, but not to have the lot boy change my oil.

Oh.

Surely you didn't really think they use their highly paid mechanics to do oil changes?

I thought they'd be reasonably competent. Mostly I did it just to see what their service department was like.

 

[Berzerker]

yeah, its a waste oil heater - talked with him today