I went to Mr.Lube (canda equivalent to Jiffy Lube) last month. They told me my front and rear differential fluids were low and need to be changed. I looked at him dumbfounded and said how are you going to change the front differential when I don't have one. He shut up right there and didn't say anything more. haha it was classic.

 

Ranger I do at recommended intervals with Mobil 1 lubricants, Daughters Focus the dealer does it why because it's FREE.

 

i changed mine the other day, drove the ranger up on ramps, atlk about having plenty of room! all the more reason to superlift it...

 

yep, i love being lifted. i havent jacked up my ranger to change the oil for a few years now. lol

 

i thought it was really high up then i looked at it and i was like, hey thats only like 4 invhes.... hm... love the view from the cab too.

 

Shoot, I didn't jack up my stock height 2WD for oil changes. Now that it's spindle lifted I can do frikin' barrel rolls under it.

 

If they need a way to f-up an oil change ...they will! My wife's 95 Monte Carol with the 3.1 had a small drip tray that hung over the engine bay carriage, it did the trick...caught the oil dripping out from the filter and carried over the carriage so it didn't run all over the top of the carriage. Her dad like the car so he bought a 97. It got hit and he traded it in on a 02 with the 3.4 engine. No drip tray. Man was that messy to change. I agree, if Quick Lube places don't fry an engine at least once a week they are doing good. Most new car dealers offer a low priced oil change just to get you in, but sitting around two hours and getting hit with their findings on what "they" think your car needs is too much and isn't worth the cost.....

 

i worked at a quick change oil place for a year and didn't fry any engines. we had a few issues for sure, but you try working on a 200 cars a week and not messing up a few.
the vast majority of people who get their oil changed at these places never have a problem. I'd still rather do my own service but these places really get a bad rap.

 

x2 on all that has been said in this thread.

and as far as easy, my truck is fairly easy. the oil filter is in a bit of a tight spot, but not impossible.

easy is my girls G6. literally the easiest oil change i have ever done.

 

You said it, not me






Anyway I hear from my shop guys that Cavaliers and 3.0 Rangers are the worst lol. Seriously, go figure. And obviously thats just out of the most common cars they deal with everyday. I'm sure there is worse.

 

That's a joke those are some of the easiest. Cavaliers are topside filters, the newest ones anyway. Don't recall how the older ones are set up. 3.0s are no picnic. Try a Honda crv, at least several years old anyway.

 

old cavaliers filters are hidden in the in the pit of hell right behind the manifold. but the hardest oil changes have to be dodge nitros. i swear you need 12 hookers dancing around the vehicle while you do backflips just to get the filter off ha

 

Yeah, but we all know someone who was told " your car is ready " your bill is $$$$ and thanks for choosing ???? and see you in 3.000 miles ...Good bye.... What!!! What do you mean your car stopped running a few blocks away........ That is it in a nut shell....One more car, one more car, hurry up, one more car.......Not one more check before the customer drives away. My sister went to one with a coupon and got a 10% off your next oil change. I came home from work and noticed her car at the end of the block, thats as far as it got before the engine locked. Towed it back to the shop (Jiffy Lube) that did it to find the drain plug missing. Two blocks from the shop. They shelled out $2,700 to rebuild the top half and then she got rid of it. That $$$$ dollar dealer price and two hour wait isn't sounding to bad right now. I agree not everyone can change their oil or even wants to but having someone trying to make a quota for the day that day sure made the law of averages balance out for the worst. I've changed oil on a few cars for some of my friends on cars that they said "they took it to a quick lube place forever" but they weren't able to get back there. I noticed rounded off drain plugs, crushed oil filters, air filter boxes missing straps or thumb screws and even one that pinched the windshield washer fluid tube with the air filter cover ( 2009 Chevy Traverse) . When it happens to someone you know it sticks with you.....

 

Some places may be worse than others, but I know we conducted a lot of checks when we did anything, we keep lots of spare drain plugs, and only had minor issues. as for the quota theory, well, we may have had a goal, but it isn't like any of them get paid more for doing more car, and you certainly wont bring in additional customers just because you CAn move that many cars in a day. 200 cars a week which I BELIEVE is abotu what we did on average is not that many cars really. say 30 a day.

just to be clear, i'm not saying it doesn't happen, I know it does. maybe I just worked in one of the better stores, I don't know. I'm not trying to defend them because I don't go there or anywhere to get oil changed.

 

I usually wax my ranger to keep it from corroding. Also I keep the fluid levels topped up. Regular care and maintenance will surely keep the vehicle in good shape for years.

 

I change my own oil in my driveway as well as any other fluids that need doing unless it's winter and very cold out then it's off to Walmart to have one of two guys that have been there for years change my oil for me but if they arn't there I leave and go back when they are.

The last time I went to Mr Lube was in 1993 with my 1975 Bronco and I went there right after leaving the Muffler shop getting new Duel's put on and the fricken Jackass under my Bronco started hitting my Mufflers with a hammer and I shouted out the window for him to stop and dummy up top said they did that to see if there was any rot in them. I lost it and told him and the blind SOB that was under my truck that I was going to stick the hammer up his butt because they were brand new mufflers and pipe. When I got home and looked under my Bronco I noticed the hammer marks but never went back, I would have been thrown in jail for hurting that idiot so I just bit my toumgue and will never go back and tell everyone to stay away.

 

My feeling is just that, we know what goes on there so we stay away them all. Its been a few years since I took a car into a dealer for an oil change cause I know how the rest of the write up sheet will look. Wipers, filters, trans fluid, belts and still I say "no thanks" and they still go on and on. All for $213.00 and change. We were in Richmond for a race and stopped at a Saturn dealer for an oil change........At least the had a big screen tv in the customer waiting room.

 

i try to change oil/filter myself, have done so for many years. recently though the price of oil even in walmart for 5 gal. of decent dino oil say valvoline/castrol etc has reached over $18 here. the local quick change shops charge 20-25 for oil/filter. so it's coming down to oil+filter quality not price... and plus knowing the job is done right, which may be worth the price of an engine.