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There's nothing worse than taking your car in for an oil change
"The smug little engine-walk-through charade is the worst part of the whole ordeal," writes Alan Olifson. "It's as if they’re simultaneously telling me they’re going to rip me off and challenging me to stop them." (Boston Phoenix)
June 9, 2005 | Permalink
Comments
Oh, grow up, you big baby.
Posted by: Hirayuki | Jun 9, 2005 6:29:00 AM
I agree with Hirayuki. The author is a whining complaining twit.
If you don't want to be emasculated at the Jiffy Lube, go somewhere else or have the balls (it doesn't take much) to say "just change the oil please"
Posted by: Lou Sussler | Jun 9, 2005 6:43:15 AM
I agree. He should get a spine.
Posted by: Oxhead | Jun 9, 2005 6:43:42 AM
Or, you know, do it himself. There's no special training needed for an oil change. All you need is an hour and a ratchet or torque wrench.
Posted by: MkB | Jun 9, 2005 6:50:15 AM
Alan, just get yourself a drain pan and the right wrenches, and quit whining. It's not hard to change the oil yourself. And it's even easier to learn to say, "Thanks, I'll have my mechanic look at it," if you don't want to get all greasy.
Posted by: Matt | Jun 9, 2005 6:52:24 AM
But you know...there are some people who don't know any better...like the little old widow lady with the $5 off coupon. I've seen them get taken advantage of.
A lot can be said for the do it yourself-er.
A $21 dollar air filter can be reduced to $5 if you take the time to go to the Wal-Mart and look in the little orange book for the filter you need.
I asked about getting a headlight changed once and the guy wanted $39! I know better. I asked why it was so expensive and he gave me some song and dance taking me on a repair route that took me through the exhaust system and the cup holder. I did it myself with Wal-Mart parts and it cost less than $10.
I believe the article was toungue in cheek but basically the writer was correct. Sometimes folks in these places will try to take advantage of you just because they know that most folks don't know.
Posted by: Russ | Jun 9, 2005 7:03:48 AM
Go to Howstuffworks and spend an hour learning about your car. You might not know HOW to fix it, but at least you will know what sort of stuff needs fixing regularly and what "services" they are trying to jew you into buying.
Posted by: | Jun 9, 2005 7:06:46 AM
Thanks for the ethnic slur, it was really appropriate and made your comment so much more enlightening.
Posted by: RicaB | Jun 9, 2005 7:15:10 AM
The author may be too dumb to realize it, but he sums his own problem up in the lead.
"EVERY 3000 miles, whether I need it or not, I am emasculated. Of course, the owner’s manual calls it an oil change."
Virtually every car sold in the USA in the past decade is rated by the manufacturer to go 6000 to 7500 miles between oil changes.
The commission driven employees see someone who hasn't looke in his owners manual but instead relies on the sticker they gave him last time he was in.
(Insert pic of guy in Greasy hat with Dollar Signs in a thought balloon here)
Then they pull him up on the computer and see last time he was in he paid "$1,000 to have them urinate on his tailpipe".
(Insert pic of guy in Greasy hats manager with even more Dollar Signs in his thought balloon here)
This author should find another change, go in at 6000 or 7000 miles, and if he is that scared he is going to be oversold, make sure he either goes in when the place is jammed, or 20 minutes before they close.
When business is slow, rather thqan just have the employees stand aorund, the manager will send one or two out to the corner with a sign that says "Managers Special". Some fool will see the sign and come in thinking htey are saving a few bucks. All 5 employees will help on the car, most of them will find other problems that will need to be fixed today "because they really don't know if the car will make it home tonight, and even if it does you could be driving down the freeway next week and....."
(fade to black)
Posted by: msuspartan1981 | Jun 9, 2005 7:48:03 AM
Some newer cars (SAAB comes to mind) are engineered in such a way as to make even simple owner maintenance difficult or impossible without a lift. In the SAAB instance, you need to remove the right front wheel and the wheelwell trim, then remove a panel in the wheelwell to gain access to the oil filter.
I always used to work on my own cars and do my own taxes, but it's become too complicated.
Posted by: | Jun 9, 2005 7:50:29 AM
My fav trick, is when they wipe the inside of the engine and say "look at this grime...you need to have this fixed."
And whenever they ask how long ago you had something done, say "Not too long ago." Or "3-5 months ago." If they are weak sellers, that'll shut 'em out. Other wise "I'll have my REAL mechanic look at it." ends it.
Posted by: Tony | Jun 9, 2005 9:27:50 AM
On old cars it is possible to do maintenance yourself, but the story is a metaphor. A lot of things---radios, cars, toasters, telephones, washers, dryers, dishwashers etc are now overloaded with technology. Everything mechanical is now electronic and computerized. It is a brave new world out there. "Ending is better than mending." Indeed.
Oh, and thanks for the ethnic slur, jerkass. I'm reporting you to my commanders at ZOG. The black helicopters will take you away shortly.
Posted by: 10467 | Jun 9, 2005 9:58:09 AM
i'm a girl. i don't like spiders, i can't lift very heavy things, i worry about my hair. but i know how to deal with my car. it's old, it needs care, and i'm not going to stand by and let mechanics rip me off. so i find out how things work, how much fixing various things costs, what's necessary and what isn't... if i can do this, why can't he?
Posted by: | Jun 9, 2005 10:10:47 AM
Ah, yes, SAABs and their trademark quirkiness. They are notorious for times where the easiest way to repair something on one involves drilling holes in the firewall rather than trying to put in a part the same way they did it at the factory. It's all part of SAAB character, as their diehard loyalists will tell you.
Me, I prefer the way my Triumph Spitfire has just about everything accessable. The whole front end flips up to work on the engine. To fix the clutch, I can remove the transmission tunnel without disturbing the rest of the floorboards. They definitely designed it to be repaired often... which is a good thing since it has been perpetually in need of repair ever since I got it.
Posted by: Matt | Jun 9, 2005 10:57:54 AM
One can't be emasculated if one never had it in the first place. While newer the car the more difficult to work on it's still essentially the same as it was 100 years ago.
Posted by: not a punk | Jun 9, 2005 10:59:49 AM
Hey Matt, I can relate about the Spitfire. I used to sit on the tire like a chair and work on anything under the hood. Also, for everyone else, my friend had the mech come in and show here a filthy AC (blue) air filter and tell her it needed to be changed, she calmly told the guy he was full of shit because she had just changed the filter and it was a Fram (orange). Learn the basics and don't believe the crap about changing the oil every 3,000. Honda is up to 10,000 between changes. Later....
Posted by: JD | Jun 9, 2005 11:36:59 AM
100 years ago a blacksmith could fabricate nearly any part from materials on hand. I once read a story about a country mechanic casting new crankshaft bearings for a Model-T out of Babbitt metal. Today it's likely you need special tools or diagnostic software to get anywhere. And, it's no accident it's this way. Dealerships often make more profit on their repair operations than they do in sales.
Posted by: dma | Jun 9, 2005 11:56:57 AM
I am also a girl, and although I don't know how to change my oil, I know enough to not get scammed by those guys when I go in. If I think there's something seriously wrong, I have somebody who DOES know what's going on take a look at my car. That way I know what to say when I take it in.
What a crybaby.
Posted by: redheadhottie | Jun 9, 2005 11:57:51 AM
Amen, redheadhottie!
I don't have to change my oil, because I've got a husband and a son who do it for me, but my man's made sure I know enough about the car so that I don't ever get screwed if he's not around.
If this guy feels emasculated when he needs to get his oil changed, I'd hate to see what happens to him if something serious happened to his car.
Posted by: pnwgal | Jun 9, 2005 12:40:56 PM
DMA, I once built a fuel injection control computer on my kitchen table using parts I bought from a site on the Internet. Took some time but it's not very difficult if you have any experience with a soldering iron. There's a whole community of people who are into that - see http://www.megasquirt.info if you're curious. Perhaps sometime 100 years from now that'll be spoken of with the same sort of shock at hearing of a blacksmith casting his own engine bearings. The sensors still have to be bought, though.
Posted by: Matt | Jun 9, 2005 1:14:48 PM
I'm not talking about replacing a crankshaft which even on my relatively easy to work on 64 VW would be something I'd take down to my regular mechanic. It's about oil changes, filters, flat tires - things anyone should be able to do on their own. No one's asking this guy to refine the oil he's using.
Posted by: not a punk | Jun 9, 2005 2:17:40 PM
Every business, from Bakeries to Hospitals, seeks profit; we get the product or service we need, plus whatever else we either go for or are sold; sometimes the provider or salesperson will push and even force by preying on our worse fears: "That veggie tray may not serve 20 people, do you know if anybody else is bringing snacks to your potluck?" Even small children seem to know how to sell and intimidate; "Mommy, this shoe hurts my big toe now, and l really like this shoes, they fell so comfy" l know this is really a tongue-in-cheek article and the sarcastic tone is even kinda cute at times, but it does hold some truth bits. Some of us are fortunate enough to get along well with our neighbours, relatives, co-workers, FRIENDS... and we all have talents, skills, professions; and it is the greatest thing to have somebody willing to do your taxes, cut your hair, fix your carburator, teach you French, drive you to the next town, etc... if not for free, with a discount. And l in return could do calligraphy, help them move, cook for one of their parties, teach them Spanish, translate something, set up their Ebay account, etc. 0r at least recommend some true and tried handyman, alterations lady, discount lamp place l know of, and so much more. lt si very simple to combat the every day scammers all over the place. Let's communicate, let's share. lt's simple.
Posted by: Alex Duarte | Jun 9, 2005 6:41:38 PM
Having fun are we? There is no chance any of you posters above, who dumped on our protagonist, would EVER be taken advantage of. No plumbers, electricians, driveway sealers, pc techs, car salesmen, roofers, Girl Scout cookie vendors are ever going to pull the wool over your eyes. No! You are going to cruise on over to Wikipedia and suss all this out on your own. You are in full control of your destinies and any wuss who dares give voice to his helplessness is just asking for it. Must be a damn liberal pussy, anyway. Just burn him! Burn him, I say!!
Pardon me. Ice 101 (and Rush Limbaugh) has that effect on me.
Posted by: pseudolus | Jun 9, 2005 8:12:38 PM
when i see articles like this it always makes me think about the unpractical value of my liberal arts & post graduate education. i'd trade in all the doctors, lawyers, and white collar professionals i know for some more good mechanically inclined friends. the odds of me needing help from my anesthesiologist low -- needing the help of a plumber or a mechanic, pretty damn high.
it's like the revenge of all the guys that took shop class in high school.
Posted by: reggie newton | Jun 10, 2005 7:27:08 AM
Whoa there, pseudolus. There's a difference between being scammed by an oil change dude (who this guy sees at least four times a year) and your "plumbers, electricians, driveway sealers, pc techs, car salesmen, roofers, Girl Scout cookie vendors." As Alex Duarte profoundly noted, we live in a society where people try to sell us stuff we really don't need. I used to work at a corporate restaurant, one of those where you walk up to the table and say, "Hi my name is ____, I'll be your server, can I start you off with a margarita?" I can tell you from experience: there are thousands of people in this world who know how to politely refuse a service.
My car manual says to change my oil every 3,000 miles, so I do it. I don't see electricians or PC techs four times a year. I know what a dirty air filter looks like. I know I don't want the oil change dudes doing anything to my transmission or any other part of my car besides the oil. If they say something is wrong, I will ask my pre-screened mechanic about it later.
It's one thing to call a plumber into your house one time and get screwed. It's a different story when you see servicepeople frequently and simply can't figure out how to say "no, thank you." I'm not saying I never get the wool pulled over my eyes ... but I sure hope that during the 30 or so oil changes I've paid for in my life, I might have learned something about how not to be stupid and spend money unnecessarily.
Posted by: redheadhottie | Jun 10, 2005 10:17:46 AM
