Valvoline Instant Oil Change told me my cheapest option was $68.99. Were they trying to rip me off?

With the current 10k interval on most modern synthetics....that works out to be $35 every 5k.

Seems reasonable

 

Thanks, but we're not desperate for oil changes. We're busy as shit with cars that are actually broken with actual problems.

I literally don't have the time to make shit up and lie to you about your "dirty" cabin filter. Im not even going to pull it out and check it unless you pay me some time to go look.

Yes I change oil (a lot) but I'm not going to give my time away on a lowball oil change when I've got bigger jobs waiting for me to get to them. Thats how capitalism works, I'm allowed to choose the job that pays more.

With car repair, the value isn't in saving a few bucks on an oil change. The value is in finding a mechanic that won't lie to you

Good luck navigating the world of coupons and wiper blade upsells

 

Outside looking in, that's the difference. A reputable shop isn't trying to bullshit the customer no matter how big or small the job..nor are they picking around on nickel and dime things looking for work.

In general, would you say the Covid19 situation is affecting you..if so how?

 

Back in March we slowed down to about 50% of our normal volume, in April things got back to normal. People still need their cars fixed.

In the last few weeks since the weather turned nice we've been slammed

 

Whatever is cheapest and meets specs. Most of the time Supertech or Kirkland in my case. These trucks are not picky whatsoever when it comes to oil. Keep it between F and L on the dipstick. It’s that simple.

 

I'd guess you are seeing more maintainence/wear type things as well. For instance, I was mandated to work from home early March. Didn't matter much at first but when it became a longer-term thing I started getting things done I'd been putting off, both in terms of the truck as well as small house repairs. I could keep going a bit longer if I needed shocks for instance, but being that my need for my truck is almost nil and I'm still getting a steady paycheck I'd be more apt now to get it done since it's not going to alter my routine

 

Actually, I would guess that's what you would pay for an oil change at a shop. I'd take my truck to an independent mechanic LONG before I'd go to a fast lube place. I've known too many goof balls that worked at the fast lube places back in the day.
I pay about $30 for the materials when I do it myself and it takes me at least 30 minutes to do the job. I also roll around under my truck on my creeper and grease the u-joints and in general, inspect everything.

I'm keeping 4 cars on the road right now and need to get rid of some old oil. My dad usually takes it for his furnace in his shop but he lives so far away now, the jugs are stacking up!

 

I did my own all the time in my younger years. Single guy living at home type thing, plus the town dump took the old oil and filter.

Not as easy now with a house and other stuff going on, plus my dump doesn't take any of the stuff so instead of a trip up the street it's another trip to the store to return it.

 

$99 for my F150 truck, sat inside vehicle, oil was a synthetic blend...too much circus act to go back here. I didnt have a place to do it so next oil change I'll do it myself..

 

sounds good to me, you do honest work and keep customers happy you’ll do well. People will pay a little more for that and it’s well worth it. As I said I’ve been a mechanic for over 4 decades I’ve seen things
We used to build good Will by doing little things like telling someone and showing them worn items. That’s honest and it’s appreciated by older folks and single women. Good luck man

 

Update* I’m over at my favorite independent Toyota service garage today talking to the owner then he closes out a ticket for a woman that got an oil change. Bill came to 62.00 dollars which puts us right at between 60 to 70 for that service. So this is the new normal. Upon thought and reflection I’m gonna have to say I was wrong in what I said previously.

 

I’ll bet that was for 5+ quarts of conventional, and it didn’t include any real inspection or other fluids check.

That’s the real issue with having a shop do it - they don’t give a shit about an oil change, and they aren’t going to be greasing zerks or checking fluid levels when they can be making money on items that failed because they didn’t check in the first place.

 

the shop I go to would check those things. It’s clean well run and very busy precisely because they do good work at a fair price. They have a great reputation. They are old school whereby they know customers by name and treat them with respect, it’s why I go there.

I cannot vouch for some though, there’s always bad apples in every profession. You know how to spot them.

 

Right.. because that's how you make money as a mechanic, by never checking anything at all ever.

You sound like one of those guys that always blames "the last guy that touched my car" anytime something breaks. Once again, with that attitude, good luck finding a mechanic who will give a crap about your vehicles.

 

ive seen this type of customer over the years. They complain about everything no matter what you do. You can’t please them. After we identified this type we became too busy to do any more work for them.

 

Salty much? Ad hominem is a bad look on you.

Finding a mechanic that actually conducts an inspection and follows the service interval guides for a vehicle is exceptionally difficult. It’s not a money maker for actual mechanics, and quick lube places are pure volume, so the chances of them doing more than trying to up sell random services is... poor.

As for the rest of your post - LOL.

 

Most actual (book) labor times for oil changes are between 0.3 to 0.5 hrs. If its a bigger interval like 30/60/90k it can be up to 1.5 hrs to check all the areas listed. At $125.00 per hour that means the labor for changing oil should be between $37.50 - 62.50. Are you paying your mechanic 50$ in labor to change your oil? Are you paying him $187.50 for an hour and a half just to visually check out your 30k service? Are you chasing coupons around?

Its not worth his time to go check all the boxes because you're not paying him for his time to go check all the boxes. Those check off lists can be extensive. If he goes and looks in all these places, doesn't find anything that needs service (or finds issues and then you decline to fix it) he just gave his time away. This creates the desperation for upsells when shops are offering lowball oil change prices and "free" inspections. Its not that they're lazy, they simply don't have the time for a proper inspection

Its about voting with your money. Find a guy you trust and keep him in business so he'll be around

 

Thank you for making my point for me.

 

What kind of labor money did you pay the last guy who changed your oil? The guy who wasn't "motivated" to check out the rest of the vehicle..

 

Why don’t we just solve the problem ourselves by changing the oil and inspecting the vehicle ourselves. If you’re uncomfortable doing it, then bring it in and quit whining. It’s pretty simple.