How long should one wait to go to Jiffy Lube with a new car of a new generation model?

Mine can start going after 800,000 miles or after I sell it, whichever comes first. I sure as hell am not taking any of my vehicles to those places.

 

I usually go to a local shop timing or weather usually get in my way. I like to support small businesses too. Nothing like doing yourself though.

 

Wow, a lot of hate for quick lube places here. I learned to do maintenance and other work myself due to curiosity and necessity (it was cheaper). I eventually tried a quick lube, and ended up with a stripped drain plug on one occasion, then first change on my wife's car required a screwdriver through the filter to remove it. And one time due to time constraints I had tranny fluid changed, and the guy came into the waiting room holding a filthy air filter and asked if I wanted my air filter changed. Wasn't even the same kind of air filter (to his credit, he didn't say it was mine, but I can see how that would work on many people). I did have one change done while on a long road trip that went fine. So for me, 2 out of 3 were messed up. But for someone that always goes to those places, they would never see what I ran into and neither issue would have caused catastrophic failure.

Anyway, get a cheap torque wrench that covers that low range you need and do it yourself. Even with no training, your motivation will likely keep you out of too much trouble.

 

ToyotaCare for free with purchase for FTW. first 5 5000 mile oil changes are on them. Whoot

 

Lol, got that too but they only covered dino oil and I wanted synthetic. I just let them rotate the tires and told them to give me the oil filter. And checked the wheel nut torque when I got home.

 

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NEVER ... ... EVER ... ... for me ... been burned by them a long time ago.

I am sure there are some good stories from those places ... take your chances as many times their employee turnover is very high.

 

During my career(40years) after I worked my way up to the position where I was doing the hiring, I never hired a Tech that had only worked at a quick lube business. I found that they had very little knowledge of tools and Diagnostics. I always looked for Military trained guy's or a person with at least 3 years of "Hands on" experience. I even had a few Techs that had several ASE certifications and they could not perform up to my expectations.

 

I did oil changes on my 2002 Tacoma. Easy peasey with the canister filter but on my 2017 and the cartridge filter............screw that! I had my share of changing those on my '67 El Camino until they made the canister adaptors for 'em. I'm also 70 years old and I'm not as nimble as I once was crawling under the rig screwing with the skid plate et. al.. I also figured with my oil rebates from Castrol and the dealership coupons that it was cheaper to have them do it. Then again, I miss the knowing that when I did it, I had no doubts it was done right + it got me under the rig to check things out.

Fast Lube Joints = NEVER!

 

They never know what they are doing. Jiffy lube just bought my customer a transmission after dumping tranny fluid and overfilling the oil. They didnt care it slammed into first and wouldnt shift after and smoked more than cheech marin. Toyota will do a syn lof and rotate for like 50 bucks, how much cheaper is it to have a 18 year old kid do it at jiffy?

 

Like I mentioned previously I had my 02 Tacoma Pre Runner at Jiffy lube last week and had no issues . I did however stand next to my truck inside their service bay and watched them closely . Even watched my oil being drained and filter removal a new one installed

 

I've even had my street /strip car at Jiffy lube for an oil change and I supplied my own oil & filter . I even asked them to fill the filter prior to install and even had them add an additive into the oil

No problems whatsoever !!!

 

I think the take away is this:
CAN jiffy lube etc. change your oil properly? The answer is yes, but what odds of them fucking something up is acceptable? Even at a 95% success rate I’ll stay far away and do it myself.

 

Like @Dawnpatrol said, I use it as an opportunity to check things out. I agree that the quick change places wouldn't be in business if they were really that bad, but it's not hard to do and way cheaper if you find your favorite brand of synthetic on sale.

To answer the original OP question, if the tech doesn't know the vehicle, they probably just use YouTube.

But if you are comfortable with the dealership doing it and it is convenient enough, just keep having them do it. They have access to any OEM parts, and if they screw it up the vehicle is already at a good place to correct the issue.

 

I may be an anomaly, but I took my old Ford truck to Jiffy Lube every 5000 miles and never had a problem. When I went into the Toyota dealership to buy my truck, the salesman asked what I was currently driving. I told him a 12 year old Ford with 330,000 miles on it. He called it an "Overachiever".

 

You don't need a torque wrench for either of those. Assuming you got average arm strength tighten the filter with your hand, no wrench at all. Drainplug, regular box wrench hand tight. Don't overdo it, if it doesn't leak it's tight enough

 

I havent read the previous posts, but Ill chime in.
Dont. Dont trust JL, dont trust their "techs", dont trust their advertising.
I worked at one briefly. They will lie to you straight faced and would do it to their own mothers too. My cousins fiance recently went there and the service writer said he would call the dmv and have her car impounded if she didnt pay to have her brake fluid replaced because it was old and it takes 3 gallons.
They have a habit of not tightening/over tightening drain plugs. Do NOT let them touch LSD, they told me to change the oil in one without friction modifier and they would "add it next time".

 

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I've heard this is a good source: https://www.cartalk.com/mechanics-files

 

The latest thing I keep hearing about is that these places try to convince you to change the brake fluid regularly because of air bubbles or some such crap.

Also, places trying to replace rotors when you need brake shoes replaced. That one has been going on for years around here. Rotors shouldn't have to be replaced everytime you get a break job...unless I am missing something here.

 

Not sure about the Jiffy Lube question, but I do love me some Jiffy Pop.