Dear oil change workers

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

Just checking but do you guys understand that it's not necessary to fucking gorilla finger the new filter on? You understand it's not necessary to use the oil filter wrench/socket to tighten the damn thing down? There's this little rubber gasket seal on the end of the filter...just snug it down BY HAND and it's good to go.

I just had to fucking DESTROY the old no name oil shop filter that was on the Vic to get it off. I was laying on the fender with both hands down around the wrench pulling has hard as i could...i literally pulled up so hard the engine rocked over. Do these guys get trained or what?

By comparison, i also changed the oil in my Cherokee, and i was the last person to change the oil. It's so easy i don't even need to jack it up. Slide the pan under, pull the drain plug and drain the oil, then move the pan over and right from under the hood, just reach down and unscrew the old filter BY HAND. Every car i do an oil change on that has been to a fucking lube shop before is like this.

[Pitbull1052]

lol no D I don't think they get trained at all..... i've got too many bad stories... not removing both drain plugs on my stang and over filling it after I told them to drain both..... when I sold cars we had so many Cherokee's that came in with bad everything because they were talked into replacing all their fluids transfer case etc.... and they used the wrong weigh lubes etc.... that's why i do my own my blazer is pretty easy too nice not having to jack something up to work on it for a change....

[thecollector]

I just got a call from a place in West chester this weekend wanting me to fix a jeep trans for Cash. They pulled the wrong bolt out trying to check fluid levels on a standard trans:eek:. Offered me $700 cash, customer was in the waiting room unaware but I was hiking down in natural bridge so I had to pass. Chances are the case level plug is not going to be 3" long but their is only one way to find out i guess. Most of those places the employees know very little about cars, most of the managers are business guys with no technical qualification and the workers are cheap commisioned monkeys. Their are a few exceptions but that's the nature of the business.

I worked @ one when I was a sophmore in High school- It did beat the hell out of a drive thru window though:evilflip:.

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

Man i'm far from a trained mechanic...i don't even consider myself a mechanic per say, i just fix my own shit when i can. Something as simple as changing oil though, if you can't get that right then you have no business being under a car.

[2007ShelbyCobra]

This kinda thing makes all shops look bad. I work at a quick lube shop myself, I love having cars come back in 3 months/3000 miles and the filter and drain plug are still perfectly tight. A LOT of cars come through with filters from other shops and ESPECIALLY dealers where the filter is over tightened. Even though I work at an oil change shop, I still will not take my car there. Not even to my own shop, theres lazy and stupid people no matter where you go. :(

The problem is liability. Every few months we or another shop on our chain has a car that has a filter that was leaking or a problem. When that shit happens, the managment pressure everyone to put everything on a little extra tight.

[thecollector]

This kinda thing makes all shops look bad. I work at a quick lube shop myself, I love having cars come back in 3 months/3000 miles and the filter and drain plug are still perfectly tight. A LOT of cars come through with filters from other shops and ESPECIALLY dealers where the filter is over tightened. Even though I work at an oil change shop, I still will not take my car there. Not even to my own shop, theres lazy and stupid people no matter where you go. :(

The problem is liability. Every few months we or another shop on our chain has a car that has a filter that was leaking or a problem. When that shit happens, the managment pressure everyone to put everything on a little extra tight.

:agree:

I have worked at a couple local dealerships as a tech and I only know of 4 people I would ever even let touch my own vehicle's. Dealership's and full service shops are surely not immune to hacks, many also have an hourly "lube Boy" who does the oil changes/tires to keep the line tech's from complaining.

Maybe im a car control freak but I don't know it's done right unless i did it myself.

[sean]

There are some things I do on my own and a lot more I would just rather not do. If you dont want to do it yourself find a trusted person to do repairs for you. I have a friend that I take my cars to or he comes to me. He even came out and fixed a car of mine when I broke down driving home. i called him and he was there with the part about an hour later. Had it fixed and ready to go shortly there after. If I dont know the person and I know nothing about his work I just assume go some where else.