Anyone know the best Oil Change franchise?? (Chicago)
We’ve had good success with the local Goodyear Auto Service shop here in Louisville. Our branch seems pretty honest and has reasonable rates.
@rickd
Put your answers in the box below where it says "Your Answer". Not the comment section. Please and thanks. You can copy + paste.
Sometimes, I dont see the answer box..
you have to scroll to the bottom. On popular topics like yours, it can get a bit far away. 😉
I used them all in the past. Indy mechanic. Oil and lube shops. And the Dealer. The trouble is finding an honest and thorough one no matter which route you go.
DEALER
With the dealer, I try to find ones with online coupons. Many dealers use it as a loss leader. They do a fine job with the oil change.
But some will try to find other problems with the car. Many are legit concerns. But getting them done at the Dealer costs an arm and a leg. I then find an independent mechanic that can do a good job at a fraction of the dealer price.
OIL AND LUBE SHOPS
I always feel like I am being upsold and sold unnecessary service. It’s annoying. I avoid them as much as humanly possible. And each shop is run differently.
Just from experience, it seems Valvoline is a little bit better run than Jiffy Lube. But you’ll still get the upsell.
One of my friends went to an off brand Oil and Lube shop, and they put windshield wiper fluid where you would put the brake fluid. Horror story. Saving a few bucks on an oil job cost him $$$ on the brake system.
INDEPENDENT MECHANICS
I’ve had good work and oil changes done there, at a fair price. Just hard to find a good honest mechanic.
We have Valvoline's, Napa and Midas here in Chicago...any comments/experience?? 🙂
Avoid quick lube franchises if you care about your car. They are capable of screwing things up pretty badly. Support your local mechanic instead. My local GM dealer actually charges pretty reasonable rates for changing oil (on par with the quick lubes).
Best advice ever!
That jiffy lube place is also a huge pile of junk service.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-avpx8UTakI
{black}:shutmouth: Thank you!!!! For this video. I am speechless, if it's happening at one place, I can only imagine.
I'd avoid Walmart & Costco, too.
Yes, I sure will avoid those. @Dad2pwd ..... trying to figure how to reply the correct way. Thanks to ALL
Last time I went to a quick oil change place, they overfilled my manual transmission by two quarts and the front and rear seals blew out a week later. They denied any wrong doing so I had to pay for removal of the trans and replacement of both seals. Hundreds of dollars later, I will never even take my lawn mower to one of these places.
Always check work done, when possible. Fluid levels are the easiest to check quality of work. See fluid quality and level at a glance, sniff and feel. Other stuff not so easy.
My shop knows me by name. They know I check their work. That is why they pay attention to what they do for me. They put a half quart too much oil in and I went back for them to remove until the fluid level was at the right "cold" level. Being a pain in the ass has benefits, sometimes.
you can't check when they put the wrong tranny filter in because they didn't have the right one in stock.
I don't know the best but avoid the Jiffy Lube place they are horrendous for making stuff up and charging random things they don't know what they are doing plus cbs marketplace once did a test and found they were making up hundreds of dollars of repairs for no reasons. Trusted mechanic?
Dealerships do the same. Specialty garages also. Look at money spent getting service done as investments in education. The only way to learn your local service is to participate. You will see if they abuse you as a customer or not.
Also, when getting service done you do not have to get "extra service" they suggest done. You can decline and seek "help" at other garages. You are a customer, not a prisoner. Get oil changed and decline other service.
@jimz quick lube places are the WORST. I will never set foot in one. Dealerships probably vary from place to place, but I think they at least set a certain standard. And they are trained, unlike the quick lube place where any schmuck off the street can work after 20 minutes of power point slides.
@mountainmanjoe
totally agree do not set foot there they will leave you bare bones when they are done with you.
A Honda dealership really screwed up my Dad's Honda, leaving the cap off the radiator. He had been going there for years..honest mistake? My Brother in Law, a former Marine..went down there. He straightened them out.
Scotty saw your question and answered it in tonight's video
(5:15)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrfaaEOGMBA
@mountainmanjoe YEP just got through watching it. I cant say enough good things about Scotty. We have an over abundance of shysters here, in Chicago. No Scottys here...thats for sure. Also Thank You too for your expertise.
WOW! Glad I asked.... My gosh. Especially where I live... I trust no one. Now I really have to find an Independent Mechanic. Thanks, Guys. Love this site, and Scotty. I flew from Chicago to Ky with the intention of buying a car, remembering all the videos. I KNOW I picked a good one, and I owe it to Scotty and his videos. I flew down there, picked up that Honda, paid cash, and took my Grandkids and daughter home.... WE HAD A BLAST!! The kids are just old enough to enjoy downtown and see Lake Michigan... we drove down Lake Shore Dr. They loved it!
Now its time for me to check the plugs,and fluids. Im gonna buff it up in the garage today! I'm excited about my find! A Honda, made in Canada...running like a clock. Happy New Year to all and thanks to you smart Moderators. :d
Congrats on the new Honda! For an independent mechanic, you might try a google search for mechanics in your area and check out the reviews. Look for someplace with a lot of reviews and majority are good reviews. You can still get burnt but unless you personally know someone who knows a great place that is about the only way to hopefully find a good mechanic, at least that I can think of.
I do wish there was something like a 'Scotty certified' mechanic database 🙂 An honest mechanic is hard to find these days.
Databases are unreliable. The best thing to do is just ask here. I'm sure one of our almost 10,000 members will know a mechanic in your area.
Yeah... Scotty K.'s Oil Change. Free Kindness.
Best place to do an oil change is at home! I've had terrible experiences at multiple quick lube and mechanic shops, and you can see from the other comments that other people have too. It's better to just do it yourself so that you KNOW it was done properly (it's such a simple job...you don't need to be an ASE certified mechanic to do such a simple task).
The only different one around here is PEP Boys. Oh jeeze.
Yes, we have PEP boys...OK. I get it. All I see are Add a comment... I dont see 'your answer' options... 🙁 Thanks!
Anytime I go to a quick lube oil change oil place I wear a t-shirt that reads NO UP SELLING! NO AIR FILTERS! NO FLUSHING! Don’t waste your time having a t-shirt like that printed. Iffy Lube, will still try up sell you. They tired to selling me an automatic transmission flush on my manual transaxle Ford Focus.
The Jiffy Lube in Grants Pass, OR advertised a $10 Lube, oil filter service. I was the only one who got out the door for $10. They loss money on me that day.
Now, I take my new Tacoma to the dealership. I got five free oil changes when purchased the truck. On my motorcycles I change the oil myself. I get the oil at Wal Mart for $6.30 a quart and the filter from the dealership for $10. The same dealership wants $145 to change the oil. I also change the oil myself on my 1977 AMC Gremlin myself. I change the oil on the Gremlin twice a year, but I put less than 2,000 miles a year on the Gremlin. I a different kind of car, that gets a lot of attention. I should Scotty Kilmer due it’s next service. The video would go viral.
Wow. In years past I would feel better going and getting it done. Now forget it. What Im scared of is they wont change the filter. Once a mechanic put too light of an oil in my Ford F150 truck. Drove it from Ky to Chicago just fine. When I hit downtown, from the south, my oil pressure gage went nuts.I called him on my cell and he told me what he did. I asked him why???? And the answer was similar to the video showed on this thread. I was scared to death,knowing I had to drive all the way past downtown to the north side. Scotty..... why are YOU the only one? 🙁
😆
I want air that can make my car fly and fluid that keeps cancer away
😆 😆 😆 😆 omg!!!!
One thing I do have is Boundaries. Im not scared to say NO in a kind way. The video was great! Thanks 🙂
You are welcome!