Oil change scam: Hidden camera investigation on what really happens to your car

[loveunderlaw]

When you trust someone else to take care of your car, can you trust that they're not taking you for a ride? Our undercover investigation reveals ripoffs at a popular oil change chain. We're going in for the advertised $19.99 oil change, but you won't believe the charges we end up with. And did they even do the work? We go up on the hoist to show you what’s really going down at these oil change shops.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-avpx8UTakI

These sort of cretins are the sorts of people that one should be aware of, it happens more than you think.

[allodial]

Women are typically targeted moreso than guys. Maybe old men too but females moreso. An easy remedy is to acquire a set of ramps and chocks (to put up against the back tires to keep the car from rolling back as an added safety measure). Basically, you drive your car up on the ramps, put in park. Put the emergency brakes on. Put the chock blocks behind the back tires. I would add jack stands just for extra safety (what if the ground under the ramp was questionable). Of course you want to see to it that the ground is hard and capable of supporting the automobile without sinking (hard pavement for example would likely be suitable).

Some lighting (worklights, LED disc lights you can lay on the ground --who knows what time of day it might be). An oil pan (you could filter your own oil too). Of course you'll need the specific tools to loosen the nut to allow the oil to leak out. Its relatively easy to do. I maintained multiple cars and trucks. Trucks are usually easier to get under so there is an advantage there. Taking the whole oil pan out and cleaning it is is preferable. But letting old used oil out of the outlet (typically a small bolt you loosen then put back in place) and changing the oil filter goes long way.

2786
Ramps $40 (http://www.amazon.com/RhinoGear-11909-RhinoRamps-Vehicle-Capacity/dp/B006EGAIII/)

2787
Chocks $15 (http://www.amazon.com/FloTool-11930MI-Heavy-Wheel-Chocks/dp/B000BQYH6Q/)

and/or

2788
Jack stands $20 (http://www.amazon.com/Torin-T42002-Jack-Stands-Pairs/dp/B0028JQYPG/)

Heavier duty jack stands 3ton prob cost only $15 more. The heavier your automobile the heavier duty you'd require. Jack stands would be used if you use a jack --

2791
...a hydraulic jack not the scrap metal trash they give you with new cars. $55. A jack that starts higher off the ground may not be suitable for lower-sitting cars. Some jacks may not rise high enough for trucks.

2789
Creeper $30 (a comfortable one) (http://www.amazon.com/Performance-Tool-Wilmar-W85005-Adjustable/dp/B000N32048/)

Hmm let's think about this, I could pay $100 + tool costs and change my oil myself or pay someone $69.00 per car to rip me off potentially? Hmmm.

So basically: Ramps + chocks + creeper or hydraulic jack + jack stands + creeper. I prefer the ramps if I'm having to spend any reasonable amount of time under a car. IMHO, hydraulic jacks are mainly for changing tires + emergency service. Also:


an oil pan and a place to take oil for recycling
some overalls or clothes you dont mind getting dirty
some work gloves
a breaker bar (for stubborn bolts)
goggles (preferably the strap on kind so they don't fall off) to your eyes safe (http://www.amazon.com/3M-Professional-Chemical-Splash-Goggle/dp/B0014ZXTPS/)




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgtUDTFxOkQ


An interesting grass roots method of cleaning crankcase oil that I've seen, but never tried, is a rope. As in two buckets, one above the other. The top one has the dirty oil in it. A clean rope is dropped in the top one and dangled down to the lower one. Wicking action slowly transfers the oil from the top bucket to the lower bucket. It looks very clean in the lower bucket.

Here's an interesting discussion (https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/diy-used-motor-oil-recycling/16615/page1/)about what one can do with used motor oil (treatment of pine board for fences seems to be of the best).

[loveunderlaw]

Women are typically targeted moreso than guys. Maybe old men too but females moreso. An easy remedy is to acquire a set of ramps and chocks (to put up against the back tires to keep the car from rolling back as an added safety measure). Basically, you drive your car up on the ramps, put in park. Put the emergency brakes on. Put the chock blocks behind the back tires. I would add jack stands just for extra safety (what if the ground under the ramp was questionable). Of course you want to see to it that the ground is hard and capable of supporting the automobile without sinking (hard pavement for example would likely be suitable).

Some lighting (worklights, LED disc lights you can lay on the ground --who knows what time of day it might be). An oil pan (you could filter your own oil too). Of course you'll need the specific tools to loosen the nut to allow the oil to leak out. Its relatively easy to do. I maintained multiple cars and trucks. Trucks are usually easier to get under so there is an advantage there. Taking the whole oil pan out and cleaning it is is preferable. But letting old used oil out of the outlet (typically a small bolt you loosen then put back in place) and changing the oil filter goes long way.

2786
Ramps $40 (http://www.amazon.com/RhinoGear-11909-RhinoRamps-Vehicle-Capacity/dp/B006EGAIII/)

2787
Chocks $15 (http://www.amazon.com/FloTool-11930MI-Heavy-Wheel-Chocks/dp/B000BQYH6Q/)

and/or

2788
Jack stands $20 (http://www.amazon.com/Torin-T42002-Jack-Stands-Pairs/dp/B0028JQYPG/)

Heavier duty jack stands 3ton prob cost only $15 more. The heavier your automobile the heavier duty you'd require. Jack stands would be used if you use a jack --

2791
...a hydraulic jack not the scrap metal trash they give you with new cars. $55. A jack that starts higher off the ground may not be suitable for lower-sitting cars. Some jacks may not rise high enough for trucks.

2789
Creeper $30 (a comfortable one) (http://www.amazon.com/Performance-Tool-Wilmar-W85005-Adjustable/dp/B000N32048/)

Hmm let's think about this, I could pay $100 + tool costs and change my oil myself or pay someone $69.00 per car to rip me off potentially? Hmmm.

So basically: Ramps + chocks + creeper or hydraulic jack + jack stands + creeper. I prefer the ramps if I'm having to spend any reasonable amount of time under a car. IMHO, hydraulic jacks are mainly for changing tires + emergency service. Also:


an oil pan and a place to take oil for recycling
some overalls or clothes you dont mind getting dirty
some work gloves
a breaker bar (for stubborn bolts)
goggles (preferably the strap on kind so they don't fall off) to your eyes safe (http://www.amazon.com/3M-Professional-Chemical-Splash-Goggle/dp/B0014ZXTPS/)




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgtUDTFxOkQ



Here's an interesting discussion (https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/diy-used-motor-oil-recycling/16615/page1/)about what one can do with used motor oil (treatment of pine board for fences seems to be of the best).


Unless it's a major auto repair, most things can be done quite easily & safely at home. The losers at a local Midas shop told me that, "it would only cost me $ 549.00 to get all four of my rotten brakes relaced". Guess what ? I got all new brakes for all the wheels & did it for half of what they were asking for. Not to mention I didn't get the generic pads, rotors, & drums for that price, I got the high end parts & I know it was done correctly.

Like you said though, "women, the elderly, & those that lack the confidence to work on their own vehicles" are the ones they prey on. He really needs to spend some time behind bars IMO to teach him a lesson.

[Michael Joseph]

Unless it's a major auto repair, most things can be done quite easily & safely at home. The losers at a local Midas shop told me that, "it would only cost me $ 549.00 to get all four of my rotten brakes relaced". Guess what ? I got all new brakes for all the wheels & did it for half of what they were asking for. Not to mention I didn't get the generic pads, rotors, & drums for that price, I got the high end parts & I know it was done correctly.

Like you said though, "women, the elderly, & those that lack the confidence to work on their own vehicles" are the ones they prey on. He really needs to spend some time behind bars IMO to teach him a lesson.

My next door neighbor has his mother living with him. She is in late 60's and has need for a knee replacement. She recently took her Jeep to a brake shop who informed her that they would charge $750 for labor associated with the complete replacement of the brakes on all four wheels. I had just recently did a brake job on a Honda for my wife and it took about a hour to replace all four brakes and that included both brake and rotors. The material costs were roughly 200.

I don't have a machine to turn the rotors so I just replace them as time to me is worth more than saving a little bit of moolah. Nevertheless, the most time involved in the brake job is getting the tires off and back on. The actual replacement of the rotors and pads is a piece of cake.

I told my neighbor that if she would buy the materials, that I would replace the brakes/rotors for whatever she thought was fair. We settled on two loaves of banana bread. I would have done it for free, but she was adamant that she was going to pay something. So be it.

I must admit that these day it seems more and more difficult to work on these "fancy" new cars because the designers are cramming more and more into a very small space. Recently, just replacing the points and plugs on a Honda Odyssey was a major undertaking. I actually had to remove the top of the block just to get to the plugs.

We noticed recently at speeds between 40 and 60 mph a harmonic frequency developed which makes the vehicle shake. We took the vehicle to a "professional shop" to be told, and get this, " the tread on the tires is separating." I could not believe what I was hearing. So I took the vehicle to another pro shop that does tire work only. The man there did a, get this, FREE balance job and then told me that the problem was in the back tire as there was a "flat spot" worn in the middle of the tire. He then said "if I could live with the reduced shaking, I had about 5000 miles left on that tire". I informed him that I was buying the tires from him and he could bank on that happening in the near future.

No pressure, just smiles. I asked him about his courtesy and he said "Michael, if you think a $55 balancing job is going to put me out of business, then I don't need to be in business." I thanked him for his charity [mercy] and his honesty. To be frank, I don't like taking service for free when I can pay but the owner, Ray, just said I am not collecting any money from you. He then said, if you want to "tip" the mechanic that might be a good thing. I gave the mechanic $20 and the guy spent another 30 minutes with me showing me some neat stuff that I could do for myself in the future.

They are not all bad, but it pays to keep one's eyes open. Oh one other tip, many mechanics DIY types, have posted videos on youtube for just about any job one can imagine. I recently had to change the water pump on a 1997 Jeep and sure enough I found a video.

My father in law just recently came to pick me up due to a failed battery. When he dropped me off, he said something to me that I will not forget. He said "now pay it forward. Share the love with another who needs help." He refused any payment from me only that I would help another.

allodial, thanks for this post.

Shalom,
MJ

[ag maniac]

Ohhh yeah, MJ......definitely YouTube is your friend !!!!

For those who don't mind a bit of engine grease under your fingernails....."donyboy73" on YouTube offers extensive & complete vids on small engine repair....lawnmowers, chainsaws, tillers, snowblowers, etc

https://www.youtube.com/user/donyboy73/videos

[Michael Joseph]

Ohhh yeah, MJ......definitely YouTube is your friend !!!!

For those who don't mind a bit of engine grease under your fingernails....."donyboy73" on YouTube offers extensive & complete vids on small engine repair....lawnmowers, chainsaws, tillers, snowblowers, etc

https://www.youtube.com/user/donyboy73/videos

Man this is AWESOME. I have three weed eaters and two of them stopped working because they got "gummed" up with this ethanol gas. I have come to learn it is worth it to buy the 100 percent gas - if you can find it. I have to drive an extra 20 minutes out of my way to find the single gas station on the county that sells 100 percent gas.

Thanks for this link. I will be spending some time there. I noticed the chainsaw stuff too. I got problems with two of those as well. Good stuff.

[loveunderlaw]

Man this is AWESOME. I have three weed eaters and two of them stopped working because they got "gummed" up with this ethanol gas. I have come to learn it is worth it to buy the 100 percent gas - if you can find it. I have to drive an extra 20 minutes out of my way to find the single gas station on the county that sells 100 percent gas.

Thanks for this link. I will be spending some time there. I noticed the chainsaw stuff too. I got problems with two of those as well. Good stuff.


Putting Ethanol into our fuel was one of the worst ideas ever! Not only does it ruin your engine more quickly over time, it also raises the cost of foods\drinks that rely on Corn to be produced, not only that, it puts more pollution into the air. Our autos were never designed to use Ethanol as a fuel.