Dealer or Quickie Lube for Oil Change?

[HondaFitted2007]

i would recommend doing it yourself if you have 1/2 hour to 2 hrs free time

it shouldn't take more than an hour to do it, the only really difficult part is getting the oil filter off with the stupid POS plastic oil filter cap

IMO installing stuff and doing your own maintenance is more rewarding, fun, and you definetly learn more about your car

for the fits its pretty simple to change oil, but on RSX's you have to burn yourself just to reach the oil filter

[Rob22315]

Originally Posted by HondaFitted2007

i would recommend doing it yourself if you have 1/2 hour to 2 hrs free time

it shouldn't take more than an hour to do it, the only really difficult part is getting the oil filter off with the stupid POS plastic oil filter cap

The filter cap wrench I got from Bernardi is metal. It wasn't cheap ($17) but I'm glad I got it. The first filter I did without the cap wrench (Bernardi said they had trouble finding it in their warehouse so it shipped later than I expected) wasn't bad but it was a little tricky getting a strap wrench that fit, then getting the strap wrench in under the vehicle. In a pinch, you could always just punch a phillips screwdriver through the can and twist the filter off.

With my fumoto valve, an oil change should take 15min to 1/2 hour tops.

[HondaFitted2007]

[quote=Rob22315;376377]In a pinch, you could always just punch a phillips screwdriver through the can and twist the filter off.
quote]
lol i use the same method except with huge pliers if the oil filter wouldn't budge

[RedAndy]

I echo the others. Don't use the kwikey lube places.

I've had them strip an oil pan, consistantly overfill, and use the wrong oil several times. The last time I went to one of these (while I was waiting for the Fit to be delivered), they didn't even have the 5w20 oil that the Fit requires, though this may have changed by now...

No more for me. I used to change the oil myself but where I live now it's a bit tougher, and saving $10 isn't as big a deal to me as it used to be.

I go to the dealership. I'm in and out in a max of 45 minutes (4 changes so far), they do everything right, and they wash the car for me to boot, all for - for $29. I've never made an appointment, but I tend to go when they first open up on the weekends.

[Koi]

I only go to the dealer for oil changes because I got lifetime free oil changes with the Fit. Otherwise I would do it myself.

As for the quicky oil change places, stay away from them like the plague because they're infamous for making up problems about the car - I remember there was a investigative report by a news channel where they had their car inspected by a certified mechanic with nothing wrong with the car; can you guess what the people at the lube place (I think it was Ez-lube in this case) said? I even ran into this problem myself when I used to have a Ford Mustang 05 - I was in a hurry and the guy who I was paying was insisting that my rear differential fluid needed to be changed (on a car with less than 15,000 miles, and on the basis that the color of the fluid was "dark"), and that my air filter NEEDED to be changed to a K&N drop in filter. It was ridiculous.

[mkaufman]

I hear far more complaints from my customers regarding past experiences with quick lubes who messed up their ride or snaked them into paying for upgrades and repairs they really didn't need than regarding dealerships doing the same.

It may be common to run into dealerships that are heavily pushing OEM oil and filters (often with the implied or overt threat of warranty issues), but it's much less common to have them make the kind of stupid mistakes that are so common at quick lubes.

I've done my own oil changes for 20 years, and, once you work out the kinks, most vehicles will only take you 1/2 hour or so. The first oil change, pay attention to the things that took you the most time and made the most mess. Then, go looking for available products or ingenious homemade doohickes that will alleviate the additional time and mess.

The Fumoto valve that was mentioned in an earlier post is one that I highly recommend and which has saved me a great deal of time and mess in the past. They're awesome. A large capacity covered/sealed drain pan can be useful as well.

Otherwise, if you're really averse to doing the work yourself, find yourself a dealership that doesn't threaten you with a voided warranty for not using OEM replacement parts - it's not legal or ethical and is, to me, a sign of a less than trustworthy dealership.