Not a car guy. 2020 LX Fit first car in over 20 years. I got a flyer the other day regarding a new AAA Auto Repair Center opening up advertising a Synthetic Oil Change and Tire Rotation for $50.00. Seemed like a good deal but I wanted to check.

Are AAA Auto Repair Center's a cut above say Jiffy Lube and Meineke or is a chain shop still just a chain shop. If I decide to take them up on their offer other then these questions what should I be asking.

I'll ask but I am assuming that *Oil Change* includes a new oil filter. What brand of synthetic oil (and weight) are you using and what is the brand name of the aftermarket oil filter. They stipulate that after a tire rotation balancing is not included but I'm assuming that's a standard disclaimer when it comes to shops like these that offer discount basic services.

What is the going rate for hazardous waste disposal these days.

Has anyone used AAA before for an oil change and have anything good or bad to add? TIA.

 

If AAA is now offering lube services, that's a first. None in these parts.

$50 is a good deal for full synthetic, about what walmart charges. Filter is included in any oil change.

On the GK5 Fit, the most important (and overlooked) item is making sure the splash shield is secured in place before you leave.

The little clips at the back don't tend to be secured well by many shops, both dealers and independents. I've had it happen at both. As a result, when the back clips go, the back of the splash shield just hangs down and flaps against the road. It's quite loud and annoying when it happens at freeway speeds.

Some chain and independent shops even charge extra to deal with the splash shield. Always point it out and ask ahead of time if it's an issue for them. If it seems like they don't know what you're talking about, go elsewhere.

 

Thanks for replying.

It's this one.

https://www.aaa.com/autorepair/shop/...-rancho-106937

Synthetic Oil change PLUS the tire rotation for $50.00

>Some chain and independent shops even charge extra to deal with the splash shield. Always point it out and ask ahead of time if it's an issue for them. If it seems like they don't know what you're talking about, go elsewhere.

Copy that. Thanks.

 

It's not AAA doing the work- it's a service station that's affiliated with them. I guess if they screwed up a lot they'd lose their affiliation.
I don't know about the 2020 but my 2016 Fit requires 0W20 oil so that's what they should be using.
As far as balancing, that's not typically included in a tire rotation and isn't needed unless, well, it's needed. If you don't feel vibration when you drive then your tires are already balanced (it's done when the tires are mounted and usually only need rebalancing if a weight falls off or if the tire's removed because of a flat).

I wouldn't worry about the brand of oil- if it's the right weight and it's synthetic then it's fine. You're not driving the space shuttle. We can debate about filters and there are probably differences but again, not the space shuttle. Whether the differences actually matter is also a debate.

But yeah, make sure they put the splash guard back. I change my own oil and it's maybe two minutes to take it off and put it back- and that's lying in the driveway under the car. Gotta be way easier with a car on a lift.

 

0W20 oil is specified right on the oil fill cap, but that's never stopped some places from putting in a different grade.

 

Don't.
If you're not doing it yourself, take it to a reputable Honda dealer.

 

Reputable Honda dealer? There are good reputations, and bad reputations...

 

The verbiage implies a trustworthy dealership.

 

I know. I'm pointing out that 'reputable Honda dealer' might not be so easy to find. Also I think that an independent service station can handle an oil change. Not sure I trust the quickie change places even though that's all they do. I do my own oil changes but I'd trust my mechanic if I didn't do it myself.

 

You're not wrong about that. Spent lots of time fighting dealers. I'm an educated and experienced technician so when I tell a dealer something isn't right, and they tell me it's normal, I'll never go back.

 

Have you actually seen them? Because that's not how they're presented.

There's no mention of them being a 3rd party station and the one near me is attached to the AAA office.

 

I stand corrected. I've never heard of AAA actually operating a service station. Here in NY they have stations that are affiliated but I don't think the non-profit actually operates stations.

But I will say- in some states Costco sells liquor. Here in NY they don't, but they have a liquor store adjacent to their store and the store does everything it can to make it look like they're affiliated instead of just being next to a Costco.

 

I haven't driven by there yet. So, I should be on the lookout for an attached AAA office? IF so does this inform the part of the question that I asked would a AAA service center be considered a step up from the likes of Jiffy Lube and Meineke? TIA.

 

$50 is decent if they'll use full synthetic 0W20 oil and a good filter. As many already mentioned and more:

1. Inspect those two clips at the rear of the splash shield to ensure they've not misplaced or damaged them
2. Make sure the splash shield is there *wink*
3. Mark your tires ahead of time to ensure they in fact rotate them (Pr*me Honda in Boston charged me but didn't rotate the tires - I caught them)

 

>Mark your tires ahead of time to ensure they in fact rotate them (PR*me Honda in Boston charged me but didn't rotate the tires - I caught them)

You know I thought of doing that and then I thought some asshole might be offended like pissing off your food server. You know some of them do spit in your food : ) So how did you in fact mark your tires. I thought of doing it on the wall of the tire facing inwards with small vertical strikes. TIA.

>...and a good filter.

What's a good filter brand?

>Inspect those two clips at the rear of the splash shield to ensure they've not misplaced or damaged them

I have never looked under the car before. The car is so low to the ground can I see and recognize the splash card without raising the car let alone discern if the clips or the splash guard is damaged?

>$50 is decent if they'll use full synthetic 0W20 oil

What if they are not using OW20? Is the deal still good? I see Mobil 1 5W-30 Extended Performance Full Synthetic advertised all the time. What if they are using 5W-30 Synthetic. Is it the worst thing in the world to use that? I don't drive that much. This first oil change will come 12 months after I purchased the car and the odometer reads under 5k.

 

I marked my tires with a red clay marker (FR, FL, RL, RR). The front left (FL) was still in the FL position, the RR was still in the rear right position. When I asked for the manager's manager, Pr@me Honda of Boston credited me later with a check in the mail (since the transaction had already been billed to my CC).

Any brand name filter is good (Wix, Honda, NAPA, and the like).

Ask them to check the car out before they drop the lift to ensure these clips are still there and in good shape.

Warranty on the car says to use 0W20 synthetic. I'd rather use 5W20 (5 means a thicker cold viscosity to cling better to parts). 20 means hot viscosity.

 

attachments:


borrowed from a fellow FitFreak

borrowed from a fellow FitFreak

 

>I marked my tires with a red clay marker

Thanks for the additional info and the pictures above!