The crap they try to sell you...

I took my '02 Tacoma Doublecab Prerunner in to a quick service oil
change place today. It now has 37000 miles on it. Right away the dork
with the clipboard says.. "Your getting on up there in miles, I would
recommend an oil system engine flush". I declined and laughed at him.
They take my truck into the bay and start changing the oil when the
tech comes over to me with the work order on the clipboard, he has
smeared a bit of tranny fluid and power steering fluid on the paper,
and tells me the transmission fluid is looking quite burned, as well as
the power steering fluid, I should have them both flushed and changed.
The Tranny fluid was clean and bright red, and the power steering fluid
was a pretty honey color. Once again, I declined. then they showed me a
prettly close to new air filter, and told me I needed a new one. I
declined.
I did point out however, that they failed to mention that my front
tires were dangerously bald on the inside edges, but I chalk that up to
the fact that there wasn't an alignment machine in site anywhere.
I am currently awaiting a set of Take off 17" alloys and tires from a
'07 FJ cruiser that I bought on ebay....

"jerryeveretts" <ifreeley@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1166136306.835332.166940@73g2000cwn.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>I took my '02 Tacoma Doublecab Prerunner in to a quick service oil
> change place today. It now has 37000 miles on it. Right away the dork
> with the clipboard says.. "Your getting on up there in miles, I would
> recommend an oil system engine flush". I declined and laughed at him.
> They take my truck into the bay and start changing the oil when the
> tech comes over to me with the work order on the clipboard, he has
> smeared a bit of tranny fluid and power steering fluid on the paper,
> and tells me the transmission fluid is looking quite burned, as well as
> the power steering fluid, I should have them both flushed and changed.
> The Tranny fluid was clean and bright red, and the power steering fluid
> was a pretty honey color. Once again, I declined. then they showed me a
> prettly close to new air filter, and told me I needed a new one. I
> declined.
> I did point out however, that they failed to mention that my front
> tires were dangerously bald on the inside edges, but I chalk that up to
> the fact that there wasn't an alignment machine in site anywhere.
> I am currently awaiting a set of Take off 17" alloys and tires from a
> '07 FJ cruiser that I bought on ebay....
>[/color]


Did you check your oil level after the retards were done "servicing" the
vehicle?

"jerryeveretts" <ifreeley@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1166136306.835332.166940@73g2000cwn.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>I took my '02 Tacoma Doublecab Prerunner in to a quick service oil
> change place today.[/color]

Why do you let them change your oil, to save time?

> Why do you let them change your oil, to save time?
It would take me about an hour and a half to do it myself. I don't even
have to get out of the truck this way. However, I don't think I will go
back to this place. I usually go to a different place, where I like
them and they seem competent.

Yup - they work on commission and don't make much on simple oil changes.
Suspect if you had bit on the trans fluid change they would have done
nothing but charge you for it!

"jerryeveretts" <ifreeley@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1166136306.835332.166940@73g2000cwn.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>I took my '02 Tacoma Doublecab Prerunner in to a quick service oil
> change place today. It now has 37000 miles on it. Right away the dork
> with the clipboard says.. "Your getting on up there in miles, I would
> recommend an oil system engine flush". I declined and laughed at him.
> They take my truck into the bay and start changing the oil when the
> tech comes over to me with the work order on the clipboard, he has
> smeared a bit of tranny fluid and power steering fluid on the paper,
> and tells me the transmission fluid is looking quite burned, as well as
> the power steering fluid, I should have them both flushed and changed.
> The Tranny fluid was clean and bright red, and the power steering fluid
> was a pretty honey color. Once again, I declined. then they showed me a
> prettly close to new air filter, and told me I needed a new one. I
> declined.
> I did point out however, that they failed to mention that my front
> tires were dangerously bald on the inside edges, but I chalk that up to
> the fact that there wasn't an alignment machine in site anywhere.
> I am currently awaiting a set of Take off 17" alloys and tires from a
> '07 FJ cruiser that I bought on ebay....
>[/color]

"jerryeveretts" <ifreeley@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1166141674.523180.54470@79g2000cws.googlegroups.com...[color=blue][color=green]
>> Why do you let them change your oil, to save time?[/color]
> It would take me about an hour and a half to do it myself. I don't even
> have to get out of the truck this way. However, I don't think I will go
> back to this place. I usually go to a different place, where I like
> them and they seem competent.
>[/color]

Holy shit.....I can't believe I'm reading this. Are you actually saying that
one of your criteria for service is not having to get out of your truck???

[color=blue]
> Holy shit.....I can't believe I'm reading this. Are you actually saying that
> one of your criteria for service is not having to get out of your truck???[/color]

Not exactly, but one of the criteria for service is my very valuable
time. If I can get the same quality from a drive though than I could do
myself. Why waste time that could be otherwise spent doing something
important, like spending it with my family?

"jerryeveretts" <ifreeley@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1166197473.995595.203830@j72g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>
> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:[color=green]
>> "jerryeveretts" <ifreeley@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:1166189672.499660.15510@f1g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=darkred]
>> >
>> >> Holy shit.....I can't believe I'm reading this. Are you actually
>> >> saying
>> >> that
>> >> one of your criteria for service is not having to get out of your
>> >> truck???
>> >
>> > Not exactly, but one of the criteria for service is my very valuable
>> > time. If I can get the same quality from a drive though than I could do
>> > myself. Why waste time that could be otherwise spent doing something
>> > important, like spending it with my family?
>> >[/color]
>>
>> When one of those places either hurts your car, or fails to see some bad
>> situation developing which requires a future repair, all the time you
>> saved
>> will be gone, and then some.[/color]
>
> I don't understand why you give a shit what I do with my car. I have my
> priority's straight, and it works for me. You will never convince me to
> do things your way, I don't even feel the slightest need to try to make
> you understand my motives.
> So when you show up at my door ready to start paying for my truck, I
> will take your advice under consideration. Until that day comes... find
> somebody else who gives a shit. Because I don't.
>[/color]


Two things:

In your initial message, YOU provided a number of reasons why you shouldn't
go to those instant oil change places. And, without intending to do so, you
made it clear that they were not looking out for YOUR best interests (see
below). No matter who you do business with, in any product category, you
should expect to receive the maximum benefit 100% of the time.

With a car, "your best interests" is defined as doing whatever is possible
to assure that you have no mechanical failures which can put you (or others)
in danger. Example: Last summer, on the NY State Thruway, a woman's car left
the highway and ended up in a ditch, killing the passenger. No rain, broad
daylight, no alcohol involved, not an elderly driver, no other vehicles
involved (fortunately). The state police found that one of her ball joints
had failed, if I recall. This could have been prevented.

How many times have you seen "misunderstandings" because someone's signal
light wasn't working? Not accidents, but almost. My son's 17, and a new
driver. He spots them constantly. If you go for an oil change and your
mechanic spots a bad light bulb, hasn't he made your car safer for your
family?

The possible reasons for accidents is a short one: Weather, other drivers,
your mental & physical condition, and the mechanical condition of your car.
You can control most of that list. But, unless you do your own mechanical
work, you need a decent mechanic. The way to keep a car safe is to be
proactive, rather than waiting until things go wrong.

Unlike the folks that hang in NGs you understand that in the finite world in
which we live, time is more important than money. It becomes more obvious
to most as one grow older. ;)

mike


"jerryeveretts" <ifreeley@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1166189672.499660.15510@f1g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>[color=green]
>> Holy shit.....I can't believe I'm reading this. Are you actually saying
>> that
>> one of your criteria for service is not having to get out of your
>> truck???[/color]
>
> Not exactly, but one of the criteria for service is my very valuable
> time. If I can get the same quality from a drive though than I could do
> myself. Why waste time that could be otherwise spent doing something
> important, like spending it with my family?
>[/color]

Yeah, but when your car puts you in the hospital or kills you, it puts a
different spin on the idea of saving time.


"Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote in message
news:_PSdnQg_mbY8Sh_YUSdV9g@ptd.net...[color=blue]
> Unlike the folks that hang in NGs you understand that in the finite world
> in which we live, time is more important than money. It becomes more
> obvious to most as one grow older. ;)
>
> mike
>
>
> "jerryeveretts" <ifreeley@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1166189672.499660.15510@f1g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=green]
>>[color=darkred]
>>> Holy shit.....I can't believe I'm reading this. Are you actually saying
>>> that
>>> one of your criteria for service is not having to get out of your
>>> truck???[/color]
>>
>> Not exactly, but one of the criteria for service is my very valuable
>> time. If I can get the same quality from a drive though than I could do
>> myself. Why waste time that could be otherwise spent doing something
>> important, like spending it with my family?
>>[/color]
>
>[/color]

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:[color=blue]
> Yeah, but when your car puts you in the hospital or kills you, it puts a
> different spin on the idea of saving time.[/color]

Going to a quick lube instead of mechanic, for a routine oil change, is
not likely to make you an any more risk of putting your family in
danger. You are now grasping at straws.

Joe's known for that...


jerryeveretts wrote:[color=blue]
> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:[color=green]
> > Yeah, but when your car puts you in the hospital or kills you, it puts a
> > different spin on the idea of saving time.[/color]
>
> Going to a quick lube instead of mechanic, for a routine oil change, is
> not likely to make you an any more risk of putting your family in
> danger. You are now grasping at straws.[/color]

"jerryeveretts" <ifreeley@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1166204315.650286.217040@t46g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>
> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:[color=green]
>> Yeah, but when your car puts you in the hospital or kills you, it puts a
>> different spin on the idea of saving time.[/color]
>
> Going to a quick lube instead of mechanic, for a routine oil change, is
> not likely to make you an any more risk of putting your family in
> danger. You are now grasping at straws.
>[/color]

Three comments, and a two questions:

1) You apparently haven't spent enough time in this and other automotive
newsgroups to read some of the horror stories about quick lube places.

2) It's not necessarily what they DO that can cause problems. It's what they
DON'T do. If you don't agree with this, you must be too young to have enough
perspective about cars.

3) Since everything I said in my previous message was true, your "grasping
at straws" idea is logically impossible.


Question:
Who does the rest of your mechanical work?
How many times a year do you have your oil changed?

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:[color=blue]
> Yeah, but when your car puts you in the hospital or kills you, it puts a
> different spin on the idea of saving time.
>
>
> "Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote in message
> news:_PSdnQg_mbY8Sh_YUSdV9g@ptd.net...[color=green]
>> Unlike the folks that hang in NGs you understand that in the finite world
>> in which we live, time is more important than money. It becomes more
>> obvious to most as one grow older. ;)
>>
>> mike
>>
>>
>> "jerryeveretts" <ifreeley@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:1166189672.499660.15510@f1g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=darkred]
>>>> Holy shit.....I can't believe I'm reading this. Are you actually saying
>>>> that
>>>> one of your criteria for service is not having to get out of your
>>>> truck???
>>> Not exactly, but one of the criteria for service is my very valuable
>>> time. If I can get the same quality from a drive though than I could do
>>> myself. Why waste time that could be otherwise spent doing something
>>> important, like spending it with my family?
>>>[/color]
>>[/color]
>
>[/color]

You could go that far... But more likely they will end up ruining your
car causing you downtime trying to get it repaired.

Dante

"JoeSpareBedroom" <dishborealis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:vRygh.7557$Ka1.2095@news01.roc.ny...[color=blue]
> "jerryeveretts" <ifreeley@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1166189672.499660.15510@f1g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=green]
>>[color=darkred]
>>> Holy shit.....I can't believe I'm reading this. Are you actually saying
>>> that
>>> one of your criteria for service is not having to get out of your
>>> truck???[/color]
>>
>> Not exactly, but one of the criteria for service is my very valuable
>> time. If I can get the same quality from a drive though than I could do
>> myself. Why waste time that could be otherwise spent doing something
>> important, like spending it with my family?
>>[/color]
>
> When one of those places either hurts your car, or fails to see some bad
> situation developing which requires a future repair, all the time you
> saved will be gone, and then some.
>
> Here's a scenario you should seek to experience:
>
> I go to my regular mechanic for oil & filter. If he and I don't waste time
> talking about fishing, my car's in & out in 20 minutes. Usually, it's 30
> because he likes to chatter. He checks all the fluids, topping them off
> for free if they need it. He goes over the entire bottom of the car with a
> big light, and seems to enjoy giving the customer a guided tour. He knows
> I tow a boat, and expect the parking brake to work on steep ramps, so he
> makes sure the cables, brackets & springs are blasted clean, lubed and
> working freely. Then, there's the "I think you're runnin' these tires with
> a little too much air" discussion, which has never come to a conclusion
> he's happy with, so we agree to disagree. He degreases door hinges &
> latches because since the last visit, they've usually got dirt clinging to
> the old grease, so he sprays on fresh lubricant (very picky).
>
> A month ago, my son set up an appointment for the first oil change for his
> new-used car. The mechanic had him come in at 4:00 PM because he knew he
> could spend some time with him, acquainting him with the bottom of the car
> and explaining some of the noises he was hearing. "Here's the source of
> the oil on the driveway that your dad mentioned. We'll take car of that
> when we do the timing belt, and you watch your oil level until then, and
> that occasional creaking noise is coming from here & no need to worry
> about it....".
>
> That's a mechanic.[/color]


He sounds like a keeper, Joe. I am equally blessed with such a mechanic.

[color=blue]
>
>[/color]