Depends on how much you value your car. If you don't care then go ahead

 

Well said.

 

I was just telling my boss yesterday how you can tell when people have given up on their cars, when you start seeing Jiffy Lube oil change stickers.

If you want minimal interaction and all, maybe check out a mobile mechanic in your area that will come to you and do the work?

IMO - too many horror stories about careless mistakes caused at Jiffy Lube and they are cutting cost everywhere they can (cheapest oil, cheapest filter, cheapest labor) to bring you the cheap price.

 

I've had bad experiences with various quickie lube places the few times I've had to use them. After one of them overtightened the drain plug to the point where it had to be destroyed to remove it, I've always been leary of them. Wrong oil on one occasion, they leave messes behind, and I've heard too many horror stories like they drain the transmission oil instead and then end up overfilling the engine oil. Oh, and I got really tired of the upsell game. "Oh look, you can see dirt in the air filter (which was changed less than 1000 miles ago), so you should pay us $50 to change this $10 filter.". Well, news flash, air filters get dirty, and why should I overpay you to change something that I can do myself in less than a minute that is nowhere near due for replacement?

Like Bluetroll said, depends on how much you value your car.

 

There's a Valvoline oil change place near my house that I've used in the past. You don't exit your vehicle while they perform the service. At this location at least, they would show me the dipstick to prove that they filled to the proper level.

Now I either go to the dealer or the local shop that I use.

 

I feel better not getting out of the car and they do the engine oil change underneath.

What is your issue with not having to get out of the car?

How far away is the nearest Honda or Acura dealer?

 

My experience with places like Jiffy Lube or Valvoline is that you get convenience but it comes at a cost. The "synthetic" oil they use does not last anywhere near as long as a dealerships. I was in a bind, traveling, and oil maintenance came up, so I took one of my other cars there.

When I went to the dealership for my next regularly scheduled oil change, they noted that the oil was 5 shares darker then normal.

Never again. Oil maintenance is a foundational component to ensuring engine integrity over the long haul and you just can't trust what they are pumping into your vehicle.

 

What other version of Valvoline synthetic would the Valvoline place use that differs from the bulk oil that the Honda dealership uses?

 

If the only way you are going to change your oil and do not take it to the dealer, JiffyLube is better than nothing.

I agree with the others and would take it to the dealer and “take your chances” there!

 

Many years ago, I was pressed for time and couldn’t do my own oil change on a 91 Sentra SER that I had some performance parts on, because SR20, and within about 100 miles I had Rod knock. When I pulled the dipstick, it wasn’t registering anything and when I drained the oil so little came out that I was absolutely furious. That car never burned a drop of oil. Had to yank the motor and put a new one in. I’ll never make that mistake again.

 

I wouldn't use a quick lube place for any kind of engine work. Really anything for that matter.

I've used a quick lube place to do an alignment due to being short on other options, but even that they managed to screw up.

 

I dislike quick lube joints cuz they use low quality products. Semi synthetic oil and generic C h I na mini size oil filters. If you could verify they actually changed the oil (yes, a walnart employee lied to an elderly person I know), use of full synthetic and a quality made oil filter and you don’t mind coughing up the cost of 3-4 oil changes if you did it yourself at home, then yes, go for it. Time is money for some people.

 

According to the Valvoline oil change website, they offer the choice of conventional, semi-synthetic or full-synthetic oil.
Full-synthetic would be the Valvoline "Advanced Protection" formula, with which I believe you are familiar.
The YouTube video, below, shows a cutaway of a Valvoline oil filter removed from a Honda CR-V.
Note that the filter was made in USA.
Jiffy Lube uses Pennzoil products. Their full-synthetic oil would be Pennzoil "Platinum".

 

I guess it all really depends on the shop. Years ago when I lived in a different town, there was a place that was pretty decent, Oil Can Henry I think? You drove in, right over the bay and stayed in the car. They all wore bow ties, gave you a newspaper while you got your oil changed, put whatever oil in you wanted and showed the old filter and dipstick level etc. We used it several times with no issues.

But the Pilot I took to the local dealer. Made an 8am Saturday appointment, as it’s all I could fit in my schedule at the time. Everything was super professional and done well. On my wife’s van I just change it myself, don’t take much time or money. All depends on what works for you.

 

I say whoever you use, check the oil level after they're done and look for leaks under the car.

 

A good place to go would be Goodyear. I've had excellent results with them on several cars. Their mechanics are top notch. Not like Jiffy Lube where the personal are cycled in and out, and have minimal training at best.

 

Talk to a therapist.

yeah I came here specifically to say the same thing haha

what in holy hell does "sitting inside the car" while grease monkeys are below you, out of sight, dumping your oil and then refilling it in the engine bay with the hood up (so also out of sight) get you other than some salve for your neuroses?

It would be one thing if you said you only can do it if you're allowed to stand there on the side and watch them and talk to them while they do it (even though I'm pretty sure most shops would not allow you to do that for various reasons) but "sitting in my car" makes no sense, OP

Some would think I need a therapist since I like to change my oil. 🤣

 

I find changing my oil to be therapeutic... except for that one time the oil pan was aligned so perfectly under the drain plug that the oil hit one of the plastic ridges at the perfect angle to so it would splash entirely outside of the pan in a very wide fan pattern. It's amazing how much 2 seconds of that can create a huge mess.

 

if I owned a quick lube, I would be afraid of people that can’t drive. Then they need to be locked in the waiting room. 🤣

https://www.reddit.com/r/Unexpected/s/CwTXd9h86d

 

Just don't. They have one job to do and they suck at it. I did once for my wife's mini and they messed up so badly.

 

When i did use these places I started to request using bottled oil as opposed to what's in their tank and they've done this for me (costs a bit more but adds comfort knowing what they're using).

 

Years ago in college my friend did Jiffy Lube in her Chevy Truck, something went wrong and Jiffy Lube paid for a new engine. Fast forward 30 years later on the Subaru Ascent forums Jiffy Lube drained the transmission fluid. Granted draining the transmission fluid rather than the oil has happened a lot with DIYers on the Ascent, filling it with oil may have happened.

 

No.

 

Guess we got lucky with our experiences. Wife had the 05 Pilot for 10 years before it became mine to use. She always took it to quick change or stealorship. Once I got it, I went for the $29.99 oil change special that included 120 pt inspection at local stealorship. Guess I'm the unlucky one as they managed to crack my oil pan at the drain bolt and epoxied it back together while I waited 1.5 hrs. Then didn't disclose the truth as to why it was taking so long just for an oil change and they weren't really that busy. Lesson learned for me and I'd rather tear it up myself than someone else do it.

 

I take my Pilot to the dealer for oil changes (Only need one once a year.) The cost is very reasonable and they do a very good multi-point check and I get a free car wash. I would never consider a quickie oil change franchise.

 

H3ll…. I don’t even consider my local dealer anymore

 

Both my suv's have skid plates under the motor. I dont trust jiffy lube
They will lose the bolts or strip the bolts after and mess things up!