Avoid Oil Change Scams: Verify The Work Was Done

badwater
Silver Post Medal for All Time! 263 Posts

This tip came from one of my husband's co-workers, who used to work in an automotive dealership. He knew of at least 10 times in one month that this happened: Consumers would bring their vehicles in for an oil change. The vehicle would be taken out back and "parked" for 2-3 hours. The customer would be charged for an oil change, new oil filter, labor, plus whatever else they thought they could get away with, never doing the work the consumer was wanting done.

So when you take your vehicles in for an oil change, ask the dealership to raise the hood of your car, before and after the oil change. Pull the dipstick out each time, you can see the oil color and level. Also, ask if you can see the oil filter from the top of the engine, to make sure they changed it.

Terri from NV

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By Elaine (Guest Post)

October 17, 20070 found this helpful

I just recently had a flat tire on my car. I took it to a Goodyear store and they said they repaired it while I waited in the waiting room. A couple of days after I got home, it went flat again. When I took it to my local guy, he said it had never been repaired because there was a nail in it. I was charged $16 for a repair, and he only had added air! So I am sure the oil change scam is happening too!

Cyinda
Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 213 Posts

October 17, 20070 found this helpful

Also avoid anything that looks "to good to be true", because it probably IS! I'm talking about those shops that charge only $11.99 or thereabouts for an oil change with new filter... These shops use recycled oil & they let you think you are receiving NEW, Quality, name-brand oil & you're NOT! The fine print of the add MAY say something like "standard quality oil" Meaning it's not "Premium" quality. Or it may say nothing. Ask your shop: "Do you use BRAND NEW, HIGH QUALITY, NAME BRAND OIL?" and "What brand do you use?" We have several places that bait customers in with the $11.99 oil change. In the Washington State, watch out for Bucky's...They use oil that is low quality.

They bait you with the $11.99 oil change, then get you in & find all kinds of things wrong with your car! I know the "wait while we change" places (like Jiffy Lube) are more expensive, but at least we can see the work done & we KNOW they use brand name oil. But in these shops, things can still go wrong: Last summer, I couldn't figure out why my "Engine" light on my dash kept coming on, then I found out when I had my oil changed, one of the guys at Jiffy Lube had accidentally put an extra quart of oil in my tiny car! This is bad news for the car, make sure this doesn't happen to you, have them look up how much oil your car needs... Don't let them take guesses!

By Sarah (Guest Post)

October 28, 20070 found this helpful

Thank you so much for printing this. Being a woman I'm always afraid I'll get taken advantage of. That's why my husband and I use the same place every time and will sometimes come with me or tell them I'm coming.

Kind of lets them know we keep up w/ these things and don't go to random places. Plus if they do a good job we will keep coming back!

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