Newbie question?---to Jiffy Lube or not?

[Gaelyn37]

Hello,
Excuse my newbie question regarding oil changes. I am in the uncomfortable position of needing to work 6- 11 hour days each week and can not find a way to take my new 2007 to my regular shop for my first oil change. I had good luck with my previous RAV4 with having my oil changed at the local Jiffy Lube shop. Knowing that my Prius is not a RAV4, is Jiffy Lube (or those similar chains) a viable option for oil changes? They are the only ones open late enough for me to get to on my way home.
Any words from the wise will be appreciated.

Thanks

Gaelyn

[daveleeprius]

Many Toyota dealers have a drop off service - you drop your key in a slot after hours. This has worked for me in the past. They also have a shuttle service you can get a ride to and from the dealer.

I wouldn't take my car to any kind of Jiffy Lube. Those places use cheap parts and cheap oil. Take your baby to the dealer, drop it off for a day, you'll be glad you did.

Dave

[Gaelyn37]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveLeePrius @ Apr 24 2007, 03:53 PM) [snapback]429342[/snapback]</div>

Many Toyota dealers have a drop off service - you drop your key in a slot after hours. This has worked for me in the past. They also have a shuttle service you can get a ride to and from the dealer.

I wouldn't take my car to any kind of Jiffy Lube. Those places use cheap parts and cheap oil. Take your baby to the dealer, drop it off for a day, you'll be glad you did.

Dave
[/b]

Thanks for the advice. I live and work down in the rural farming areas south of Portland. While they may have a drop off option, I would have to rent a car for the day and they do not have shuttles outside of the small towns. Renting would almost double the cost of my oil change.

Gaelyn

[Charles Suitt]

Hi Gaelyn.

I agree with Dave... The reputation of JiffyLube shops in general is spotty. There was a scarey post some months back about such a shop's carelessness. I would have to add, in fairness, a JiffyLube COULD be OK if you are savvy enough to be aware of what they're doing and insist on major brand canned oil instead of their bulk oil. One positive note... Insofar as oil & filter changes, the Prius is just like any other car with one caveat - don't let anyone OVERFILL your oil, not even your Dealer. 3 to 3½ quarts is the right amount - 4 quarts is TOO MUCH. I have found that 3½ is just right... many Prius owners report that 3 quarts is great, bringing oil level to halfway between ADD and FULL.

Is it possible you can find an Independent in your area open on the day you have available (Sunday)? Say, an Independent who would use YOUR oil, or provide you with oil of your choice and the proper oil filter. If you elect to NOT use the Dealer, do keep a good record of services performed for warranty purposes.

[Bill Merchant]

Hi Gaelyn. If you've been happy with Jiffy Lube in the past, go ahead and take your new Prius there. The Prius isn't hard on oil, so almost any 5W-30 oil should be OK. I'd suggest you get some genuine Toyota oil filters from the dealer and have JL use them instead of their own. Also, tell them not to overfill the oil, 3.9 quarts MAX, 3.5 quarts is OK, and check after. The oil level should be between the min and max marks. While 4 quarts will fit, it will put the oil level above the max level.

Check out the Portland HSD meetup group in my sig if you have any free time...

[8AA]

I can't speak for Jiffy Lube, but I've been taking my Prius to a local quick lube. The only differences I've experienced are that the quick lube is much more convenient, and they never overfill the oil.

(I did have to explain to the guy at the quick lube that the ICE took a few seconds to start)

[darelldd]

You'd do well to watch this. Interesting that I just saw it for the first time today...and then saw your question.

http://mfile.akamai.com/12924/ wmv/v...2183.200k.as x

I give up. There are *spaces* in this URL, and I can't make it happen. 15 minutes trying to get it to work, and I give up! If anybody can figure out how to make it happen, I'd love the assist! It is something that should be seen by JL customers.

[JimboK]

Maybe this was what Darell was trying to post a link for: A few weeks ago I saw a report on the web from a local TV station in a metro area, where they had hidden cameras inside and underneath cars taken to several Jiffy Lubes in their area. Turns out that much of the work that they were billed for was not done. IIRC, it wasn't oil changes, but add-on stuff like fuel filters and such.

I used them with my previous car, and overall I was pleased. Of course after seeing that report, I have to wonder if I got taken. Maybe it's not fair to judge all Jiffy Lubes based on the experience of this one area (sorry, can't remember where) but still ....

Other than the complementary initial oil change by the dealer, I've done all of them on the Prius myself. It saves me time and money, it's easy, and I know it's done right. You might consider the same thing. Though JL could likely do the actual work more quickly, you might still save time depending on how far you'd have to drive and how busy they are when you get there. It's very easy; the drain plug and filter can be reached without lifting the car, though I use ramps to give me a little more room for my large frame. You could probably knock the job out in 30 minutes on a Sunday afternoon.

[JimN]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Apr 24 2007, 06:40 PM) [snapback]429373[/snapback]</div>

You'd do well to watch this. Interesting that I just saw it for the first time today...and then saw your question.

http://mfile.akamai.com/12924/ wmv/v...2183.200k.as x

I give up. There are *spaces* in this URL, and I can't make it happen. 15 minutes trying to get it to work, and I give up! If anybody can figure out how to make it happen, I'd love the assist! It is something that should be seen by JL customers.
[/b]

All I get is an "Access Denied" page.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Gaelyn @ Apr 24 2007, 05:30 PM) [snapback]429330[/snapback]</div>

Hello,
Excuse my newbie question regarding oil changes. I am in the uncomfortable position of needing to work 6- 11 hour days each week and can not find a way to take my new 2007 to my regular shop for my first oil change. I had good luck with my previous RAV4 with having my oil changed at the local Jiffy Lube shop. Knowing that my Prius is not a RAV4, is Jiffy Lube (or those similar chains) a viable option for oil changes? They are the only ones open late enough for me to get to on my way home.
Any words from the wise will be appreciated.

Thanks

Gaelyn
[/b]

I'll agree that Jiffy Lubes in general have a bad rep. However if you read through oil change threads here you will find dealers that are just as bad. There are dealers that use bulk oil. There are dealers that overfill. There was a report that one dealer didn't tighten the oil filter causing the oil to drain out on the Interstate. So the bottom line is you can experience problems anywhere. If you are happy with the shop and mechanic that handled the RAV4 stay with them. You only need an oil change and tire rotation and in many opinions 5000 mile intervals are optimistic. The recommendations you received are all sound.

[darelldd]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimboK @ Apr 24 2007, 05:34 PM) [snapback]429399[/snapback]</div>

Maybe this was what Darell was trying to post a link for: A few weeks ago I saw a report on the web from a local TV station in a metro area, where they had hidden cameras inside and underneath cars taken to several Jiffy Lubes in their area. Turns out that much of the work that they were billed for was not done. IIRC, it wasn't oil changes, but add-on stuff like fuel filters and such.[/b]

Yup, that's the one. And I can watch the video all day long here, just can't seem to post a link to it!

I don't care WHO does the oil change - if it isn't me, it doesn't get done right. That's been my experience for 20+ years. Every once in a while I give it another shot, and wonder why I bothered. Takes more time, costs more money, and gets screwed up more often than not. NO thanks - I'll change my own. Though I don't drive enough miles in a gas car, I change the oil every year. Sucks.

Get an EV. And happily never change the oil again.