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Jiffy Lube experiences?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by westofrome, Nov 17, 2005.

  1. westofrome

    westofrome New Member

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    Has anyone had any recent good/bad experiences bringing their Prius to Jiffy Lube? I'm in Northern Virginia, where there are tons of Priuses, so I figure they must have seen a few.

    This is my first oil change (5000)...the dealer only wants $29.95, but that is for an oil change only...and Jiffy Lube always included the "signature service" which included checking tire pressure, topping off fluids, etc., which I'm not sure the dealer includes. Of course I could do these things myself, but I liked having someone do it all for me in one shot.
     
  2. Maytrix

    Maytrix Member

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    I think any good dealer does this stuff as well. Why not call them and ask them?

    And Jiffy lube would likely adjust your tire pressure back to original, not the recommende for best fuel economy (42/40).
     
  3. maggieddd

    maggieddd Senior Member

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    I don't think the dealer would set your tire pressure to higher than recommnded either
     
  4. roach52osu

    roach52osu New Member

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    I think alot of the oil change chain places have a wide variance in quality some are good some are bad. I agree with others, I would be suprised if your dealer didnt do all those things. I always used to like valvoline for my oilchanges until they started giving me bad crush gaskets and trying to sell me parts I didnt need and $80 windshield wipers. My current car dealer hasnt tried to sell me anything so pointless, just made overall service recomendations and told me about things they would fix under warranty.
     
    chinarut likes this.
  5. SW03ES

    SW03ES Senior Member

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    I wouldn't. At $29.95, take it to the dealer. I pay $230 for an oil change at Lexus lol, so I have little sympathy ;)

    I thing our Toyota dealer charges $39.95.

    Sure Jiffy Lube has the "signature service" but I've NEVER seen them actually do all that stuff, and why do you want some kid messing up your tire inflation, scraping up your windows with a squeegee and putting the wrong fluids in the car?

    Toyota will check and top off fluids with an oil change.

    Plus my dad knows a guy who had to have the engine replaced in a Lexus GS400 because Jiffy Lube filled it up with transmission fluid.
     
  6. paprius4030

    paprius4030 My first Prius

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    Boy you guys must live in the high rent district LOL. Our Toyota dealer charges $21.95 with the coupon you print out off their web site.
     
  7. jfschultz

    jfschultz Active Member

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    I had one experience too many with a quidk lube type outfit. The next day over a 100 miles from home the engine was shot. They would not take responsibility so I was out over 4K to get the car back home and have the engine rebuilt. I have not gone to one of those places since!
     
  8. Michmale

    Michmale New Member

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    The Grand Rapids Toyota dealer gives a lifetime $9.95 oil change if you buy the car there. My spouse has an Avalon, and also gets hers there, and top service, too. Maybe we are just fortunate, but I am going from a Lexus to the Prius and won't lose a beat in service, and will save a small fortune. LOL

    Michmale
     
  9. Mystery Squid

    Mystery Squid Junior Member

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    I haven't YET brought my Prius to a Jiffy Lube, but I can say, over at least 15 years (and more cars than I can count), I have never had a bad experience with them (and I've gone to many of their branches). At most, they try to sell you stuff you don't need, but if you're firm and know exactly what you want, they tend to back off. However, if you walk in there not knowing how many cylinders your car has, then they're going to be all over you on the "suggested" stuff...



    :ph34r:
     
  10. Schmika

    Schmika New Member

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    Haven't had to worry about it yet, first 3 oil changes free on Prius at my dealer. I will then take it to my local tech out of loyalty. Easy jobs are bread and butter for them and then they will be more accomodating for the complicated stuff. (IMHO)
     
  11. aka007ii

    aka007ii New Member

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    I will not take her to J-Lube. I took my old Civic and sometimes they would remember to tightent the drain bolt. And no matter how many times you tell them not to, they still clean your windows. I wouldn't call it cleaning though. :angry:

    I sold that Civic to a J-Lube employee. :lol:
     
  12. roach52osu

    roach52osu New Member

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    One by my old home would start pulling parts out of your engine compartment the second your poped the hood, I had to tell them not to do that everytime I went in. I told them if you want to sell me something go ahead and offer but the next time you start pulling parts out of my car there is going to be a problem. Just got annoying and with the syntect oil change for my old car costing almost $80 a trip I realy did not want to spend more than that once I was there.
     
  13. 200Volts

    200Volts Member

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    I will never take any of my cars to J Lube or any other. They've stripped drain plugs, lost oil filler caps, etc. You can go to same place every 6 weeks and the entire crew is different people (who do they hire, with what qualificaitons?)
    Toyota dealers have a reputation to worry about, quick lube places don't.
     
  14. Bob Allen

    Bob Allen Captainbaba

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    I had a Jiffy Lube guy try to talk me into costly repairs for things "they found when they jacked the car up". I told the guy I'd have my mechanic look into it. My mechanic laughed and told me that these guys make their real money by fixing things that often don't need fixing. Same thing happened at Firestone when I had a tire replaced. (both instances were with my Escort wagon).

    My lesson......Jiffy Lube might be ok with the above caveat. Why take your new Prius to these guys just to save a few bucks? If your Prius is still under warranty, you are better off having a Toyota dealer do the work even if it costs more, because in the event of a warranty disupute, you stand a much better chance of coming out on top.

    Save Jiffy Lube for later when the car is out of warranty.
     
  15. jeromep

    jeromep Member

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    Where I'm at we have a local brand which runs quick lubes and we have Oil Can Henry's. No Jiffy Lubes, however I haven't heard good things about j-lube. Oil Can is ok, but there is no huge benefit in going to them, only the convenience of not doing it yourself. They also don't tend to do things that are unnecessary. And if they offer something you just flag them off. The franchise is locally owned, I know that for a fact also. I suppose local ownership, not chain ownership, tends to increase the stakes for the owners should their staff screw something up.
     
  16. silentak1

    silentak1 Since 2005

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    I've taken my friends' cars to Jiffy Lube, but never ever will I take mine.

    Negative:
    1) Never saw the tech do the "Signature" stuff
    2) Overfilled
    3) WRONG grade. Most tech put 10w30 on all car engines.
    4) Cheaappp filter and horrible oil quality
    5) Generic fluids used to fill TRANSMISSION and other VITAL parts.

    Positive:
    1) Relatively fast service (20m)
    2) Good service (for the most part)

    If I had to choose between JL ($40) or dealer ($40), i'd definetely recommend you the dealer because they will use better quality filters and oil, plus you might even get a free exterior car wash.
     
  17. priusman88

    priusman88 Junior Member

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    I've had bad experiences in the past with those quick places, primarily with the drain plug being inadequately tightened. Last time, the plug came out right before I got to work and all the oil drained out in the parking lot.

    That said, they ARE quick and convenient and fairly cheap. I still don't use them, but if you really want to do so I'd recommend putting in a Fumoto valve first so that at least they don't have to take out the drain plug. Leaves one less thing they can screw up.
     
  18. Wayne

    Wayne Active Member

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    Haven't changed oil on my Prius yet, but wouldn't take it to JL. They tried to pressure sell me on unnecessary services, and stripped my drain plug too! Had to take the car to another dealer in another state when my oil spilled out all over the ground.

    It doesn't hurt to have reasonably intelligent people working on your Prius, and JL doesn't seem to provide that...
     
  19. Looking4Prius

    Looking4Prius New Member

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    As my Prius is on order ('06 Tideland Package 3), I can only tell you of my experience with my Honda Accord when I was a regular customer at Jiffy Lube.

    I have 'lost' two oil filler caps and had the engine run dry on me twice, both times after visiting Jiffy Lube. :angry: After switching from Jiffy Lube to a mom & pop joint, all is well save that the engine has had it, which is why I am getting a Prius...

    I do have the ramps and necessary equipment, so I just might do my own oil changes from here on out.
     
  20. PetersPrius

    PetersPrius New Member

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    Went to Jiff today for oil change on 2010 Prius at 13k - they questioned me before doing the work showing me the oil cap that recommends synthetic oil, so I went for it at $80 and tire rotation for $24. They did it all and I drove away - 15 miles down the road a scraping noise - they failed to secure the plastic shield that covers the oil pan drain. Great Work Idiots!
    Thou they did follow my instructions on tire pressure, they left dirty hand marks on the drivers door opening area and steering wheel - Careless slobs!
    Never Go There!