Where to go for an oil change...

[AcePlatero]

Originally Posted by sheureka

1. My closest dealer is 4 hours away.
2. I have my mechanic sign the warranty book, and I keep all the receipts.
- sheureka

well in your case I def would understand. I wouldn't want to drive 4 hrs just for an oil change I guess I'm lucky since my dealership is only about 25mins away depending on traffic.

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by Farrarj

I was wondering if we could go elsewhere to get the oil changed at 5K other then the smart center? would somewhere like jiffy lube or another local mechanic shop know what they were doing?

I understand why you might want the oil changed by someone other than the smart center (scVAB?) or yourself. Hampton Roads is a big place, and you could be some distance from the sc (or like me, 50 miles plus the HRBT). I'm not sure of scVAB's cost, but it is very likely more than a local shop.

And, not everyone has a private garage nor inclination to do the easy job in. In many places, doing auto maintenance and repairs on the street is not allowed. Even in my neighborhood, and my having private use of a garage, doing so out on the private common area is against the HOA covenents. Within the garage is fine.

Between a Jiffy Lube-type place and a full service independant, I would go with the independant. The quick lube places just run in one car after another; the independants rely on their good work to keep customers returning.

[toosmrt]

I purchased a Bosch filter and Mobil 1 oil and took my car to a local mechanic. It took him about 10 minutes to change the oil and he charged me $5.00.... Not a bad deal IMO!!!

[churpee]

I do not know how handy you are but oil and filters are not very hard to do--get a puralator or bosch filter 4 qrts of oil-you need a 24mm socket for drain very simple--filters -inside cabin get the fram as recommended on site --at amazon for $15
air cleaner filter i got the cleanable bp filter so i basically do not have to get a new filter every time--btw preforance improved with the bp filter an .50 mod

good luck it is not hard to do

[homeslice]

Originally Posted by AcePlatero

I would personally have the Smart service center do the work so everything is properly documented. Just incase there is a warranty issue down the road, they would have everything in record so there would be no questions about it.

They would do an oil analysis in the event of an engine failure. They don't need records. Oil is rarely the issue unless it's those people who put in conventional oil and try to go 10,000 miles... which many people do, whether it be in a smart car or other vehicle.

[dcrooks]

I have recently had the oil changed in my smart at Jiffy Lube. I brought my own oil filter and Mobil 1 oil. Watched them through the whole process with no problem. It $34 and they cleaned the windows, vacuumed the floors, checked the air in the tires.

They have a sign in at the Jiffy Lube that changing the oil at some place besides the dealer does not effect the warranty.

[fortow]

Originally Posted by dcrooks

I have recently had the oil changed in my smart at Jiffy Lube. I brought my own oil filter and Mobil 1 oil. Watched them through the whole process with no problem. It $34 and they cleaned the windows, vacuumed the floors, checked the air in the tires.

They have a sign in at the Jiffy Lube that changing the oil at some place besides the dealer does not effect the warranty.

You're putting your trust in the wrong place. These quick lube places are notorious for doing many things wrong - the list is long.
Just because you watch them does not mean that they are doing it properly. They could either be under or over tightening the drain lug, likewise with the filter. They could overfill the crankcase. And anything else they touch may be damaged.

This is only one website relating problems at Jiffy Lube franchises.
What's Wrong At Jiffy Lube? Learn remedies. Add your experience.
You can find many other sites with similar information.

Of course anyone can change oil and filter. Who does the maintenance has absolutely nothing to do with warranty.
If you can't or don't want to change the oil and filter yourself then a dealership is far more preferable than one of those quick lube places, regardless of price. Even though I find their pricing unreasonable since I can do it all myself at a far cheaper price, their strategy is to convince you that it is done only once a year to convince you that their pricing is reasonable even though it isn't. If I couldn't do it myself, I'd be more willing to take it to a dealership several times a year at more reasonable prices.

[Godfather]

Tell us how you really feel.......... we've got a Jiffy Lube about a mile from the house, and they are far more professional in their handling of the customers and care of the cars than most dealerships I've ever dealt with. Ever hear of a "wall job?" If you haven't, you've never dealt with a dealership. It's what led me to never ever again take any car I own to a dealership for anything other than warranty work.

[homeslice]

7 quarts of Amsoil 5W30 and 2 EAO12 oil filters is all you need to keep you driving for 2 years or 50,000 miles. How much more protection or savings do you want? It doesn't get any cheaper. This is my whole reason for wanting to buy a smart car. I went to the smart dealer today and they quoted me $238 for an oil change. Forget that. I'll do my own thank you. I'm lazy, but I'm not that lazy. I don't mind getting my hands dirty once per year.

[Big Panda]

I feel very uneasy about taking my smart or any car I own to a 'quick lube' place. For the most part, they offer very little in the way of training other than 'on the job'.

While working for a Toyota dealer several years ago, I can't even begin to tell you how many cars we had towed in because these quick lube 'techs' would drain the transmission fluid, thinking they were draining engine oil, and then put in another 4 qts of engine oil. Of course they couldn't have been checking the dipstick afterwards or they would have caught the fact the crankcase was WAY overfilled. When their transmissions failed, they had them towed into the dealership, *****ing about 'what a piece of crap they had bought', until we told them WHY their transmission failed.

'Quick Lubes'? No thanks, I'll pass......