I posted this over on a thread in the Studebaker forum:

I used to use one of those quicky lube places...one day I stood outside the bay and watched them drain the car, install the filter and was getting ready to drive it out until I stopped them. I said you forgot the oil.

i switched to a different quicky place which was managed by a former student of my wife's. One day they changed the oil and before leaving I checked the level and found it a quart below the add mark. The manager said that there is two quarts trapped in the engine which will drain down when it is started. Of course I had them add the proper amount. It was my mercedes diesel which has two quarts between the add and full mark, so he was ready to send the car out three quarts low.

I usually change it myself now.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Years ago Oil Can Henry's stripped the drain bolt on my Suzuki. Nice thing was they owned up to it and sent somebody out for a larger bolt while they re-threaded it. It never leaked. I no longer find changing oil an amusing expenditure of time. I still use them. I've thought of getting one of those syphon things whereby you can do it all from above but haven't. The filter on the Element requires either a special tool or more than one elbow on each arm. No thanks.

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You're a daisy if you do.
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84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

I pick a day and change all my vehicles oils same day and just make it a half day chore. The quicky places are certainly convenient, but the element of risk is too much.

Ill only let trusted shops change the oil otherwise, if the vehicle is there for more service of some type.

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This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

yep.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

The last two times I used Havoline Express Lube in Atlanta they shorted me between one half and a full quart each time. Tried to tell me that the remainder was in the engine. I think they try this for some additional profit.

Quicky lube places have probably generated more business for the engine rebuilding industry and new car sales than any other cause.

Additionally they probably do more to further the old saying " if you want it done right, do it yourself." It kind of surprises me when I run across " car guys" that don't change their own oil. It seems like sort of an oxymoron.

Except for a handful of times when a few of my cars were new and got dealer service, I have never trusted my maintenance to any shop other than my own. Not only do those shops do stupid things like Tom outlined, but they rarely do a thorough change. They pull the plug and let it drain until it is not streaming real fast, then put the plug back in and fill it with oil, that is if you're lucky, they will get it filled. They are leaving more old oil than necessary.

When I do it, I almost always do it when the engine is at operating temperature and let it drain overnight. Those last few drops contain the most sludge.

My $0.02,

Oil change places are notorious for bad to incompetent to no service at all.

I’ve done my own oil changes by way of a Topsider since the mid 1990s and by way of the oil pan drain before that. I do oil changes for 8 vehicles total, including yard maintenance stuff. DIY saves enough for annual trips to Costa Rica. At some point I’ll get a variant of the Topsider which has an electric pump rather than elbow grease powered.

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Toyota is a leader only because their drivers block everyone behind them. Oh what a feeling.

Overfilled my Olds Custom Cruiser by about 4 quarts once. Also was told by another quick change that the rear differential oil was low on oil and needed to be changed. A quick look under the car revealed the differential plug hadn't been removed in many years.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I am not a fan of the topsider approach, only my personal preference, but it is VASTLY superior to the Quicky oil change approach IMHO.

Maybe they used a topsider.

Classic examples of fraud

“5 out of 9 places stiffed you”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiCAJ8ULnaI

nice use of hidden cameras in this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-avpx8UTakI

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Toyota is a leader only because their drivers block everyone behind them. Oh what a feeling.

I hate changing oil, as it is a messy pain in the ass. However, I do it because of idiot criminals like y'all mentioned. Just not worth the risk. And, on the Harley, an oil change is $150.00 at the dealer. That's 3.5 quarts of engine oil, a filter, a quart of something for the gear box and a quart or so for the chain case. Yes, three drains, three fills and 6 quarts, for a buck fifty. You can bet your ass I'm doing my own.

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Сделать Америку великой Снова
"I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left." Margaret Thatcher

I went to one because it was cold and I was lazy. I handed them the oil/filter and it came to $42 or $47 I can't remember. That's a mistake you only make once.

I'll change that Harley oil for $149.

I just rely on the service indicator in my car. Right now I have 18k on the odometer, and the indicator says that I still have 20% oil life left.