Firestone oil change (how much, to buy, inspection)

[nitynity]

Where do you guys do oil change for your vehicles?

I normally goes to Walmart and choose the high mileage for $40. I figured Firestone has the same rates and real close to where I live. So I dropped off today for the first time. They recommended all kinda maintenance on my 08 CRV including tire change plus several other stuff for $1000. I just requested an oil change and I wonder why they came up with all these issues? Just curious if these guys are any reliable or just trying to milk it. I bought my tires at Walmart 5 years ago, I purchased the lifetime tire rotation/wheel balance along with it. Hence I get it done for free every time I do oil change. The Firestone folks were saying the rotation wasn't right and hence my tires needs to be changed blah blah blah.

[lepoisson]

I change my own oil, but if I ever wanted someone else to do it, I'd find a local independent shop with good reviews online. The chain places are crooked.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

My dealership services my 2008 Subaru. I trust them to do it right. Never got a hard sell.

[Bp25]

Stay away from Firestone. Firestone is a tire dealer, so no wonder they always "discover" that your tire needs replacement.

I only let the dealer touch my engine and transmission, even for oil change - that's because I don't trust the aftermarket oil filters that other places use. Oil change is not that expensive at dealer, if you say no to the unnecessary maintenance items they bring up every time.

[EDS_]

I use the Firestone at Forest and Marsh for most oil changes, minor maintenance and all tire issues. I like this place because I can see/watch people working on my cars through a window. They will show me replaced parts in such a way I know new parts are actually in place. Every single time they've found and mentioned a tire issue they've shown me the problem with the car on a lift.
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Not too long ago I had a relatively nice, relatively expensive sports car into the dealership for an oil change. Out of an old habit from my father I marked the old oil filter and low and behold they charged me for an oil and filter change but left the old filter in place AND the guy who did the "change" showed me a filter in a bag that looked like my filter, further they charged me for full synthetic but installed regular dino oil of the wrong weight and additive package - all this was verified by Blackstone Labs and matters because the car had two turbocharges. It took every fiber in my being not to go back to the dealership with a gas can, match and pile of dirty shop rags but I didn't. They gave me a suite of free stuff which I used up never to return.

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nitynity, did the Firestone show you what was wrong with your tires? Five years assuming normal mileage is a long run for tires around here. It's also utterly possible WM mis-rotated or mis-aligned your tires. Good luck.

[ChristieP]

I've heard far too many horror sorties about WM tire and oil change service to ever let them touch one of our cars again. A WM store manager told me about how the techs "forgot" to put new oil in a truck and when the customer drove away, the engine seized up before he even got out of the parking lot. Personally, they once stripped the nut on my car's oil pan, which caused the oil to leak all over our garage floor overnight, and then they accused me of not taking care of my car. I had to get the store manager involved to get them to replace the stripped nut and the leaked oil, and to give me a bag of kitty litter to clean up the mess in my garage. I will never take a car to WM again.

[UnfairPark]

This is a small job, anyone can do it, if you are skeptic then learn to do it yourself or find someone trustworthy. I've had mine done at dealerships, local mechanics, chain stores etc but never had an issue in several decades of owing cars. Most folks are honest and competent, sometimes mistakes happen and they fix it when mentioned.

[WorldKlas]

I once (waaay long time ago) tried Econo Lube and got the same spheel. I tucked that knowledge into my hat and decided it was a cheap way to find out what was "wrong" with a car because I believed anything slightly needing attention was socked into the upsell. So, when I wanted to buy a used car, I took it there for an oil change and got a free inspection!

[pharpe]

They may right or they may be trying to sell you tires. There is no magic. Just look at your tires and see if the need to be replaced? Are they unevenly worn, is there cupping, how much tread is left?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fdCB9NdKd4

[nitynity]

Thanks guys. Yeah the tire is kinda worn, so may be I could change it but I am planning to sell my car (hail damage) so not putting anymore money onto it. I put 43k on it in 5 years.