Question about oil change places! (coupon, home, costs) - Seattle and King County Suburbs - City-Data Forum

VeronikaW · 07-15-2008, 12:19 AM

So, when we first moved here, we took our cars to Oil Can Henry's (which they don't have in CA). It was closer than the nearest Jiffy Lube (which they do have in CA).

Anyway, I notice at Oil Can Henry's you have to stay in your car, drive into the bay yourself, and sit there while they change your oil. Is this some sort of weird WA state law, or is it just the way they do it at Oil Can Henry's?

I'm asking, because my car needs an oil change, but being pregnant, and having a 9 month old, I don't really want any of us sitting in the car breathing those fumes while they change the oil.

If I go to Jiffy Lube, do I get to get out, and let them drive the car into the bay, and wait in a waiting room, etc.?

Thanks!

V. =)

MichaelinWA · 07-15-2008, 12:29 AM

I think that's an Oil Can Henry thing. They have locations in parts of California - and you wait in your car there too.

allforcats · 07-15-2008, 02:12 AM

Are there really "fumes" from oil? Never noticed. I go wherever I have a coupon for; never been to Oil Can Henry. I never sit in my car -- I just give them the one key they need, then wait in the waiting room. It's a good idea to take a book.

VeronikaW · 07-15-2008, 03:48 AM

Thanks, I think I'll drive the extra way to Jiffy.

As to whether or not there are fumes, there seem to be from the different stuff they use there. Whether or not they're harmful? Not really willing to take the risk.

V. =)

MichaelinWA · 07-15-2008, 07:43 AM

It also helps to bring along a skeptical eye, when the Jiffy guy brings your air filter into the waiting room to show you.

Jiffy and similar places can be a convenient place to get your windshield wipers replaced; goodness knows they get a workout around here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by allforcats

It's a good idea to take a book.

Deep_Vee · 07-15-2008, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelinWA

It also helps to bring along a skeptical eye, when the Jiffy guy brings your air filter into the waiting room to show you.

I agree on that one...the one and only time I took a vehicle to one of those places, the guy sat there and explained to me that my Automatic Transmission fluid was overdue to be flushed...and they would be happy to take care of it for just $100... He seemed insistent that I was wrong when I explained that I knew it didn't need it...in fact he wouldn't take no for an answer until I explained that my truck had a MANUAL transmission

Ira500 · 07-15-2008, 04:48 PM

I had one of these fast lube places insist that I needed a new air filter...They showed me a filthy air filter to show me how dirty mine was, but I declined. When I got home I figured I better look at my air filter so I could change it myself...It turns out they showed me someone else's filter, because mine was a lot cleaner than that. Thieves! Gonifs! Cheats!

lovetheforest · 03-28-2009, 07:34 PM

Oil Can Henry's policy of sitting in the car is an excellent one. I have had problems in the past with oil change places not changing the oil filter (I discovered this by putting an X on the old filter and when I got home I saw the same filter with the X on it indicating they charged me for a new filter and didn't install it. Also they don't want people standing around in the bay watching them I imagine for liability reasons if an accident occurred.

At Oil Can Henry's you sit in the car and can look into mirrors outside the car that show the service technician working under your car. You can watch him change the oil and filter and know that everything is on the up and up. I know of no shop vapor risk any more than household cleaners in the home and probably far less than the vapors at a gas station when you are refueling your car in the self service station.

redrum · 03-29-2009, 07:35 PM

All those quick lube places always push the upsells, to the point you can't really trust anything they say. I went to Grease Monkey a couple years back and the tech told me my fuel filter "looked in really bad shape" and offered to replace it for $40. I said no because it was only a year old and I knew how to do it myself (the filter itself costs $8). I went home and changed it just in case, and found the old one looked almost new (no discoloration, no rust, nothing). Last time I will ever go there.