Is it really JUST an oil change?

Over the years, I have seen many things. For example, an innocent mouse that makes its home in the air filter during winter...Or a less innocent case in which a wheel lug was snapped, drilled out and threaded internally to hide an error, rather than properly being replaced by a (less) innocent facility. Needless to say, the story I am about to tell falls somewhere in the middle.

Many years ago a good friend of mine came to me with a car problem. He was a smart man and being a chiropractor by trade he enjoyed working with his hands, so he usually took care of his own vehicles needs. Long story short, One thousand dollars ($1000) later he was fed up and standing in my garage. As I asked my basic diagnosis questions, and began my tried and true methods developed over my years as a Leading Technician and Technical Instructor, I quickly diagnosed this problem that had taken someone countless hours and dollars in a matter of 15 minutes and had it fixed for less than $100. I simply said to him “You fix my back, I fix your car.” The point of this story is that as professionals in any industry, you are paid for your skill that has been cultivated and perfected over time (in my case, decades!). Your vehicle, like your body or your house, is a valuable investment, and should be treated as such. Is it worth it to risk such an investment, over who has the cheapest labor or a perceived amount based purely around shops that offer the “19.99 oil change”?

And with that..is it really JUST an oil change? I have one more quick story…

This past week a customer came in after hearing a noise while driving. Upon placing the vehicle on the lift, the underside was COMPLETELY covered in oil and the drain plug was missing. How is the drain plug missing, you may ask? It’s really very simple. Every drain plug has a specific amount it should be tightened, and a special tool called a “Torque Wrench” used to ensure the drain plug is tightened to its proper amount set by the manufacturer. Any decent shop will have one of these for their tech’s to easily access. Drain plugs are not meant to be “hand tight” or over-tightened. Not only that, but there was a HOLE cut in the splash shield to access the oil filter made by the previous technician, instead of properly and easily removing the cover to drain the oil. A hole cut in a customers car without their permission, is property damage. I will not say where this was done at, but I will say it was one of these “19.99 quick lube” places. When we do an oil change, it is not JUST an oil change….when most independent repair facilities do your oil change, it is not just an oil change. It is a comprehensive check of your entire vehicle, to make sure it is safe for you and your family to drive in. It is you, the customer, entrusting us to ensure your investment will last you as long as possible, and to do that as cost effectively as possible by recommending maintenance before it is due, ensuring your fluids are topped up, and notifying you well in advance of any future repairs we may see that will be needed. It is making an accurate diagnosis, repairing the vehicle in a proper and timely manner, and standing behind your workmanship, no matter the parts fault or your own.

In summary, appropriate service with properly skilled technicians prevents costly repairs and breakdowns that may occur, as well as ensures that your vehicle is fit for service for many years to come!