do you take your car to an instant oil change place?

[Got the Bug]

I change the oil in my Cobra at home. If I didn't, I'd pay a shop that knows what they're doing. I wouldn't trust the monkeys at a Jiffy Lube type place.

I did take my Acura 3.2TL to Jiffy Lube when I owned it. They used whatever their basic oil was with a no name filter. Drove the car for 285,000 miles. It was still running great when I traded it in.

[Kramer]

OK - FWIW I own a very nice ERA cobra and service others,...i also own and automotive shop that provides oil changes as well as full service autorepair. Our lube bay is three pits with techs working underneath and we plan for about 10 oil changes per day (approximately one per hour). We could do them a lot faster but we really want to be know for our Quality.
If you are going to do this (or anyone on this forum) - here is what you should do and know.

1) Like any good shop - they should be happy to purchase any oil you like. I stock just about every major brand. They will be happy if you let them purchase it b/c they are no doubt going loose money just doing the oil change itself. Getting the oil from their wholesaler will help them lose less money. This goes for the filter too.

2) Schedule an appointment - no one needs to be rushed when working on a speciality car. I never allow more than one "special" car in the shop at a time.

3) You should be allowed (with someone guiding you in) to pull the car in and out of the service bay - esp if the shop has a pit. YOU DON"T WANT SOMEONE driving that car into a ten foot hole in the ground.

4) Ask (and be willing to pay) a ASE "high level" tech to do the oil change - For 'special" vehciles like these - only my Master Tech performs such repairs.

I hope these pointers help - I think if you can find the right place you should be able to give up oil changes for ever.

Good Luck and PM me with any questions.

[timsullivan]

No way! No way I would let one of those oil change joints touch my cars for two reasons: 1.) I took my daughter's Miata to EC Lube one time and they spilled oil all over the side of the engine because they were so sloppy and incompetent and then lied about filling the tires with air as two of the tires were low when I left. 2.) Our State Attorney General went after them for ripping people off on unneeded services and parts. Clearly they were ripping of consumers.

I'd soon as take one of my cars to a fast lube joint as I would...

[Dwight]

no way

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Jiffy Lube will not have an oil in stock that has a high enough ZDDP for solid lifters .

Patrick - Flat tappet hydraulic cams are just as much in need of high ZDDP oil as flat tappet solid lifter cams. There are variables - sometimes solid cams run higher spring pressure for more revs, but hydraulic cams don't have the acceleration ramps that solid cams have either.

[jcam]

My local lube shop is owned by a "Car Guy" and his family. I bring my own oil and filter and he changes it for $20.00. Because he loves the car, he spends time checking out everything underneath to make sure all is good. I try to support local when I can.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by DanEC

Patrick - Flat tappet hydraulic cams are just as much in need of high ZDDP oil as flat tappet solid lifter cams. There are variables - sometimes solid cams run higher spring pressure for more revs, but hydraulic cams don't have the acceleration ramps that solid cams have either.

Yeah, that's probably true. But I'm trying to think of the last time I heard of somebody wiping a hydraulic flat tappet lobe.

[CBattaglia]

I knew a guy that owned a jiffy lube type place. The help there was a disaster to manage. The stories were appalling. Find a mechanic you trust at the very least. I trust no one with my oil on any of my cars.

[Rick Parker]

As long as I can lay down I'll be changing the oil in all my cars. I've seen and heard of stripped oil plugs that require being tapped oversize or the use of a self tapping plug (no thanks) or neglecting to tighten them enough, and when they back out entirely, someone is buying an engine. I can think of better ways to save a buck. How hard is it to change oil properly???

[Sideways]

Never will happen for all of the above reasons and then some, such as I've always used Brad Penn Oil and Wix oil filters that you can't find at a Jiffy lube. I wouldn't even let them do the change if I supplied the materials!
When I can't do the change myself, then it's time to part ways with the Cobra.

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Yeah, that's probably true. But I'm trying to think of the last time I heard of somebody wiping a hydraulic flat tappet lobe.

The Corvette guys (Corvette Forums) seem to do so with regularity. Must be something about Chevrolet engines.

[Jamo]

Originally Posted by Roger Bray

Hello everyone,
I've had my EM on the road for 12 years and I'm getting a bit lazy in my old age. I really don't get a thrill out of crawling under my car and changing the oil.
I'm considering taking it to one of the instant oil change places to have it done.
I'm wondering if anyone else has done this and what your experience was like.

your Cobra friend in Kentucky,
Roger

Come on Roger, if I can still drag my old fat ass under the damn thing a couple of times of year...

I think it's almost essential to put your eyes and hands on the bottom side...take a wrench with you and touch the bolts/nuts that hold the thing together down there, look at stuff that only a Cobra owner knows to look at...be at one with it if you will.

[Roger Bray]

Originally Posted by Jamo

Come on Roger, if I can still drag my old fat ass under the damn thing a couple of times of year...

I think it's almost essential to put your eyes and hands on the bottom side...take a wrench with you and touch the bolts/nuts that hold the thing together down there, look at stuff that only a Cobra owner knows to look at...be at one with it if you will.

Jamo. you are absolutely right.
File this post under What in the world was I thinking

Thanks everyone for your feedback.

[blykins]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Yeah, that's probably true. But I'm trying to think of the last time I heard of somebody wiping a hydraulic flat tappet lobe.

Hop on over to the FE forum. It happens.

A flat tappet lifter needs the correct oil, regardless of hydraulic or solid.

[twobjshelbys]

My answer to the original post: Not anything I care about.

[CowtownCobra]

I have taken all my cars to the same place for many years. The staff has very little turnover and I trust them. That being said I change the cobra oil, the only car I do.

[Jaydee]

As a mechanic I wouldn't let anyone work on my car. I have an oil suction pump which sucks the oil through the dipstick tube. Great for inboard motors and quick oil changes without the mess.
JD

[lnfletcher]

Seems to me the problem is us old guys getting down and then up again!
What a great way to get a local young guy (or car girl) into these cars. I know I have a number of neighbors "young men" that would be more than willing to do the crawling/ wrenching/ pouring for me if I would let them. You could dutifully stand by and inspect their work. After a number of times, they probably would/ could do it without so careful attention and you could pay them with a test run with them as passengers!

[kobrabytes]

Uhmmm... no

What I have into my engine I could buy another minivan. Why do I want to let some kid tinker with my lifetime dream?

In addition, I like to inspect everything on the underside of the car every few months. There is nothing on these cars that is going to save your life. You might as well tip the odds in your favor by knowing that the bolts are tight, and everything is where it supposed to be.

[blown871]

NO WAAaaaay!!

I handle claims for a living and have addressed a lot of quick lube claims.... in other states.. that have NOT gone well.

Teach a young kid how to do it.
Pay it forward for future generations!!