Newbie question?---to Jiffy Lube or not?

Many Toyota dealers have a drop off service - you drop your key in a slot after hours. This has worked for me in the past. They also have a shuttle service you can get a ride to and from the dealer.

I wouldn't take my car to any kind of Jiffy Lube. Those places use cheap parts and cheap oil. Take your baby to the dealer, drop it off for a day, you'll be glad you did.

Dave

 

Hi Gaelyn.

I agree with Dave... The reputation of JiffyLube shops in general is spotty. There was a scarey post some months back about such a shop's carelessness. I would have to add, in fairness, a JiffyLube COULD be OK if you are savvy enough to be aware of what they're doing and insist on major brand canned oil instead of their bulk oil. One positive note... Insofar as oil & filter changes, the Prius is just like any other car with one caveat - don't let anyone OVERFILL your oil, not even your Dealer. 3 to 3½ quarts is the right amount - 4 quarts is TOO MUCH. I have found that 3½ is just right... many Prius owners report that 3 quarts is great, bringing oil level to halfway between ADD and FULL.

Is it possible you can find an Independent in your area open on the day you have available (Sunday)? Say, an Independent who would use YOUR oil, or provide you with oil of your choice and the proper oil filter. If you elect to NOT use the Dealer, do keep a good record of services performed for warranty purposes.

 

Hi Gaelyn. If you've been happy with Jiffy Lube in the past, go ahead and take your new Prius there. The Prius isn't hard on oil, so almost any 5W-30 oil should be OK. I'd suggest you get some genuine Toyota oil filters from the dealer and have JL use them instead of their own. Also, tell them not to overfill the oil, 3.9 quarts MAX, 3.5 quarts is OK, and check after. The oil level should be between the min and max marks. While 4 quarts will fit, it will put the oil level above the max level.

Check out the Portland HSD meetup group in my sig if you have any free time...

 

I can't speak for Jiffy Lube, but I've been taking my Prius to a local quick lube. The only differences I've experienced are that the quick lube is much more convenient, and they never overfill the oil.

(I did have to explain to the guy at the quick lube that the ICE took a few seconds to start)

 

You'd do well to watch this. Interesting that I just saw it for the first time today...and then saw your question.

http://mfile.akamai.com/12924/ wmv/vod.ibsys.com/2006/0503/9152183.200k.as x

I give up. There are *spaces* in this URL, and I can't make it happen. 15 minutes trying to get it to work, and I give up! If anybody can figure out how to make it happen, I'd love the assist! It is something that should be seen by JL customers.

 

Maybe this was what Darell was trying to post a link for: A few weeks ago I saw a report on the web from a local TV station in a metro area, where they had hidden cameras inside and underneath cars taken to several Jiffy Lubes in their area. Turns out that much of the work that they were billed for was not done. IIRC, it wasn't oil changes, but add-on stuff like fuel filters and such.

I used them with my previous car, and overall I was pleased. Of course after seeing that report, I have to wonder if I got taken. Maybe it's not fair to judge all Jiffy Lubes based on the experience of this one area (sorry, can't remember where) but still ....

Other than the complementary initial oil change by the dealer, I've done all of them on the Prius myself. It saves me time and money, it's easy, and I know it's done right. You might consider the same thing. Though JL could likely do the actual work more quickly, you might still save time depending on how far you'd have to drive and how busy they are when you get there. It's very easy; the drain plug and filter can be reached without lifting the car, though I use ramps to give me a little more room for my large frame. You could probably knock the job out in 30 minutes on a Sunday afternoon.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Apr 24 2007, 06:40 PM) [snapback]429373[/snapback]</div>

All I get is an "Access Denied" page.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Gaelyn @ Apr 24 2007, 05:30 PM) [snapback]429330[/snapback]</div>

I'll agree that Jiffy Lubes in general have a bad rep. However if you read through oil change threads here you will find dealers that are just as bad. There are dealers that use bulk oil. There are dealers that overfill. There was a report that one dealer didn't tighten the oil filter causing the oil to drain out on the Interstate. So the bottom line is you can experience problems anywhere. If you are happy with the shop and mechanic that handled the RAV4 stay with them. You only need an oil change and tire rotation and in many opinions 5000 mile intervals are optimistic. The recommendations you received are all sound.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimboK @ Apr 24 2007, 05:34 PM) [snapback]429399[/snapback]</div>

Yup, that's the one. And I can watch the video all day long here, just can't seem to post a link to it!

I don't care WHO does the oil change - if it isn't me, it doesn't get done right. That's been my experience for 20+ years. Every once in a while I give it another shot, and wonder why I bothered. Takes more time, costs more money, and gets screwed up more often than not. NO thanks - I'll change my own. Though I don't drive enough miles in a gas car, I change the oil every year. Sucks.

Get an EV. And happily never change the oil again.

 

I've had problems with those places, they'd spill oil all over the manifold, so when you get home, your garage is full of smoke, and your car stinks for week. It was with a Mazda mx3, 7 years ago. The dealer does scheduled maintenance as well, put what they charge for just an oil change is ridiculous sometimes. There's a toyota dealership close enough to my work, than when I get a prius, I'll be able to walk to work while they work on the car.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Apr 24 2007, 04:40 PM) [snapback]429373[/snapback]</div>

Akamai makes its money by hosting high-bandwith media for others, so direct links to akamai.com rarely work. You have to go through a relay so they know who to charge. Copy the link that got you to the video. If that doesn't show you what you want, copy the link that took you to the link that got you to the video. Of find the video on YouTube and give us the reference there.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Apr 24 2007, 04:40 PM) [snapback]429373[/snapback]</div>

Is this what you are trying to link?

Is Your Mechanic Cheating?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IsrAmeriPrius @ Apr 25 2007, 09:25 AM) [snapback]429848[/snapback]</div>

Yes! Thanks! Was driving me nuts.... So thanks to IAP, THIS is the video clip I thought the OP should see.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Apr 25 2007, 09:52 AM) [snapback]429874[/snapback]</div>

B) <-- Oakley C Wires

 

Depends on their price. I suspect most charge more than what you'd pay over the web; my local dealer does. I got mine (Toyota OEM) at www.metrotpn.com for $4 apiece, including a crush washer, plus shipping. I buy several at a time, along with a stock of engine and cabin air filters, to reduce the per-item shipping.

The air filters, BTW, are even easier DIY jobs. Each can be changed in about two minutes with no tools.

 

Well, on my old Isuzu Rodeo I always took the car someplace to get it changed, and since my dad paid for it I never complained. Since getting this car though I've done one at Walmart, which I know isn't the best place, but it went ok. After that, though, I decided to do them on my own after noticing the extreme markup on the price. Granted that at Walmart they will change on things like air filters, oil filters, etc if needed. Basically I'm just doing some oil changed myself until I need something like an air filter replaced, or a lot of fluids need filling. Then it's worth taking it to Walmart since they do all these extras for free. It's usually a rip since you aren't going to need the fluids filled and filters replaced after every oil change.

BTW, not to hijack this thread or anything but where in the world is the oil filter on a 2002 Prius? I am correct in assuming it has an oil filter, right? I mean the thing uses oil. After looking under the car myself, looking under the hood, and jacking the car up so my friend could look for it we just gave up because we couldn't find it. Didn't change it last oil change, and figured it wasn't a problem since I used synthetic and have read that the Prius is usually fairly forgiving on the oil. Next time I change my oil though, that oil filter is gonna need replacing.

And since we are on the subject, where can you dispose of used oil?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Alexstarfire @ Apr 25 2007, 07:55 PM) [snapback]430178[/snapback]</div>

Not sure about the 2002, but you might check john1701a's site. He had a 2001 before he got his 2004. He has nice writeups on virtually every other aspect of caring for the car -- including oil and filter changes on the 2004 -- so it wouldn't surprise me if there's one for the earlier model as well.

For disposal, try your local city or county government's waste disposal/management department (or whatever it might be called). Mine will accept "household" quantities of certain potentially hazardous liquids -- used motor oil, paint, etc. -- at no charge. They figure you're less likely to dispose of it illegally and in an environmentally-unfriendly way if you can drop it off there for free.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimboK @ Apr 25 2007, 07:16 PM) [snapback]430193[/snapback]</div>

Pep Boys will accept used motor oil on a walk in basis at no charge. Perhaps other auto parts stores have the same policy.