Oil change...please help

By the time I buy the oil, get a filter, pull out the ramps and change my clothes...then collect the old oil and take it somewhere to be disposed...I find it cheaper to go to the dealer ~$30 because the work is documented and it cost just about the same as me doing it myself.

I know how to change oil, because I did it all the time with my Supra and Nissan pickup but with somethign this new I rather put the liability elsewhere.

 

got my 5000 done at walmart, mobil1 5w30 i think they over filled it a little bit, i was out of town and needed it done before my long drive home cost about $65 (i think)

recently did my 10k at a local oil change place/car wash near my house, bought mobil1 0w30 from walmart then had the local spot do the labor, it was great and i got a free car wash to boot oil cost me about $25 labor with car was was $35 = $60

im planning on taking my car to the dealer tho for the 15k service, its a little bit more invovled

 

This is the downside to having "Earth" as your location. It preempts any attempts by others to give you recommendations for shops. For standard maintenance, I think it's equally good to go to the dealer or to a good, independent shop. A good independent shop is probably better than a random dealer (which can either be good or not so good). I would stay away from any of the national discount chains; they have pretty bad reputations, overall.

 

I would definitely stay away from the big chains. I've just heard too many horror stories of undertrained and dishonest employees. That's not saying that there aren't good mechanics at some of these chain stores, but the overall company policy seems to push the good people out and reward the dishonest people (i.e. encouraging employees to sell unnecessary services, etc.)

It should be said that dealers also vary in quality, but even bad dealers are better than most of the big chain companies.

If you're interested in trying an independent shop (and no one around here recommends one in the Austin area), check out the Mechanics' Files on cartalk.com, where listeners of Cartalk recommend good local mechanics.

 

My recommendations based on several disappointing experiences with several oil changes at different Toyota service locations:

1. Bring your own oil (5W30); three quarts of it. You can fill to the line at home.
2. Write down exactly what you want done to the car.
3. Refuse to listen to service people tell you how to service your car - it's your car and it's not "like every other Toyota."

Treat it as an opportunity to educate others on how to properly service the Prius. From what I've seen lately there are a lot more hybrids on the road.

 

post deleted!

 

Ditto on staying away from the big chains. One stripped the threads on the oil drain. Had to go to a larger drain plug and retap oil drain threads.
I shoot for 3K changes with 5K max. That gives me a 2k window to get the oil changed with most occuring a few hundred miles afer the 3K. 107K on our 2000 Avalon XLS. Runs sweet. Plan another 100K.
If you must use a strange service, be sure to keep the receipts. Always keep all receipts anyway. Whether its a dealer, an independent, a big chain, or you change you own oil. Keep all receipts, including oil and filter purchases, and religiously keep a maintenance log, if under warrany. It saved me $3000.00 when our VW Quantum fried it's engine. The dealer tried to refuse repairs under warranty until I produced the documentation (I used to change the oil myself). VW replaced engine a no charge to us even though it was right a the end of the warrany. I was one of those problems that everyone knew about but VW refused to acknowleged. It later surfaced that the cooling system on the VW Quanum was under-designed. The later models had a bigger radiator. Point being, Keep those receipts.

 

The dealer did the first oil change because it was "free". I take the Prius to the same indy shop that services the Intrigue. Anyone can do an oil change. Firestone told me a "hybrid tech" was needed and he wasn't there so they didn't have anyone qualified to change oil. I don't plan to enter another Firestone store.

 

Here's a good opportunity to go around to your independents and
find one that's willing to work with you. If they don't already
know how to deal with Priuses, you can help them learn -- have
them understand why they need to know what power state the car
is in and show them how to make sure it's off, teach them about
how to power it on and off and get it to idle, how regen braking
works, smartkey, etc etc. Point them at the numerous piles of
training material on the net -- print a few of these to drop off.
Encourage them to learn, reassure them that hybrids really aren't
all that special except for a few safety/procedural nits, and
that they're not likely to get anywhere near the high voltage
systems unless they really want to.
.
I guarantee you, they won't do it on their own without a bit of
a push, even though they *know* in their hearts that the time
to learn about hybrids is not when one is sitting in their bay
emitting smoke. It's just how that industry works.
.
_H*

 

I have been taking mine to the dealer for oil changes; this a first for me. My last cars I took to chain stores, at about half the price. I never had any problems. I did try the local Wal*Mart, just as a test, but they wouldn't do an oil change on a Pri. That may change as they become more popular.