Let's Hear Your Jiffy Lube Horror Story!

[Teamoatmealpie]

My 16 had only seen Jiffy Lube 3x over the last 100,000 miles.
1st time oil change, pull out, drive across street to Safeway parking lot, look underneath, oil drain hatch barely hanging on by 1 bolt. Not happy, walk across street ask for my bolt back.

2nd time- different Jiffy Lube - diffs and transfer case, pull out, don't see any issues- this would come back to me many miles later.

3rd time, go to a different Jiffy Lube, Pull up waiting in line, ask to speak with manager, tell him about trip #1 and my concern that they button everything up properly. Pull out drive 30 feet, look underneath. Find oil inspection hatch open with only 1 bolt. Grab my own ratchet/sockets check all the skid plate bolts 2 loose and 1 stripped. I let the manager have it- he apologized and tried to seat the stripped bolt, told him, his guy failed, especially since I just told him what happened before, told him never again.

Yesterday go do do diffs and transfer case myself, find allen head on front diff is stripped, can even get it to allen key to seat and try to get it off. Pissed, go to do transfer case, same thing drain bolt stripped, cant even get 24mm socket to go over it. Big ass crescent wrench solves the problem, also way over torqued. Torque should only be 27ft/lbs. Trip to local dealer to get new bolts. Had to pay dealer to do front diff.

Each time, I took it to Jiffy Lube for 2 reasons, rainy Oregon- sucks to do this work outside when its wet AF on a steep driveway. My rig wont fit into my garage. Plus a dealer oil change takes way too long, always over 2 hours. When it's dry out none of this stuff is too bad, it's only been on the few occasions I didn't want to do it myself that it came back to bite me.

Prior to these experiences, I used the same Jiffy Lube for over a decade for some oil changes and never had any problems. This Jiffy Lube was staffed by a bunch of gear-heads, they all drove 4x4s, and were interested in cars.

So in 3 trips with 3 different Jiffy Lubes, they all failed to do the job they are paid to do. Oregon has problems, #morons & stoned morons.

I see an oil filter relocation kit in my near future to make things easier.

 

[spartacus]

Chalk it up to a learning experience and do it your self. In all honesty I use a dealer when short on time but stay away from quickie lube places.

 

[Tuco Ramirez]

Chalk it up to a learning experience and do it your self. In all honesty I use a dealer when short on time but stay away from quickie lube places.

I had this same mentality when younger, that surely the dealer will do it better. Not the case, they can be just as bad if not worse. Doing it yourself is the only way nowadays to be 100% sure things are done right.

 

[bear1998]

I would have never went back after the 1st time to any (quick lubes)....

 

[ads2539]

Not a Jiffy Lube, but a no-name oil change place.

Many years ago, I had the oil changed in a VW Jetta. The worker put the oil drain plug back in without the gasket and overtightened it, stripping the threads in the oil pan.

They gave me my car back and said, “It’s leaking oil”.

I never used them again.

 

[DougR]

Find an independent shop with a focus on customer service, that has very good reviews and most of the technicians are ASE certified. Ask to speak to the shop owner. Tell him you've recently had 3 bad experiences at other shops (no details). Tell him you're hoping to find a shop where you may become a loyal customer. Ask if the guy who changes oil is trained, has the proper tools and uses a torque wrench. FAQ | Salem Boys Auto has tips on how to find a great shop and how to work with them.

 

[Bry n]

Find an independent shop with a focus on customer service, that has very good reviews and most of the technicians are ASE certified. Ask to speak to the shop owner. Tell him you've recently had 3 bad experiences at other shops (no details). Tell him you're hoping to find a shop where you may become a loyal customer. Ask if the guy who changes oil is trained, has the proper tools and uses a torque wrench. FAQ | Salem Boys Auto has tips on how to find a great shop and how to work with them.

dealership mechanics apparently are ASE certified, so i wouldnt count that a worker with poor work ethics is just that even with all the certs in the world

 

[BigGy]

omg...not jiffy lube but same idea w/ Uncle Ed's. Years and years ago pulled in for the quick oil change that was supposed to be the $20...and had been for a long time. Used to be worth it....if they didn't cock it up. $60 the guy says....when their done! yep, they asked me to turn my headlights on/off, blinkers, etc. That was new.

Told him F-U, I'm not paying that! Yep, had to yell at the "manager". Drove off paying $20 and HAVE NEVER BEEN BACK TO A QUICK OIL CHANGE PLACE AGAIN.

Changing your own oil is EASY, and cheap.

 

[rdruss]

If you have to lay in the rain in your driveway to change your oil, so be it!

 

[Sonoran_Desert]

Older gal and I call my mobile mechanic to come to my house. We have fun chatting about how dealers and others can really mess up a 4Runner's oil change. I have been doing this since truck was new.

I supply the OEM oil and filter, a clean funnel and floor protection. This process is typically more expensive than Jiffy Lube or Dealer but that's OK.

 

[sn_85]

Why not take it to a Toyota specialty shop? A lot of the "overland" specialty shops do more than just vehicle upfitting and also do regular and typical maintenance work. I'd look up Wanderlust Overland or Mule Expedition Outfitters in your area. They cost a bit more but in my experience these guys do a much better job than any quick lube place.

 

[Teamoatmealpie]

If you have to lay in the rain in your driveway to change your oil, so be it!

Totally agree - I usually do - have 30 large moving boxes from U-haul to cut and lay on the ground/keep me off the wet ground. It was just those 3x over 100,000 that I veered away from my better judgement and got bit. Each time at a different Jiffy Lube. Like I said never again.

 

[1000MPH]

You would be surprised how far you can drive with screwdriver holes in the oil filter.

 

[catchx46]

Unfortunately ASE doesnt mean the technician is qualified.

Find an independent shop with a focus on customer service, that has very good reviews and most of the technicians are ASE certified. Ask to speak to the shop owner. Tell him you've recently had 3 bad experiences at other shops (no details). Tell him you're hoping to find a shop where you may become a loyal customer. Ask if the guy who changes oil is trained, has the proper tools and uses a torque wrench. FAQ | Salem Boys Auto has tips on how to find a great shop and how to work with them.

 

[DougR]

Unfortunately ASE doesnt mean the technician is qualified.

It's my impression that most shops do not have their ASE techs doing oil changes. Asking about certification is just ONE aspect of investigating a shop to find out if it is customer focused and performs quality work. How does the owner (or shop foreman) react? Does he support certification? Does he mention that most of his employees are certified in more than one area? If the shop has a web page like this one, Our Team | Salem Boys Auto the odds of them having a conscientious lube tech that has received on the job training and continuing supervision under a shop foreman are much better. Most customers do not take the time to vet a prospective shop. Of course, there is always the possibility that proper vetting still results in an instance of poor service. When that happens, it pays to have chosen a shop that is willing to make it right. This page discusses how to find and then work with a good repair facility, FAQ | Salem Boys Auto When I need a shop to perform work, I make an effort to investigate them first.

 

[lewdog998]

No matter if its a quick change place or a dealer, most of the guys doing the oil changes are entry level "techs" (at least that is what my dealer told me). They either dont have the experience or "production" goals push them to get it done as fast as possible, increasing the chance for errors (accidentally or because they dont care).
Oil changes are flat rate, and they can only make money by doing them as quickly as possible.

 

[ejason]

147000 miles and i'm the only one that has done an oil change. That's not going to change. I'll go with my work truck to those places and have never had an issue, but this is just another story added to the quick oil change list.

 

[wsgoat]

This was recently posted on another forum I belong to. The poster noticed a few drops of oil in his driveway after visiting a quickie oil change place. The drain plug was overtightened and cracked the oil pan....JB weld was used to "fix" the issue....luckily the owner noticed it right away and held the shop accountable.

 

[Jerhelo]

Self or dealer on this stuff. The turnover on employees in places like that is crazy and chances are your usually getting a guy in his first week ever with no prior experience.

 

[mcat707]

I used to take my company vehicle to JL for oil changes. We had a fleet account with them. I had to go back to have them take care of the undercarriage cover that was missing bolts. The cover was basically raking the asphalt.

I remember seeing some dude getting his brakes done at JL. Oil changes are one thing but there is no way I’m having my brakes done there!