jiffy lube vs. dealer?

chris hinson · 04-30-2003, 04:08 PM

i have a 740i, and was wondering what kind of oil everyone uses, can i go to jiffy lube or should i go to the dealer to have them changed? Does BMW recommend a special kind of oil?

also does anyone know about how much it is to have the tranny serviced

oh and it has 125k miles, what weight should i use?

Javier at Pelican Parts · 05-01-2003, 07:22 AM

What year is your car......
If is an older model e32 or e38 just do it yourself........it's so easy.
The filter housing is right on top.........cannister type.
And you can use a top oil extracter........
use top qualty filters and I prefer Castrol oil products...

STAY AWAY FROM JIFFY LUBE!!!!!!

Jared at Pelican Parts · 05-01-2003, 07:24 AM

I have always run Castrol GTX in all my cars. Never had any problems.

DO NOT take your car to Jiffy Lube. I have seen them use impact wrenches on oil drain bolts.

chris hinson · 05-01-2003, 01:00 PM

im not sure what type of engine i have! its a 1994 740i

Javier at Pelican Parts · 05-01-2003, 01:19 PM

In that case chris, this is something you might want to consider doing yourself, as I mentioned above. If you absolutly can not do this yourself find a good reputable BMW SPECIALIST to do this for you. If all else fails go to the dealer but not JIFFY LUBE. They tend to use cheap filters poor quiality oil, the wrong tools, and can just have a bad effect on the car. And for what they claim to do charge a fortune. If you are not mechancily inclined give me a call we'll try and talk you through it.

on a scale of 1-10, 1=air in tires 10=engine rebuild

oil change 2.....

Javier at Pelican Parts · 05-01-2003, 01:20 PM

sorry forgot number...
1-888-280-7799 xt 239

Jared at Pelican Parts · 05-01-2003, 02:42 PM

Changing oil is beyond easy. Especially on cars with cartirdge type oil filters. All you need to do is

1. Drive car for a bit to warm up the oil.
2. Place an oil tray under the car and remove the oil drain bolt. Let old oil drain out.
3. Open oil filter cartirge holder. Replace cartridge, reseal unit
4. Replace oil drian bolt
5. Fill car back up with oil.

Just that easy.

mouled · 05-03-2003, 08:51 PM

I change my oil at the fast oil change places during our winter months. Find one that carries a preferred oil and quality filter. Fram makes a filter for your car which tests even higher than the factory model. I like Castrol also, but will use Penzoil and Quaker State. I worked for Castrol years ago and at the time we had no equals, today many premium oils keep up. The bulk oils are the ones to avoid and any garage can get them. The detergent quality in the premium oils and their stabiity is what you paying for. Cheap oils often are not protecting your car at 5,000 mies when you change.

Jared at Pelican Parts · 05-05-2003, 09:49 AM

I would only run Castrol or Mobil 1. Avoid Pennzoil at all costs.

mouled · 05-05-2003, 06:28 PM

Canadian Tire use to carry Castrol and had it private labeled. Then in the mid 70's threw it out to put their own private label on the shelf. Several years later a local paper tested brand name oils and because of Canadian Tires oil volumn included their oils also. They tested to SAE specs after 5,000 klm, after 7,000 km, and after 10,000 klm. Castrol rated the highest with Quaker State, Pennzoil, Vedal, not far behind. Synthetics were rated very high but the private label product failed to meet the standards at 5,000 klms. I've been using Quaker State in my two cast iron Chevy blocks in my boat for years. The oil gets changed on what would be equal to 1,000 klms. Marine engines get a lot more stress. Would you think I should be using Castrol here also. Mobil is very rare. Why avoid Pennzoil?

Jared at Pelican Parts · 05-06-2003, 08:01 AM

Pennzoil is formulated off a parrafin base. I have pulled oil pans ff engines that have run Pennzoil and found a wax sludge on the bottom of the pan. I dont know about you, but i do NOT want any solid particles floating around ion my engine.

I agree that Quaker State is some of the best oil you can run in a pushrod V-8, but for imports, ALWAYS run either Castrol GTX dino oil or Mobil 1 synthetic. That's just my opinion.

mouled · 05-06-2003, 08:58 AM

Jared, Thank you, I will stay far away for parrifin. How does the Mobil ! stack up against Castrol Synthetic? Do you know any retailers in Canada for Mobil?

Jared at Pelican Parts · 05-06-2003, 09:06 AM

Have you been running regular or synthetic oil in the car?

mouled · 05-06-2003, 12:52 PM

Jared, Regular oil, Castrol in the Cars, Quaker State in the boat engines. Our Marina carries Quaker State. I use to work for Burma Oil ( Castrol) and buy it out of loyalty and the knowledge it was one of the best. No I would not change to synthetic without an engine rebuild, and yes at 284,000 klm I will in another 70,000 klm. Absolutly nothing wrong with the engine currently. I replaced the cam an followers last summer with a stock grind.

Jared at Pelican Parts · 05-06-2003, 12:59 PM

If you work for Castrol, maybe you can answer my question, What do you think of that new Castrol High Mileage stuff? Any good? Im kinda wary of anything that "re-conditions" seals

mouled · 05-06-2003, 07:17 PM

Jared, I USE to work for Castrol in the 70's. I don't believe in high milage oils. I believe Castrol makes a fine product , maybe the best. When I worked there it was certainly their intent. They had some amazing aviation lubes that would protect a seal. I doubt anything could fill the cracks or repair the memory in the control spring. I have been a lighting engineer since 1976.
I think the only way to extend an oils life is to remove the carbon and the acidic by-products. Hydrogen, this is the only thing that explodes in gasoline. Hydrogen can be produced free! Oil can be recycled by adding new detergent and cleaning. No sulfates, calcium, carbon, no pollution. Hell a got a 175 gallon fuel tank in my boat. I could remove 1480 pounds and suck fuel from the lake. H2/0 at high pressure across a radium tube seperates the hydrogen from the oxygen. The hydrogen condenses so fast at the cat a blue oxygen flame brings the two gases back together again and steams its way back to the collector and back to the water tank. More power clean burn, renewable, and long oil life?

Jared at Pelican Parts · 05-07-2003, 07:26 AM

Interesting. So you're saying that it is easier to remove hydrogen from used oil than freshly refined oil?

I always thought that the way they refine petroleum products is way cool. Such a simple idea. Althoguh i live next to a refinery, and the sulphur dioxide smell tends to permeate everything.

mouled · 05-07-2003, 03:53 PM

Jared, No, no no... the hydrogen comes from the water and used as fuel. Gasoline is a Hydrocarbon. The only thing that explodes is the hydrogen. Its the carbon that destroys the oil and breaks down the detergent. The point is we are screwing up the planet and our pocket books so the gas producing companies can get rich. Hydrogen the real fuel we burn is free, non polluting, and renewable. In the past little was known about separating hydrogen from oxygen. The danger was oxygen explosion. It has been the fuel of the future for 25 years, it has just ben denied its place.

Jared at Pelican Parts · 05-07-2003, 03:55 PM

I agree. I have always been fascinated with the idea of hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles. We need to get that going, and then cold fusion is the next step!

Javier at Pelican Parts · 05-08-2003, 08:07 AM

Bmw has been experimenting with this for years. for the pas five years or so they have displayed a hydrogen powered 740 at all the car shows.
i think its agreat idea...