Bait and Switch at the Oil Change Garage...
 

A few months ago a, investigatory reporter from a TV station in Austin called me and asked if I would help him with a story concerning fraudulant dealings with oil change garages. A disgruntled employee at one of these shops called him up to rat out his boss stating that the guy sells synthetics but drops in cheap conventional. The reporter wanted to know if I could test the oil and see if it was in fact the synthetic promised or a cheap substitute. I told him our labs could do it and I would be glad to help in any way but I also know of 2 other labs that were better suited for some real sophisticated analysis that would be better if this thing went south by way of legal actions for the garages. It was better this way as well because my boss really didn't want to deal with court crap that turns into a huge time chew. Here is the stories:


Oil change shops caught cheating under the hood | KXAN.com

More local oil change shops pass KXAN


So the next time you get your oil done, tell them you do oil analysis and your looking forward to the positive results the synthetics will provide!

That's awesome Mike - thanks for sharing!

Knowing PPOT, this must have come up before, but do you/would you pay the extra coin for synthetic for modern vehicles? I've been paying through the nose for it for years and have always wondered if it's worth it.

Very cool, and reminds me why I DIY.

There are benefits to synthetics for sure, but some thing that its over kill in certain cars.

Another reason to do it yourself.

Check out http://www.jiffylubeproblems.com/ (grab yourself a cup of coffee and a Danish, you'll be reading for a while...).

In a similar vein, a couple of years ago my granddaughter had her oil changed at one of the usual suspect quick oil change places (wasn't JL) then came out to the house to have me replace a burned out headlight. Although the oil had been changed, it was very obvious the filter hadn't been changed. Wonder how often this goes on, particularly with young females ?

We took her car back and made them change the filter. Guy swore up and down it was just an oversight.... right.

Really nothing new, unfortunately the 'chain' stores have been at this game since the beginning. I worked for one of the largest east coast tire / repair centers here in Va in the early 80's. Their business model was to treat all the individual stores like they were franchises. They would 'eff' the store managers so bad that to make any money and hit goals they intern had to 'eff' both the customers AND the mechanics.

Selling synthetic and then substituting dinosaur oil was something that was done every day. Further small 4 cyl engines at that time typically only held 4qts of oil but were charged for 5.........every time. Also even the reg oil was actually recycled, not 'fresh'. Every store manager was running every scam that could be possibly done. The system that corporate set up was one of failure if you ran the stores honestly. For a short time I dated one the girls at corporate who filled me in on even more nonsense.

That video is hilarious!

Good job - thanks for sharing Mike.

I agree - why I DIY!

The TV station should have asked to test their bulk containers and for store records of how much they bought and sold of each type of oil, I bet they only bought one 55 of synthetic and lots of Dino.

I still wouldn't trust them to pour in the synthetic I brought either, probably put it on the shelf and fill your car with cheap stuff still.

Changing oil is so easy and quick, that in my opinion there is no real benefit(besides disposal) to taking a chance of motor damage or being ripped off by going to a quick change place.

Sorry, I don't want to turn this into oil thread number...

But, I heard that additives in oil can be heavier than the oil itself and sink to the bottom of the plastic container. And you should shake the container of oil before pouring it into the oil tank/engine.

So does this mean when a motor garage buys oil in 44 gallon drums and pump out a few liters for an oil change, only the last few customers get the additives?

Great, after proudly and confidently refusing all the additional servicing they push on me you tell me that the synthetic Mobil 1 oil isn't actually going into my engine. Those bastards.

The pump intake is at the bottom of the barrel so, by that logic, the last few customers would not get the additives.

Can't tell if your information is correct, however. Maybe MD would know.

I worked for a FIAT dealer years ago who had us turn the oil filters back in to the parts dept when we did the first service on a new car. They would let them sit a drain a few weeks and when a car came in for an oil change, hand us the used filter to put on. We did use new oil though.

Additives don't normally drop out. No worries

It depends on the vehichle and driving habits. At some point, your oil filter can be the limiting factor of when you change, in which case, you can change the filter, then top up the lost oil.

Slick 50 and other engine oil additives - The Skeptic's Dictionary - Skepdic.com
Dupont, who invented Teflon, claims that "Teflon is not useful as an ingredient in oil additives or oils used for internal combustion engines

Thanks.

Ha! Need a few other clients, Mike? I have a long list of potential busts.

I did see that one one the news when it aired. There is something about that particular location. Shady shyte seems to loom over it. I can't vouch for the owners other locations, and what goes on, but that one spot has a reputation no matter the owner.

It's just down the street, but I've never have had any services offered there. In a couple of months, someone else will open shop, as it is dead now, and cycle will probably continue.

Yep...DIY!

Isn't this fraud plain and simple? I'd think the BBB and corporation commission would get involved.