I gave my 18 year old step daughter my '95 SE as a Christmas present in Dec 2005. Before I gave her the car, I had the oil changed (Mobile 1) and the tires rotated. At the time it had 127,798 miles on it.

I have been using synthetic oil in the Max for at least the last 3 years and religiously had the oil changed and tires rotated every 5 to 7,000 miles.

3 weeks ago, I told my step daughter it was time to service it again. I specifically told her no matter what they said at Time It Lube, only let them change the oil with Mobile 1 and rotate the tires. Nothing else.

She finally took the car in this past Monday. Today (Tuesday) she tells me that Time It Lube told her that because she had over 10,000 miles since the last change that they needed to run their "oil system cleaner" through the engine. Having significantly frightened her, she obliged and let let them do it.

According to the invoice, the mileage at the time of the change was 135,744.

Now, by my calculations that's only 7,946 miles since the last change. So the first question is, where the hell did they come up with 10,000 miles? Is this the new math I've been hearing about?

MOST IMPORTANTLY: I would like to hear opinions on running a "oil system cleaner" from a 30 minute oil change joint through a vehicle, any vehicle, that has 135,744 miles on it.

I am witholding my opinion until I hear from others. I want to see if YOU are thinking what I am thinking.

Thanks.

 

thats messed up.
talk to the service manager

 

Hmm.. oil system cleaner? arent those usually abbresive and not good for an engine?

 

time for u to start changing the oil every 3-5k and not letting a lube place do it

 

This is why I do this stuff myself. As for engine cleaning There's a member on here named Bobo who can tell you all about Auto-Rx treatments. In a nutshell AutoRx slowly cleans engine parts and softens leaky seals to cure the leaks.

Bobo should be chiming in any time now....

3......2.......1.......

 

those quick lube places typically like to take advantage of women and young kids who aren't too versed in doing their own basic auto fixes. IMO engine cleaners are useless, you put Mobil 1 in the car religiously and they should have just did the oil change and had her on her way. See the manager and let him know what happened. (It won't change anything, but he'll know that ppl know about their shady practices)

 

Give them a for messing up the math and a and tell her go never to there again, how much more did they charge for their "system cleaner?"

 

They charged her $15.99 for this much needed service.

 

The only way to do it right is to do it yourself.

What's done is done though. Regarding the oil system cleaner, I'd call and ask them what exactly this cleaner is. Personally I am skeptical about all oil system addatives, but find out what it is, do some quick research online and let us know what you find.

 

go there, POLITLY and say your story to the manager. Then ask to be refunded for the cleaner and because they took advantage of her, that you want a free oil change when need be. If they do not comply,tell them you will take them to the better business bureau still politly with a slight smile and that they will lose a valueable customer. They will help you out

 

I've got a bro that manages a 'national' lube shop chain locally and that oil system cleaner=brake fluid. I promise you its brake fluid that they added to your oil, let it cycle and drained it. And if you have taken good care of this car like you state 10,0000 miles won't hurt it, I would not recommend it on a regular basis.

 

Be careful what you wish for, lol!

What was the name of the product they used? You should be able to get at least 5K out of an oil-change interval. Anything less offsets one of the primary reasons people use synthetic oil in the first place - ie. the ability to extend the OCI.

I would raise hell at that lube joint and demand another oil change, without the product they added in it.

If you have any varnish in your crankcase (take off the oil cap and peer inside), consider two applications of AutoRX. See www.auto-rx.com and www.bobistheoilguy.com (additives forum). This is good stuff. It will clean your engine internals and ring packs and rejuvenate your seals.

 

The invoice shows the line item as:

"OIL SYSTEM CLEANER HOMEL"

Apparently there isn't enough room on the invoice column to completely spell out the "HOMEL" part of the description, so I have no idea what that is.

Now, if you go to their website (http://www.timeitlube.com/services.html) you will see where they describe it as "Mighty Product". I can find nothing on the internet about Mighty Product.