MOHFpro90

iTrader: (11)

I need to change my oil. Ive got a coupon for a free oil change at a RepairOne in town. I called them up and they use synthetic blends and the type of filter depends on vehicle. Ive read up on synthetic blends, about them being very little synthetic, not "real" synthetic, and for the price, them being a total waste of money, etc...but, Im getting it for free. So my question is, should I spend the cash to change the oil myself, or should I take advantage of this offer?

Oh, and I get a tire rotation and 18 point courtesy check...woo hoo!

BTW, I change every 3000 miles, generally use Mobil 1 10W-30 and a Mobil 1 filter.

SilverMax_04

Why not ask them what they would charge extra to upgrade their "free oil change" to all synthetic motor oil?

IMHO, the quick-change lube places are the ones that tend to make mistakes -- which is why I do all of my oil changes myself.

I suspect that some time in the future when I finally "get old" and am no longer willing to crawl under to drain the old oil, I will have someone else change my oil. But this remains a number of years away.

ghostrider17

iTrader: (6)

Free is Free.
But if you've been taking the time and effort to use M1 with a Mobil1 filter....you're kinda downgrading.

And just WAIT to see what that FREE 18 point inspection turns-up!!!

I avoid those places like the plague. Last time I got my oil changed at one, they didn't put my drain-plug back-in properly.
Two car agos, they stripped-out my drain-plug.

BTW -- 3k OCI is TOTAL overkill for M1. You could stretch that to 5k and STILL be well within spec. Depends on your driving though....
Just FYI.

gr

CCS2k1Max

iTrader: (2)

What GR said. It's a ploy to bring you in so they can pressure you into all sorts of needless repairs (and then some) to recover their OC costs.

merlin2375

iTrader: (3)

IMHO, I don't trust anyone else to do oil changes. Just too important to skimp on. I'd agree with ghostrider, stetch it out to 5K miles and save a few bucks that way rather than going for a "free" oil change.

SilverMax_04

I could not agree more. It really does depend on what kind of driving you do in your Max. In my driving I get just over 50% of my miles on the highway -- easy driving on motor oil. While my powertrain warranty was still operating, I took Mobil 1 to 7.5 K miles. When the warranty expired with mileage, I took my OCI up to 10 K miles and had a lab test done on the old oil at the higher mileage. The lab advised that there was still "good life" remaining in the old oil.

If you are spending the money for Mobil 1, why not spend a few more bucks and get the old oil tested. You will find that even at 5 K miles there should still be life remaining in the old oil -- unless all of your driving is short-trip city driving. Then, and only then, could a 3 K mile OCI make any sense.

MOHFpro90

iTrader: (11)

I drive nearly 90% highway, but when Im in town, I dont baby it...

Anyhow, I went ahead and did it. I watched them, they did it all right. Their 'courtesy check' told me everything I already knew...bad cv boot, drip tranny leak...both of which Im fixing. They really didnt pressure me at all, I was impressed.

And thanks for telling me that I can go 5K. That really helps. Saves me some money...! Oh, and i dont do synthetic, does that still apply? Should I go synthetic? Its a lot more and Im in college without a job right now.

CCS2k1Max

iTrader: (2)

A quality SM dino will go 5K miles on your 90% highway/10% city driving, even if you don't baby it in town. Get a UOA to sleep well at night.

SilverMax_04

I agree. With that many highway miles, you should have no problem with a 5 K OCI using dino motor oil.

ghostrider17

iTrader: (6)

Now I'm feeling bad that I only stretch MY Mobil1 OCI to 5k miles!!!

Enh...it's okay. I drive mostly city - and hammer it quite a bit also!
Piece of mind.

gr