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bad30th · 12-12-2003, 02:50 PM

Ok. I will preface this post by saying that I worked at Jiffy Lube for over 4 years. Second, that I am a quite capable mechanic. And third, that I no longer work there because my boss was an idiot.

First, here are the facts about Jiffy Lube:

1.) 99% of the employees there are completely retarded.

2.) I would never let them work on my own car.

3.) When properly performed, the extra services (coolant flushes, trans. services, differential services, etc.) are EXACTLY what the dealership does....sometimes better.

For example, Jiffy Lube has a fluid exchanger for Auto Transmissions called a T-Tech machine. It doesnt suck the fluid out, rather (while the vehicle is running) it uses the vehicles own trans fluid pump to cycle the old fluid out and the new fluid in simultaneously. This machine replaces 100% of the fluid. Trans, pan, torque converter, lines, radiator, EVERYTHING. I can explain more if someone is interested.... Anyway, many dealerships do not have this machine and will do whats called a Pan Drop...dropping the trans pan and just changing out the fluid in it, which is only 35% - 40% of the fluid.

4.) I know of at least a dozen people I worked with at Jiffy Lube who quit and went directly to work for dealerships (Nissan and Infiniti, Ford, Toyota and Lexus, Chevy...pretty much all except the high-end dealerships like Mercedes and BMW) working on your cars. These ex-JL dealership "mechanics" are the same people I would not let touch my car...

5.) Dealerships charge more for these services, even though they are EXACTLY the same, or like I said, sometimes worse.

You are paying for the peice of mind that a "qualified dealership mechanic" has changed your oil, which as I have already explained, is not always the case. The dealership oil changer is, more often than not, an ex-fast-lube employee.....just beware.

6.) Jiffy Lube makes its profits more on the oil change than the extra services.

We charged $28.99 for a conventional oil change. An oil filter of the same quality as the ones we used (crappy) from the store would cost you maybe $3.00. In bulk, they cost us maybe $0.50. The oil we used from the store might cost you $1.00 a quart (conventional). In bulk, cost us maybe $0.25 a quart.

So lets do the math for your average 5 qt. capacity vehicle

........

Your cost at store = 3.00 + [1.00 x 5] + a little work on your part = an $8.00 plus tax oil change.

Jiffy Lube's cost = 0.50 + [0.25 x 5] = $1.75 in parts + [.5 man hours x $7 an hour] = a $5.25 oil change.

Point is, if you can do the oil change yourself, DO IT.

If not, and you personally know of a good individual mechanic who happens to work at a Jiffy Lube, GO TO HIM for your oil changes and extra services. If not, for god sakes just go to a real mechanic.

HOLY LONG POST, BATMAN!!!

...sorry....

12-12-2003, 02:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
bad30th Insane Location: [insert witty play on location field here]	Ok. I will preface this post by saying that I worked at Jiffy Lube for over 4 years. Second, that I am a quite capable mechanic. And third, that I no longer work there because my boss was an idiot. First, here are the facts about Jiffy Lube: 1.) 99% of the employees there are completely retarded. 2.) I would never let them work on my own car. 3.) When properly performed, the extra services (coolant flushes, trans. services, differential services, etc.) are EXACTLY what the dealership does....sometimes better. For example, Jiffy Lube has a fluid exchanger for Auto Transmissions called a T-Tech machine. It doesnt suck the fluid out, rather (while the vehicle is running) it uses the vehicles own trans fluid pump to cycle the old fluid out and the new fluid in simultaneously. This machine replaces 100% of the fluid. Trans, pan, torque converter, lines, radiator, EVERYTHING. I can explain more if someone is interested.... Anyway, many dealerships do not have this machine and will do whats called a Pan Drop...dropping the trans pan and just changing out the fluid in it, which is only 35% - 40% of the fluid. 4.) I know of at least a dozen people I worked with at Jiffy Lube who quit and went directly to work for dealerships (Nissan and Infiniti, Ford, Toyota and Lexus, Chevy...pretty much all except the high-end dealerships like Mercedes and BMW) working on your cars. These ex-JL dealership "mechanics" are the same people I would not let touch my car... 5.) Dealerships charge more for these services, even though they are EXACTLY the same, or like I said, sometimes worse. You are paying for the peice of mind that a "qualified dealership mechanic" has changed your oil, which as I have already explained, is not always the case. The dealership oil changer is, more often than not, an ex-fast-lube employee.....just beware. 6.) Jiffy Lube makes its profits more on the oil change than the extra services. We charged $28.99 for a conventional oil change. An oil filter of the same quality as the ones we used (crappy) from the store would cost you maybe $3.00. In bulk, they cost us maybe $0.50. The oil we used from the store might cost you $1.00 a quart (conventional). In bulk, cost us maybe $0.25 a quart. So lets do the math for your average 5 qt. capacity vehicle ........ Your cost at store = 3.00 + [1.00 x 5] + a little work on your part = an $8.00 plus tax oil change. Jiffy Lube's cost = 0.50 + [0.25 x 5] = $1.75 in parts + [.5 man hours x $7 an hour] = a $5.25 oil change. Point is, if you can do the oil change yourself, DO IT. If not, and you personally know of a good individual mechanic who happens to work at a Jiffy Lube, GO TO HIM for your oil changes and extra services. If not, for god sakes just go to a real mechanic. HOLY LONG POST, BATMAN!!! ...sorry.... Last edited by bad30th; 12-12-2003 at 02:53 PM..