Would a fast fit oil change business model work over here?

[anonymous-user]

Just to follow up on this. I booked my Volvo D5 workhorse into National to get an oil change, as their oil and filter price was slightly cheaper than buying the materials myself. They all had recall a couple of years ago to get a software update and a sticker saying not to fill it more than 2/3rds up the dipstick for the usual DPF regeneration issues.

Anyway when I go in I make a point of telling the chap about this and saying that there is a sticker under the bonnet on the slam panel to this effect and pretty much all Volvos between 2003 - 2010 are the same anyway. I explained that if this isn't done I'll get an "engine system service required" message.

Well fk me, what popped up as soon as I headed off?



Turns out that not only have they filled it past 2/3rds full, but they've stuck about another 1/3rd again over the maximum line on the dipstick. Even without the Volvo issue it's way overfilled. I've bought an extractor pump as I've managed to kill mine and I'll take the surplus litre or so of oil out myself. Not a good experience, I've phoned them up to moan. So there is your answer, it won't work here because our cars are too sensitive to ineptitude and stupidity in servicing.

[All that jazz]

^ Similar issue with mine when I had it done, but no warning lights for me. They seem to employ monkeys that are too simple to understand that the level showing on the dipstick is not going to be anywhere near accurate when you pull it out 2 seconds after pouring oil in the top of the engine. I ended up with about 8 litres in a 4.5 litre capacity engine judging by how far up the dipstick it was. It's a cheap service because you need to be there to hold their hand for them it seems.

[anonymous-user]

I sucked 1.5 litres of excess oil out. I am fking angry about it.

[spreadsheet monkey]

KungFuPanda said:

The Americans have it drummed into their heads that if they don't change their oil every 3,000 miles or so, their engines will blow up. There are a plethora of fast fit oil change places such as Jiffy Lube over there that will do a drive in / drive out oil change service at very cheap prices.

I think that viewpoint is probably a generation out of date. The only people in America advocating 3000 miles oil changes these days are the Jiffy Lube chains.

Local governments are actively discouraging excessively frequent oil changes, as safely disposing of all that waste oil is a problem for them.

[WarnieV6GT]

mcflurry said:

National tyres do an oil change from £29. For my hybrid Toyota they want £41 all in.
Not a million miles off your price point

https://www.national.co.uk/oil-change

Just put mine in and was quoted using titan oil £46-49. 5-30w or 5-40w for the "super performance" oil.

For the record the oil for my car an Alfa Romeo 3.2GT V6 is 10-60w! and to get to the oil filter on a busso engine is a massive PITA and there's no way that they wouldn't be phoning me up saying they can't do it..

This is why I never trust any sort of national chain with any of my cars.

[megaphone]

My local garage does me an MOT and 'mini' service, semi synth oil and filter, air filter. £90.00. Goes in once a year, 15K a year milage. I top up oil a couple of times a year.

They suck it out the dip stick.

[Frimley111R]

I didn't have time to do an oil change on my Megane RS265 before a track day but Kwik Fit did one for £55 all in with the same quality oil. It was cheaper for them to do it than for me to DIY!