xj/valdez oil spill

[sizzle-chest]

i would just like to complain about the worst oil change i have ever done. everything went to plan as far as draining old oil, putting on the new filter and filling it back up. i was so careful not to spill even a drop on my garage floor. so, i start it up and it sounds horrible! like someone was bashing in my engine with a pipe! i figured it was the change in viscosity, so instead of checking under the hood, i took it for a spin around the block. i get back to garage to see all the new oil all over the garage floor and a trail of oil going right into the street!!! i knew i put the plug in tight, so the only possiblity was my filter. well, apparently some a-hole decided to change the filter slightly in the early 90's. and then, more than a decade later, some brilliant individual with an 87 cherokee bought a filter for a late 90's jeep. so, when he thought he was tightening the filter, he was actually ruining the threads. a new filter, some oil and a lot of cleanup later, my oil is finally changed.

a little tip for anyone who doesnt have cat-litter to clean up an oil spill: take a chainsaw and a block of wood, and cut it against the grain. makes tons of large shaving that soak up oil.

another tip for people that own late 80's xj's, buy the right filter.

[JeepinJerimiah]

Personally I dont even change my own oil now. It has become cheaper to have Wal-Mart do mine. If I buy oil it will cost me $12.50 for my 6 quarts and then I ave to do it myself. Or Wal-Mart will do it for $15. So for $2.50 and no labor the oil gets changed.

[XJ4oh]

Im too scared to let anyone but myself do it. No offense, but especially Walmart or a Jiffy Lube or any quick lube chain like that. I know a person or two that works at those kinds of places, and I wouldnt want them touching my car. Just my personal experience though.

[JeepinJerimiah]

Originally Posted by XJ4oh

Im too scared to let anyone but myself do it. No offense, but especially Walmart or a Jiffy Lube or any quick lube chain like that. I know a person or two that works at those kinds of places, and I wouldnt want them touching my car. Just my personal experience though.

I've never had a problem yet but when it is like 20* out and I need my oil changed you won't catch me on the cold *** garage floor.

[XJ4oh]

Originally Posted by JeepinJerimiah

I've never had a problem yet but when it is like 20* out and I need my oil changed you won't catch me on the cold *** garage floor.

Thats true, I dont blame you... lol. 20* is too damn cold to do anything that involves working on vehicles.

[mecompco]

I have mine done at Wally World. I made a point to talk up the service manager and tech. I also remain in the service area (behind the fence) for the entire duration of the procedure. I think there is less chance of a screw-up if they know you are there watching. Immediatly after the service, I give the Jeep a good inspection to make sure there are no leaks or whatever. If you bring your own oil and filter, it comes about to about $10.00 labor w/no mess or old oil to get rid of--I get my tires (bought there) rotated and balanced for free at the same time.

[IcemanJB]

I refuse to take mine to a quick-lube because of the horror stories I've heard.

Price-wise it comes out to about even (me doing it vs. taking it in), but when I do it, I know it's done right. And that includes getting the right filter.

...although lying on the 10* garage floor isn't my cup of tea, I'd rather do that than some grease monkey screwing up my filter or cross-threading my plug.

[91xjgawes]

i just feel much better doing mine, i know what im doing to the jeep, when they do it i have no idea what there doing

[law.74]

I've heard first hand from a lube tech that if a customer has the same brand filter already in use, he would simply wipe it clean and take the new one home.

Needless to say I change my own oil. The more time I spend under the heep and its hood, the more chances I have to catch little problems before the become big.

I also cheat and use a fumoto drain valve with nipple to drain the oil straight into a jug.

[jeeper01]

Purchase a reddy-heater makes those 20* days feel warm again, changing your own oil is like someone said before, the satisfaction of knowing it was done right, also most quick lubes won't install oversized oil filters. ITS A FREE UPGRADE.

[97JeepXJ]

Another thing us 4.0 owners have to worry about is some idiot dropping the filter and breaking the oil pressure sending unit. I did it myself and had to replace it for $45.00. I am much more cafeful now, but tell that to a high school grease monkey. Give em a quart of oil and a wrench & they think there ASE certified....LOL

[90lerado]

i used to do mine most of the time except for the times i didnt have time. i brought it around to a few different places and finnaly found one with a tech i like. its a valvoline shop, all they do is oil changes and i get out and talk to the tech. his dad has a 89 cherokee with over 300k and he has a wrangler that he does all his own work on. hes a good guy and when i went in last time (also my first time there) he "ran out" of the cheap stuff so was "forced" to give me the extended life (not that i think theres any difference in it myself but a good gesture nonetheless). i watched them change the filter and when he was checking everything out he let me know the standings. instead of trying to sell me an air filter he looked and said next oil change i should change it, but buy your own filter and do it yourself cause it will be almost 10 bucks here. just little things like that showed me he was honest and was doing his job right. of course i made sure to give him a decent tip and made sure he remebers me for next time.

[firehawk]

20* too cold to change oil? What a bunch of girlymen! I'll be 50 next month, and I do ALL the work on my Jeep. It only takes about 10-15 minutes to change the oil.

BTW, any NAPA people here? I use the NAPA Gold filter #1085. Anyone know the number for a "longer" Gold filter that would fit?

[FooK]

I'd never go near another Jiffy lube. I've had them add over a quart too much oil into one of my hondas in the past and that was the last time I went near them

[madrabbitt]

i let the yiffy lube change mine, but i'm standing outside the bay watching them eating the complementary cookies and drinking the complimentary soda.

with no garage space, no maintnance rule in the parking lot (not that i worry about rules in the apartment complex since i'm a freaking vendor for the national owners) and the fact its a PITA to do, i dont mind paying the money for them to do it.
plus its reassuring that they check all the other crap that i never bother checking.
i let them drain and fill the TC the last time i was there since it needed it.
I met the tech at the one that i usually go to on myspace.
cute chick. and she has a lifted TJ... so she understands.

what impresses me the most is the quality controls they take.
tech will show me the old filter and initial/date the new one. tech verifys the computer with the correct amount of oil, pours it into a clear container with the right amount marked, a second tech verifies it, they tourque everything to spec and double check it, etc.


besides. my carpet would NEVER get cleaned and vaccumed if i didnt take it there.