how do service stations do oil changes for 10-15 dollars? thats barely and in most cases not even paying for the oil and filter unless its like a 1 liter engine. my buddy works at koehn gm here in marinette and he tells of some horror stories such as recycled oil?

how do they do it without losing there ***?

 

My guess is they use 'recycled' oil and rely on high-volume traffic.
I would never, EVER, go to one of those places.
Ever.

 

I think anyone telling stories about them using recycled oil is trying to justify the price they charge.

I doubt they use recycled oil. they likely use a lower quality oil/filter and buy in such bulk that they can charge a low price.

Keep in mind too that they try to hit a lot of people with a ton of incidentals and make a killing on those items.

 

It"s all about volume. They get oil in bulk, pay low wages and rely on add ons and repeat sales. I use the various quickie oil change places only when I travel since I worry about the quality of their work more that the products they use.

 

Filters at my cost are $2 and each quart of oil is $1.50. You do the math!

 

Lower grade oil (not bad oil, just not the primo blends) bought a few hundred gallons at a time at a discounted rate for volume & repeat business. Filters bought in high volume that may not be the brand you like, but the bid price per unit was good. "Mechanics" that make less than $10/hr and if they can't do a set number of changes in an hour's time, they are replaced.

That's how it's done.

 

I found over the years, they (the cheap places) usually try to boo-ger up the threads on the oil filter or drain plug, then charge you for the repair kit.

I used to frequent them when I was poor and working. (Child support payment of $360 per week for 3 kids).

 

Like others have said, I think it's in the extras they ask people to get. It's not possible to go to one of those places and not have then tell you that you need additional work. I think a lot of people fall for that.

 

I had a chat with a guy at my local Ford service dept a couple days ago when I was getting my second oil change. He said the cost to them is about $13. Whether that's really true or not, who knows but he didn't have a reason to lie to me. We also did the math of how much it would cost to get an oil change buying the oil & filter from walmart myself versus just going to the dealer, and it came at about even. My dealer normally charges $29.95 for an oil change but my first one was free and my second one I got a coupon for $9.95. What they kill me on is spending $19.95 for tire rotation every time. Personally, I never have and never will trust taking my truck to one of those cheap oil change places

 

wheni worked at a car dealer ship they were getting 1000 some times 2000 gallons of oil at once and that was just at one brand they sold 12 diffrent brands of cars so you figer there buying 3 or 4000 gallon of oil a year there def getting one hell of a deal!