took my Vette to my local dealer, told the service writer I wanted a Mobil 1 oil change. He nodded but didn't write anything down. Told him again, Mobil 1 oil change, he nodded and got the hang number ready. I told him as he walked to my car to run it into the shop, Mobil 1. Car came around and I was told all finished, walked in to pay - $39.95. Told them that wasn't right, Mobil 1 oil change costs more than that. Told me it wasn't on the service work order, told them to go talk to the service writer. They came back and said they would take my car back around and change out the oil and replace it with Mobil 1 at regular oil price. O.K. Twenty minutes later my car comes back, all apologetic and assuring me. Car is running 5 degrees warmer than it was before the oil change. I think I've been lied to.

 

If your familiar with the two.. you can feel the difference when rubbing between your fingers.

Personally.. I have a hard time letting other people work on my cars. In the last 30yrs I think I've paid to have my oil changed... um... nope. None.

 

Well, no way to tell w/o doing an analysis of some kind. But, as long as yours is pre-92, it has an oil cooler on it. It was in 92 when the oil cooler was deleted, as part of the intro to LT1, and synthetic (Mobil 1) was prescribed due to greater temp stability sans cooler.

I can testify that some dealers are incredibly unscrupulous. NOBODY touches any of the Corvettes. Oilman (like a Jiffy lube) does our daily drivers, but I can stand right there and watch what goes in them.

I never tried the "between the fingers" trick. And, I wonder once the oil is in the crankcase for a bit if that would affect the ability to distinguish between the two. I dunno. But, again...if it is a pre 92, I wouldn't give it a second though...until time to have it changed again. (Go to a "Jiffy" lube place instead.)

 

I would have insisted I get to watch the 2nd oil change

 

Comparing 5w-30 M1 to 5w-30 std, M1 will feel thinner when very lightly touching your fingers. Stiction will feel the same with increased pressure. It's subtle. but you'll feel it w/oil thats been used.

Also, M1 will suspend debris in the oil better than std oils. Doesn't mean anything w/new oil or oil that very dirty. But a oil w/1000 miles on it and you can tell. (M1 will look dirtier)

 

To, many shops and franchises cut corners these days to make a profit...

It makes all the shops look bad even though there are those small mom and pop shops that do really honest work.

 

LOL had a dealer lie to a older friend about his truck. He had the truck start acting up on him and knew he replace the distributor recently so he checked and it was loose. Took it to the dealer and they said it was his CATS. He told them the dist was loose and asked they reset it and then he'd take it to the muffler shop. They told him they would and he then took his truck got new CATS and O2's for over $800 and the check engine light comes on three blocks away. Take it back to the muffler shop, they hook it up and guess what the timing is off. I follow him back to the dealership and the guy who can set timing is gone and won't be back for days! I helped him adjust it a few time till the light stayed off and he sys it runs great and must be close enough. He is still mad at the dealership he paid them to check the car and set the timing. I'm also not happy with the muffler shop, I know the owner and when I took my friend to pick up his truck the son knew I kinda busted them on price gouging my friend.

 

I just wondering why on earth you would take your car to a dealer for an oil change.

 

Yea, what he said ^^^

 

I would rather have hot pokers in both of my eyes than chance taking my car to a dealer for service, but that’s me. Then, there are people who may not be able to perform the contortionist maneuvers it takes to get under a C4 up on ramps, that may be his only option. If a lift is available, it makes things a lot easier.

B17 Crew

 

an oil change seemed like such an easy thing for them to do and $400 for ramps such a hard thing for me to do.

 

There is no worse feeling in all of cardome than when you entrust your pride and joy to a dealer for service only to learn they lack competence and integrity. Hopefully, you will be able to locate an honest shop that you are comfortable with. Check with a local Corvette club, ask the members who they trust with their cars (hopefully it’s not the dealer you are referencing). Best of luck!

B17Crew

 

Look around for a set of used Race Ramps. You should be able to find a pair for 50% to 75% of the price of a new set

 

Just say NO to stealerships!

 

I never had anyone else change my oil in my life.

 

I don't use ramps (don't have any). I don't even jack up the car. I can reach the oil filter and oil drain plug by lying beside the car.

 

Good advice, deals are out there.

B17Crew

 

This is feasible, the oil drain plug is reachable from either side of the car (a little easier to reach on the passenger side for me). The filter can be accessed by laying along the drivers side, the filter is between the cat and oil pan. Would need a low-profile collection pan to catch the oil.

If you are changing the oil when the car is hot, you’d have to be careful not to come in contact with hot surfaces; maybe wear a heavy long-sleeve shirt to lower the risk of getting burned. I use ramps so I can clean the undercarriage while changing the oil, filter, and hitting the zerks on the front suspension – and, everyone knows not to bother me when I’m under the Corvette!

B17Crew

 

You don't need ramps to change oil in a c4 Corvette. Hard to trust dealerships in this day and age.

 

Bummer to hear OP. Is there any other explanation for the 5 degree increase?

If you must take your car to shops/dealers for service, you might watch as the work is done so you can be as sure as possible it's done right. Or as another poster mentioned, ask around and find a shop that can really be trusted -- these are usually family-owned or other small shops that have built their reputations on honest work and customers' word of mouth... this is the only way they can compete with corporate lube shops. To be honest, anytime I can't do my own work on a vehicle, I ask my friends if they know a good shop and more often than not they know the shop's owner, which is possibly the best reference I can ask. I always cater to our local small-businesses as much as possible.

Doing my own oil changes... I cut a couple 2x4s at a steep angle to make "mini-ramps" -- driving the front tires onto them lifts the car just enough to get my floor jack underneath, then I put the front end on jack stands (frame rails) while doing the oil change. Drain plug and filter are both accessed from the driver's side, and the nose-up angle helps drain oil from the pan. Never had issues getting burned doing an oil change on a hot engine, just be careful and take your time, do it right and drive in confidence!