Oil Change location
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Oil Change location
Hello,
I just got my "brand new" 2001 C5, first ever corvette, and it's totally awesome..... Can I get some help on what you guys do for oil changes........ Can I take it to a "Jiffy Lube" and ask for oil of the "GM Standard xxx.xx" that's in the owners manual or do I need to take it to the dealership?... (I am guessing it's very difficult to do at home as the car sits so low to the ground.)
Thx, Joel
I just got my "brand new" 2001 C5, first ever corvette, and it's totally awesome..... Can I get some help on what you guys do for oil changes........ Can I take it to a "Jiffy Lube" and ask for oil of the "GM Standard xxx.xx" that's in the owners manual or do I need to take it to the dealership?... (I am guessing it's very difficult to do at home as the car sits so low to the ground.)
Thx, Joel
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,222
Likes: 798
From: Fort Myers Beach Florida
My first few oil changes were done by a Jiffy Lube type establishment. I purchased my own Mobil 1 and filter and paid them to install it while I watched. The advantage is they use a pit and don't have to jack up your car and possibly damage it. The third time I did this I had an oil leak a few weeks after the oil change. The employee didn't tighten the filter properly. Since then I change my own oil and filter.
Last edited by DDaaryl; Oct 16, 2019 at 08:41 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
My first few oil changes were done by a Jiffy Lube type establishment. I purchased my own Mobil 1 and filter and paid them to install it while I watched. The advantage is they use a pit and don't have to jack up your car and possibly damage it. The third time I did this I had an oil leak a few weeks after the oil change. The employee didn't tighten the filter properly. Since then I change my own oil and filter.
Last edited by JR-01; Oct 16, 2019 at 09:35 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4,308
Likes: 3,455
From: Somewhere, Florida
St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Moderator, Tech Contributor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 15,620
Likes: 4,066
From: Cape Coral, Florida
CONGRATS on your recent purchase and welcome to the C5 Forum !!...I have NEVER have taken any of my cars in the last 47 years to a shop or dealership to change oil !!...yes, Corvettes are a little more difficult because of the low clearance but now with my Quick Jack it's sooooooo much easier now. I stick to the Mobil 1 oil and filter !!
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I would never consider taking either my C5 or C4 to one of those quick lube places I have heard enough horror stories about them such as not tightening the oil filter, not tightening the drain plug or stripping the threads by a "Bubba". Many of these places refill the engine using a hose and nozzle connected to a large tank.. You may not get the correct viscosity and type of oil. The C5 uses a full synthetic oil in a 5W-30 weight.
If you have to go to a shop for an oil and filter change, pick a reputable shop that will do it right. Many shops can do a "wait oil change" for you. Get there early and in about 30 minutes, it will be done and all of the car's fluids will also be checked.
If you have to go to a shop for an oil and filter change, pick a reputable shop that will do it right. Many shops can do a "wait oil change" for you. Get there early and in about 30 minutes, it will be done and all of the car's fluids will also be checked.
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Pro
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 594
Likes: 194
From: Back in North Central OH
I just bought mine as well. Even though it said it had 73% oil life, I didn't know what that oil consisted of, so I put Mobile 1 in it before I drove it. I used a set of Rhino ramps and they seemed to work very well. I took a Mustang Cobra into a quick cahnge place once and paid for premium Valvoline. The put the customary 5 quarts with filter, apparently not realizing that it took 7+ quarts. Never again. The ability to take the old oil into Auto Zone for recycling also helps.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
I don't trust anyone.. Those quick lube places hire anyone . Its one step employment above working at McDonalds or Walmart.. Oil changes do not require top tier mechanic. Ive heard many horror stories about loose oil filters missing plugs, wrong oil, over filled, underfilled, etc.
Bill
Bill
Racer
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 262
Likes: 52
From: Dover PA
St. Jude Donor '17
I would never consider taking either my C5 or C4 to one of those quick lube places I have heard enough horror stories about them such as not tightening the oil filter, not tightening the drain plug or stripping the threads by a "Bubba". Many of these places refill the engine using a hose and nozzle connected to a large tank.. You may not get the correct viscosity and type of oil. The C5 uses a full synthetic oil in a 5W-30 weight.
If you have to go to a shop for an oil and filter change, pick a reputable shop that will do it right. Many shops can do a "wait oil change" for you. Get there early and in about 30 minutes, it will be done and all of the car's fluids will also be checked.
If you have to go to a shop for an oil and filter change, pick a reputable shop that will do it right. Many shops can do a "wait oil change" for you. Get there early and in about 30 minutes, it will be done and all of the car's fluids will also be checked.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
It's not just the "quick Lube places" Took my wife's 14 Charger to a dealership to have the oil changed. When we got it back she said it smoked when starting. Not only did the tech NOT drain the old oil he added the new oil on top of that. Took it back in and told the Service Manager that the oil was overfilled, gave me the "yeah right" look, went out and pulled the dipstick and started screaming the guys name. I told him I didn't care who did the work but that guy was not to touch the car again. They made it right and gave me a card for a free oil change (which I still have).
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 203
Likes: 100
From: DFW
USAF
I've been lucky. I haven't changed the oil myself in any car I've owned in the last 25 years and have not had the horror stories you see above. With that said, I just bought my 2001 vert less than a month ago and given the physical layout of the car, I'm going to start changing my own oil and fluids again. I just don't trust any of these places with it.
There's many vidoes out there from YouTube University to show you how to do it and what to look out for which is the important part. There's nothing complicate about an oil change but these cars are special and it never hurts to learn from others about what to look out for when it comes to maintaining them.
There's many vidoes out there from YouTube University to show you how to do it and what to look out for which is the important part. There's nothing complicate about an oil change but these cars are special and it never hurts to learn from others about what to look out for when it comes to maintaining them.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,421
Likes: 302
From: CSRA, SC
I don't trust anyone to touch my cars other than tire changes and wheel alignments and only because I don't have those tools at home. I've heard far too many horror stories about simple oil changes going wrong to risk someone damaging my engine (or worse joyriding the car) to save 1 hour's time on a simple oil change. Generally the guys who just change oil all day are hardly even "auto techs" and lean more toward "garden variety drop-outs" than techs.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 214
Likes: 44
I'm the new owner of of a "time capsule" 5K mile 03 Z06. I did go to a quick oil change place that I've been going to for years for new Mobile 1 5/30 and filter. Ill have the rest of the fluids changed at a well known Corvette Center here in Dallas that's been around with the same owner for 25 years. Next up new tires and valve springs...
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 353
From: Little Rock Arkansas
I do it at home with a jack. If you jack the rear of the car up first - I have a slim jack with a wooden jig I built - you can jack the car at the rear cross member. From there once on stands you can get the front of the car off the ground enough to get under it. The advantages of doing it this way is (1) it's actually easy to get under the car once raised and (2) when you drain the oil you want the car to be level and then a little elevated as the oil drain is on the 'front' side of the pan. Having the ability to manipulate the car at the rear allows you to tip or lower the front how you need it.
Shouldn't take longer than ~20-30 minutes to change the oil doing this way. Another advantage is while everyone will have their preferences on oil and filter you can often find pretty good deals on full synthetic that meets or exceeds the GM Dexos standards. Typically when Wal-Mart has Mobil 1 five quarts for under $25 I stock up.
Shouldn't take longer than ~20-30 minutes to change the oil doing this way. Another advantage is while everyone will have their preferences on oil and filter you can often find pretty good deals on full synthetic that meets or exceeds the GM Dexos standards. Typically when Wal-Mart has Mobil 1 five quarts for under $25 I stock up.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 30,601
Likes: 4,619
From: Bonita Springs, Florida
I use Race Ramps. No clearance issues. Like ET, I do not trust people working on my cars especially at a Jiffy Lube. Be careful of dealers and auto shops damaging the underside of the rocker panels.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 215
Likes: 223
From: Atlanta, GA
Exactly what I do. My driveway is a perfect incline to level the car with the ramps under the front. No way I would take it to any of the quickie oil change places, too many bad experiences in the past.
