$86.44 for oil change? I feel screwed

[daf62757]

Originally Posted by behour

I have no experience with vehicles. My yaris is the first new car I bought. I sadly feel often screwed. I went to get an oil change today and was charged 86.44 for it.

Here is my questions

It was full syntetic oil. Is this the best to get or should I avoid?
I was over charged...correct? It seems ridiculously high.
My bill looks something like this

Labor 33.84
Parts 48.20
Shop Material 1.35
Sales tax 3.05
Total 86.44



This is my 2nd oil change at 10,000 miles. My first oil change I asked for syntetic from another Toyota dealer and was only charged $41.45. I was not sure if I was given full synthetic oil even when told otherwise. I was charged with "lube synthetic oil for $10.00". The bill was not clear. I have had problems with the sales department so I tried another dealer. Looks like I should of just stayed with them for a $40 dollar change in price and a 20minutes extra drive.

Any opinions and help would be great for someone as clueless as me with cars. I just want to take the best care for it you know?

I have a question.....would it have been worth a few dollars more to have someone come to your home...or work place....and change your oil?

I have toyed with the idea to start a valet oil change business that specializes in full synthetic oil and comes to where ever it is convenient for you.

How many would pay $100 for that?

[SpaceShot]

I would certainly recommend learning to do it for yourself. The oil change on the Yaris is not hard as engines go. You can even do it without jacking the car up. (not the most comfortable approach) The trickiest part is finding a filter wrench that will fit the little tea cup of a filter it has and not slip. Proper filters and oil can be found in any parts store or even Walmart.

If you don't have the Saturday morning to spare and a suitable garage or driveway, you can look for an independent shop. Try
http://www.cartalk.com/ct/mechx/find...63101&miles=50
if you have no one local that can recommend a shop.

There is nothing magic about dealer service. In many locations independent shop mechanics pass the same certifications the dealer staff do. If you are worried about warranty, just keep your receipts on file.

Quick lube places are another story. If you have no other choices, look for one that has certified staff (on hand if not under your car) and where you can watch the service being done. If you use one of these, you should check the level and fittings when you get home. (making it less of a convenience perhaps, but keeping your engine safe)

[Hershey]

would think synthetic be better for the 1.5 ltr. engine due to working harder to climb hills and highway speeds ( higher r.p.m. ) . Be better for very cold day starts and those hot commutes in summer .

[coffiend]

Uhhhh Missouri does get pretty cold.

Idk what your standard of cold weather is but single digit temps is pretty darn cold in my eyes.

I would think synthetic oil is justifiable in those conditions.

Also, unless the average oil changing chain is losing 50ish bucks every oil change they make, there is definitely a profit in an $80 oil change... if they really were losing that much each change, those places would not exist...

80 is absolutely crazy to me...

[mrb3990]

What I have been led to believe by visiting different forums (bob is the oil guy and cartalk, primarily) is that synthetic is superior to dino oil in extremely cold temperatures (like -20 F and below) not single digits. Dino oil can handle single digits. Also, synthetic is important for high performance engines and any engines for which is it specified in the owner's manual. The question is whether or not synthetic oil is beneficial for an engine like the one in the yaris. The Yaris owner's manual does not specify synthetic. I'm not knocking anyone who uses synthetic oil in their yaris (it's your baby, I understand) but if the OP is complaining about a high price oil change, I just wanted to put it out there that he/she might just want to use dino oil. I only have 2200 miles on my yaris, but I plan on using dino oil when the time comes to get that first oil change.

[Yaris Hilton]

Yep. Dino oil at recommended change intervals is what my Yaris is getting, and I expect my engine life to be as good as anyone's.

[swidd]

Uh, no, that's not so overpriced. I've been upset with the price of synthetic oil change myself, but if you're asking for full synthetic, that's within the price range. At walmart or auto-zone, the top brand full synthetic will run 35-45 dollars, some of them closer to $50 (Mobil-1). + filter, + labor, and you're there. If I'm going to do it myself I'd still spend $60 in 'parts'.

[b_hickman11]

Originally Posted by swidd

Uh, no, that's not so overpriced. I've been upset with the price of synthetic oil change myself, but if you're asking for full synthetic, that's within the price range. At walmart or auto-zone, the top brand full synthetic will run 35-45 dollars, some of them closer to $50 (Mobil-1). + filter, + labor, and you're there. If I'm going to do it myself I'd still spend $60 in 'parts'.

I'll stay with my $2.20 per qt oil and $3 filter. Been using it for years with no problems. Ends up costing me around $100 a year(8-9 oil changes). With synthetic it would be $425 if I did it myself or $735 if I went to behour's dealer. If I was a rich man maybe I wouldn't care but then again I wouldn't be driving a Yaris either.

[DerFlosser]

Anybody that thinks a dealership isn't ripping them off is clueless. A dealership is the LAST place that I would bring a car to be worked on. Any mechanic(s) that is worth a shit is working for themselves as an independant garage anyhow. Dealerships have been called "Stealerships" for years now and it's no coincidence. The argument for synthetic is better lubrication and cleaner engine. There is no question that a synthetic is superior to a conventional in those two areas. I believe their ability to suspend particulates and harmful combustion bi-products may even be superior but I haven't done the research to say that with confidence.

[coffiend]

^ I agree with saying that dealerships in general over charge,but saying that all mechanics that don't work for independent shops aren't "worth shit" is a little over the top... Not to mention incredibly rude and mean.

[DerFlosser]

Originally Posted by coffiend

^ I agree with saying that dealerships in general over charge,but saying that all mechanics that don't work for independent shops aren't "worth shit" is a little over the top... Not to mention incredibly rude and mean.

As somebody once said...the truth hurts. Good Mechanics work at independant garages because independants can't afford bad or average mechanics and dealerships simply don't share the same stakes because lemmings come to dealer over and over regardless. Simple as that...

[supmet]

Originally Posted by YarisSedan

the extra 26 dollars came into play when he decided to get a tire rotation.

And that in itself is a ripoff. I get free rotations, and if you have it up for an oil change, you're adding 90 seconds. Even at the ripoff rate of 95 dollars an hour that's $2.40.

And you're also acting like a lube tech works on one car, and one car only until its done. Like he sits there and watches it drain or something. When working in a shop, you know full well a lube tech can and will do as many cars as there are lifts or pits.

I realize its convenient to fudge the facts to support your business, but nobody is buying it.

Originally Posted by YarisSedan

Sure they may buy it in massive bulk and get a discount rate which gives them a greater margin of markup but in reality it is not that great. If they sell the synthetic for 11 bucks i dont realisticly think they payed 2 or 3 bucks. At a minumum its about 5 bucks.

If I buy full synthetic for less than 5 dollars a quart, I doubt the dealership spends more.

Originally Posted by YarisSedan

I have worked with a lot of venders and i know what the prices are out on the market.

I browse the kragen ads too dude..

[Cosworth]

$86 for an oil change + tire rotation? It seems steep IMO. Maybe it's time to invest in a floor jack & a set of jack stands (plus a decent torque wrench & a metric socket set).

It's really easy to change oil in Yaris compared to some !!@# cars out there.

As for full synthetic vs. dino oil... I really don't see a huge difference between the two, but I drive my Yaris only during summer.

[RUFFSTUFF]

Yeah, I just did my 5000 mile change... it was ridiculously easy and I probably could have done it without the ramps. Though I do wonder why they angled the drain plug towards the right wheel.

[yaris-me]

Originally Posted by RUFFSTUFF

Yeah, I just did my 5000 mile change... it was ridiculously easy and I probably could have done it without the ramps. Though I do wonder why they angled the drain plug towards the right wheel.

So you don't confuse it with transmission.

[RUFFSTUFF]

Aha! Good call...

[Twistoffate0817]

I paid 60 dollars for my synthetic oil change.

[Yawesh]

Originally Posted by behour

I have no experience with vehicles. My yaris is the first new car I bought. I sadly feel often screwed. I went to get an oil change today and was charged 86.44 for it.

Here is my questions

It was full syntetic oil. Is this the best to get or should I avoid?
I was over charged...correct? It seems ridiculously high.
My bill looks something like this

Labor 33.84
Parts 48.20
Shop Material 1.35
Sales tax 3.05
Total 86.44


This is my 2nd oil change at 10,000 miles. My first oil change I asked for syntetic from another Toyota dealer and was only charged $41.45. I was not sure if I was given full synthetic oil even when told otherwise. I was charged with "lube synthetic oil for $10.00". The bill was not clear. I have had problems with the sales department so I tried another dealer. Looks like I should of just stayed with them for a $40 dollar change in price and a 20minutes extra drive.

Any opinions and help would be great for someone as clueless as me with cars. I just want to take the best care for it you know?

everyone makes mistakes, but the point is not to do it again, aittte. best thing to make up for it is learn how to do the oil change yourself. it's really easy, in fact - i'm an oil change specialist.....and suk in everything else