Oil change. Should they have done this?

[Stone]

I went to go get my our oil change today (The first time I have let anyone other than myself change it) I went to Tires Plus Total car Care in Canton, Ga. Had to get the tires balance and rotated new wiperblades. It be cold here so I figured that I would let them change the oil if they used Havoline oil. (They did use the right oil) As I was waiting for them as they were doing the work I seen a serviceman pour a bottle of SOMETHING in to the engine where the oil goes. I thought to my self I have never seen 5W-30W Havoline come in a bottle like that. So I go to ask what kind of oil that was and told them I never seen Havolin come in a bottle like that. I was told that they use ON ALL oil changes a cleaner to clean out the sludge build-up. Hello I only have 26,000 miles and have change oil every 3,000 miles. The item that they charge me for (With-out asking) is called Everware oil system cleaner. Never seen this before. I know I was film-flam (RIPPED-OFF) on this cleaner $5.00. I have never had a oil changing place try to do this before in all the years I have been driving. I need some input as to is this stuff anygood for ones motor? I have never use any thing but Havoline 5W-30W in this 2004 Vibe. I know that when the oil is changed that not all the oil comes out of the motor. So I see that this crap is still in the motor. I know when I change my oil I always get six quarts of oil and run one through the motor before I put the drain plug back in just to help flush out some of the old oil. I know I will change the oil again ASAP! to get this crap out of the motor. What the hell do these people think that everyone that comes in are ate up with the ASSES! I will raise HELL with the home office to get this stop and to get my money back on the oil change and to pay for my oil/filter to change it again. One more thing, they put 44PSI in the tires The ride home was not fun at all. I put it back to 32PSI and now the ride is good. Thanks for any and all input on this. Stone

[fitness freak]

They have no business performing any service that you did not authorize. An oil cleaner is unnecessary in a vehicle that has had regular oil changes, done at the frequency recommended by the manufacturer. Modern motor oil has detergent in it so the use of extra oil cleaner on a well maintained car is redundant. I would be surprised if the cleaner harms your Vibe. This may be the same as washing your hands two time, instead of once. If you have not had regular oil changes the displaced sludge may plug up oil passages. In that case, change the oil in 500 miles, or earlier if you hear engine clatter.

[DavidPIL]

Hi Stone,I don't know about the Oil service change from Tires Plus but I have had some bad experiences with that place. First off, got new wheels there. They installed them without Hubcentric rings. Was driving down the highway with my steering wheel violently shaking back and forth. Broght it back, had em rebalance and "try" to center the wheels better since they didn't have the rings. In the removal, they damaged all 4 wheels, Only 2 they offered to replace. After 2 weeks they still didn't have the rings. Bought my own, put em on, then they finally got the new wheel in, yes,only 1 wheel because they apparently didn't order 2 so they stick me with 3 paint chipped wheels. I b*tch and complain but nothing came of it. They actually blamed me (or the place where I had the rings installed) for the damage on the other 3 wheels simply because I had someone else install the rings. It was a major headache to deal with them. They didn't seem to be running a very professional shop. After that, I went back once for a simple rotation because it was free, they over-tighted a lug which I found out several weeks later. I had that fixed myself because I'm sure they would have blamed me for it... and will never go back.Dave

[simon]

I'd have told them to flush the crap out they put in and replace with what they told you they were going to use in the first place or I wouldn't pay

[ragingfish]

They do flush it out.You put an engine cleaner in, run it for about 2 minutes, then drain it back out. It supposedly cleans the engine and the crap that builds up drains out with it. Then put in the oil.It certainly won't HURT your vibe, might even help a bit, but if you didn't ask for it, you shouldn't be paying for it.

[Stone]

I know that they/it be flushed out. That not be the point . The point is I don't use crap like that or asked for it. Even after one drains the oil their be oil left in the pan. That oil with the crap in it is now mixed with the good oil change. Will change and run a quart or two and get this $hit out in the AM. To top it off the oil on the dip stick is about 1/2" above the full line. Hello, why the hell do they put a full line on the dip STICK? That be the same when they added the cleaner it too was way over full to let the motor run for a few minutes or so. HUMM......... I even told them to change the air filter. I then looked in the shop and seen two people at the same time trying to force the top of the air filter housing back on. I then went to see why it would take two people to get this cover back on. They had the wrong filter and was going to do what ever it took to get it to work. NOT! I then showed them how easy it was to get the top of the housing on if things where right. I use two fingers to do it. LOL! I then put my old filter back in & told them I would take care of this myself. Just a bunch of DUMB ASSES! I will deal with them my way on Tuesday. Home office look for me. I be coming. Places like this and others must have a job bank with these DUMB (removed) just waiting to go to work. In short of having tires balanced they will never be no one ever touch the car again for Maintenance. If one wants it done right, DO IT YOUR SELF! Am I a (removed) hole? You bet. I paid for the car and I take care of my things, but I do things the right way. 26,000 miles and never been in the shop for anything.

[UWAdventurer]

Sounds like this store is one to stay away from. Sorry for your probs, hope you get things straightened out. You shouldn't have to pay for services you didn't ask for. Good luck!

[Stone]

Well, after a phone call to Tires Plus Customer Service, all turns out well. They wanted me to have a 3-way call with them and the store manager and I told her that I was not having a pissing contest with anybody and that there was only one resolution to this and this was that I would be refunded the complete cost of the oil change plus the cost of the oil change I did myself this morning. I figured if they could charge $23.00 for an oil change, so could I. Customer Service told me that they would contact the store manager and get back with me immediately and she did. I was informed to return to the store ASAP and our credit card would be credited for the oil change and the cost of another oil change. Frankly, they had no choice in the matter because the credit card that was used was a Firestone credit card. No explanation was giving to me for their lack of expertise. If anything was learned from this, I guess it was one thing: don't depend on anyone doing a good job for you as these type of places hire the lowest class of so-called mechanics that money could possibly buy and if these mechanics had any knowledge or superior work ethics, they surely would not be working for Tires Plus.

[simon]

Glad you got some satisfaction in the end

[Wimperdink]

I used to work for Tires Plus in Missouri. That crap is junk in my opinion. Though if you look at the advertising in the store, they show that they use that stuff unless you buy the "cheap" one. That stuff is like a thinner to thin out any sludge in your engine and clean it out. Though in my opinion if you use it, fill your oil up and redrain it again to get rid of the thinner. Oil thinner residue cannot be good for the next 3,000 miles. This is only my opinion though. BTW Tires Plus Sucks. They are owned by Firestone now.

[21Rouge]

Better than this though: http://www.kansas.com/mld/kans...8.htm

[Raven]

It's unfortunate that nearly 0 intelligence is needed to spin a wrench. Imagine the damage if that idiot owned his own garage in a small town somewhere.