When you go into a shop or quick lube for an oil change, “What Are You Getting For Oil?
I call on shops and quick lubes trying to convince them to offer AMSOIL to their customers. Unfortunately, too many of them only see the bottom line figure for the oil and don’t care about the quality of the product that is going into their customers vehicles. What is even more disturbing is that they don’t understand (or don’t care) that the viscosity and the standards of the oil they put in your vehicle is important. Many of them purchase their oil in bulk and have one viscosity (usually 5w30 but sometimes 10w30) that is used for all vehicles, new and old, American and Import.
Years ago I talked to a gentleman that claimed to be purchasing Mobil 1 in bulk for $7.95 per gallon. He was offering Synthetic Oil Changes for $29.95. (Quick Lube oil changes in this area at the time were running around $14.95) When we looked at his invoice, he was getting Mobil, but it was petroleum, not Mobil 1. In the last few weeks I have come across several more locations claiming to purchase brand name synthetic in bulk at a cost of only a few cents per quart more than the gentleman who thought he was purchasing Mobil 1. Are they? I don’t know . . . yet, but I’m checking.
There has always been and will always be someone out there trying to make a quick buck at the expense of others. In Calendar 2013 (or maybe it was 2012) 20% of the bulk oil sampled by API, didn’t meet the standards for what it was supposed to be. In 2014 Walt Kane, a New Jersey television reporter, did stories on the quality of packaged motor oils on retail shelves in New Jersey. He then went further and had oils from quick lubes tested. Six out of seven samples failed to meet the standards for a 5w30 motor oil. (Click Here To Read The Story)
I’m not saying this is true of all shops and quick lubes out there. There are plenty that work hard to give their customers quality products and services, care about their reputation and are proud of the jobs they do. These are the places you need to find and support with your business. A good business will be proud to answer any questions you have about products they use, the service they provide and explain why they make the recommendations they do about your vehicle and its maintenance. You just need to ask.
So I ask again, when you go into a shop or quick lube for an oil change, “What Are You Getting For Oil?