Complaint Review: Jiffy Lube

Okay adolph since your an "expert" now are you saying that changing the oil too often CANNOT cause leaks? and CONSUMER RIP OFFS as you quoted me???

Ill give ya the flush comment BECAUSE TRUE, THE ONLY THING YOU SHOULD EVER FLUSH IS YOUR TOILET.

and I'll agree on STAYING AWAY FROM JIFFY LUBE.

[1]Bradley-Quote:"MOST VEHICLES DO NOT NEED TO HAVE THEIR OIL CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES!!!! In fact most owners manuals will say around 7500, check it and see what kind of driver you are and then go on that (and save yourself some money, and headache) IN FACT CHANGING THE OIL TOO OFTEN CAN CAUSE LEAKS (because of its cleaning properties) AND CONSUMER RIPOFFS!!!"
This is the silliest, most erroneous contribution to this thread. Stick to flippin' burgers, Brad boy.
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[2]"Flushing a motor" is not part of any suggested routine maintenance by ANY auto manufacturer. Years ago, prior to detergent oil, it was a controversal procedure often accomplished with kerosene, oleum spirits or similar. It was also the cause of multiple engine bearing failures. The foregoing "flush" liquids provide no lubrication during the flush run period. The biggest issue, however, in avoiding an "engine flush" is this:If the engine is badly 'sludged up', the worst thing possible would be to dislodge this build-up of years all at once and circulate it through the oiling system and bearings. Either dissemble the engine (if it REALLY IS "sludged up") or leave the crud where it is in the oil pan, etc., where it's presenting no eminent threat.
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Oh yeah- one more thing. Avoid Jiffy Lube.

Okay Bob, it seems that you are an expert on oils now, so which oil company are you a chemist for???

I think a better question would be "which jiffy lube are you turning wrenches at?"

Here at my facilities we run test engines non stop 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You wanna know which ones start leaking first?- The ones that have the oils changed 3000 or less. I am not a chemist so maybe you can explain this "phenomenon" to me....

Please???

Okay Bob, it seems that you are an expert on oils now, so which oil company are you a chemist for???

I think a better question would be "which jiffy lube are you turning wrenches at?"

Here at my facilities we run test engines non stop 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You wanna know which ones start leaking first?- The ones that have the oils changed 3000 or less. I am not a chemist so maybe you can explain this "phenomenon" to me....

Please???

Okay Bob, it seems that you are an expert on oils now, so which oil company are you a chemist for???

I think a better question would be "which jiffy lube are you turning wrenches at?"

Here at my facilities we run test engines non stop 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You wanna know which ones start leaking first?- The ones that have the oils changed 3000 or less. I am not a chemist so maybe you can explain this "phenomenon" to me....

Please???

Okay Bob, it seems that you are an expert on oils now, so which oil company are you a chemist for???

I think a better question would be "which jiffy lube are you turning wrenches at?"

Here at my facilities we run test engines non stop 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You wanna know which ones start leaking first?- The ones that have the oils changed 3000 or less. I am not a chemist so maybe you can explain this "phenomenon" to me....

Please???

Bradley,

Where ever you got your information on changing oil is crap!

Changing your Oil too often will NOT cause leakage because of the Oil cleaning properties.

The cleaning detergents that are used in motor oil are designed NOT to damage seals! (as if they could)

Brad, Take a laxative and get off your Knowlege trip, You are so full of!

I taught my wife 25 years ago. She changes the oil in her van or her car when it needs to be done. As far as flushing an engine oil system thats a if you do or if you don't situation. There are times when it should be tried and thats when there is no other way to get the oil flowing. But only after you explain that damage is already started and even if it works you will probably end up replacing the engine anyway. But one thing is for sure if you flush it, It will cost more on an overhaul.

Goldie, its too bad you had to learn the hard way about JIFFYlube. The name should have been a little warning.. Anything that is done "in a Jiffy" is generally not going to be done with perfection in mind. These type of places like you said, are usually staffed by underqualified high school boyz whos only real concern is what there gonna do with there girlfriend later and are only there to make a few bucks to score some dope. Most of the time these guys are workin with a hangover so anything done in "ten minutes or less" is going to be a challenge for them. Ask the owner why he is only able to keep "hi-skool boyz"???

Now that said, another fact about these kinda places is that they usually have one "guy" working up top, and another down below draining your fluids. So if the communication isnt too good (read above) it is not uncommon for the one person to drain your oil, and the other one to not add any and just let you drive off. Ive read lots of cases of this happening, especially at walmart. So the result is usually engine failure, either within a few miles or a few days or longer, just depends on your car and how much you drive it. A lot of times these places dont even change your oil filter which ironically has saved a few engines because there was still some oil in it. I dont know if your oil was low or not, but this happens a lot and I would be suspicious of it. Especially after getting a flush, you would want to have some oil "in there".

Which leads me to the BIGGIE, you DID NOT request the engine "FLUSH" so them doing it without even telling you in my book puts them AUTOMATICALLY at fault. Sure you paid for it, but what were you gonna do, let them keep your car HOSTAGE??? This kindof business practice says alot about the owner of this place.

I would not take this, I would kick, scream, and shout to anybody that would listen. I would even get a bumper sticker that says "JIFFY LUBE JIPPED ME!!!", "JIFFY LUBE RUINED MY ENGINE!" or even "read all about jiffy lube and its owner at ripoffreport.com!!!" I think the ripoffrevenge book (available here) might have some ideas that would help you as well. Also, if you end up not fixing the car, and you can put it somewhere highly visible to traffic (preferably right across the street from JIFFYlube) you can put a sign on it that says "look what JIFFYlube did to my car!!!" (make sure you leave the hood up!"

It is horrible that they flushed your engine without even asking you. THAT IS JUST WRONG! Most engines will never need a flush in their lifetime as long as the oil hasnt turned to crud. I mean when you change the oil,(and put new in) isnt THAT THE SAME AS FLUSHING IT??? Ask any (competent)mechanic, they will tell you one of the oils many jobs is to keep the engine CLEAN. So as long as the oil was changed at least every couple years everything should have been fine. I agree with the other mechanic that sometimes a flush is harmful...
I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT THIS FLUSH RUINED YOUR ENGINE!.....Who knows what really they put in there..for all anyone knows one of those kids could have pissed in a cup and poured it in there!!!

And them not asking you anything about it first? (just doing it) HOW WERE THEY TO KNOW YOU DIDNT JUST HAVE THE ENGINE FLUSHED???!!! That definitely would have been bad for your engine. I mean even a doctor (most of them) will ask you what medications your on before prescribing more!!!

Goldie, If you werent a female I would order you to LEARN HOW TO CHANGE YOUR OWN OIL RIGHT NOW!! But I know that this is not something for everybody. The fact is its really a simple process though, and should take only a few minutes (especially on a 87) -which reminds me- those buffoons didnt even get your info right on the workorder (the part you see) so what kind of attention to detail do you think they were paying behind the scenes???

Plus by changing your own oil, you can see what kind of condition the old oil is in (coming out), you wont overtighten or strip things (another common practice to extort more money)and you wont be putting in that WATERED DOWN OIL THAT JIFFY LUBE USES!

The hardest part is getting underneath the vehicle (unless you have a truck, then you can just crawl under) but these days plastic ramps can be bought at the "mart" stores to drive up on (still need to be careful) and alot of places like autozone will take your used oil free of charge.- So just a thought. If not im sure (i hope) you can find one honest person in your vicinity who will do this for you. But there are always alternatives to JIFFYlube !!!!

Because JIFFYlube HAS DONE YOU WRONG, and because I am constantly offened by stories like this, I am going to break JIFFYlube's bubble.....

MOST VEHICLES DO NOT NEED TO HAVE THEIR OIL CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES!!!! In fact most owners manuals will say around 7500, check it and see what kind of driver you are and then go on that (and save yourself some money, and headache) IN FACT CHANGING THE OIL TOO OFTEN CAN CAUSE LEAKS (because of its cleaning properties) AND CONSUMER RIPOFFS!!!

However, that said, I stress READ YOU OWNERS MANUAL, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF YOU WITH NEWER CARS...
Toyota owners will probably need to change their oil frequently (see ripoffreports on toyota sludge buildup problems) and those of you with high revving cars especially need to keep your oil clean because even a little dirt in there revving so high can seriously damage or blow your engine. Plus a lot of newer cars have went to a thinner (20 weight) oil, so even a little dirt in there is bad too. But goldie I think you and your 87 should have been fine going 7500 or more as I doubt your buick was boulevard screamer ;-)

As always, I need no credit for this....
JIFFYlube...ha ha ha

Hey, quit beating up jiffy lube. All of their hundresd of facilities aren't staffed with unknowledgeable, unqualified personnel.
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This bad mouthing Jiffy Lube really hurts the two or three with qualified staff actually doing good work correctly.

Sir, I have no idea where your business is at and it is none of my business as to how you run it. However, as an ASE certified mechanic I do have a few comments/questions I think important to this issue.

1: Are you trying to say that adding oil was the reason the lifter went bad? If so there are a few things you might want to think of before you make any additional comments. In the first place all General Motors cars and trucks use a constant volocity oil pump so no matter how much oil was in it, it would still have the same oil pressure.

2: A hydrolic lifter has only a minumal amount of oil to begin with and it is pysically impossible to pump more oil into it then it will hold. In fact they also have a "bleed off" orifice to insure that oil is constantly being replaced inside the lifter so even if it were possible to have too much oil pressure, it would simply bleed itself off.

3: Now this one I really need some farther information on before I can or will comment on it. You say the engine "needed" to be flushed. Was that done with the customer's consent or was it done and then explained to the customer when they returned to pick up the car?

Now in closing, let me assure you I am not placing blame on either the business or the customer. Lifters can go bad anytime and just because the engine was rebuilt does not mean the lifter would not have went bad. I cannot begin to tell you how many new lifters I have placed in an engine only to find one of the new ones that would not take a prime and had to be replaced. At the same time I can tell you that I too have ended up with issues after flushing an engine block. Most times it is simply due to the fact that (if done right)the caustic addative used to flush the block can and will destroy the seals in some components.

Now one last question and this is for the customer. What exactly happened to the lifter? Did it begin to rattle or did it pump so tight that the valve would not close? If it was holding the valve open then it was most likely caused by a piece of carbon becoming lodged in the lifter. The whole idea of flushing an engine is to remove carbon deposits and sluge. If the block was not properly cleaned after flushing then small bits of carbon are still floating around in it. However, if the opposite is true and it simply began rattling any good machanic could replace the lifer for around $200.00 which would include labor. Of course the price may vary depending on your area and who you had perform the service.

I mean either they don't know how to read a stick or not given time to, Which is it? As far as I know how you reward a man who is doing good work YOU give Him a Raise. If you give him a percentage of the sells then give him a percentage for his pay. Then he could get a cut of all sales not just what he sales Doesn't the Salesman get a percentage of sales? When you are offering a bonus to a bunch of kids who really don't know what their doing then your asking for unnecessary sale because you got to make that money. Or is your pay scale so low that the only way to make a living is to sell?

When it comes to shorting oil in a car as stated by Greg,Jiffy Lube offers all of it's customers a free top off of most fluids including oil for 3months or3000 miles,why would we short oil ?
that comment makes no sense.

Yes jiffy lube like any other retailer tries to up-sell a customer.ie;would you like fries with that burger,would you like polish with your new shoes,this is part of business and in every aspect of business this holds true.

Jiffy lubes policy on this issue is quite clear.

1.recomondations are based on your owners manual in the severe service section.

2.all of our recomondations are based on the manufactors recomondation for a certian milage or time line.

3.If there is not a specific recomondation for a certian service ie:fuel injection service,the industry has a generic acceptiable milage used industry wide.

As a business owner there is no valid reason to attempt to over sell it is harmful for the business and the customers we seve.

as for paying the service tec. to sell more?
Not every business owner does this but again this business practice is used in every business some way or another.sales projections and budgets are part of business bonus is paid to the better performers in most aspects of business .

How do you reward the better performer,this is not goverment work,performance counts in business

There are no ripp offs going on ,letting the customer know what is supposed to be done and when,is informative,and good customer service.
the delivery of this information in a less than professional manner is the problem we face,as long as we have humans doing this,training them in proper comunications will be the issue.

I hope this helps clear up most issues.

When it comes to shorting oil in a car as stated by Greg,Jiffy Lube offers all of it's customers a free top off of most fluids including oil for 3months or3000 miles,why would we short oil ?
that comment makes no sense.

Yes jiffy lube like any other retailer tries to up-sell a customer.ie;would you like fries with that burger,would you like polish with your new shoes,this is part of business and in every aspect of business this holds true.

Jiffy lubes policy on this issue is quite clear.

1.recomondations are based on your owners manual in the severe service section.

2.all of our recomondations are based on the manufactors recomondation for a certian milage or time line.

3.If there is not a specific recomondation for a certian service ie:fuel injection service,the industry has a generic acceptiable milage used industry wide.

As a business owner there is no valid reason to attempt to over sell it is harmful for the business and the customers we seve.

as for paying the service tec. to sell more?
Not every business owner does this but again this business practice is used in every business some way or another.sales projections and budgets are part of business bonus is paid to the better performers in most aspects of business .

How do you reward the better performer,this is not goverment work,performance counts in business

There are no ripp offs going on ,letting the customer know what is supposed to be done and when,is informative,and good customer service.
the delivery of this information in a less than professional manner is the problem we face,as long as we have humans doing this,training them in proper comunications will be the issue.

I hope this helps clear up most issues.

When it comes to shorting oil in a car as stated by Greg,Jiffy Lube offers all of it's customers a free top off of most fluids including oil for 3months or3000 miles,why would we short oil ?
that comment makes no sense.

Yes jiffy lube like any other retailer tries to up-sell a customer.ie;would you like fries with that burger,would you like polish with your new shoes,this is part of business and in every aspect of business this holds true.

Jiffy lubes policy on this issue is quite clear.

1.recomondations are based on your owners manual in the severe service section.

2.all of our recomondations are based on the manufactors recomondation for a certian milage or time line.

3.If there is not a specific recomondation for a certian service ie:fuel injection service,the industry has a generic acceptiable milage used industry wide.

As a business owner there is no valid reason to attempt to over sell it is harmful for the business and the customers we seve.

as for paying the service tec. to sell more?
Not every business owner does this but again this business practice is used in every business some way or another.sales projections and budgets are part of business bonus is paid to the better performers in most aspects of business .

How do you reward the better performer,this is not goverment work,performance counts in business

There are no ripp offs going on ,letting the customer know what is supposed to be done and when,is informative,and good customer service.
the delivery of this information in a less than professional manner is the problem we face,as long as we have humans doing this,training them in proper comunications will be the issue.

I hope this helps clear up most issues.

When it comes to shorting oil in a car as stated by Greg,Jiffy Lube offers all of it's customers a free top off of most fluids including oil for 3months or3000 miles,why would we short oil ?
that comment makes no sense.

Yes jiffy lube like any other retailer tries to up-sell a customer.ie;would you like fries with that burger,would you like polish with your new shoes,this is part of business and in every aspect of business this holds true.

Jiffy lubes policy on this issue is quite clear.

1.recomondations are based on your owners manual in the severe service section.

2.all of our recomondations are based on the manufactors recomondation for a certian milage or time line.

3.If there is not a specific recomondation for a certian service ie:fuel injection service,the industry has a generic acceptiable milage used industry wide.

As a business owner there is no valid reason to attempt to over sell it is harmful for the business and the customers we seve.

as for paying the service tec. to sell more?
Not every business owner does this but again this business practice is used in every business some way or another.sales projections and budgets are part of business bonus is paid to the better performers in most aspects of business .

How do you reward the better performer,this is not goverment work,performance counts in business

There are no ripp offs going on ,letting the customer know what is supposed to be done and when,is informative,and good customer service.
the delivery of this information in a less than professional manner is the problem we face,as long as we have humans doing this,training them in proper comunications will be the issue.

I hope this helps clear up most issues.

Sir I fail to see what to much oil had to do with a lifter going south. I have also checked oil for a lot of people who used Jiffy lube here in Ohio and have found them to be at least one half Quart low. But I am proud to say that the justice system here in Ohio is finally getting enough complaints to start looking at jiffy lube here. Selling what is not needed changing the price of the job and rewarding those young people for learning how to do it. Must be bad to be walking into your yard and be met by your child and he says daddy when I grow up I want to be a thief just like you.

THE CUSTOMER FAILED TO TELL YOU THAT SHE ADDED MORE OIL TO THE CAR,AFTER THE ENGINE FLUSH WAS DONE THE OIL WAS SO CLEAN THAT SHE MISREAD THE DIP STICK.MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE THAT TO MUCH OIL IS JUST AS BAD AND DISTRUCTIVE AS NOT ENOUGH OIL.

I am the owner and have owned this business for over 10 years,as with many people the blame must go elsewhere, ms.blankenXXX refused to take responsability for her own actions.when the judge heard the case he made the right decision knowing that she admitted adding oil,and her mechanic stating that the oil was half way up the dip-stick.

Jiffy lube has a good training program, all the owners realize we are in the customer service business and we do our best to perform quality work.when a problem does arise we do our best to resolve it. as with any customer based business our business depends on repeat business and a good reputation. so now you have the rest of the story.

THE CUSTOMER FAILED TO TELL YOU THAT SHE ADDED MORE OIL TO THE CAR,AFTER THE ENGINE FLUSH WAS DONE THE OIL WAS SO CLEAN THAT SHE MISREAD THE DIP STICK.MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE THAT TO MUCH OIL IS JUST AS BAD AND DISTRUCTIVE AS NOT ENOUGH OIL.

I am the owner and have owned this business for over 10 years,as with many people the blame must go elsewhere, ms.blankenXXX refused to take responsability for her own actions.when the judge heard the case he made the right decision knowing that she admitted adding oil,and her mechanic stating that the oil was half way up the dip-stick.

Jiffy lube has a good training program, all the owners realize we are in the customer service business and we do our best to perform quality work.when a problem does arise we do our best to resolve it. as with any customer based business our business depends on repeat business and a good reputation. so now you have the rest of the story.

THE CUSTOMER FAILED TO TELL YOU THAT SHE ADDED MORE OIL TO THE CAR,AFTER THE ENGINE FLUSH WAS DONE THE OIL WAS SO CLEAN THAT SHE MISREAD THE DIP STICK.MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE THAT TO MUCH OIL IS JUST AS BAD AND DISTRUCTIVE AS NOT ENOUGH OIL.

I am the owner and have owned this business for over 10 years,as with many people the blame must go elsewhere, ms.blankenXXX refused to take responsability for her own actions.when the judge heard the case he made the right decision knowing that she admitted adding oil,and her mechanic stating that the oil was half way up the dip-stick.

Jiffy lube has a good training program, all the owners realize we are in the customer service business and we do our best to perform quality work.when a problem does arise we do our best to resolve it. as with any customer based business our business depends on repeat business and a good reputation. so now you have the rest of the story.

THE CUSTOMER FAILED TO TELL YOU THAT SHE ADDED MORE OIL TO THE CAR,AFTER THE ENGINE FLUSH WAS DONE THE OIL WAS SO CLEAN THAT SHE MISREAD THE DIP STICK.MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE THAT TO MUCH OIL IS JUST AS BAD AND DISTRUCTIVE AS NOT ENOUGH OIL.

I am the owner and have owned this business for over 10 years,as with many people the blame must go elsewhere, ms.blankenXXX refused to take responsability for her own actions.when the judge heard the case he made the right decision knowing that she admitted adding oil,and her mechanic stating that the oil was half way up the dip-stick.

Jiffy lube has a good training program, all the owners realize we are in the customer service business and we do our best to perform quality work.when a problem does arise we do our best to resolve it. as with any customer based business our business depends on repeat business and a good reputation. so now you have the rest of the story.

I worked as a store manager for a competing service center very close to that store and knew the manager at that time well. I had to fix quite a few of the store mistakes. I know of at least 3 engines the company replaced during my 6 months as store manager. The techs at jiffy lube are pushed and given tough time constraints, no wonder mishaps are common. My only problem with your complaint is why did you pay the bill? The difference between the estimate you signed when brought the vehicle in and the receipt showing you paid can only have a 10 percent difference by law without your consent to additional repairs. Every repair order I've seen state this on it. I hope it works out.

I worked as a store manager for a competing service center very close to that store and knew the manager at that time well. I had to fix quite a few of the store mistakes. I know of at least 3 engines the company replaced during my 6 months as store manager. The techs at jiffy lube are pushed and given tough time constraints, no wonder mishaps are common. My only problem with your complaint is why did you pay the bill? The difference between the estimate you signed when brought the vehicle in and the receipt showing you paid can only have a 10 percent difference by law without your consent to additional repairs. Every repair order I've seen state this on it. I hope it works out.

On one hand,I am very sorry about your experience at the Jiffy Lube you brought your vehicle to and feel your case is truly valid. On the other hand, I think you should understand that each Jiffy Lube is individualy owned and that by telling people to never visit a Jiffy Lube in general is ridiculous. You decided to take your car there and should have researched that specific shop before hand. There are many Jiffy Lubes that do not run the way the Essex Jiffy Lube operates. As far as the fact there are young people working at Jiffy Lubes, I personally don't find a problem with that. When I was 18 I worked as a hood tech at Jiffy Lube. I was fully trained as well as the rest of the staff. The job was very rewarding for me. I am a very feminine female and the only problem I had with Jiffy Lube were the customers not trusting me to work on their cars because I was a young female. Many times customers wanted a less experienced newer employee to work on their vehicle as long as he was male.
I just want you to understand that not all Jiffy Lubes operate in the same manner as the store where you had your problem and that all companies have their faults.

They filed the following to the above Rip-Off Report:

Their email: hereyherey@yahoo.com
Their name: Harlan Wahlert

Their relationship to the company: Consumer Suggestion

Rebuttal:
I have done car inspections and over time and although they are fly by nights if they claim no responsible.

You were told "they were not libel for any wrong doing." (If you can, read the disclaimer on the back of your bill) Well I do not see how they could win the case like you said but, court could have extended time to you. Even if you file like you did get
Some type of legal advise of your appeal. Ok now how you're going to get this car on the road again. For one you can go to a Trade school(high-school, or collage) that has engine repair class they maybe able to do it at low cost to you.
E-mail me the VIN# at hereyherey@yahoo.com
and I can see what in my area even though I'm some 50 miles. I see what I can do.
Do check your area first.

Jiffy Lube may become a class action lawsuit. File your Rip-off Report and you may be contacted.