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This 'mechanic' sounds full of it to me

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22 comments

  • Permanently deleted user
    I do my differentials when I do my Transmission.

    That is about every 30000 or 2 years which ever comes first.
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  • slipgate
    Your owners manual should cover that - but 3k for a diff is BS.
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  • linthicum
    Yea sounds like he is full of crap. I do not want to tell you something, that I do not know for sure. Because I do not own a 07 mustang. Best thing to do is check your manual or call you dealer.
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  • Tailgunner1954
    Sales pitch. BTW, those guys aren't mechanics either.
    The guys get paid by the # of extras they can get you to purchase (they are literally giving the oil change away at cost, IE no profit, just to get you in the door).
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  • catpealer111
    I thought you only changed differential fluid when the diff started to make noise or the axle stopped leaking oil.
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  • givette
    Get a magnetic drain plug for your engine, transmission and differential. Reduces wear considerably. Joe
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  • zipperzap
    quote:jonk:

    ... he tells me "oh, your differential oil should be changed every 3000 miles too."

    Only IF you believe in the
    tooth.jpg
    [:D]
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  • 41 nut
    1984 Chevy 4X4 pickup had over 230,000 miles when I traded it with no differential oil changes. Only need to be changed if a seal is leaking and water gets in.
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  • Marc1301
    Plain and simple,........hogwash![}:)]
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  • Colt Super
    " I thought you only changed differential fluid when the diff started to make noise or the axle {stopped}( should be STARTS) leaking oil."

    Having owned not less than 150 cars, I believe I can truthfully say that I have never changed diff lube as a matter of routine maintenance.

    I have also never had a diff problem in a street car.

    Doug
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  • bpost
    quote:Originally posted by jonk
    Just got my oil changed during my lunch break. It was at Lube Stop- 10 min. oil change, right? True enough, yes. However, he tells me "oh, your differential oil should be changed every 3000 miles too."

    Huh? This is an 07 Mustang. 8500 miles. I think the guy (who was reading the computer) was full of it. This sounds more like a once a year thing, max. More like every 30k or more. Or?


    While he is at it have the air changed in the spare tire too. [:D] It gets stale from just sitting in the trunk. [}:)] The air does not need changed in yur road tires because it gets stirred up from driving and stays fresh. [;)][:0][:D]
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  • jonk
    Well I told him no thanks, and no thanks on the PCV valve and air filter as well as both were fine. I looked at the manual. It says first dif. change- 150,000 miles. So when I've driven the car 20 times what I've driven it, I'll think about it.

    It didn't inspire confidence. He asked to see the owner's manual and I thought he was going to stamp the service record or something so I said sure. Here he was looking at what oil the car needed! And then he proceeds to say I need synthetic blend or full synthetic- I point out, uh, dude, you're looking at the specs for the 4.6L 8 cyl, this is the 4.0 6cyl. Ok....so he looks up that one and says "oh, you still need synthetic." I look at the book. It says, and I quote (and paraphrase), "Engine oil recommendation: Motorcraft premium synthetic blend 5w-30 or Motorcraft premium 5w30, or equivalent." Ok, uhm.....the 'premium' is just regular oil, dude....

    Morons. Still, while I hate the 'oil in a box' shops, it IS convenient and if you know what YOU are doing and need, you can keep on top of things.

    I don't buy that they are giving away oil changes. They charge $27. Wal mart does it for $16 but I needed it done as I am going out of town this week and don't have time to do it elsewhere.
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  • catpealer111
    quote:Originally posted by Doug Wilson
    " I thought you only changed differential fluid when the diff started to make noise or the axle {stopped}( should be STARTS) leaking oil."

    Having owned not less than 150 cars, I believe I can truthfully say that I have never changed diff lube as a matter of routine maintenance.

    I have also never had a diff problem in a street car.

    Doug


    I didn't make a mistake in my words. When a leak stops, it's usually a good sign that whatever fluid was originally inside has all leaked out.
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  • spryor
    Did he say anything about being low on blinker fluid too..?[;)]
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  • AHansen
    Sounds like he is behind on his boat payment to me.
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  • sig232
    quote:Originally posted by jonk
    Just got my oil changed during my lunch break. It was at Lube Stop- 10 min. oil change, right? True enough, yes. However, he tells me "oh, your differential oil should be changed every 3000 miles too."

    Huh? This is an 07 Mustang. 8500 miles. I think the guy (who was reading the computer) was full of it. This sounds more like a once a year thing, max. More like every 30k or more. Or?



    They have discovered that they make a lot more money when they sell stuff to people that they don't need. Nice additional commission.

    Problem is this snake oil routine makes people angry and they will not trust them in the future. A backazzwards sales process if you ask me!!
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  • mlincoln
    My favorite is how they'll tell you one visit that the radiator fluid is totally shot and needs to be changed, and you'll say you'll do it the next visit, and then when you go in 3,000 miles later they don't even bring up the radiator fluid. So it got better?

    They run a slimy, awful business. I wish they'd charge $60 or $70 for an oil change and be honest about the rest of it.

    http://www.jiffylubeproblems.com/ is a very illuminating site. I spent 3 hours on it the first time I saw it. Really makes things clear.
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  • catpealer111
    quote:Originally posted by mlincoln
    My favorite is how they'll tell you one visit that the radiator fluid is totally shot and needs to be changed, and you'll say you'll do it the next visit, and then when you go in 3,000 miles later they don't even bring up the radiator fluid. So it got better?

    They run a slimy, awful business. I wish they'd charge $60 or $70 for an oil change and be honest about the rest of it.

    http://www.jiffylubeproblems.com/ is a very illuminating site. I spent 3 hours on it the first time I saw it. Really makes things clear.


    When I had my explorer, the ford garage said the same about my transmission fluid the first time I took it in for an oil change, but never said anything about it at later oil changes.
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  • gearheaddad
    Mechanic at a lube place? Not usually.........An oil change "tech" is about as far up as it gets!
    When I was a kid we were called grease monkeys, NOT mechanics.
    Did they offer to de-magnetize your steel belted radials too?
    Or grease the muffler bearings? tighten up the piston return springs?
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  • D1
    I love the local Mr. LUBE. I've gone to the same one for years. I always bring my own filter and they only charge me $11.00. It's worth it not to have to do the low crawl. Yeah, so I buy some additive every now and then. I know I can get it at Wal-Mart cheaper, but I like getting it from them sometimes. I go down into the pit sometimes just to check things out for myself under my vehicle. Shoot, it would take a couple of hours to change m oil and grease that SUBURBAN if I did it here at home. If you know what you are doing, they are great little places. The thing is, too many people don't have a clue and these places profit off of that.
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  • JustC
    Thats the hustle,....just pay for oil and look under the car to be sure the filter is new.
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  • FWIW
    quote:Originally posted by slipgate
    Your owners manual should cover that - but 3k for a diff is BS.


    +1
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