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My stand on aftermarket parts is considering high-performance aftermarket parts are usually superior to OEM parts - I'm talking about performance items like oil pans, valve covers, intakes, exhaust systems, alternators (high amp race versions), and of course, water pumps, radiators, etc.
The aftermarket parts I hate are the cheesy brake rotors, tune up parts, and things like oil pans, that are stamped/thrown together by a sweatshop in Bangladesh or Singapore.
The Sandman :-)
I have done all my own wotk on vehicles for over
30 years, and have seen it all.
nice to find a place that weeds out the crap, like
coventry west (Jaguar parts place).
They tend to only sell quality parts, because
the other stuff comes back for a refund.
Brembo rotors were $45.00 each and just as good as
the OEM parts through Jaguar, ferodo pads
worked very well, at a fraction of the cost.
The OEM valve cover gasket was much softer and lasted longer than the after market ones....
You have to research and compare price and quality on every part you buy.
Brett
2003 GLX
Last month I was sick with a cold, so I took the
car to a quick change place when it needed the
filter changed, not the oil also.
I realized right away that there was an oil leak
because of a slight drippage and an odor of burning oil. The filter sits directly above the
exhaust system on this model, and a slight odor
of burning oil was unmistakable.
It was a warm day today, I was feeling better, so
I got busy.
The filter was tight. What could it be I wondered?
So, I pulled the filter.
The "culprit" was a cheap filter marked "Made in
China".
I'm just posting this as a "warning" to others.
That's what I thought it was at first...
Tricky !!!
AC Declo
Farm
Pureolator
Wlx
Look at those products carefully.
Farm
Pureolator
Wlx
I thought Wix was a name brand -- or
am I NOT reading right...
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I bet those foreign companies
use the same colors as the companies
whom they are ripping off too...
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
So, I just go to the dealer and buy the filters. That way I know I am getting the proper filter, and the dealer knows I am changing the oil.
Drift, my little '02 Elantra w/5spd is one of the best cars I have ever owned. Blast to drive and 30mpg in mixed city/highway. I can do the oil and filter in less than 15 minutes, and the antifreeze in about the same. Very well thought out design.
Jim
The Fram marketing phrase should be changed from "Pay me now - or pay them later" to "Pay me now AND pay them later" (for a trashed engine)...
That's exactly what several mechanics told me. It seems that there have been a rash of engine failures due to using the cheaper aftermarket filters.
So even if the warranty allows the car owners to do their own oil changes, the type of oil and filter combination that is used (in the long run) can potentially turn out to be a dealbreaker come warranty claim time.
Micweb - Thanks for the vote of confidence
I'll definitely shell out an extra $5/year as opposed to $3000 and up for a new engine...
A friend of mine uses the Mobil 1 filters on his Volvo (which he would highly recommend). I also heard good reviews about the Wix filters as well.
http://www.ntpog.org/reviews/filters/filters.shtml
Now, I know that no one is going to eliminate their filters but a good quality filter with a very high quality oil is all you need. With todays oils and engines the days of filters being full of dirt and debris and sludge are over. It really makes no diff what filter you use as long as it is not a Fram.
you still have blow-by that seats the rings on the pistons on the power stroke, and that still puts combustion product crud in the oil. if you can't get used oil stains out of a white shop towel, doesn't it make sense that some of that slop is going to stay in a filter that is designed to hold it?
I'll take any cleaning edge I get, thanks.
Unfortunately they couldn't rest with just doing an oil change, and kept pushing transmission fluid, radiator coolant, power steering fluid, and what have you changes on her - on her 15,000 mile, 2 year old car. The sad part is, none of their fluids were up to spec, except maybe the coolant (but Chrysler uses a European variant of extended life coolant) which was good for 100,000 miles anyway. For the transmission, they wanted to use Dexron 3 with an "additive" to make it Dexron 3+ compatible; never mind that late model Dodges use Dexron 4, which is a synthetic, once again long life. Allpar has horror stories of damage transmisions from plain olf Dexron 3, and states that tests show that use of an "additive" doesn't make the grade.
So literally their high pressure sales tactics would have actually harmed the car.
Ironically, on the same day, I took my car to a GM dealer and got a $26.05 oil change - less than the quick lube shop - with a real Delco filter, GM/Delco oil (which satisfies GM's new "low pour point" requirement), and no hard sell on other services.
I have also noticed that Jiffy Lube has added "factory maintenance" to their service bays. I have always believed most minor dealer services are just inspections that anyone can perform, now Jiffy Lube has something new to try to push on you.
The manufacturers seal their units except for regular oil change and very occasional changes of other fluids, now the quick lubes are getting away from their early mandate of easy oil changes, and using nonspec fluids to do it.
How sad. There's a "sucker" born every minute, as PT Barnum said. This way to egress....
I change my own oil. It is actually more convenient for me, as I can do it on my own schedule with no waiting, and save about $10-$20 per oil change. End of problems. Oil disposal is done properly at my local city recycling facility.
I have thought about doing it myself, but ironically the easiest place I have found for my own oil changes is the quick lube at a local Honda dealer - they don't publicize it, but they serve other makes.
They told me they aren't on commission...unlike a lot of quick sale (oops, quick change) centers, they are union so they make a decent wage, and they are happy with me bringing in my own oil and filter (Pure One; usually Mobil 1 sometimes Castrol 5-20) and the out the door cost is about $16. Heck they even installed a Sure Drain for me and patiently listened the next time I came back when I asked them not to use a wrench on it...
Why does changing oil have to be such an obstacle course? My Ford is easy, they have a quick lane, but other dealers want the car all day.
A pennzoil dino oil change is $15.88 and synthetic out of bottle (you pick oil) is $27.88. For an extra $3 they check your other fluids, air pressure, and vacuum. Lastly they are super cheap on a rotate without balance ($1.50/tire) $7.50/tire with balance.
Not to say that a dealer or quality independent can't make a mistake, but the quality level of these "quickie" shops can vary greatly.
It seems, once a month we get cars towed in because the oil filter leaked all of the oil out, the drain plug got stripped etc.
Based on the one time I walked into a Wal-Mart store, I know I would feel VERY uncomfortable having them change my oil.
But, that's me. Your experience may vary.
If you think your friend has problems, consider mine: I installed a factory kit aircon unit on my Focus through an aftermarket shop, now there are CEL and engine compartment noise problems. Who do I go to? The independent says the aircon couldn't be causing the problems..but if I take it in for factory warranty work, and the dealer says it is the aftermarket unit, guess who will have to cough up the dough for the inspection etc?
That's why if my dealer has a halfway decent service department I take it to them during warranty for oil changes and services...and take a strong line with them about only doing the factory required service, not what their "local severe service" manual calls for.
You want the dealer to ask a commission only technician to recheck your friends work for free?
I do see your point, however and I hope you see the other side.
It would have been standard practice for them to put the vehicle on the hoist or at least have it checked out, then determine the cause. Once the cause has been determined, then they should have called and told you whether or not it was under warranty. Regardless, it would have been in their best interest to at least check it out.
Now, not only have they lost a customer, but they have also lost that customer's friends.
If they had determined that it was the oil filter, then they should have stated that it wasn't covered under warranty.
Unfortunately, more and more shops are starting to go with the practice that they will charge for everything.
One thing that bothers me is that the dealer has to;
1: verify the complaint.
2:locate the problem.
3: repair/replace component causing the problem.
4:verify the repair.
In order to receive the warranty payment from the manufacturer.
If they cannot complete any of the 4 steps, they don't receive warranty payment.
Although, a GOOD dealer will go ahead and check it out first.