I was lazy this weekend, took my car to Jiffy Lube. The manager (yes, he was the manager) asked me if I wanted 5/30 or 10/30. It's hot out, but I said, put 5/30 in as this is what the book recommends. Then this manager says, "well, 10/30 is thinner and will protect better while hot out."
Then I thought to myself, "what the hell?" All I ever here is how 5/30 is thinnger and 10/30 is thicker. Why in the world would this guy tell me that 10/30 is thinner?

I even asked him why 5/30 would be better while cold out if it is thicker than 10/30? This seems so "*** backwards". This manager tells me the thicker oil (5/30) will coat better when teperatures are colder.

You think this guy was smoking something before I pulled up to the lube shop?
Someone tell me this guy is nuts just to confirm why I don't go to those places and do it myself most of the time.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please

 

Sounds like all he had in stock was 10w30! Most of his customer's probably do not question his convoluted reasoning.

 

Nope, he had both 5/30 and 10/30. I saw all the the stock sitting on the shelves. Next reply. Can anyone beleive this what that idiot told me?
Or am I?

 

yea he is dumb... its ok... these guys dont need a ged to run these places...

Matt

 

just stupid!

 

Ok....so now we have clarfied that the manage at that shop was dumb and needs no ged to run that place, but why would he even think or say that 10/30 is thinner than 5/39?

My manual says I can use 10/30 above ZERO degrees, but 5/30 is recommended. Would I be better off just using 5/30 year round?

 

He was partially correct. Many companies 10W-30 oils are actually a tad thinner at operating temps compared to their 5W-30 oils. You can check it out on the oil companies web sites. Now the difference is usually very small but it is true.

Now his comment that thinner is better at operating temps, so use 10W? LOL The reason some use 10W instead of 5W is oils usually start with the base oil being close to the first number. Additives are put into get the oils to "thicken" at operating temperatures. The rational is the less thickeners being used, the more shear stable the oil will be.

IMO go with what the factory recommends, at least through the warranty.

FWIW I use 10W-30 from late spring through fall...but that is just me.

 

That is one of several reasons why I would never take my vehicles to "iffy" Lube. Fore one thing, the manager should already know the correct oil for your vehicle. he should not have to ask what viscosity do you want. The internet is packed full of customer horror stories, lawsuits, etc from JL. "iffy" Lube is used to soccer Moms handing them plastic (credit cards) while they yap on cell phones. They drive these huge SUV Excuresions and Suburbans to pick up little Tyler, who cannot walk 2o yards from his house to the school/. Even if I was unable to change my own oil, JL would be the last place I went.

 

Ed, I couldn't agree with you more. I don't trust quick change places...I've heard too many horror stories. Not putting the drain bolt back in, draining the wrong fluid...

 

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I agree. Do this, like I just did. Go to GOOGLE (www.google.com) Write "JIFFY LUBE COMPLAINTS" click on 'search' and look what pops up! The results are horrifying. Read some of those sites, and then say you would trust Jiffy Lube. I am sure everyone of those people, took their cars and trucks to JL for simple maintenance, and look what happend to many of them? YIKES! Ed

 

WHATEVER YOU DO DO NOT GO TO WAL MART i am 16 and i know more about changing oil than the "CERTIFIED TECHNICIANS". they are complete idiots, they broke my dipstick and lost my power steering cap in one change. the idiots told me that i broke the dipstick, and then they said that i lost the cap, i told them that the were the only ones to touch the friggen (i cant post what i really said(: ) cap and that if they used their micro-brains they could figure out that it has a tether on it, im never going back.

 

Jiffy Lube fried the motor in my inlaws Caddy, just out of warranty. Forgot to put the plug back in.....said it was her fault for not noticing the oil light.
In an attempt to make things right, they sent her free oil change coupons.

 

Did your in-laws sue them? It seems like they would have had a slam dunk case for small claims court.

 

i had a 93 cougar and they topped off the tranny with motor oil.

 

wal-mart took its toll on my 94 cougar