Providing Own Oil for Mechanic to Use for Oil Change Service

pinchies on 10/08/2022 - 14:51
Last edited 10/08/2022 - 15:11

Tldr; mechanic doesn't want me to provide my own oil for an oil change

I always try to buy oil at a discount when I see it. My current mechanic charges $100 for 5L of oil, and I often buy the same amount for well under $50 when it is on a massive discount. I normally provide this oil to the mechanic when I take my car in for a service, and ask that they use my oil. A tiny bit of effort to save >$50 on a $400 service seems like a no brainer to me.

Recently, my mechanic said to me "you know, we have oil here too you know" and asked that next time I don't provide my own oil.

I've been doing this for years without issue, and haven't had any issues with any of my previous mechanics either. A good mechanic is hard to find, so I certainly don't want to make a fuss, but I'm not really impressed either. I'm completely fine with paying for their time, and paying their waste disposal fees too, but I'd rather not use their overpriced shop oil. I have a 2014 Subaru XV and use the Castrol Edge Full Synthetic 5W30, so it's not like I'm trying to ask them to put canola oil or fruit juice in there either.

Curious for thoughts. Am I being unreasonable asking them to use my own oil?

There are two perspectives I can see:

Yes, you're being unreasonable: You choose the mechanic, you are choosing the whole service. You don't get to pick and choose.

No, you're not being unreasonable: You're paying them for their time and workshop disposal fees, and providing your own quality oil to save money should be fine. If they want to make more money they should charge appropriate fees for the service, not by jacking the price of oil to pad their pockets.

Poll Options expired

  • 254
    Customer is unreasonable to expect to be able to provide your own quality oil to try save a buck
  • 258
    Mechanic is being unreasonable here to refuse the customer providing oil
  • 166
    It's complex
Automotive Engine Oil

Comments

    • [Deactivated] on 14/08/2022 - 16:33

      But the mechanic might accept his sign of dominance and take him out the back room. He gets his oil change but leaves with monkey pox.

  • Dr Techno on 14/08/2022 - 15:35

    As long as the oil is within spec shouldn't be an issue. I brought my own oil in to the stellarship, only during the ending warranty period of my 2nd hand car. Then I just continued to DIY. If you think the mark up on engine oil is bad, should see CVT Fluid. Stellarship drain and refill of 5L of CVT transmission fluid is $270. Spare Parts Dept same stellarship sell a 20L drum of CVT fluid for $320. I went with the 20L drum, and did a proper service. Replaced & cleaned filters and drained the additional 2L of oil in the oil cooler that Stellarship dont worry about.

    • [Deactivated] on 14/08/2022 - 16:42

      That made me think of another option… OP could phone the mechanic (without revealing who he is) and ask what grade oil they use. If it matches his car, fine, use it I guess. But if the mechanic fumbles about, doesn't know, asks what kind of car he has just so he can say, "Yeah it suits that." I wouldn't go back. If he says they put in whatever oil each car needs, I also wouldn't trust that answer because I've known several mechanics over the years and because shop space for tools is at a premium, most don't have room to store large quantities of a few different oil grades (plus diesel)… they have one or two drums and when those are nearly empty they pour what's left into a 25L and phone a company to swap the empty drum for a full one within a couple of hours.

      • Dr Techno on 20/08/2022 - 10:44

        If the mechanic cant be straight up with you then its time to find a new mechanic. even Kmart auto service allowed me to bring in my own oil. I'm ashamed to admit that I actually took my car in to Kmart once in my life for an oil change since I couldn't find my oil filter wrench and was about to go on a long road trip same day.

  • Toph Beifong on 15/08/2022 - 22:20

    I once serviced mums car by changing the engine oil and filter, was cheap as chips for a Corolla ($40 for oil and $15 for filter). Mum forgot that I had serviced it and called a mechanic about a month later to do a "logbook" service. He cracked open the sump plug and was surprised to see gold oil flowing out so he closed it. Topped it back up, took it for a test drive (joy ride) and tried to charge her $100 it. HA

    Now I do all mechanical work myself. Yeah theres a small investment buying a jack, jack stands and some hand tools but it certainly pays off in the long run.

    • inasero on 22/08/2022 - 12:10

      Are there any other regular maintenance items that need to be done besides the oil and filter? The only thing I can think of is cabin/aircon filter, and rotating the wheels

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