Re: car service question

On 6/2/2025 2:20 PM, Zen Cycle wrote:

On 6/2/2025 2:22 PM, Mark J cleary wrote:

Ok it is not a bike but this is a good group. My 2019 Ford Escape needs new battery it is the original. No trouble but going to replace due to age voltage on meter says 12.4 a but under but ok.
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I also need an oil change. I generally use the quick lube place down the street but one stop seems to be the easiest.
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I made an appointment at the Walmart I go to for groceries. I am a bit dubious of Walmart for auto stuff but frankly they could be just as good was anything else. There batteries are way cheaper than AutoZOne and Orielly.
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So did I make as mistake should I have gone to a regular car service center. My Escape runs fine only 30K miles on it.

 You'll know if you made a mistake soon enough.
 Sorry if that sounds sarcastic, but in chain stores the turnover rate is quite high, and those mechanics with noticeable talent don't last very long before finding better positions in better garages. Your walmart may very well be able to retain good talent with competitive wages. It's tough to say. Try looking at some on-line reviews of their auto service.
 I've never been to a walmart for auto maintenance since I normally do all my own general maintenance work, but on occasion when time and weather were not cooperating I've gone to the local fast oil change places.
 Horror stories about chain store oil changes abound, but those are far more the exception than the rule. As long as you don't ask them to do anything special and resist the upsell, it should be fine.
 True Story: A few years ago time and weather conspired against me to the point that I though it best to go to a local quick change place.  For some reason that I can't remember, I was across town and found myself at a Jiffy Lube. The technician tried to upsell me to synthetic oil with a bullshit line: He tried to tell me that synthetic was recommended for my car.
 It isn't.  I've never used synthetic in the car (2009 honda element) which at the time it had maybe 150K miles on it. Synthetic is mentioned in the owners manual as an alternative, but the manual states "premium- grade 5W-20 detergent oil", which I showed to him.
 He tried to dodge it by saying, "yes, premium detergent is synthetic", when I still told him 'no' he said "I'll need you to sign a waiver since you're not using the recommended oil". I decided instead to leave and go to the Valvoline center across town (closer to my house anyway). They tried the upsell too, but when I said no they simply went ahead with the cheap stuff as I asked with no questions.
 Caveat Emptor
 

This Battery is one of those tight fit deals that you have to remove the windshield wipers and the panel to do it correctly. You can work around it but the quarters and cramped and a PIA. It probably will take 30-40 minutes to get it done if I end up doing it. I may see what they say when get to walmart. The price of batteries really varies depending on where you go. The most expensive are AutoZ0ne and they don't have many options. I need the tires rotated to but will have to see how all this goes. I am  loyal Walmart shopper for food and basic supplies so thought I would give them a try. They are right down the road.
Putting a battery in this car is the bike equivalent to changing cables in bikes with buried cable in the frames. A lot of extra work for no real benefit.
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Deacon Mark