Oil changes and other routine maintenance?

I bought a 2000 Jetta TDI 3+ years ago from a friend that kept it well maintained, and I have a record of most of that he gave me. He always had it serviced at the VW dealer here.

Having had not so great experiences with other vehicles at these oil change businesses, and their less than certified employees, I continued to go to the dealer for oil changes, and they were competitive in price for a full synthetic oil change.

After the sticker shock of the last oil change, I won't be back there. The price for the oil and filter are within a few cents of previous change, but the labor charge almost quadrupled, from $15.35 to $53.72 Even the "shop supplies" charge went from 92¢ to $3.76 between the two oil changes.

I won't go to a "oil change" place after some questionable work I have experienced at these. I will be checking with a few independent shops when the next one is due, one's I trust as they have provided excellent service on other vehicles.

Is this a trend for all dealerships, not just VW? The local Toyota place was great for oil changes and routine maintenance, but they have also lost my business due to poor service, and the wife's RAV4 now goes to an independent shop for everything, this after the 'dealer' even failed to reset the "maintenance required" light which comes on every 5K for oil changes.

My 2003 hasn't been to the dealer since...2003.

Although it is good habit to routinely get underneath the car for a visual inspection, your MkIV ALH is one of the easiest cars for engine oil and oil filter change. At least 3 or 4 oils are generally available at Walmart for cheap (and even more options from vendors that support the site), the filters are inexpensive and easy to source, the oil filter housing allows for a top-side change, and $50 invested once in a Pela pump allows you to do all your own changes in 30 minutes or less.

Your cost for a 10,000 mile oil change: $31 and 30 minutes.
Rotella T6 full syn 5W-40: $21
Mann filter: $5
Pro-rated investment in pump: $5

The fuel filter is also a breeze, add 10 minutes, tops. The air filter adds 5 minutes and $20. The cabin filter adds 10 minutes (with practice) and $10.

I agree with the above. Nothing difficult about doing all of this on the older cars. Take it in to your ind. mechanic every so often for a checkup though if you aren't getting under it.

I don't mind paying for the convenience of a oil change, but $100 ripoff by the dealership?



Should have put in the disclaimer, I am old enough that I'm not crawling under a vehicle again, even gave my ramps away, plus don't want to fool with disposal of old oil, etc. Fuel filter, I would have to invest in a new can, just for diesel. I still perform other maintenance, changing bulbs, installing speakers, chasing down wiring gremlins, etc. just not under the vehicle. On one visit they said I needed air and cabin filter I said thanks, I'll pick some up on the way home.

Topside oil changes are dead easy in your car. Get an extractor (we sell them at IDParts, shameless plug) and it's easy. And I don't know where you are in Western NC but Daniel at Appalachian Diesel Works https://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=350157 is a great resource for repairs you don't want to do.

IndigoBlueWagon said:

Topside oil changes are dead easy in your car. Get an extractor (we sell them at IDParts, shameless plug) and it's easy. And I don't know where you are in Western NC but Daniel at Appalachian Diesel Works https://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=350157 is a great resource for repairs you don't want to do.

Click to expand...

I have heard nothing but good about him, and that is my plan next time it needs anything as he is only about 10 - 15 miles from me.

TDI-WNC said:

Should have put in the disclaimer, I am old enough that I'm not crawling under a vehicle again, even gave my ramps away, plus don't want to fool with disposal of old oil, etc. Fuel filter, I would have to invest in a new can, just for diesel. I still perform other maintenance, changing bulbs, installing speakers, chasing down wiring gremlins, etc. just not under the vehicle. On one visit they said I needed air and cabin filter I said thanks, I'll pick some up on the way home.

Click to expand...

Prior to your disclaimer, my post was about doing top-side oil changes. No climbing under the vehicle. It's all easily accessible under the hood. The oil is pulled out by vacuum pump, and you are never horizontal. Having done both methods, I have found I pull more oil through a vacuum pump than by draining the pan, so (IMO) it's a more thorough technique, and easier than changing a driver's side headlight bulb, or many MkIV cabin filters for that matter.

You certainly don't need a new fuel can for diesel just to fill a new fuel filter. When the old fuel filter comes out, you drain it right into the new one and top it off with some fuel additive. It's a 5 minute process at most.

Having lived for several periods in NC (Camp Lejeune), I found recycling the oil was no harder that dropping it off at an Onslow County facility. Obviously your county might be different.

Lastly, as Peter said, the parts are easily available from vendors which support this site- they money which goes to a VW dealership certainly does not.

I've done both cabin filter, which I didn't find that bad and driver side headlight which is a bit of PIA.

I'm going to look into a vacuum pump, prior to the next change. Even with the pump, it shouldn't be much worse than the dealership ripoff, then much cheaper. County recycling is just too inconvenient, probably 60 mile round trip. I'll research auto part stores that will accept used oil.

I wondered how much oil is extracted with a pump, guess that dipstick lining up with the deepest area in the pan is key.

Lots of garages accept used oil as well as lots of stores. Some of the locations around here are:

78705 Quick Lube 3401 N. Lamar 452-5773 oil, filters
78722 O’Reilly Auto Parts #579 3900 N. I-35, Suite C-100 453-4456 oil, filters, batteries
78751 Jiffy Lube #829 3809 Guadalupe 451-3708 oil, filters
78751 M.E. “Gene” Johnson Garage 4801 Airport Blvd. 453-7376 oil, filters, batteries, antifreeze, tires
78751 Oil Works 4721 Airport Blvd. 459-7775 oil, filters, batteries, antifreeze, tires
78756 First Texas Honda Service Dept. 1301 W. Koenig 458-2511 oil, filters, batteries, antifreeze
East
78702 Advanced Auto Parts 2730 E. 7th St. 478-7284 oil
78702 Allied Sales Company 5005 E. 7th St. 385-2167 oil
78702 Auto Zone #1390 2735 E. 7th St. 477-3547 oil, filters, batteries
78702 Fleet Maintenance of Texas 4812 E. 7th St. 385-5817 oil
78702 H. Richards Oil Co. 2915 Cesar Chavez 385-0935 oil
78723 Advanced Auto Parts 5339 N. IH 35 459-8731 oil
78723 Auto Zone #1389 6500 Springdale Rd. 928-1183 oil, batteries
78723 O’Reilly Auto Parts #497 7112 Ed Bluestein, Suite F 928-8171 oil, batteries
78724 Travis County Satellite #1 9301 Johnny Morris Rd. 854-9114 oil, filters
West
78703 Casis Automotive 2701 Exposition Blvd. 478-1905 oil, filters, batteries, antifreeze, tires
78703 LCRA Office Complex - monthly 3625 Lake Austin Blvd. 473-3200 oil - call extention 7651 for times
78703 Tarrytown Texaco 2400 Exposition Blvd. 472-9023 oil, filters, batteries, antifreeze, tires
78746 Quick Lube 2826 Bee Caves Rd. 327-5736 oil, filters, antifreeze
South
78704 An Honest Mechanic 121A Pickle Rd. 462-1989 oil, filters, batteries, antifreeze
78704 Auto Zone #1320 2602 S. Congress Ave. 447-7079 oil, filters, batteries
78704 Jiffy Lube 1401 S. Lamar Blvd. 444-5823 oil, filters
78704 Jiffy Lube #476 1705 W. Ben White Blvd. 442-0909 oil, filters
78704 Lube Pit Stop 2223 S. Lamar Blvd. 440-1892 oil, filters
78704 NAPA Auto Parts 3820 S. Congress Ave. 445-2166 oil, filters, batteries
78704 O’Reilly Auto Parts #493 2409 S. Congress Ave. 416-0802 oil, filters, batteries
78704 Pep Boys #759 3909 S. Lamar Blvd. 442-2214 oil, batteries
78704 Rising Sun, Inc. 1001 S. Lamar Blvd 329-9252 oil, filters, batteries, antifreeze, tires
78704 Van’s Auto Parts 2235 S. Lamar Blvd. 440-8848 oil, filters, batteries
78745 Advanced Auto Parts 600 E . William Cannon 326-1166 oil, batteries
78745 Auto Zone #1347 726 Stassney Ln. 447-3967 oil, batteries
78745 Econo Lube and Tune 2712 W. William Cannon Dr. 443-2122 oil, filters
78745 Jiffy Lube 1111 W. William Cannon Dr. 442-5823 oil, filters
78745 Jiffy Lube 8602 Brodie Ln. 280-5823 oil, filters
78745 Jiffy Lube 6300 Manchaca 447-2556 oil, filters
78745 River City Auto Clinic 4201 S. Congress Ave. 441-1334 oil, filters, batteries, antifreeze
78748 O’Reilly Auto Parts #492 2110 Slaughter, #170 Ln. 280-5201 oil, filters, batteries
78748 Texaco Xpress Lube 9706 Bilbrook Pl. 292-6140 oil, filters
78748 Van’s Auto Parts 10010 Manchaca Rd. 282-9333 oil, filters, batteries
Southeast
78719 Special Automotive 10462 FM 812 243-1015 oil, filters, batteries, antifreeze
78741 Jiffy Lube #200 1804 E. Riverside Dr. 445-2777 oil, filters, antifreeze
78741 Lube Pit Stop 1951 E. Oltorf 444-8563 oil, filters
78741 O’Reilly Auto Parts #461 2505 E. Riverside Dr. 442-2729 oil, filters, batteries, antifreeze
78744 Auto Zone 1941 E. Willian Cannon 441-0712 oil, batteries
78744 Home Chemical Collection Cen. 2514 Business Center Dr. 974-4343 everything but tires - call for times
78744 Sam’s Wholesale Club 5107 S. IH 35 444-0363 oil, batteries, tires
78744 Wal-Mart Automotive 5015 S. IH-35 443-7877 oil, batteries, tires
78610 Texas Disposal Systems 7500 FM 1327 243-4100 oil, filters, batteries, tires
Southwest
78735 Davis Tire Co. 9912 W. Hwy 290 288-4270 oil, filters, batteries, antifreeze, tires
78735 Lube Pit Stop 6410 W. Hwy 290 892-7426 oil, filters
78735 Wal-Mart Automotive #2133 5017 W. Hwy 290 892-6086 oil, filters, batteries, tires
78736 Hohman’s Automotive, Inc. 8917 Circle Dr. 288-1298 oil, filters, batteries, antifreeze
North
78753 Advanced Auto Parts 9316 N. Lamar Blvd. 837-9991 oil, batteries
78753 Auto Zone 9905 N. Lamar Blvd. 835-4748 oil, batteries
78753 Jiffy Lube 10111-B N. Lamar Blvd. 835-5823 oil, antifreeze
78753 Jiffy Lube 10300 N. Lamar Blvd. 836-3344 oil
78753 NAPA Auto Parts # 22 10101 N. Lamar Blvd. 833-7900 oil, filters
78753 Texaco Xpress Lube 506 E. Rundberg 339-3790 oil, filters
78753 Van’s Auto Parts 12410 N. Lamar Blvd. 834-0404 oil, filters, batteries
78753 Wal-Mart 1030 Norwood Park Rd. 339-0906 oil, batteries, tires
78757 Advanced Auto Parts 2209 W. Anderson Ln. 451-0151 oil, filters, batteries
78757 Auto Zone #1317 6313 Burnet Rd. 452-9395 oil, filters, batteries
78757 Broz Automotive 7430 Burnet Rd. 453-2221 oil, filters, batteries
78757 Jiffy Lube #1335 2711-B W. Anderson Ln. 451-9709 oil, filters, antifreeze
78757 Jiffy Lube 8509 Burnet Rd. 454-5823 oil, filters, antifreeze
78757 Jiffy Lube 8725 Burnet Rd. 459-6434 oil, filters, antifreeze
78758 Friendly Car Care 9110 Burnet Rd. 821-3300 oil, filters, batteries, antifreeze, tires
78758 Jiffy Lube #825 1649 Ohlen Rd. 832-8384 oil, filters
78758 O’Reilly Auto Parts 8339 Research Blvd. 491-0021 oil, filters, batteries
78758 PEP Boys #749 8917 Research Blvd. 339-1144 oil
78758 Van’s Auto Parts 8701 Research Blvd. 834-0200 oil, filters, batteries
Northwest
78727 Jiffy Lube #1519 2516 W. Parmer Ln. 310-7073 oil, filters, antifreeze
78729 Pep Boys #797 13729 Research Blvd. 250-9293 oil, filters, batteries, antifreeze, tires
78729 Wal-Mart Supercenter 13201 FM 620 North 257-7689 oil, filters, batteries, tires
78731 Lamb’s Tire and Automotive 3564 Far West Blvd. 345-6600 oil, filters, batteries, antifreeze, tires
78750 Auto Zone # 1323 13450 Research Blvd. 335-3762 oil, batteries
78750 Jiffy Lube # 161 13781 N. Hwy 183 258-5075 oil, filters
78750 Jiffy Lube 12212B N. FM 620 250-5150 oil, filters
78750 O’Reilly Auto Parts # 496 13776 N. Hwy 183, #119 219-7071 oil, filters, batteries
78750 Van’s Auto Parts 10313 Lake Creek Pky. 219-6005 oil, filters, batteries
78759 Budget Lube & Car Wash 8661 Spicewood Springs Rd. 258-5545 oil, filters
78759 Jiffy Lube #760 12621 Research Blvd. 250-1515 oil, filters, antifreeze
78759 Jiffy Lube 3704 Spicewood Springs Rd. 345-1274 oil, filters, antifreeze
78759 Mopac Auto Center 3500 Hydridge 346-0438 oil
78613 Wal-Mart Automotive 201 Walton Way 528-8984 oil, filters, batteries, tires

Check out any of the major chain places listed and find one near you and call and ask. Just carry the vacuum pump container up there and dump it. Easy peasy. I recommend this pump.

https://www.idparts.com/liter-oil-extractor-p-5437.html


Or if you want to go electric and cheap try this one and use your own container. Plastic milk jugs work well for this as you can toss them each time as well.

https://www.amazon.com/Shoreline-Ma...ods&sprefix=oil+extractor,sporting,191&sr=1-4

TDI-WNC said:

I've done both cabin filter, which I didn't find that bad and driver side headlight which is a bit of PIA.

I'm going to look into a vacuum pump, prior to the next change. Even with the pump, it shouldn't be much worse than the dealership ripoff, then much cheaper. County recycling is just too inconvenient, probably 60 mile round trip. I'll research auto part stores that will accept used oil.

I wondered how much oil is extracted with a pump, guess that dipstick lining up with the deepest area in the pan is key.

Click to expand...

In my comparisons (3 MkIV TDIs over the last 18 years with 400,000+ miles), the vacuum pump pulls an additional .3 to .5 of a quart (mostly from the oil filter housing). It's not a lot, but when the total is 4.5 qts, it's a decent percentage, and with a 10,000 mile OCI, I like to get all the old oil out.

Just to be clear, I wasn't dismissing the issues associated with age and getting under the car (my first car was a 1968 Beetle). I just hate to see club members paying too much for services, especially if it's something they can do easily themselves.

hskrdu said:

In my comparisons (3 MkIV TDIs over the last 18 years with 400,000+ miles), the vacuum pump pulls an additional .3 to .5 of a quart (mostly from the oil filter housing). It's not a lot, but when the total is 4.5 qts, it's a decent percentage, and with a 10,000 mile OCI, I like to get all the old oil out.

Just to be clear, I wasn't dismissing the issues associated with age and getting under the car (my first car was a 1968 Beetle). I just hate to see club members paying too much for services, especially if it's something they can do easily themselves.

Click to expand...

No problem, my first was a 1961 Corvair

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