VIP LAconia/Walmart

[Belmont Resident]

OK I just had to put this info up! Today I went out to get oil and I stopped at VIP because way back when before I switched to Amsoil they were one of the cheapest. So I’m looking at the prices for the 4 and 5 quart bottles and thought they were very high.
So off I go to Wallyword aka Walmart. The same exact oil in the same exact container was $15-$20 cheaper and almost half the cost. Now I don’t know how they can do it but it is what it is.

[BroadHopper]

You actually change the oil??? I buy all my Amsoil products from an Amsoil dealer/distributor on Manchester St in Concord. For years I just replace the filter and top off with Amsoil. The dealer told me not to change the oil, just the filter.
I've been doing this since the truck was new. 256,000 miles later, it is running like new!

[CGI3]

How often do you change the filter? And can I start using it even though I have been using conventional oil all along?

[Happy Gourmand]

You actually change the oil??? I buy all my Amsoil products from an Amsoil dealer/distributor on Manchester St in Concord. For years I just replace the filter and top off with Amsoil. The dealer told me not to change the oil, just the filter.
I've been doing this since the truck was new. 256,000 miles later, it is running like new!

Do you have a bypass filter installed? How often do you analyze a sample?

[fatlazyless]

Here's my good guy, promo plug for VIP-Laconia.

For about 23-dollars they do a standard oil & filter change, and also look at everything on the car from underneath while it is up on a lift, looking for things like worn v-belts, leaking gasoline lines, coolant hoses, transmission fluid leaks, broken struts, worn out wheel bearings....everything...and the guys working there know their stuff pretty good.

It's a good place to go for new tires!

The average age of a car in the 50 United States is now about 10 1/2 years old.....10 1/2 years old on average for an everyday driver.....that's a lot of years old for an average....and reflects on the high cost of new cars....and the lowering of United States people's average decreased financial strength to own and maintain a car.

What's the average age of an older car that goes to VIP as opposed to a going to the new car dealer for warantee work.....maybe something like year 2000-VIP, and year 2008-new car dealer.....two different car repair demographies.

[TiltonBB]

I use just synthetic oil in my Tahoe and change the oil and filter every 10,000 miles. When you go longer between oil changes it is recommended that you use a long range oil filter.

I bought synthetic oil that says it is good for 15,000 miles and an extended range filter for about $30 (for both) at Walmart and changed it myself. The last time (and it will be the last time) I went to Valvoline they wanted over twice that amount and they didn't stock long range filters. I brought a long range filter to Valvoline and they deducted a whopping $2 off the total bill because I provided the filter. Also, even if you get synthetic at Valvoline they give you a reminder sticker that says to come back in 3,000 miles. It's all about marketing.

The other thing that I don't care for at Valvoline is their constant attempts to sell you everything from air filters to radiator flushes to transmission fluid changes. Every time I went there, from the time when my vehicle was new, they tried to sell me something.

[Irish mist]

I use just synthetic oil in my Tahoe and change the oil and filter every 10,000 miles. When you go longer between oil changes it is recommended that you use a long range oil filter.

I bought synthetic oil that says it is good for 15,000 miles and an extended range filter for about $30 (for both) at Walmart and changed it myself. The last time (and it will be the last time) I went to Valvoline they wanted over twice that amount and they didn't stock long range filters. I brought a long range filter to Valvoline and they deducted a whopping $2 off the total bill because I provided the filter. Also, even if you get synthetic at Valvoline they give you a reminder sticker that says to come back in 3,000 miles. It's all about marketing.

The other thing that I don't care for at Valvoline is their constant attempts to sell you everything from air filters to radiator flushes to transmission fluid changes. Every time I went there, from the time when my vehicle was new, they tried to sell me something.

I got sick of the "Valvoline sell" & stopped going there. When they took out my air filter with a leave sitting on it to show how dirty it was I figured it was time to go.

[BroadHopper]

I stop by the Amsoil dealer every 10,000 for a filter change. And top it off at the same time. A decade ago there was an additive. The dealer says it is no longer necessary.

Out of curiosity, I visit the Amsoil web page. The web page recomends a 25,000 mile or 1 year interval. Replacing both oil and filter. I am going to ask the dealer about this.

I stopped by Walmart, and yes the oil is cheaper. I don't see the Amsoil long life filter. Is this the Gilford Mart or Wally World in Concord?

[NoBozo]

I got sick of the "Valvoline sell" & stopped going there. When they took out my air filter with a leave sitting on it to show how dirty it was I figured it was time to go.

Toyota Dealers do this as well. The last (two) times I took my wifes '05 Camry in for an oil change they told me the rear brakes needed to be adjusted...."for your wifes safety".

Trouble was: The rear brakes on just about every car made are "Self Adjusting". That was over three years ago. I havn't been back since. :look: NB

[Belmont Resident]

I believe if you recheck the Amsoil web site you will find that you replace the filter every 6 months. The oil is good for 1 year or 25K miles whichever comes first and spin on a new filter at 6 months. But I guess if you drive over 25K in a year you would replace the filter at 12K instead of 6 nonths. I've never owned a vehicle that I've put that kind of millage on though.
My 2004 super duty diesel and 2004 Nissan Xterra both have 120K+ miles and both run great. This time around I'm short on money so I went with Mobile 1 until summer. Actually I am going to become a dealer for Amsoil this summer. I buy enough myself to pay for the dealer fee.
FLL compare pricing. Last I heard the labor rate at VIP was as high or higher than most of your reputable local garages. Never have and never will give them the chance to work on any of my vehicles but I sure have heard a lot of horror stories about their service work. Good luck with them.

[Blue Thunder]

You actually change the oil??? I buy all my Amsoil products from an Amsoil dealer/distributor on Manchester St in Concord. For years I just replace the filter and top off with Amsoil. The dealer told me not to change the oil, just the filter.
I've been doing this since the truck was new. 256,000 miles later, it is running like new!

Just so I understand you correctly BH, you have 250K miles on your truck and have never changed the oil?? :eek:

[dpg]

Taken directly from Amsoils website:

SERVICE LIFE
In gasoline-fueled vehicles, AMSOIL OE Synthetic Motor Oils are recommended for the intervals stated by the vehicle manufacturer or indicated by the oil life monitoring system. Change oil filter at every oil change

[SteveA]

Just so I understand you correctly BH, you have 250K miles on your truck and have never changed the oil?? :eek:

I have 229K (80 percent highway), on my 2006 Jeep Commander, and change oil and filter every 5K like religion. And... believe it or not, I'm putting only my 3rd set of tires on it this Friday. (That's three sets, including the original set that came on the vehicle new)

Really bothers me that Jeep has dropped the Commander, it's by far, the best vehicle I've ever owned. So I guess I'll have to keep driving this one! :D

[dpg]

I use full synthetic (Mobil 1) but still have it changed by 4,000 miles. I know that's early but I'm just a creature of habit and like knowing it's good and clean. I have the Honda dealer do the changes (2009 Accord V6) but they allow customers to bring in their own oil. I buy the 5 gal jugs at Wally World and save a little over the dealer costs. I kind of liked doing it myself and not dealing with the dealership but don't miss crawling under the car then having to deal with disposing the oil.

[Happy Gourmand]

I use full synthetic (Mobil 1) but still have it changed by 4,000 miles. I know that's early but I'm just a creature of habit and like knowing it's good and clean. I have the Honda dealer do the changes (2009 Accord V6) but they allow customers to bring in their own oil. I buy the 5 gal jugs at Wally World and save a little over the dealer costs. I kind of liked doing it myself and not dealing with the dealership but don't miss crawling under the car then having to deal with disposing the oil.

Same here. I use Mobil 1 in my vehicles and change it and the filter every 5K miles. My Ridgeline doesn't reach the 15% oil life left by the time I change it. It's just easy to keep track of it at 5K intervals.

[Belmont Resident]

I have 229K (80 percent highway), on my 2006 Jeep Commander, and change oil and filter every 5K like religion. And... believe it or not, I'm putting only my 3rd set of tires on it this Friday. (That's three sets, including the original set that came on the vehicle new)

Really bothers me that Jeep has dropped the Commander, it's by far, the best vehicle I've ever owned. So I guess I'll have to keep driving this one! :D

Neighbor has a Liberty and hates it. 4cylinder and 15mpg. My wife owned a REAL jeep back in high school. She says there hasn't been a REAL jeep made since they were sold way back when.

[BroadHopper]

I have the last of the Jeep Cherokee, 2001. It is a Limited with all the options except for trailer tow and upcountry. It has 190K and still going strong. The 2001 Cherokee was the last model produced in the original Jeep factory. This model was in production for 20 years!
My gf absolutely hated her Liberty. So do I. It is not true Jeep.

It is my 1998 Dodge Dakota 4X4 has 256K. The dealer did a free oil and filter change at 1000 miles. At 7500 miles, I switched to the AMSOIL routine. Been running great since. The owner's manual states oil and filter change ever 7500 miles under normal conditions. The truck is my tow truck, boat in the summer and snow machines in the winter. I towed to Lake Champlain and as far South as Lake Norman in NC.

On both vehicles I switched the gear oils and transmission oils to synthetic. The transmission shifts a tad differently and I saw a couple of mpg savings. Since the Jeep was a daily driver I decided to change the oil and filter every 10K.

Both vehicles runs and look great!

[Belmont Resident]

I have the last of the Jeep Cherokee, 2001. It is a Limited with all the options except for trailer tow and upcountry. It has 190K and still going strong. The 2001 Cherokee was the last model produced in the original Jeep factory. This model was in production for 20 years!
My gf absolutely hated her Liberty. So do I. It is not true Jeep.

It is my 1998 Dodge Dakota 4X4 has 256K. The dealer did a free oil and filter change at 1000 miles. At 7500 miles, I switched to the AMSOIL routine. Been running great since. The owner's manual states oil and filter change ever 7500 miles under normal conditions. The truck is my tow truck, boat in the summer and snow machines in the winter. I towed to Lake Champlain and as far South as Lake Norman in NC.

On both vehicles I switched the gear oils and transmission oils to synthetic. The transmission shifts a tad differently and I saw a couple of mpg savings. Since the Jeep was a daily driver I decided to change the oil and filter every 10K.

Both vehicles runs and look great!

Jeep stopped being way before then. I'm talking back in the 70's or there about when they were first sold. That is when jeep stopped being a true jeep.

[BroadHopper]

Speaking of the 70's. Remember the best SUV ever built? The IH Scout.

My best friend has dozens of them in his back yard. Uses them for NOS for his two pristine condition Scout. One is a rare soft top.