my friend's jetta and her $85 oil change!

[callisto9]

i was driving back to the office with my friend who owns a 2006 jetta 2.5. we got to talking about oil changes and she mentions hers are $85! i almost poo'd myself! she had an invoice in her glovebox, so i check it out:

$20.00 for labor
$15.95 for the oil filter
$42.00 for 6 quarts of full synthetic oil @ $7 each
$3.something for "shop supplies" (don't even get my started on that one)
and some tax.

i called the local vw stealership where she gets it done and sure enough, they tell me an oil change for that car is $75. i ask why and they tell me it's because vw recommends using only full synthetic in the 2006 2.5 jetta.

is this right? does she really need synthetic oil in her jetta? and, how much does a full synth oil change cost at non-stealership places? help a sista' out!

i think she's getting ripped.

[warren]

wow. $85 for an oil change takes my breath away.

price seems a bit high, but a friend at work just got an oil change for her 2007 2.5 NB done at a pennzoil quick lube place...she went there because she didn't want to go to the closest vw dealer (~$85) or the local vw/volvo/euro specialist (~$80). $76 at the quick lube...

i tend to do 'em myself...i save a few dollars, and i know once it's done, the drain plug and filter have been tightened, and i've got oil in the crankcase.

[Netty310]

I use fully synthetic oil on my 02 Jetta. I pay about $45 for my oil change at Wal-Mart and I've never had any issues. I think your friend is getting ripped off. I've never gone to the dealer for any oil change.

[callisto9]

thanks for the input! i'd like some more so i can report back, so...

BUMP!

[dasmurph]

I get my oil changed at the dealer too and ya, for full synthetic on a 2.5 it's about $80. It seems everyone on here is against the dealer and against quick lube places so I'm kind of at a loss. I don't have the supplies (and likely skills) to do my own, but I trust the dealer over the quick lube places so that's where I go. It helps that they frequently send me coupons that lower the price to $45

[phantom302]

I was getting a 6 quart pack of synthetic for my wifes car at Sam's club, I think it was about $35. That was 2 years ago, we just run regular dino oil in her new car. $80 for an oil change is just crazy IMHO.

[CoriBug]

I pay $75 for a diesel oil change and I thought diesel oil changes are supposed to be more than gassers even with synthetic.

[gilligan]

you would think that on a 2006-07 if you missed an oil change from the dealer they would have every reason to fight you if a warranty claim is placed by you.

[callisto9]

i guess that's my question; does she HAVE to get a full synthetic oil change? what happens if she doesn't?

and why is a diesel oil change so much?

[dasmurph]

I was told by the dealer that because of the new engine, they do HAVE to have synthetic. The manufacturer sends it out with synthetic and that's just what it needs evidentially.

[callisto9]

Originally Posted by d_merry

I was told by the dealer that because of the new engine, they do HAVE to have synthetic. The manufacturer sends it out with synthetic and that's just what it needs evidentially.

well that's just poopy! so how much for a full synth at a quik lube place?

[Green Arrow]

Good grief! I have not been for my first oil change yet... but I am dreading it, after having owned an 03 Jetta TDI for 4 years, and paying 85 bucks a pop I know it is a rip off. When my warranty ran out I was getting my synthetic oil changes at Costco for 35 dollars PLUS they were filling my tires with NITROGEN and they put the cutest little green valve stem caps on! LOVED IT!

Those were the days!

So tell me... does getting your oil changed somewhere else void your warranty?!?!? That seems like nonsense to me! That gives the devilship carte blanche to charge whatever the hell they want!!! Jeez Louise.

3 bucks for shop supplies? Give me a frickin break!

[callisto9]

Originally Posted by Green Arrow

Good grief! I have not been for my first oil change yet... but I am dreading it, after having owned an 03 Jetta TDI for 4 years, and paying 85 bucks a pop I know it is a rip off.

so TDI oil changes are that much, too?!?!? can't you just get a quik lube one for like $45? do they HAVE to have full synthetic in them?

[CoriBug]

Lots of people on here have told me that Grease Monkey and any of those type of places ARE NOT the places to take the TDI. 505.01 is the only oil to go in the TDI and it's synthetic. I seem to remember that some org members have even had dealers put the wrong oil in. Weird.

[niki]

Originally Posted by GreenArrow

PLUS they were filling my tires with NITROGEN and they put the cutest little green valve stem caps on! LOVED IT!

My mom had those on her Civic and was like, "WTF is this green crap?!" The green's to let you know there is nitrogen in there

Erin, the thing about the synthetic oil changes is that you don't have to get them as often so it equals out to be about the same. In the ex's Benz he only had to get them every 10K miles but it was about $110 and the dealer, of course, told him to get it done there... something about the warranty blah blah blah...

I get an oil change from Big-O Tires because they're right across the street from my work and I can walk there. Plus they gave me the VIP discount card which gets me oil changes for $10!!!!!! I love it!

[Lnzbug]

My hubby does my oil so I really am lucky. I have watched him do it and it's not hard. The hardest part is getting the old filter off and making sure the new one isn't crossthreaded. When you pull the drain plug you will get dirty but that's about it.
Also. always ask if there is a coupon deal going. Sometimes they give you a discount just for asking.

[Growler]

ok, here is the scoop on the TDI.

the new (2004+) PD motors REQUIRE the use of a 505.01 oil specification.
This spec is ONLY available in a full synthetic. there are many vendors online where you can find this spec oil. the dealer will also be glad to bend you over for this as well. however, anywhere that sells oil for the TDI is going to be more expensive than for a gas car. but, like was previously mentioned, the oil change interval is 10,000 miles (or more with oil analysys) which if you follow the iffy lubes and stealerships of the world is about 2-3x longer than a "conventional" oil change. to me it is worth the extra $$ to make sure I have a good quality oil in my car. and I let it go to the recommended 10k interval.

you can get a 6 pack of synthetic oil and a filter for the 2.5 or any other gas motor at your local Auto parts house. changing the oil yourself is easy.

once you spring for a good set of rhino ramps (because the beetle is so low) and a few basic tools, you are good to go.

good luck. and get dirty, its all a part of car ownership, and loving your dub.

[callisto9]

thanks for the post aaron. duly noted!

i'll be sure to pass this along to my friend.

so, what happens if you put regular oil in a car like hers?

[callisto9]

i must've missed a few posts! thanks ellen, niki, cori and david.

i'm too scared to wait 10K on my 2.0 for an oil change though.

[Green Arrow]

This question has been posted A MILLION times I am sure... but since I am relatively new, I feel I am allowed to ask instead of hunt around for it.

MUST I get my oil changed at the dealership when my car is new and still under warranty? If I change the oil myself or go somewhere else (and still put synthetic in it of course!) do I void my warranty by doing this?