Hi All,
Is there a simple test to verify that an oil change shop or dealer really did use the specified oil? I want to use a full synthetic oil in my new Caravan, but wonder if the shop really will use the synthetic oil or just use the stuff in the 55 gallon drum, but charge me for the synthetic.
I realize there is a trust factor, but what with the TV station expose of major oil change franchises, not doing the work the customer ordered, I'd think that using the cheap oil and charging for premium would be a easy way to maximize the profit margin.
In this day of watching the bottom line, I'd just like to know if there is a way I can check up on them.
Ideally, I'd change it myself, but due to physical limitations, I can't get under the rig like I used to when I was younger.

 

I'm actually standing in my buddy's lube shop and he says no, there's no test to find out if the shop used a synthetic or not. Not without actually taking it out to compare and test. And even then it's going to be mixed with the old oil that remained in the vehicle after the change was done so there will be remnants of the old oil in there and that will make it different than the full synthetic also. You'd pretty much have to do it yourself or be there when they do the change to make sure it was used.

Hope that helps

 

If you can't do it yourself, Buy the oil & filter you want to use & pay the labor to get it done. Make sure you watch them. That's the only remedy I know of.

Speed Safely
AL