"Stealership" pretty much covers it.

Hey, somebody has to pay for the possibility of overfilling or underfilling the oil, cross-threading the drain bolt, or overtightening and cracking the oil filter housing. Those things don't just happen by themselves!

 

Speaking to that. My dealership over filled my transmission, but they owned up to it and redid the service annnd cleaned up all the fluid coating my engine and undercarriage. So thank goodness.

 

Whats up with these $200 oil change at the dealer ? Even if the use full synthetic it doesnt make sense ?
I could do the same myself for $30. How much more can labor possibly be ? What am I missing ?

That’s ridiculous! Run away and don’t look back.

 

For as easy as it is to change the oil on a JL Wrangler, I've never even considered having my oil changes done by anyone else. Plus, I can give the draining oil a proper amount of time (one hour, minimum) to fully drain before refilling it. No quick-service place is going to do that.

Do yourself a favor, though, and for $25 get and install a Fumoto oil drain valve (if you have an oil pan & transmission skid plate to protect it from potentially getting knocked-off while off-road). It makes the job even simpler, cleaner and easier.

 

Whats up with these $200 oil change at the dealer ? Even if the use full synthetic it doesnt make sense ?
I could do the same myself for $30. How much more can labor possibly be ? What am I missing ?

Find a new dealership. Not just for oil changes but for any service you need done that is not under warranty because that is sky high pricing.

 

There’s the other thing - very few dealers nearby. There’s practically one dealer near me and other Is a good distance away - 16 miles. Both have this absurd pricing. I am in the Bay Area so not a remote area or anything. Very strange situation.

 

That might be the issue. Everything is crazy expensive in the Bay Area.

 

Where can you buy 6 quarts of quality synthetic oil and a premium filter for $30? Usually costs me double....but I agree 200 is ridiculous.....

 

ok maybe $35-36 for full synthetic + filter if not 30. At walmart 5qt jugs. Good quality oil filters from Napa parts, or even online, if you dont like fram.
Sometimes there's sales and rebates at auto parts stores. I have seen sale pricing at Costco too for Mobil1 5w30.

 

Depending on the brand my wal mart has 5 quart jugs of synthetic ranging from 19.00-24.00. Grab another quart and a filter for between 30-40.00 depending.
The only thing I use my local dealer for was the oil changes. Just because they used to have a coupon for 3 full synthetic oil changes for 100.00. I just used the last one on my wifes Durango and they no longer offer them so I'll be doing it myself from this point on.

 

I have a great relationship with a small town, family owned Chrysler dealership, the same dealership that sold us our Rubicon.
For a full synthetic oil/filter change, five wheel rotation and fluid top up's where needed, they charge;
$113.00 Cdn taxes in.
$83.00 U.S.

 

I was going to to say I never heard of a $200 oil change for a domestic car let alone a Jeep. And I was going to ask what dealership this was at until I read about this being in the Bay Area. Im sure a part of tbe cost is probably paying for the businesses overall operating expenses including lease, taxes, and hazardous disposlal fee for the used oil and filter.

 

Well, when you figure that they probably charge you about $20/qt and and $20 for the filter, then $200/hr, it all adds up correctly. I don't see what the issue is.

 

Oil changes are a loss leader everywhere. They aren't supposed to make money themselves, it's to get you in the door for other services. Guess his dealer forgot that...

 

Whats up with these $200 oil change at the dealer ? Even if the use full synthetic it doesnt make sense ?
I could do the same myself for $30. How much more can labor possibly be ? What am I missing ?

While I can source the materials for about $35-40 with tax, I still have to drive to buy the oil at Wally world, then drive to get rid of the old oil (I recently stopped dumping my used oil in the neighbors tomato garden). So my direct costs are probably $40-50ish.

 

Amazon sells 5 qt jugs of Valvoline 5W-30 full synthetic for under $27, delivered right to your front door. Also, MOPAR oil filters for around $11. I always buy these off Amazon. I just drive to AutoZone a few times per year to dispose of the old oil.

 

Whats up with these $200 oil change at the dealer ? Even if the use full synthetic it doesnt make sense ?
I could do the same myself for $30. How much more can labor possibly be ? What am I missing ?

Mopar Oil
Mopar Oil Filter
Labor Rates (Bay Area)
$200

 

I suspect one hour minimum labor charge which could be as high as $150 or more. Add 5 quarts of Mopar Premium Synthetic, taxes, disposal fees, time to check and fill all other fluids, tire pressures, and you are looking at $200. I learned a long time ago, and it's still true today, if you can't or choose not to do your own maintenance, be prepared to write big checks. Just how much money does it cost the dealership running so the guy can do the work for you? Take a look around and see how many non revenue generating people are involved. A good reason small independent places can do it for less, but not much.

 

But what’s changed recently or in the last 3-4 years ? All that was existed before as well nothing new.
I can understand $100-120 but $190 is over the top. Other brands dealers don’t charge that much.
Also our city picks up oil for recycle along with garbage so it saves me that hassle.
Y’all check with your city perhaps they might too.

 

Oil has certainly gone up, but not that much. Depending on your area, the labor may have gone up a good bit. Depending on where you live, disposal may be an issue.

I don't do my own, and certainly not now that I'm in my 8th decade. My first three oil changes were freebies that came with the purchase of my 2017 (actually 4 but only squeezed three in before the offer timed out. The next two at my original selling dealer were $31.83 and $35.53. Then at the end of 2020, the owner sold the local dealership to a Georgia chain and they charged $50.71 in the fall of 21. I then drove over to the home dealership still owned by the original owner of my local dealership and it was $97.31 in 2022. Last year my oil was changed at my local independent tire dealer who also does general maintenance. I have dealt with them for over 30 years and never had an issue. Last year they charged me $60.03 and this past week $59.39. (Oh, the last two also included free tire rotation - 5 tires - since they sold me the tires).

If they are charging $200 for an oil change, they really don't want your business.

 

If they are charging $200 for an oil change, they really don't want your business.

True. If that's the price of an oil change I would hate to see that dealerships selling price of the vehicle that golden goop goes into.

$200 domestic 5 quart oil change better come with a side perk like fresh hot coffee and lots of donuts.

 

"Bay Area" says it all.

You can't compare diy or Midwest costs to that.

But yeah it's dear.

I think we actually pay less (though not by much) for oil changes on the wife's Defender (which she has done at the dealer because they suck it out the top and I've not had good luck with my suction pump for that). And I think it's something like 9L of a synth they won't sell in the US other than in barrels to dealers. Yeah yeah I could use something else of similar spec but screw it, she wanted a Land Rover, and she can afford it.

 

Kev, are you by chance originally from the UK?

 

And a happy ending?

 

Kev, I hope that you did you take my comment as any sort of criticism of your writing --- it was certainly not that! Having studied linguistics myself, I am just rather attuned to how people use words, whether in speech or in writing, and to nuances that many others might well not notice.

For example, in your post before your last one, you used:

1) "I've not had" where almost any other American would use "I haven't had".

2) "dear" instead of "expensive", something I have only ever heard from Brits.

But to be fair, I have never once read you refer to the "bonnet" or "boot" or "tyres" or "windscreen" of your Jeep, so there is that.

 

Around $38 for an oil change I do myself. Mobile 1 at Walmart and Mopar filter at Walmart. $200 is just stupid. That’s the first I’ve ever heard an oil change being that high. I do all of our vehicle oil changes so I’m always buying 5 qt jugs of Mobile 1.

 

Stealership oil changes LOL
The stealership has lowest paid high school kids changing your oil. Do you really think you should be going there to have them do it?
Penzoil Platnium 0-20 full synthetic 5 qt. jug about $25 a Wally World, Mopar oil filter $7 at Wally World.
Spend the other $170 saved cash on BEER = 5.67 30 packs of cold ones. No Brainer!!!!