Craigslist oil change rip off?

Glowplug007 · Apr 9, 2012

Local marina wanted 150$ to change the oil in my 2010 bayliner 175 with mercruiser 3.0
Mobil boat mechanic on craigslist offered to do it for 120 in my driveway.

I went the cheap easy route (1st mistake). After watching the process I will be purchasing a pump to do this myself as it looked very easy(2nd mistake).

My real question was with the oil he chose. Apparently they were out of straight 30 oil so he used 10w-30 castrol gtx.
Do I need to pump this out immediately and use a different oil or will my boat survive to the next oil change?

I did a little research (after the event) and from what I read this oil wont build up enough pressure to show on the pressure gauge, but other then that no biggie? The internet is a scary place. And now im scared to run my boat! HELP!

BonairII · Apr 9, 2012

Re: Craigslist oil change rip off?

$120 to change oil ?

I'd rather shoot myself in the face than pay someone to change the oil on anything I own.

Bt Doctur · Apr 9, 2012

Re: Craigslist oil change rip off?

dont know what your reading but considering mobil 1 0w-30 , any 10w-40 or 20w-50 will work just fine.

Pete104 · Apr 9, 2012

Re: Craigslist oil change rip off?

Did you get an owners manual when you bought it?
If not you can find in the "stickys"!

Glowplug007 · Apr 9, 2012

Re: Craigslist oil change rip off?

so 10w-30 is ok?

Don S · Apr 9, 2012

sschefer · Apr 9, 2012

Re: Craigslist oil change rip off?

BonairII said:
$120 to change oil ?

I'd rather shoot myself in the face than pay someone to change the oil on anything I own.

No shhhhh... I don't even pay that much for 15 quarts of oil and a filter in my diesel and I do have it done for me. And... I live in friggin California... Holy carp..

Don S · Apr 9, 2012

Re: Craigslist oil change rip off?

If you were to take your boat to a dealer, it's going to cost you an hours labor. They are not Jiffy Lubes, where you drive in over a rack and get your oil changed.
The shop has to move your boat, start it up (Typically they have dead batteries) to warm the oil. Yes, you have to hook up the hose and run water to the boat. In the mean time you can get all the toys out of the way, canvas off, seats out of the way,etc. Then when warmed up, you drag all your pumps, tools, rags, buckets, filters, and oil on board the boat. Then you change the oil. Hope you can reach the filter, not spill a drop of oil on a filter you can't see and can touch with only one hand. Get the old filter off the boat before you have an ugly mess, clean up what missed the little pan and oil sorb you had under the filter that slid down when you couldn't see. Install the new filter, and put in the new oil.
Turn on the water start the engine back up, make sure there are no leaks. Recheck the oil. Drag all the pumps, tools, empty oil containers, and other assorted stuff needed to change the oil in your living room.
Close the engine compartment, wash the boat so none of your foot prints and finger prints are left. Put all the seats back in, toys back where they were, raise the drive. Now move the boat back out to the lot and finish the paper work.

Any of you guys actually time yourselves when you say, "I'm going out and change the oil in the boat" and see how long it actually takes? Didn't think so.

Pete104 · Apr 9, 2012

Re: Craigslist oil change rip off?

I love the guy that hires someone to do "something" for him!
Then comes here and asks "Did I get ripped-off"? OR better yet, "Now I want to do it, I watched it didn't look hard"! But what should I do first!

Plain & simple, those are the people that shouldn't come here for advice!

achris · Apr 10, 2012

Re: Craigslist oil change rip off?

Don S said:
....Any of you guys actually time yourselves when you say, "I'm going out and change the oil in the boat" and see how long it actually takes? Didn't think so.

I did... Took me 2 days :facepalm: I did it when the engine was last out of the boat...

Glowplug007 · Apr 10, 2012

Re: Craigslist oil change rip off?

Pete104 said:
I love the guy that hires someone to do "something" for him!
Then comes here and asks "Did I get ripped-off"? OR better yet, "Now I want to do it, I watched it didn't look hard"! But what should I do first!

Plain & simple, those are the people that shouldn't come here for advice!

Pardon me Pete, allow me to respond to your unfounded sarcastic "air of superiority" toned remarks.
1.I spent MY money to hire someone to do something for me. Hardly worthy of an exclamation point. In fact people doing the very same thing makes the world go around kid.

2.I asked if I got ripped off due to the mechanics choice in oil more so then the actual dollar amount in question. Considering the dealer would have cost 30 bucks more and I would have to deliver and pick up during business hours makes me think I actually got an ok deal. Especially considering Don's latest post on the matter.

3. I had never seen the oil changed on my boat, and basically paid to have it done and also to see if it looked like something I could tackle myself. It was a rather simple process which, after watching it, leaves me far more confident in my own abilities regarding it. Where is the flaw in my logic?

4. Never asked what to do first, your feeble attempt at humor isn't based in reality.

5. Regarding your last comment, I believe quite the contrary. It is post like yours, which offer no constructive criticism and simply waste data bits in cyber space, that would, if a consensus were taken, be found to be far more telling of an individual whose opinions are not needed and or wanted. Here or on any forum.

kylejb2663 · Apr 10, 2012

Re: Craigslist oil change rip off?

Glowplug007 said:
Pardon me Pete, allow me to respond to your unfounded sarcastic "air of superiority" toned remarks.
1.I spent MY money to hire someone to do something for me. Hardly worthy of an exclamation point. In fact people doing the very same thing makes the world go around kid.

2.I asked if I got ripped off due to the mechanics choice in oil more so then the actual dollar amount in question. Considering the dealer would have cost 30 bucks more and I would have to deliver and pick up during business hours makes me think I actually got an ok deal. Especially considering Don's latest post on the matter.

3. I had never seen the oil changed on my boat, and basically paid to have it done and also to see if it looked like something I could tackle myself. It was a rather simple process which, after watching it, leaves me far more confident in my own abilities regarding it. Where is the flaw in my logic?

4. Never asked what to do first, your feeble attempt at humor isn't based in reality.

5. Regarding your last comment, I believe quite the contrary. It is post like yours, which offer no constructive criticism and simply waste data bits in cyber space, that would, if a consensus were taken, be found to be far more telling of an individual whose opinions are not needed and or wanted. Here or on any forum.

I'm going to +1 this. No where in his post did he say he got ripped off by pricing, he just was concerned about the type of oil going into his boat. Also, forums are self-help internet sites. That's what this forum is here for!!

Props to you GlowPlug and it's certainly something you can do to save some money! Also, if you want to learn how to do something, you should COME HERE to this forum, it's a good place. My motto is I see someone doing something that looks like I can do it, I'll join a few forums do some research and start doing it.

MarkSee · Apr 10, 2012

Re: Craigslist oil change rip off?

+2 ^^^^.
He learned 4 things:
1-don't use that mobile mechanic in the future
2-he can do an oil/filter change himself the next time if he chooses
3-where/who he read that the oil used may not build enough pressure to show on the gauge may not be a reliable source
4-do some research, anaylze that research to see if it makes sense but if in doubt, ask for help/advice. Most people will help.
Mark

Pete104 · Apr 12, 2012

Re: Craigslist oil change rip off?

Well Mr. Glowplug, you're right! My first post 4/9/12 10:03 pm, kind of spelled it out to you in an honest direct answer!

Later, where you start hatin'at me the latter part was not directed at you! There was different post that really had nothing to do with yours but fell into place "generally speaking"! A guy stands & watches someone change his shift cable bellows w/out changing the cable. Now it don't shift right & HE now wants to change the cable because "he watched what needs to be done"! That's where the 2nd slam came from! This DID all happen on your post & I apologize for somewhat "hi-jacking" but it in general terms & really not pointed at you!

Happy oil changing!

bnicov · Apr 13, 2012

Re: Craigslist oil change rip off?

Next oil change, run something a bit heavier. Buy an oil pump for around $80 or so and an oil filter wrench for $5, get the oil for around $30, a filter for $10. So, for a buck and a quarter you can change your own oil and guess what, your next oil change will cost you about $40 for the materials. It's not hard to do, it is time consuming because of having to get the tools to the boat, open it up, start it up, warm it up, change the oil, clean up any mess, button it up and put the tools away. Budget on a couple of hours your first time.

SteveMcD · Apr 27, 2012

Re: Craigslist oil change rip off?

My GM 350 came with a hose/oil pan fitting and a pump mounted on the transom. I put the pump outlet hose in a container, push and hold the button for a minute or so until I hear air sucking. Done. Now THATS an "easy button". Office Depot ain't ever going to top that. And she also came with a remote oil filter. Did I luck out or what? IMHO, whatever they cost, they are worth twice the price.

rickryder · Apr 27, 2012

Re: Craigslist oil change rip off?

I thought it was Staples that has the "Easy Button" ?

Craigslist oil change rip off?

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