How do you get oil changes and such? | FerrariChat

How do you get oil changes and such?

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by arachnyd, Feb 23, 2020.

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  1. arachnyd

    arachnyd Karting

    Feb 5, 2016
    129
    Springboro
    This sounds like such a weird question I feel odd asking it... But how do get oil changes and such on your car? On my Ford, I go to the shop, wait 30 minutes, and drive away. At BMW I drop off my car in the morning, and drive their loaner for the day.

    For my Ferrari, I pay $400 for someone to pick it up on a trailer, drive it an hour and then pay $400 to drive it back. That's a rediculous amount of wasted money.

    So I thought maybe this time I'd take two Uber trips... That's about $200... So cheaper... But still seems weird to me.

    So legitimate weird question of the day... HOW do you transport your fcar to get oil changes and simple auto services?
     
    psych0hans likes this.
  2. Ianjoub

    Ianjoub Formula Junior

    Dec 22, 2019
    901
    Homosassa, FL USA
    Full Name:
    Ian Joubert
    I do it myself at home (on a lift).
     
    Dane, psych0hans, jcurry and 3 others like this.
  3. A348W

    A348W Formula 3

    Jun 28, 2017
    1,748
    North Wiltshire, UK
    Drive it and either a) wait as it takes less than a day so I just take my laptop and do some work and drink free coffee or b) get the missus to follow me, dealer is only 30 minutes alway or c) get a loan car.

    I certainly wouldn’t pay those prices. Worst I’ve been quoted is by a main dealer some 90 miles away at £100 each way or if they were in the area £50.

    At the prices you are talking, if they don’t have loan cars just get a hire car dropped off there, would be far cheaper.
     
  4. tomc

    tomc Two Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 13, 2014
    25,886
    DFW, Texas
    Full Name:
    Tom C
    We do b)

    How far are you from the dealer?

    $800 on top of the service costs seems pretty exorbitant, unless we're talking a real long distance.

    T
     
  5. vrsurgeon

    vrsurgeon F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 13, 2009
    15,916
    Charleston, SC
    Full Name:
    Curt
    What I do is I back my 360 onto 2 ramps with the rear tires, I undo some bolts, and then I drain the oil out by undoing 3 bolts.. and then add it back in. Costs under $200 and takes between 20 minutes to an hour.

    -or-

    If I feel inclined I drive it to my independent mechanic and sit and wait while the oil gets changed.
     
  6. arachnyd

    arachnyd Karting

    Feb 5, 2016
    129
    Springboro
    Thanks for the responses. I know it seems like a weird question. I've had the car 5 years and it feels like a rollercoaster to do the little things like this.


    Some day I hope to be like you :)

    There are no Ferrari dealers anywhere close, so I am referring to using the Maserati Dealer, which requires me to arrange my own transportation. They are pretty familiar with the ferraris and they work on a lot of them, but don't quite bend over backwards for them. distance is 60 miles.

    60 miles for the nearest Maserati dealer. about 200 to the Ferrari dealer I don't trust. Have a great independent mechanic about 250 miles but he says he's too busy to do oil changes and to go to the Maserati dealer... haha. Still costs a hefty sum to ship the car up there (about the same)

    I took it to a local "import specialty shop" who I was told works on ferraris. After overfilling my oil, I had 6 months of downtime sent away to the ferrari specialty shop and a $25,000 bill at the end of it all, so I'm a bit skeptical. (to be clear they ended up doing the clutch and such while everything was torn apart, so I did permit scope creep... I theoretically know how to check the oil in these things and I've watched a million videos and read the manual but I swear it takes a magic touch I don't have. Some times it seems super high, sometimes its super low, and I can't tell what I do different between them.
     
    psych0hans likes this.
  7. PhilaChris

    PhilaChris Rookie

    Mar 6, 2019
    14
    I email the dealer with times they can work on it, we setup a date. I let them know I’ll be waiting. Laptop, free espresso and wander around the showroom for my next car. Always feel taken care of!
     
    arachnyd likes this.
  8. AceMaster

    AceMaster Three Time F1 World Champ

    Feb 6, 2009
    34,556
    Ontario, Canada
    Full Name:
    Mike
    I do it myself
     
  9. JAM1

    JAM1 F1 Veteran
    Rossa Subscribed

    Oct 22, 2004
    7,263
    FL, NY, and MA
    Full Name:
    Joe
    When my cars are due for an oil change I trade them in.


















    Kidding. Dealer comes and gets them, then return them completed. No charge for pickup/drop off either.
     
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  10. Glassman

    Glassman F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed Silver Subscribed

    I don't change my oil or change the belts. Just way too inconvenient for me.
    I do occasionally wash the car but that is getting pretty tedious also.
     
  11. 308 milano

    308 milano F1 Veteran

    Jan 15, 2007
    5,257
    Montana
    Full Name:
    Kim
    Purchase a couple ramps for $90 a pr. at AutoZone, O’Reillys, Napa etc. An Oil catch pan and a funnel then watch a few YouTube videos on the subject and verify process here on F chat. I remember being all paranoid about my first belt service and my mechanic/friend offered me some really good advice .
    “ Kim, it’s just a car it doesn’t run on magic“ you’ll do fine!
     
  12. imahorse

    imahorse F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 25, 2017
    2,744
    WI
    Full Name:
    Dustin
    I do them myself along with all of the other work. Patience and perfectionism gives experience a run for it's money.
     
    Challenge likes this.
  13. vrsurgeon

    vrsurgeon F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 13, 2009
    15,916
    Charleston, SC
    Full Name:
    Curt
    Working on a car isn't for everyone, and the concern about messing up on a Ferrari where a mistake means $$$$ can stop many from working on their cars. That $25k is a bit... high... IMHO. Even with a clutch, they probably took off the intake on the engine to "clean out oil" from the overfill. What I do is I know that the car needs X quarts of oil. If I fill it until it's one quart shy.. the car won't suddenly die or implode. I can run it and it has enough oil to ensure the engine doesn't seize and then I can fill just a little... then wait for it to be warm and then check the oil level while the car runs with a glove. The oil temp has to be up to operating temp with the water. Stop the car and if the oil is between the lines.. good to go. The car will have enough oil for lubrication if it's 0.5 quarts below what the manual says (9..10 quarts IIRC).
     
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  14. Ianjoub

    Ianjoub Formula Junior

    Dec 22, 2019
    901
    Homosassa, FL USA
    Full Name:
    Ian Joubert
    I pour in 10L when changing and don't worry about it (458). It is dry sump. If there is oil on the stick, it is fine.
     
    arachnyd likes this.
  15. Meister

    Meister F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 27, 2001
    5,516
    Duluth, MN
    Full Name:
    The Meister
    There a couple local oil change places around here that say $39.99 any make any model...if sure the fine print provides them some protection, but I've had a passing thought when I had nothing better to do to swing in there with a lotus or ferrari and see what happens.

    To the OP. For what you have spent on oil changes and transport so far you could have bought a nice 4 post lift and learned to do it yourself. A quite hour in the garage with a couple beers or cocktails working on a car.... lots of worse way to spend an hour. In the end its just a car and there really isnt any magic to changing oil. I get not everyone has the setup or inclination to do that but it can be a fun and rewarding aspect of ownership and a great place to start
     
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  16. arizonaitalian

    arizonaitalian F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Oct 29, 2010
    19,944
    Wyoming
    OP - have you asked the dealer to help with your problem? Like getting a first thing appointment do the work right away and you wait? Be interested to hear what they say. What did they say when you asked for a loaner?
     
  17. A348W

    A348W Formula 3

    Jun 28, 2017
    1,748
    North Wiltshire, UK
    I use to work in a Mr Lube when I was a kid. We use to get a guy in with a very old Merc, even back then. It was a cartridge oil filter and getting the o ring to seat was a complete ***** and we often sprayed his engine compartment with oil on testing. He was happy though as it was as above fixed price $20-30 back then, he got to watch us do the work, we always got him a chair and a coffee, we always cleaned up ofter ourselves and it was a nice change from the average American peace of crap! Local main dealer wanted way over 10 times what we charged!

    I’m betting your “specialist” hadn’t a clue what a dry sump was, or how to fill it!
     
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  18. 88MONDIAL

    88MONDIAL Formula 3

    Apr 13, 2005
    1,052
    Racine, Wisconsin
    Full Name:
    Jim Smith
    Make an appt and say you will wait there while they do it, like some suggest. Drive it there, wait your 60 or so min's and then drive home.
     
  19. vincep99

    vincep99 Formula 3
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jun 8, 2009
    1,930
    Like some of the others, I do it myself. It is Zen, I can bond with my car
     
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  20. thorn

    thorn F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 7, 2012
    3,322
    Tallahassee, FL
    I can't imagine shipping my Ferrari to get an oil change. That's just... i dunno. If you've got the budget, te salut. But seems overkill, to me.
     
  21. Ingenere

    Ingenere F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Dec 11, 2001
    6,342
    On the Limit
    Full Name:
    Dino
    I've been working on all my own cars since I was a kid. The Ferraris are no different.308s to F40s. Oil changes to belt swaps. It is so cathartic to do your own work.
     
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  22. Clyde Romero

    Clyde Romero Formula Junior

    Sep 6, 2019
    691
    Atlanta Georgia
    Full Name:
    Clarence Romero

    I do it myself
    its not rocket science
    by a quick jack from Costco
    get a drain pan
    go to harbor freight and get some metric tools
    rags
    oil and filter
    and get it done
    its simple
    you must have very deep pockets to pay that type of money to change oil on car
    considering how easy it to do
    and the bonus is
    you get to learn more about your car
    the majority of bolts on ANY Ferrari are 10MM
     
  23. Clyde Romero

    Clyde Romero Formula Junior

    Sep 6, 2019
    691
    Atlanta Georgia
    Full Name:
    Clarence Romero

    same here
    I do all the work on my 512 TR and 575
    remember we put a man on the moon
    not the Italians !!
     
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  24. RedNeck

    RedNeck F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 8, 2016
    9,965
    The CSA
    Full Name:
    Me
    Get ramps. Works great for changing the oil on our cars and save thousands. Not a tough job and if you can't get the last little bit out because of the angle, no biggie. We're talking 11-12 qts if fully synthetic oil that most likely only has a couple thousand miles on it. I measure what comes out and use that as a starting point. Get a torque wrench and the filter removal tool.
    [​IMG]
     
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