I really need to get my oil changed and normally I take it to the Honda place...but they are all booked up these days (!) and so I'm wondering what people's opinion is on places like Jiffy Lube?

I'm feeling weepy today...please don't be mean/snide to me.

I'm negatively biased against a local Jiffy Lube, so I can't endorse them, but I regularly get my oil changed at places like Tires Plus and Firestone. I'm sure there are a few horror stories out there of a lube tech that forgot to put the oil filter on, or didn't refill the resevoir, but in general, I think these places are fine to take your car to.
MiceElf, how many miles in between oil changes do you go?

I was being really good and doing it every 3,000 miles or so...but this time I've gone over 5,000 miles.

You are safe, as long as you've at least checked your oil level since the last change. My manual actually recommends I change my oil every 5,000 miles. The old 3,000 mile rule was made for older cars. After you take your car to the quick lube joint, just open the hood and double-check behind them to make sure they didn't forget to add oil or didn't screw the oil cap back on, etc.

Thanks for the tips!

You're more than safe - new oils are better formulated to handle stress better. Unless you have a really old engine or you live in a really dusty climate and/or drive really hard, you probably don't need to change your oil until you hit 5000 miles. The 3000 mile thing is because they want you back sooner to make more money off of you. It's a waste of oil and money. Wait at least 5000 miles (unless you meet the criteria I mentioned.)

Neat fact about the new Hondas: they actually tell you when you need to get it in for an oil change by doing some calculations based on how you drive, the air going into the engine, etc. My first one was at 7500 miles (which is the normal wear-in period fisrt oil-change.) I'm coming up on my second one now at just under 13,000 miles (so 5500 miles between.)

Jiffy Lube is fine, just check to make sure they've put the cap back on tight. I've lost two breather caps courtesy of them. It's worth 20 bucks just not to have a gallon or so of spent oil to unload.

Actually, most auto parts(I go to the Auto Zone b/c its closest) places take back used oil.

I'll be damned if I'm paying someone to change my oil.

I got to Merchant's Tire (aka Tire Kingdom) because the local joint is super badass when it comes to customer service. Also, it costs less than Jiffy Lube--about $20--and they will rotate the tires for free if you ask.

I think Jiffy Lube does a fine job on oil changes. It's the tire rotation that I am concerned about.

2 weeks ago I got my oil changed and my tires rotated. Now all of a sudden my front tires make this whirring sound and it gets louder and lower pitched when I decelerrate, around 25-10 MPH. Mind you, it doesn't matter if I am braking or just slowing down. So, now I have to take it to the Toyota place tomorrow. I am hoping that it is just an allignment issue or bearings or something.

So, get your oil changed there, but NOTHING else.

I saw a mobile oil change unit yesterday--dude's got a business where he'll come out to your house. I *hate* changing fluids, I never have a decent container, so would always let the stuff pour into a kittly litter box--total mess. For twenty bucks every three months, someone else can do it for me. Same goes for radiator flushes. Besides, I like the dudes at my local Jiffy Lube, and hanging out there for 15 minutes is generally 15 minutes well spent.

Sure it's not just your tires? I let my tires go slightly too long between rotations on my last car on the original tires and found out the hard way what happens on those crappy Continentals when I did rotate them - they shook and whirred like crazy. I thought for sure something was wrong with the car itself, took it back, and they said nope and showed me exactly what was wrong with the tires. Turns out they were right - I did some research and found out the tires were absolutely crap and once they started to wear oddly they would do exactly what happened to mine, and there was really no turning back. It was an awful ride - noisy, bumpy, and completely unpleasant. Got all four replaced right away with far superior tires.

I wasn't sure. I originally thought that because the noise started right after I got em rotated and I thought that I may have heard it in the back before but it was just too far away and there is virtually no weight in the back (I drive a Tacoma), so the noise was quieter.

Took it to the Toyota dealership and the tech test drove it with me and immediately said, it's your tires. I had a "cupping" problem. Basically that happens from consistent overinflation and it wears the middle of the tire down. He showed me this huge divet in the middle section of the tire.

So, I went to the tire place and am now down 339.59 for two tires total. I love my vehicle but the tire replacement cost is a bitch.

I am glad though that it was just the tires and nothing more serious.

I'm sort of biased against Jiffy Lube since I worked for them 10+ years ago and they never sent me to training yet they wanted me to recommend filters and such for cars that I had no idea what the benefit would be to the car owner.

I usually go to Valvoline to get my oil changes though the same situation could be happening with them and I'd have no idea.