{"id":2074,"date":"2022-12-08T21:58:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-08T21:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/?p=2074"},"modified":"2025-04-29T23:58:34","modified_gmt":"2025-04-29T23:58:34","slug":"save-money-dont-fall-for-lube-shop-recommended-services","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/auto\/auto-tips\/save-money-dont-fall-for-lube-shop-recommended-services\/","title":{"rendered":"Save Your Money \u2013 Don\u2019t Fall for Lube Shop Recommended Services"},"content":{"rendered":"
You take good care of your vehicle, from paying for affordable comprehensive <\/span>car insurance<\/a> and committing to a regular oil change schedule. But if your days are busy and you don\u2019t have the time to take your vehicle to the dealership for an oil and lube, it\u2019s a good bet you\u2019ll get the work done at one of the many lube service shops around the country. While this can be a sensible, time-saving decision, it may also lead to a good-sized hole in your wallet whenever one of their technicians points out other <\/span>dire<\/i> services your vehicle needs right away.<\/span><\/p>\n You\u2019re not a mechanic \u2013 so how do you know if they\u2019re padding their pocket while emptying yours? Unless you completely trust the shop, don\u2019t fall for recommended services that are designed to rush you into a false sense of (expensive) urgency.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Though it might be tempting to just take the word of your local lube shop employee, not all car experts are created equal. The good news is that you don\u2019t have to be an expert yourself to spot auto repair rip-offs before it\u2019s too late. Knowing the five most common <\/span>car maintenance services<\/span><\/a> you probably don\u2019t need can save you a lot of money in the long run.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n No matter how friendly or pushy the staff at the repair shops are, you may want to steer clear of the following:<\/span><\/p>\n This mostly unnecessary service is very popular and people fall for it all the time unless they know their vehicle is fine without it. Oil change shops plaster their waiting room walls with posters showing spray patterns of dirty and clean fuel injectors to lure you in. But, according to Kelley Blue Book, fuel injector cleaning is rarely \u2014 if ever \u2014 necessary. <\/span>However, there are some fuel additives<\/a> you can consider using to boost your engine\u2019s performance and help the environment, in some cases such as when your vehicle has a diesel engine.<\/p>\n Some lube shop technicians will push for you to change your air filter. Keep track of when you changed it last and ask your technician to show you the filter, making sure it\u2019s the one that came out of your car. You can tell at first glance if the air filter is dirty and needs replacement. According to <\/span>fueleconomy.gov<\/span><\/a>, changing out a dirty air filter may slightly improve performance, but it won\u2019t impact your mileage.<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s not unusual for grit and grime to pass through your vehicle\u2019s air filter and accumulate inside the throttle body. Since the throttle body allows air into the engine, if it gets too dirty, it may cause rough idle or poor acceleration. However, this service is best performed by a certified mechanic and not at an oil and lube shop \u2014 be careful that you\u2019re not pressured into getting this done while you\u2019re in for an oil change.<\/span><\/p>\nFive Common Car Services That Are Probably Unnecessary\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
1. Fuel Injector Cleaning<\/span><\/h3>\n
2. Replacing Your Air Filter<\/span><\/h3>\n
3. Throttle Body Cleaning<\/span><\/h3>\n
4. Frequent Oil Changes<\/span><\/h3>\n