I got the oil changed in my beloved Explorer the other day and one of the guys said, "You've got an oil leak in the back," pointing vaguely somewhere under my truck.

"Really? How was the oil level when you checked it before you drained it?"

"It was fine, but you need to get that looked at," he responded, as if he knew what he was talking about.

It reminded me of a phone call I got from a woman who was terrified because an oil changer had told her that her car was "unsafe to drive." He told her this after putting in the new oil and installing the filter so she still got charged for the oil change. He had not driven her car and did not indicate what it was about her car that made it unsafe. But he advised her to drive straight to the dealer where she'd bought her car and complain.

First: my truck does not have an oil leak, something I suspected when there was never any oil in my driveway. I confirmed it when my regular mechanic performed some routine maintenance a few days later and I asked him to check for me. But this theme–someone at an oil change shop giving a customer bad mechanical advice–seems to be one I hear about often.

Why might this happen? Simple: in Michigan and many other states, the people who work in oil change shops aren't mechanics. In fact, the shops are not required to even have a mechanic on the premises.

So the guy telling me I had an oil leak "in the back" may have been referring to the back of the engine, the back of the transmission or perhaps the back of the differential. And yes, I know those all contain different fluids. Did he know that? I'm not sure. Since he was not a mechanic, I'll take the opinion of my actual mechanic over his any day. Judging by the turnover rate at some of these places, I suspect the amount of training the guys in the pit get is minimal at best. Can they diagnose mechanical problems with your car while they are changing the oil? Don't count on it.

And, in 25 years of practicing consumer law with car owners, I have seen countless screw ups by quickie oil change shops. Filters fall off, drain plugs are left out. Did they remember to put oil back in after they removed the old oil? You'd be amazed. And yes, I go to shops like this but I sit and watch the guys do their work, paying particular attention to the one who puts the fresh oil in. When I get home, I immediately look for leaks.

Can you safely get your oil changed at fast oil change place? Of course. Just don't assume the people working there are mechanics, even if they do dress like them. Any advice they give you is a layman's. Obviously, if they see something it COULD be worth checking out. But have it checked by a mechanic before you start freaking out.

Ed. Note: The laws on this will vary wildly from state to state. In Michigan, the curious can look at the last sentence of MCL 257.1303 and know that "minor repairs" include oil changes, as defined in the previous section, MCL 257.1302a(e).

Steve Lehto is a writer and attorney from Michigan. He specializes in Lemon Law and frequently writes about cars and the law. His most recent books include Preston Tucker and His Battle to Build the Car of Tomorrow, and Dodge Daytona and Plymouth Superbird: Design, Development, Production and Competition. He also has a podcast where he talks about these things.

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