Oil Can Henry's

Write a Review503-786-2139

OPEN NOW - Closes at 7:00pm

This was the worst experience I have ever had at any retail establishment. I have never been treated so rudely. I brought in my 1994 Mercedes E320 for a basic oil change. I asked for conventional 10w40 and they refused to change the oil!! Their computer apparently recommends synthetic oil for all Mercedes' (regardless of year/model) and they aren't allowed to deviate. I love my car and know it intimately. I tried to nicely explain to them that the computer was mistaken. This year of Mercedes was designed to use conventional motor oil and has been running on conventional for the last 30 years. At this point one of the workers became belligerent with a raised voice. He told me that I needed to do my research, that I could get online right now and see that they are correct, and that I would "ruin" my engine if I put in conventional oil (apparently it would "eat through the synthetic seals")!!! I found this particularly insulting as I'm kind of a geek about my car and have researched this line of Mercedes extensively. It became apparent to me at this point that these guys had no actual knowledge of my car/engine other than what oil their computer recommends. I offered to get my Mercedes mechanic on the phone and ask what oil the car uses. They liked this idea and must have assumed he would say synthetic. I called my mechanic on the spot and he confirmed that for Mercs of this year and high mileage they put in conventional 20w50 year round. He told me Mercedes didn't start using synthetic oil until 1997. When I relayed this info to the Oil Can Henry's guys, I was immediately and rudely REFUSED SERVICE! They told me that they would not change my oil and I was asked to leave. I understand that putting in synthetic oil wouldn't have been the worst thing in world...other than possibly worsening a few minor existing oil leaks, but that's not the point. My car was designed by German engineers to use conventional oil (I'm pretty sure they know what they're doing) and there's no reason to use synthetic at twice the cost. If it's a liability issue for Oil Can Henry's I understand that. If they aren't allowed to deviate from the computer recommendation because of liability I totally get it. But there is a way to explain this to a customer kindly and politely and without belligerently trying to "educate" me on my car with misinformation...I would have been annoyed but certainly wouldn't be writing this negative review. Oil Can Henry's computer is incorrect in this case, either accidently (please fix this mistake!) or deliberately in order to trick people into spending much more than they have to (dishonest business practice!). I WILL NEVER BE BACK!! And I recommend that management give the guys at this particular location remediation in customer service skills.