Her Dealership Oil Change Was More Than She Expected. Then Her Husband Has to Review the Paperwork at Chick-fil-A
"I thought it was covered in my maintenance plan…… it was not."
Getting your oil changed should be one of the more routine and affordable parts of owning a car. But for one woman, a quick visit to the mechanic turned into a confusingly expensive bill and a fast-food pity meal.
Oil Change Gone Wrong
In a trending video with more than 212,000 views, content creator and mechanical engineer Marissa Jean (@marissajeanbean) shared what happened when she went to the mechanic for a simple oil change.
In the video, Jean appears to be at a Chick-fil-A restaurant as a consolation prize from her husband for possibly getting scammed by her mechanic.
Her husband seems to be reviewing the printed statement from the auto shop, confused by how much Jean paid.
“When your oil change is way more expensive than expected, so your husband has to review the report after buying you Chick-fil-A,” Jean wrote in the on-screen caption.
The audio on the video is No Doubt’s hit song “Just a Girl.”
“I thought it was covered in my maintenance plan…… it was not,” Jean explained.
How Much Should an Oil Change Cost?
On average, an oil change should cost between $30 and $125, according to Kelley Blue Book and AutoZone.
The cost of an oil change can vary quite a bit depending on a few factors:
- Type of oil: Whether your car uses conventional, synthetic, or high-mileage oil will affect the price. Synthetic tends to cost more but can last longer between changes.
- Your vehicle: Some cars need more oil, special filters, or a specific oil type, which can bump up the cost.
- Location: Prices can change depending on where you are. Labor rates and shop pricing vary by region. You won’t pay the same in a high-cost-of-living city like Los Angeles as you would in Salt Lake City.
- Extra services: Some places include (or upsell) things like tire rotations, fluid top-offs, or full inspections, which can increase your total bill.
The general rule of thumb is to change your oil every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. For the average driver, that should translate to two to three oil changes a year.
Do Women Get Scammed at the Mechanic?
A study from Northwestern University found that women do get scammed at the mechanic. While the research is a decade old, it puts data behind the experience that so many women report.
Researchers had people call auto shops across the country asking for quotes on a radiator replacement. Some callers gave a ballpark estimate for the cost; others didn’t.
Women who didn’t mention a price were quoted significantly more than men, who also sounded uninformed. But when women said, “I think this should cost around $365,” the price dropped—and the gender gap disappeared.
The researchers call it “statistical discrimination:” Mechanics assume women know less, and some adjust prices accordingly.
Basically, sounding like you know what you’re talking about can save you money, especially if you’re a woman.
Commenters React
“This was me and my husband after I got an oil change at Valvoline,” a top comment read.
“You gotta tell them it’s just the oil change and nothing more because they will change everything if you don’t tell them no,” a person said.
“The real question is why isn't a simple oil change included in the maintenance plan?” another pointed out.
Motor1 reached out to Jean for comment via email and TikTok direct message.
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