Do not go to dealership for oil change!

[flnycus]

Can we start to name and shame these damn dealers now???

This is precisely why i havent got a 5th gen yet. Had a 2006 v8, loved it but wanted something different - a major reason i sold it was because im not mechanically inclined and the dealer experience was pathetic. Horrible. They almost always never put any of the tire caps back on, twice they didnt even put the oil cap back on. I opened the hood and it was sitting there on top of the engine (central NJ dealer). I never want to deal with Toyota dealers period. I dont even have a 5th gen yet (looking) but this is already pi&&ing me off.

If there are any reputable Toyota service centers in central NJ please let me know, i might change my mind and finally get a 5th/6th gen. These horror stories reflect what i went through.

 

[Dynamo]

Dealers are catching a lot of flak in this thread but honestly I don't trust oil change places either. There's just as many horror stories (if not more) about them. Which is why I do all maintenance myself. Nobody will care for your baby like you will.

 

[Campndad]

Dealers are catching a lot of flak in this thread but honestly I don't trust oil change places either. There's just as many horror stories (if not more) about them. Which is why I do all maintenance myself. Nobody will care for your baby like you will.

I agree. Every time I have chosen a dealership to do my work I ask who the best tech is and develop a relationship with them. It makes a huge difference.


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[patkelly4370]

With 1,500 Toyota dealerships in the United States I'm guessing that not all of them have drooling morons for mechaics.
For every one forum member there must be hundreds or thousands of Toyota owners.
So we are, and aren't, hearing a subset of a subset, and only hearing the negative stories.
Of the many occupations I've had, I was a mechanic. I was always conscientious that my work, my craft, affected the lives of thousands. But I also know that not everyone takes pride in their work. I have seen that in all of the fields I have worked in and been a consumer of.
That said, I do as much of my own vehicle maintenance as possible.
"Man bites dog" is a headline. "Dog bites man" isn't even a story (unless currently it was a pitbull)

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[Sky]

With 1,500 Toyota dealerships in the United States I'm guessing that not all of them have drooling morons for mechaics.
For every one forum member there must be hundreds or thousands of Toyota owners.
So we are, and aren't, hearing a subset of a subset, and only hearing the negative stories.
Of the many occupations I've had, I was a mechanic. I was always conscientious that my work, my craft, affected the lives of thousands. But I also know that not everyone takes pride in their work. I have seen that in all of the fields I have worked in and been a consumer of.
That said, I do as much of my own vehicle maintenance as possible.
"Man bites dog" is a headline. "Dog bites man" isn't even a story (unless currently it was a pitbull)

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Problem is the oil changer is typically not a mechanic. Often just some clueless kid they got cheap.

True story> When we bought our 2011 FJC new we went in for the "free oil change and tire rotation".
So the dealer had some "concierge" type guy wandering around the waiting area- I asked him what was taking so long- he told me->

That they only had one gimbal rack for oil changes- it was a special rack they put vehicles on that would tilt the vehicle sideways and front to back about 45 deg to make sure all the oil was drained out. Since it was crucial to do that it took a little longer to change the oil.

I'm not kidding.

Dick Dyer Toyota in Columbia SC.



And as stated there may be thousands of owners for every one owner on this forum- can you imagine how may people have issues like the wrong short filter element and never have a clue?

 

[KDubb]

Cheap and incompetent labor?

It's becoming increasingly difficult to find competent people anywhere these days. If you want it done right...

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Buying Toyota reliability is mooted if they destroy your engine/transmission with bone head moves.

 

[RusPro17]

Years ago when I had my Tacoma took my truck in for the first oil change. Then after my mechanic I use all the time had him do the second oil change and he pointed out to me that the dealership never changed the oil filter. I believe they do this all the time and not change the filter. Had them do my first 2 on my 17 Pro. Even tho your not paying for it when you go to have it done for the first 2 since you already payed for it when you bought the vehicle I’m taking mine to my own mechanic this time for my 2020 Pro.

 

[Crashnrondo]

I was at a tire and lube place getting new tires for the wife's RAV4 last night and the closest lane to the waiting area window was an oil change lane. I watched a 3rd gen Tacoma pull in and get an oil change, I'm not 100% sure but the new oil filter he put in looked shorter, like the ones I use for the RAV4. Then when he put the skid plate back in place the bolts were zipped into place with an impact, not hand started. Two of the bolts started right out with uga-duggas so you know they were cross threaded.:nono:

 

[Hammer0313]

Just to let you guys know why this happens all the time at the dealership, is because every job is allotted a specific time and billed accordingly. If the standard oil change is allotted 30 minuets and the tech does it in 10 minuets he still gets paid for the 30 minuets. And it doesn’t matter if it’s brakes, oil change, spark plugs or a transmission rebuilt, it’s all allotted a specific billable time frame. So there is financial incentive to rush through the job and on to the next because you simply make more money.
So think about the environment this creates? There is literally cash available all dictated on how much you want to work and how Fast you work.

 

[BADCLOWN]

Just to let you guys know why this happens all the time at the dealership, is because every job is allotted a specific time and billed accordingly. If the standard oil change is allotted 30 minuets and the tech does it in 10 minuets he still gets paid for the 30 minuets. And it doesn’t matter if it’s brakes, oil change, spark plugs or a transmission rebuilt, it’s all allotted a specific billable time frame. So there is financial incentive to rush through the job and on to the next because you simply make more money.
So think about the environment this creates? There is literally cash available all dictated on how much you want to work and how Fast you work.

100% true. I used to work for a very reputable Audi dealership: back when the new (2009 through early 2010s if I remember correctly) Audi A4s came out, they developed a ring problem where they would fail. The techs would fight for these ring jobs because they were billed at X amount of hours, but they could finish the work in half the time. Their work was always excellent, but because of them being able to finish it in half the time, they could get more jobs in/more money.


Based off the testimonies in this thread from everyones respective dealers: quantity over quality.


Ive had three oil changes and a tire rotation done at my local dealership (most recent and final dealer oil change was < 500 miles ago) and havent had any issues as described.

 

[ElectroBoy]

This was confirmed to me by a Toyota shop manager. It’s a commission system. Faster work = more jobs = more money. Even if the managers may not like it they have to do it this way, that’s the business model they’re dealt. Oil changing is the job given to the new inexperienced guys, although they’ve all gone through a training course and have been “certified”. (It wouldn’t surprise me if certification was done by watching a PowerPoint presentation).

I took my new 4R in for its first four dealer services of oil change/tire rotation, etc. and they screwed something up each time. It took more of my time to get each one resolved. I do my own routine maintenance now.

 

[DougR]

... mechanic I use all the time had him do the second oil change and he pointed out to me that the dealership never changed the oil filter …

How did he know the filter wasn't changed? Was it crushed? I kept the last oil filter installed by the dealer when I did my first oil change. I'll compare it with the oil filter I installed when I change oil again.

 

[Muzzle of Bees]

Did my first oil change on the 4Runner last night. And throughout the whole process was wanting to go burn the dealership to the ground. First issue, my skid plate was missing a 12mm bolt. The second issue... the plastic oil filter canister would NOT come off! I was shaking trying to put all the muscle I had into it. Since it was my first oil change with the new plastic canister, I started second guessing myself and did some research to make sure I was on the right track. Yup, I was using the really nice motiv (spelling?) 64mm wrench and lefty loosey. It would not budge. Then, Unfortunately I had to get a breaker bar. And yup like breaker bars do, it broke one of the plastic tabs off! At this point, I was pretty pissed. Ended up, folding a piece of paper and putting it between the socket and canister and thankfully it came off. I was able to change the filter and reused the canister. However, I’ll need to replace it in the future.

Moral of the story: service techs (some... maybe not all) do not care about your vehicle like you do. All they know is use the impact wrench on everything and good enough will get by.

I had a similar experience with the plastic canister on my 4Runner too after taking it in for the free service. I broke a tab because it was so tight which put hole in the canister. It would not come off. I called the dealership to have them tow it and replace the canister. I asked if they hired a gorilla to do that work and have not been back for service since.

 

[cb1111]

Back in the 90's, my office closed down a couple of repair shops. It started with a complaint by the base commander that his oil hadn't been changed at the on-base garage.

We sent through a series of prepared cars with simple problems (loose battery terminals, oil leak because of a loose drain plug - those kinds of obvious things) and saw what the customer was charged. The oil leak was a head gasket job and so forth. We went in one night and copied all of the data on the concession's computers and raided him the next morning.

The German police raided his house and found lots of parts. He ordered parts cheap through his on-base shop but was running a repair shop downtown specializing in American cars. We found one alternator that he bought for $35 that he sold for $650.

He went to German jail for several years.

Funniest part was that he probably did the oil change on the base commanders car (an old diesel Toyota pickup), but the base commander (who wasn't a car guy) checked his oil several hundred miles later and found it dirty.

Now, I always mark the car before going in for service - the oil filter if I can see it easily or plop some mud over a bolt holding on the belly pan - marking the screw first. If the mud and mark are still there then they didn't pull off the cladding.

 

[w210210]

I had a similar experience with the plastic canister on my 4Runner too after taking it in for the free service. I broke a tab because it was so tight which put hole in the canister. It would not come off. I called the dealership to have them tow it and replace the canister. I asked if they hired a gorilla to do that work and have not been back for service since.

Wait ,what, 4runner has Plastic oil filter housing ????
Is this a joke?

 

[Sky]

Wait ,what, 4runner has Plastic oil filter housing ????
Is this a joke?

You think that is bad- some vehicles have plastic oil pans now.

The Toyota plasic oil filter housing is easily replaced with an aluminum OEM Toyota one for under $20 if it bothers you.

 

[RusPro17]

How did he know the filter wasn't changed? Was it crushed? I kept the last oil filter installed by the dealer when I did my first oil change. I'll compare it with the oil filter I installed when I change oil again.

If I recall because it was quite a few years ago when I had my 15 Tacoma. I think there are certain numbers on them from factory install does them.

 

[1000MPH]

Wait ,what, 4runner has Plastic oil filter housing ????
Is this a joke?

My ‘69 Honda CB750 has a plastic cam chain guide. It might be time to get used to plastic in modern engines.

 

[Muzzle of Bees]

Wait ,what, 4runner has Plastic oil filter housing ????
Is this a joke?

It’s protected by the front skid plate too and can’t really be hit and hurt unless a severe hit happened.

 

[nimby]

I love a good "do not go to the dealer for an oil change" thread.

Same shit over and over since the beginning of car forums.