How do I know the dealership changed my oil?

[garlic4runner]

I wish I would have asked this the day i got the Trail with 3 miles on it :redbrick:

:keyboard: Okay so, Should I check my oil now and take a photo for comparison later? The vehicle has between 450 and 500 miles on it. I am going to have the oil changed at 5000 miles unless I hear a good reason not to.

I have been reading through the dealership horror stories which inspired me to create this post.

What can I do after the oil change as far as verifying it was actually performed?

 

[blaniac22]

I wish I would have asked this the day i got the Trail with 3 miles on it :redbrick:

:keyboard: Okay so, Should I check my oil now and take a photo for comparison later? The vehicle has between 450 and 500 miles on it. I am going to have the oil changed at 5000 miles unless I hear a good reason not to.

I have been reading through the dealership horror stories which inspired me to create this post.

What can I do after the oil change as far as verifying it was actually performed?

Check it before you take it in, take note of the color and level. It will probably be a little brownish, but not black. Before driving it off the lot, check it again, take note of the color and level. It should be full and clear - almost so clear it's hard to read.

If they drive it up to you, park it somewhere level (preferably on the dealer lot), and let it sit for a about 10-15 minutes. Take a little more time to look at accessories or strike up a conversation with someone.

I've never encountered a dealership that didn't actually change the oil You just have to make sure they don't overfill it.

 

[garlic4runner]

Check it before you take it in, take note of the color and level. It will probably be a little brownish, but not black. Before driving it off the lot, check it again, take note of the color and level. It should be full and clear - almost so clear it's hard to read.

If they drive it up to you, park it somewhere level (preferably on the dealer lot), and let it sit for a about 10-15 minutes. Take a little more time to look at accessories or strike up a conversation with someone.

I've never encountered a dealership that didn't actually change the oil You just have to make sure they don't overfill it.

thank you very much. If I were to go check my oil now with roughly 450-500 miles on it, how should it look and what should the level be? 0W-20 synthetic motor oil is recommended by Toyota.

 

[blaniac22]

It should still be real clean - you really don't need to obsess over it. Make it a habit to check it once a week - though I've been told that in itself is a little obsessive. It's just part of my Sunday routine.

It may not even look that dirty at 5K. The oil should be between the marks on the dipstick....owners manual probably has a good illustration.

Now that I think about it....isn't the interval 10K on the new 4R's? I would understand if there's hesitation to go that far...I personally wouldn't go more than 7.5K myself until I grew comfortable with it.

 

[1engineer]

I wish I would have asked this the day i got the Trail with 3 miles on it :redbrick:

:keyboard: Okay so, Should I check my oil now and take a photo for comparison later? The vehicle has between 450 and 500 miles on it. I am going to have the oil changed at 5000 miles unless I hear a good reason not to.

I have been reading through the dealership horror stories which inspired me to create this post.

What can I do after the oil change as far as verifying it was actually performed?

Reason 1. If you search you will find blackstone lab analysis after 10K showing everything OK. But why stop at 5K? Change it at 3K and be sure!

 

[jirehn]

Just check it before they will changed the oil,Then make some observations.

 

[Lineman]

What can I do after the oil change as far as verifying it was actually performed?

Just change it yourself!

 

[Barry694]

Oil Changing

If you are using the recommended 0-20W full synthetic you are just throwing money away if you change it at 3000 miles. I have been using synthetic since around 1982 or 83, when Amsoil was recommended by a local mechanic who specialized in German Sport cars. I used to do 7500 miles and now I do 10,000 or 1 year. If you are operating your vehicle under the severe conditions that are listed in the manual, then you should follow that schedule.

 

[cv470]

Oil change

Guys let me just ask what happens if they over fill the engine with oil I once check mine right after the oil change and if I read the dip stick correctly the oil was above the top marking!

 

[phillyd2]

If I had even a .001% feeling that my dealer would charge for something and not do it I would never step foot there again.

 

[Renegad44]

Get in the habit of checking your oil, and you'll notice different colors at different intervals. I check oil in all three vehicles at least 3 times a week, (depending on travel), and can EASILY tell when oil, and filter was changed.

It's not that hard. :shrug:

 

[rickwol]

Timely Thread here. I dropped off the T4R for it's first dealership visit this morning and got a call 2 hrs later that I can pick her up. The vehicle has just over 4k miles and I asked for 3 things only: A NYS inspection which was due, an oil and filter change, and to please turn off the Seat belt buzzer (chime). I specifically asked for the oil change because, even though it was below the 5k miles, the vehicle has now had the same oil in it for over a year and so they agreed to do it. I just ran down to get it and they did the inspection, turned off the seatbelt buzzer, rotatated the tires (not asked for but probably routine) but did not do the oil. The service manager apologized and took it back in. I came back home and will pick her up later. We'll see if they accept my "free oil change" coupon !!

 

[rickwol]

Ha, They only charged me $10 for a NYS inspection which normally runs about $25 so that was good but they had a $76 bill waiting for me for my oil change. I pulled out my coupon booklet and simply said that I had no intention, being that close to that initial 5k mark that I was going to pay $76 for that. They adjusted the bill and I went on my way. I do understand in the future that if I choose to get my oil changed much sooner then the recommended 10k, it will probably be on my nickel.

 

[helocat]

They should also be changing the oil filter, just put a paint/sharpie etc. mark on the oil filter top/side. When you get the truck back look to see that the filter is missing that mark, thus showing at least the filter was changed. (dumps allot of oil pulling the filter so they would change it too.

Mark

 

[blaniac22]

They should also be changing the oil filter, just put a paint/sharpie etc. mark on the oil filter top/side. When you get the truck back look to see that the filter is missing that mark, thus showing at least the filter was changed. (dumps allot of oil pulling the filter so they would change it too.

Mark

That's a good tip. I usually take it a step further and put the date and mileage on it. Serves as a good reminder when you go to check the oil without having that reminder sticker on the windshield.

 

[harper7]

Cartridge Oil Filter......That's the thing I would be worrying about them not changing and hard to prove as it's kind of a pain in the arse to change .The housing is re-used and it's a internal cartridge type filter and you can't see it or mark it to prove they changed it. You would never know. I guess you could ask them to save it and give them a ziplock bag to put it in.Tell them your a collector?

On top of that the oem Toyota 0-W20 synthetic oil supposedly has a high moly content and is pretty dark even when brand new.Much darker then Mobil 1 or any synthetic I've ever seen for that matter.Even taste different! jk lol

I change my own oil and filter and have never had anyone else change mine in any vehicle even if it was for free.

 

[Froggy]

. . . I change my own oil and filter and have never had anyone else change mine in any vehicle even if it was for free.

.
X2

 

[Barry694]

Oil change

The dealership I frequent uses Mobil 1 instead of the bottle labeled Toyota Motor oil. Toyota motor oil used to be made by Exxon/Mobil. I do not know if that is true today. They use Toyota labeled motor oil for non-synthetic oil. The dealer I used in California used Quaker State bulk oil.

 

[Lancez]

The dealership I frequent uses Mobil 1 instead of the bottle labeled Toyota Motor oil. Toyota motor oil used to be made by Exxon/Mobil. I do not know if that is true today. They use Toyota labeled motor oil for non-synthetic oil. The dealer I used in California used Quaker State bulk oil.

pick up some mobile 1 at walmart before you go to dealer, they all use cheap oil in socal to gain profit. and a lot of dealers do lie about whatever they put in your car.

 

[blaniac22]

Cartridge Oil Filter......That's the thing I would be worrying about them not changing and hard to prove as it's kind of a pain in the arse to change .The housing is re-used and it's a internal cartridge type filter and you can't see it or mark it to prove they changed it. You would never know. I guess you could ask them to save it and give them a ziplock bag to put it in.Tell them your a collector?

On top of that the oem Toyota 0-W20 synthetic oil supposedly has a high moly content and is pretty dark even when brand new.Much darker then Mobil 1 or any synthetic I've ever seen for that matter.Even taste different! jk lol

I change my own oil and filter and have never had anyone else change mine in any vehicle even if it was for free.

Oh yeah....forgot the 5G has the cartridge type...never mind marking it and looking at it when you get under the hood to check the fluids...:redbrick: