How many people don't use the free oil changes and service?
- Thread starter SavageRunner
- Start date
That is your business if you make the decision to “trust” the dealership to properly change your oil. My time is important to me. How much is your time worth? If something should go wrong, now you have to take the vehicle BACK. What if something more problematic occurs? Please take the time to review the below individuals who “trusted” their dealership with a simplistic oil change:
Toyota messed up oil change bad!! Advice - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums
2011 Oil Change Frustration & Skid Plate - Toyota FJ Cruiser Forum
Dealer Oil Change - Amazing Incompetence - TundraTalk.net - Toyota Tundra Discussion Forum
Dealership messed up the oil change what should I do - TDIClub Forums
My Dealer forgot to put engine oil - messed up the engine
Dealer messed up a simple oil change - 8th Generation Honda Civic Forum
Dealership messed up on my oil change - Club Touareg Forums
oil change mess up - Car Talk
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/162705-toyota-messed-up-oil-change-bad-advice-4.html
Dealer messed up vehicle during oil change [Archive] - FSB Forums
Dealer Screwed Up, Drain Plug Fell Out! (Longish) [Archive] - MX-5 Miata Forum
http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/dealer-messed-up-oil-change-199828.html
Oil Changes at Dealer
Honda dealer messed up my car - S2KI Honda S2000 Forums
Mechanic Messed Up My Car and Not Taking Blame, What to Do? HELP!!!!!!
Dealer messed up horribly during oil change - VW GTI MKVI Forum / VW Golf R Forum / VW Golf MKVI Forum / VW GTI Forum - Golfmk6.com
Dipstick covered in oil-help! [Archive] - Toyota Yaris Forums - Ultimate Yaris Enthusiast Site
Maybe all these folks should just “trust” the dealership some more? I bet you STILL believe this quote…… “If you like your Doctor, you can keep your Doctor.” How about this……. “We do NOT spy on Americans’ email messages.”
Some folks in life just want to believe, and I get it 1Engineer. A world where we all can “trust” is a great Utopian place. A place where car dealerships are always right and always perform flawless maintenance.
vicpick58
New member
I am sure it all depends on the individual that is doing the oil change and his/her supervisor.
I have no problem taking my vehicle to the dealer to have maintenance done. I took it in for the transmission fluid change and again later to get my new tires balanced with the dealer's road force balance machine.
If they happen to have an oil change tech that is a good worker and cares about what he/she is doing then all will most likely be fine.
But you know in most cases the lube rack is an entry level job and would have a fairly high turnover of employees. If you happen to get a bad one on your day, then those things happen.
If for some reason I could no longer do my own oil changes, I would probably be more likely to take it to the dealer than one of those quick oil change places.
At least the dealer people would know the Toyota product and if they did mess it up, the dealer would be the place to be to get it repaired.
I have no problem taking my vehicle to the dealer to have maintenance done. I took it in for the transmission fluid change and again later to get my new tires balanced with the dealer's road force balance machine.
If they happen to have an oil change tech that is a good worker and cares about what he/she is doing then all will most likely be fine.
But you know in most cases the lube rack is an entry level job and would have a fairly high turnover of employees. If you happen to get a bad one on your day, then those things happen.
If for some reason I could no longer do my own oil changes, I would probably be more likely to take it to the dealer than one of those quick oil change places.
At least the dealer people would know the Toyota product and if they did mess it up, the dealer would be the place to be to get it repaired.
rigtec
New member
Well, it's actually supposed to be every ten thousand miles on lof services, but I've known the S/M for quite some time now and we often "talk shop"; since we both were auto technicians at one time. So I guess you would say that he extends a little... "professional courtesy", allowing me to do the (I think it's 5?) free oil changes when I need to, and then take the T&M off of the 'back-end' of the agreement.
rig, cheers!
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It actually is a big deal, glad you recognized it. It's so much of a big deal that the large vehicle manufacturers almost give customers sexual favors in order to get a outstanding rating on the service questionaires. I admit that if mechanics had a forum, they would certainly post many consumer screw ups.
I used to do all my own stuff on my rigs but when it came to my jeep nothing was free and if something went wrong you better have records for everything you did otherwise they would find a reason to void the warranty. I bought the extended warranty and don't plan on doing anything myself except mods. That way they are the only ones responsible if something fails. If its free its for me!
Lester Lugnut
New member
Curious...
What should be marked? Filter housing is buried away. Are you suggesting that one mark bolt head position for the shroud?
sandcrawler
Senior Member
i took it to the dealer for the first change and they under-filled it by a full quart. they were super apologetic, blah, blah, but screw that. i like knowing it's done right and it certainly doesn't take me 3 hours. i'd also argue that any activity precluding an hour of eating donuts is time well spent! 
Jeremy556
New member
If I had access to the equipment I would. I do motorcycle tires on a manual changer, but I'm not going to beat myself up on truck tires. Finding a shop that can do a decent alignment is a huge PITA.
Lester Lugnut
New member
Tire change/balance and alignment are not even remotely in the same ball park as an oil change.
The former requires large/expensive equipment; the latter a ratchet, maybe an extension and one or two sockets.
You are not comparing apples to apples.
How many of you perform your own brain surgery or colonoscopy?
dsfra
Member
Deal me out.
Did the 5K freebee maintenance, which included "Inspect and adjust all fluid levels", and told them to *only* check the tranny fluid level - nothing else - since I hadn't had time to sort out the manual temp check mode procedure at that point. Talked through the 5mm hex (please don't use slip-joint pliers) fluid level check plug and proper torque of 15 ft.lb. with the SM and the tech. Sure 'nuff - got it back with NO washer on the plug and way over-torqued. If they can't / won't bother to do the simple stuff right, good luck with the hard stuff.
Haven't had the vehicle back to the dealer "service" department since, free or otherwise.
Did the 5K freebee maintenance, which included "Inspect and adjust all fluid levels", and told them to *only* check the tranny fluid level - nothing else - since I hadn't had time to sort out the manual temp check mode procedure at that point. Talked through the 5mm hex (please don't use slip-joint pliers) fluid level check plug and proper torque of 15 ft.lb. with the SM and the tech. Sure 'nuff - got it back with NO washer on the plug and way over-torqued. If they can't / won't bother to do the simple stuff right, good luck with the hard stuff.
Haven't had the vehicle back to the dealer "service" department since, free or otherwise.
AlexTRDSport
New member
I passed the free oil change. It is not about saving money. I changed oil on my truck twice at 5000 and 10000 miles. I do not trust anyone to touch my vehicles, especially oil change and tire rotation. I do not think they make money on oil change and tire rotation. Time is money for them. They do it as fast as possible. They will scratch your wheels, exceed torque spec and uneven torque on all lug nuts.
BobsTrail
Senior Member
I took mine in for 2 of the free services. Both times the lug nuts were too loose and last time a few were way too tight. At the oil change, they must not have used the little drain fitting for the filter. I had oil drips on the garage floor and there was oil all over under there. After I cleaned it up I found thre were no leaks and the filter was tightened correctly. That had me checking the oil level and the garage floor for a few days before I put the skid plate back on. I did the 20K service myself and plan to continue to do so.
I let the service manager know in their survey and in an e-mail to him and the sales rep. I don't get surveys anymore. That's one way to imporve scores.
I expect the regular mechanics are OK and safe to use for repairs. Maybe the tire and oil guys are not trained properly.
I let the service manager know in their survey and in an e-mail to him and the sales rep. I don't get surveys anymore. That's one way to imporve scores.
I expect the regular mechanics are OK and safe to use for repairs. Maybe the tire and oil guys are not trained properly.
Lester Lugnut
New member
That and/or not paid that well so you get what you get.
jrandom
New member
Unbelievable the amount of issues I have heard. I am curious myself, I want to see if they actually do a good job or not. If I do, I am considering changing the oil again anyway, myself, and treating it as a flush. Having never had synth before, I read all these wonderful things about royal purple, anyone?
Funny you mentioned that, I got a very Toyota Corp. looking survey, meaning it didn't look like it at all had come from the dealer. I put down honest answers, nothing harsh but a couple of crits. Low and behold I get a call from the dealer asking about said crits, I told them my piece. I really thought I was rating the dealer to Toyota Corp. NOT giving info back to the dealer themselves, swindley not so honest practice there IMO.
Funny you mentioned that, I got a very Toyota Corp. looking survey, meaning it didn't look like it at all had come from the dealer. I put down honest answers, nothing harsh but a couple of crits. Low and behold I get a call from the dealer asking about said crits, I told them my piece. I really thought I was rating the dealer to Toyota Corp. NOT giving info back to the dealer themselves, swindley not so honest practice there IMO.
bowhun2r
Member
My experience with the service plan.. 24 Month Maintenance Plan on New Tacos - Tacoma World Forums
Now understand I told them I only wanted it inspected....
In any case, the S/C Tacoma is gone
Replaced by a 14 Bliz Pearl T4R 
And I will continue to do everything myself.
jrandom
New member
Hah no kidding, when people are to dense to understand, if I give you a bag of shit for free does that mean you really want it? Probably not unless you have a specific use for it. Sorry to hear that your had to deal with stupid. Lol Blood boiler for sure.
Seriously though, this is an honesty check for my dealers service dept., I have dealt with them off and on for the last ten years, if it isn't going to cost me anything but the time to inspect their work, I'm okay with that.
mattleegee
New member
I most likely will not use the carefree service.
I only have like 600 miles so have time to think about it but when i brought my brand new truck in a few days after the sale to get a simple "customization" added to my remote (auto window down) i had a appointment and it still took 2.5 hours.
While i was there a customer freaked out because there was a large scratch on his 4runner and the customer service team had to urgently shhhhh him, then the lady i sat next to said she was there for 4 hours!!! She got done before me and her bill for a oil change was $92.XX (maybe they did some extra stuff) but she said and i quote "oil is getting expensive these days" :sniper:
I like to turn a wrench and have a nearby "selfserve garage" where i can rent a lift for 30min for $10, goto WallyWorld and get 7qts for under $30 then of course the paper filter will run me a total of about $50 for a oil change.
Did i mention that i went to 3 different counters in the service department before a specialist could help me? One guy could only do oil changes, another only warranty work, and the middle one.... of yes he could do service work!
I only have like 600 miles so have time to think about it but when i brought my brand new truck in a few days after the sale to get a simple "customization" added to my remote (auto window down) i had a appointment and it still took 2.5 hours.
While i was there a customer freaked out because there was a large scratch on his 4runner and the customer service team had to urgently shhhhh him, then the lady i sat next to said she was there for 4 hours!!! She got done before me and her bill for a oil change was $92.XX (maybe they did some extra stuff) but she said and i quote "oil is getting expensive these days" :sniper:
I like to turn a wrench and have a nearby "selfserve garage" where i can rent a lift for 30min for $10, goto WallyWorld and get 7qts for under $30 then of course the paper filter will run me a total of about $50 for a oil change.
Did i mention that i went to 3 different counters in the service department before a specialist could help me? One guy could only do oil changes, another only warranty work, and the middle one.... of yes he could do service work!
