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Hardrunner

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Took my 12' TE in for 1st oil change. Got it back with oil drips all over engine. Skid plate not touched (ask how i know).
Anyone think they sucked out the oil from the top and left the old filter in?
Thought you had to take off front skid to get to filter?
Who knows what these "oil techs" really do.
 
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Hardrunner said:
Took my 12' TE in for 1st oil change. Got it back with oil drips all over engine. Skid plate not touched (ask how i know).
Anyone think they sucked out the oil from the top and left the old filter in?
Thought you had to take off front skid to get to filter?
Who knows what these "oil techs" really do.
Click to expand...

I will be very interested in your resolution, as I'll be taking my 4R in for the 1st oil change in a couple of weeks. How did you know they didn't take off the skid plate? (yes you do have to take it off to get to the filter I believe) Did you put some tape on a corner of it?? I'd like to employ the same tactic... :thumb3:
 
That's why I do my own oil changes and maintenance.

My Lexus came with 2 free oil changes it.

I skipped them and did them myself. That's how much I do not trust the dealer.

My dad owns a auto repair business. 2 weeks ago my neighbor brought his 2008 bmw 328i into the bmw dealer for check engine light and idling problems. Dealer wanted $4500 to fix. Neighbor calls me if I can help (knows my pops has a business). Told him to get the car out of the dealer. Took it into my dads shop. My dad charged him $2100 after having it in the shop for 1 whole week. Neighbor was happy and my dad gained a new customer.

I would mark the oil filter and drain plug with a white out marker. Take it into the dealer, and then check if those marks line up or not.

Avoid dealers at all costs!
 
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Hardrunner said:
Took my 12' TE in for 1st oil change. Got it back with oil drips all over engine. Skid plate not touched (ask how i know).
Anyone think they sucked out the oil from the top and left the old filter in?
Thought you had to take off front skid to get to filter?
Who knows what these "oil techs" really do.
Click to expand...

Yeah that is pretty crappy.

Especially since any gunk that had settled to the bottom of the pan gets sucked back through the engine if the do the "top suck method". I knew this was done on the low-budget transmission service but didn't know it was being done for oil changes.

I know at least one of my dealer oil changes they drained it from the bottom...the bolts on my skid plate were stripped. In their defense they did fess up and re-tapped the holes. Gee thanks guys??!!

Also...have to ask? How'd you know they didn't remove the skid plates.

Stu
 
so they pretty much just run a hose down the dipstick tube. man that is smart from a labor point of view. Is this one of those free oil change / Toyotacare something or other jobs?
 
mikebontoft said:
Really. they suck the oil out? wtf.
Click to expand...

Yep.

From a dealer perspective, it saves time and eliminates the liability involved in one of their "bottom of the totem pole" service techs tightening your drain plug.

Lots of dealers do this now, even at my dad's BMW dealership. This is why I refuse to let anyone change my oil, even if it is free.
 
When I took it in for the 1st oil change, there were large windows into the service area. The lift they used for the oil changes and maintenance checks are located very close to the window, so I watch everything they do and make sure they do it right.
 
Just another example of why I do my own, I came close to trying the local dealer for my 10k oil change (2nd change) only because it was supposed to be free of charge with the Toyota care thing, but they said they were too busy and I would have to make an appointment for a few days later.

So I just took it home and did it myself. (like I have always done)

I have not tried to take it back to any dealer for an oil change and am now almost ready for my 25k service, but guess who will be doing it. Not the dealer.

This way I know for sure that it is done correctly.

To the OP, when I did the first oil change at 5k miles there were a few very small metal particles in the filter housing that I cleaned out. Later oil changes have not had any noticeable particles in the filter housing.

So I think it is important to get that filter changed and be sure to clean out the lower shell of the housing as best as you can.
 
The oil drain plug can be accessed by removing a small plate (~6"x8", two screws) . Skid Plate has to be removed for the oil filter replacement.

For your case, it is possible that the oil filter change was skipped.
 
I've never heard of a dealership sucking the oil out (we don't do that at the dealer I work at, they just short the lube techs on labor to make up for it, don't ask how that's smart...) but I have heard of places like Jiffy Lube and such being caught doing that.

Chances are they might have skipped the filter element, I'd hate to say it but the way dealers pay technicians (i.e. they cut the labor time paid to the tech to way too low) I wouldn't be surprised if some techs just skipped the filter element, most people wouldn't even notice.

But how do you know the skid plate wasn't removed? Also, if you're 100% sure they skipped the filter, I'd just take it back and confront them about it. As for the oil drips? Like I said there's a lot of pressure to get those oil changes done fast (service writers not spacing RO's apart enough, unrealistic deadlines, lazy techs, ect ect.)

I'm not trying to justify the dealer's actions or their techs, I'm just saying from my experience; dealerships can make even the best of technicans lazy and shortcutters just to make a decent pay check. The dealer pay structure and how they treat the techs often is pretty crappy and after a while even the most honest tech starts cutting corners to make a living. That being said, a lot of dealers are also pretty crappy to begin with...
 
Hardrunner said:
Took my 12' TE in for 1st oil change. Got it back with oil drips all over engine. Skid plate not touched (ask how i know).
Anyone think they sucked out the oil from the top and left the old filter in?
Thought you had to take off front skid to get to filter?
Who knows what these "oil techs" really do.
Click to expand...

Hi Hardrunner,

It sounds like the oil that you saw "dripped all over the engine", was a result of a "careless" fresh oil refill. You can not suck the old oil out from the top-end of the engine; if you could, what would be the benefit?? And getting caught would certainly raise a lot of questions about why the truck's not up on a lift!

It also sounds like the maintenance mechanic was very careful to remove the skid plates to access the drain plug and oil filter; again, no real cash value in screwing you out of the new oil filter element.

My (one cent) opinion...you got a standard L.O.F., with the exception of an accidental spill. Go back and let them clean-up the mess BEFORE, the oil burns up, turns to grease, and creates a smoky film in your new truck.

rigtec, cheers
 
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Actually, this is how I changed oil before I owned 4Runners. Griots sells this:

Multi-Fluid Extractor - Griot's Garage

and it works great!

I'll explain my first oil change with the extractor. I allowed the oil to drain from the pan, replaced the plug, changed filter, attached the extractor, then got MORE oil out! I was impressed. I used the extractor until I got my first 4Runner. The only reason I stopped using the extractor, is b/c the oil completely drains from the 4Runner.

I haven't changed my oil on my new truck, but I wouldn't rule out the extractor either.
 
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