weeeee
New member
Although you could be right in your assessment that the oil could've just dripped over the cover by not being careful, you can actually perform oil changes by only sucking from the dipstick tube. MANY dealerships do this.
Tell me it isn't so
- Thread starter Hardrunner
- Start date
Although you could be right in your assessment that the oil could've just dripped over the cover by not being careful, you can actually perform oil changes by only sucking from the dipstick tube. MANY dealerships do this.
rigtec
New member
I stand corrected.
I will not dispute a different (Questionable) method simply because I haven't seen it put into practice. However....I don't see the advantage, considering the fact that you'll still need to lift the vehical to replace the oil filter element, grease the balls, check for ordinary lash in the steering linkage, perform tire rotation, etc...!
But I'm not naive (spent a considerable amount of time as an ASE cert. mech. during the 70's---80's), I know that an advertised "Multipoint Courtesy Vehical Inspection" is, in all likelihood, just a ploy to stir-up some new business but most times, never actually gets done; I watched my Toyota maintenance mechanic, "NOT", do mine!
My point...What's the advantage of sucking the oil out of the top of an engine, if there's still work to be done down below???
rig
Last edited:
Hardrunner
New member
The front skid was NOT touched. This I am sure. Looks like filter can not be accessed unless skid removed. Not sure about the drain plug. I do know of people that vacuum out oil from the top end. Just didnt think the dealer would do this. Looked at receipt from dealer which states new filter on invoice. Just pretty shady to show on invoice and not even touched.
On a first oil change you really need to drain from the bottom and change filter. This really is unacceptable.
What do we have to do? Make them show us the filter and crush washer when we pick it up? Wonder how common this is? What tech would want to go through the steps of doing it right when they can just vacuum all/some of the oil out of the top end, pump in some oil in just a fraction of the time and call it good.
On a first oil change you really need to drain from the bottom and change filter. This really is unacceptable.
What do we have to do? Make them show us the filter and crush washer when we pick it up? Wonder how common this is? What tech would want to go through the steps of doing it right when they can just vacuum all/some of the oil out of the top end, pump in some oil in just a fraction of the time and call it good.
rigtec
New member
ToyotaCare???
Hardrunner'
The treatment that you've described is more than unacceptable, t'is obscene!
We spend countless hours here, providing not only technical information, but also some great firsthand product reviews focusing on vehical performance from different family members P.O.V.
Can you imagine if you could place a dollar amount on the "Free Advertising" alone, that goes' forth from these forums, every hour of everyday??
Perhaps we could decide on a way to put Toyota Corporation on notice about their "Failure to provide service" by flooding their customer relations/complaint department with a number of legitimate "Customer Dissatisfaction", or "Letters of Disapproval". Just a thought...
rig, Best regards
Hardrunner'
The treatment that you've described is more than unacceptable, t'is obscene!
We spend countless hours here, providing not only technical information, but also some great firsthand product reviews focusing on vehical performance from different family members P.O.V.
Can you imagine if you could place a dollar amount on the "Free Advertising" alone, that goes' forth from these forums, every hour of everyday??
Perhaps we could decide on a way to put Toyota Corporation on notice about their "Failure to provide service" by flooding their customer relations/complaint department with a number of legitimate "Customer Dissatisfaction", or "Letters of Disapproval". Just a thought...
rig, Best regards
Seen the above scenario plenty of times while I was employed at a stealership decades ago. The oil change guy could possibly be getting a hourly rate to do nothing but oil changes, or he could be on two others. All maintenance tasks are catalogued in a rate book. It is called a "flat rate" and each dealership sets their own rate for labor that is paid by the customer. Warranty "flat rate" is set by corporate Toyota. Why are there two rates of labor? Because in one instance YOU are paying via your wallet, in the other Toyota is paying. Let's say you take your 4Runner in for a tune up. The mechanic looks up the task in his rate book, and it tells him that a full tune up on a 4Runner takes 4 hours. You're billed 4 hours labor for the repair, a flat rate based on what the book says.
The problem comes when the work is actually being performed. Let's say the mechanic is skilled/experienced and does your tune up in just three hours. Under the flat rate system you still pay for 4 hours labor. The incentive to get paid for MORE work is great, especially if you can do the work quicker than the rate book. You still get paid for hours you never worked. This adds up if you're working on 100 Toyotas a week.
Shortcuts save the mechanics time and precious dollars. Sucking the oil out MAY be the latest technique at this stealership to maximize profits.
The problem comes when the work is actually being performed. Let's say the mechanic is skilled/experienced and does your tune up in just three hours. Under the flat rate system you still pay for 4 hours labor. The incentive to get paid for MORE work is great, especially if you can do the work quicker than the rate book. You still get paid for hours you never worked. This adds up if you're working on 100 Toyotas a week.
Shortcuts save the mechanics time and precious dollars. Sucking the oil out MAY be the latest technique at this stealership to maximize profits.
So why don't you tell us HOW YOU KNOW that the front skid was not touched....what is your evidence?
You say in your first post (ask me how I know) and then you don't disclose it despite repeated questions...so do you know??
veloindy
New member
So why don't you tell us HOW YOU KNOW that the front skid was not touched....what is your evidence?
You say in your first post (ask me how I know) and then you don't disclose it despite repeated questions...so do you know??
I'd like to know this too. Especially so I can make a mark or tape something on the skid. I'll most likely end up doing the oil change myself, but two free are nice.
homeyclaus
New member
Me three. The skid plate mounting bolts are recessed, and clean spots on them from the tools will stay clean long enough that one can't really tell if the skid was removed again.
And honestly, it's easy to tell: drop the skid - if the oil filter housing is cranked on there to 70 ft-lbs, they changed the filter.
1000MPH
Senior Member
You can usually tell the o/f was changed because they will overtorque the housing past the metal clip making it practically impossible to get off with a filter wrench the next time.
I could tell on my first dealer service because of that, and they sheared off the front bolt on my skid plate.:rant:
Edit: you beat me to it homey.
I could tell on my first dealer service because of that, and they sheared off the front bolt on my skid plate.:rant:
Edit: you beat me to it homey.
