Why the Dealer truly is the Stealer

[ktom3001]

At least you didn't go in for air bag warranty and find out 3 days later that they "topped off" your coolant for you and didn't tighten the cap back up. Wife's corolla was 1 gallon low on coolant and temp gauge pegged at H.

 

[ScooterMD]

At least you didn't go in for air bag warranty and find out 3 days later that they "topped off" your coolant for you and didn't tighten the cap back up. Wife's corolla was 1 gallon low on coolant and temp gauge pegged at H.

This is exactly why i don't want them to do anything to my 4R, not even a 'free' oil change, esp if they throw out full my synthetic and replace it with conventional. They even spilled oil all over and around where the filter screws on.

 

[meltdowner]

This story really grinds my gears. There should be a way to detect if the oil was actually changed. What location was this? You should call their asses out.

 

[Ralph Blake]

This is sure nothing new with Toyota Dealers when i bought my 2008 4Runner new in 2008, i got a sweet invite along with a box of stale cookies to attend a Service Dept. Manager discussing what everyone needed done to their new Toyotas also food would be provided.After cold sandwich's and potato chips along with a soda this was the provided food

At one point i and everyone was shocked to hear on of the Managers service writers tell us they were on commission, he really said they were on commission.

Then this same guy went into a long list of items we really needed to be done, to keep our new Toyotas in great working order, were reminded of their free oil change policies, that we had to come in for or our Toyota Warranty would be voided, raised my hand and when asked if i had a question i said i had not found this warranty voiding policy in the Toyota service manual i had been given with all the other manuals.

Guy said i just must have missed it or just did not understand what i had looked at.

To this day i have never been back to my Dealer "STEALER" Dis Service Dept. I have changed my own Mobil1 and Fram filter, and if and when my 4Runner does need work i will find an independent shop to have it done.

My advice to anyone needing work on their Toyotas, don't take it to a Toyota Dis Service Dealer "STEALER" Dept.ainkiller:

 

[ZiaMan]

For future reference, I would use Main Line Overland as my go to or call to see who the reco for what you need. Dealer wise, Conicelli since they run partznet website from their parts dept.

 

[grave]

sounds interesting, i wish i had an interpreter.

 

[theoutbackdream]

And this right here.... is exactly why I do my own work.

 

[itzkevin]

Incidentally, when he was on the phone I overheard the service tech in the next booth explain to a young woman the biggest load of shit I have ever heard. She had received a coupon in the mail from the Dealer for a $29.00 oil change, and she wanted that done while other work was being done on her Rav4. Unfortunately, he explained to her, this coupon was only valid for a conventional oil change, but her vehicle was only compatible with synthetic oil. She was appropriately wary of this explanation, and he went on to explain that the specific parts and gaskets within her engine needed to have the lubrication only from synthetic oil, and that using conventional oil would cause them to degrade rapidly. So her only choice was to pay for the significantly more expensive synthetic oil change, to which she reluctantly agreed. Wow! (incidentally, i approached her later and told her that was the biggest load of hogshit ever spewed...how can that guy say that with a straight face?!)

Just curious, but what year or generation of RAV 4 did she have?

 

[ScooterMD]

This story really grinds my gears. There should be a way to detect if the oil was actually changed. What location was this? You should call their asses out.

Indeed. Central Toyota in West Philly. Beware.

 

[ScooterMD]

Just curious, but what year or generation of RAV 4 did she have?

I'm don't know. It wasn't new nor horribly old. I just saw it behind us in the service lane' I'd guess maybe 5-6 years old. Why...do some Rav4 engines really implode if you put conventional oil in them??

 

[itzkevin]

I'm don't know. It wasn't new nor horribly old. I just saw it behind us in the service lane' I'd guess maybe 5-6 years old. Why...do some Rav4 engines really implode if you put conventional oil in them??

Can't say what would happen in the long run. But why would you use conventional in a vehicle that requires synthetic only. Most Toyotas made within the last 7-8 years are all requiring synthetic only. The cost of using synthetic oil is actually less on most vehicles that require it, due to the 10k miles/1 year intervals that u need to have it changed (dealerships in my area). I know @ our dealership, we wouldn't have done the service if that was the case. If the customer is really insistent in using anything other than what the manufacture recommends, they'll sign a waiver stating we're not held liable for any future issues caused by doing so..

 

[ScooterMD]

Can't say what would happen in the long run.

I can. Nothing. There is absolutely nothing wrong with using conventional oil. Fully agree that it is cost-effective in the long-run (especially if you use the highest-end filter), and in my opinion the better choice. But, unless he/she drives a Tesla, telling a customer that using conventional oil in his/her engine will cause "the engine parts to break down" and that they therefore need to put synthetic is PURE 100% fraudulent dishonesty. Shameful, just thinking about that guy's face as he spewed that bullshit boils my blood. Plus, she had a coupon that the dealer sent her - for conventional oil! So they send you a coupon for a cheap conventional oil change and then tell you they'll only do synthetic for 4x the price? Wow, what a scheme! Plus, they put conventional in my engine. W . T . F . ?!?

 

[itzkevin]

I can. Nothing. There is absolutely nothing wrong with using conventional oil. Fully agree that it is cost-effective in the long-run (especially if you use the highest-end filter), and in my opinion the better choice. But, unless he/she drives a Tesla, telling a customer that using conventional oil in his/her engine will cause "the engine parts to break down" and that they therefore need to put synthetic is PURE 100% fraudulent dishonesty. Shameful, just thinking about that guy's face as he spewed that bullshit boils my blood. Plus, she had a coupon that the dealer sent her - for conventional oil! So they send you a coupon for a cheap conventional oil change and then tell you they'll only do synthetic for 4x the price? Wow, what a scheme! Plus, they put conventional in my engine. W . T . F . ?!?

Are you a toyota engineer, oil analyst, etc? Why do you prefer using mobil 1 synthetic oil in your own vehicle if conventional is just the same? Your 4runner can take either/or. I can understand your point of view about their explanation of "the engine parts to break down", not being the best way to convey what the manufacture recommends using on her vehicle. However, it's like using 87 octane in a vehicle that requires 93 octane. Yea, you could probably get by if using it, but in the long run it might not be best. Again, can't speak for that specific dealership, because you're right, most dealerships can be shady depending on who's working there. However, most issues I see with coupons is the customer not reading the details listed and assuming that's the final price they pay no matter what..

 

[ScooterMD]

Are you a toyota engineer, oil analyst, etc?

I am a chemical engineer.

Why do you prefer using mobil 1 synthetic oil in your own vehicle if conventional is just the same?

I don't specifically use Mobil1 synthetic oil; I use any reputable brand full synthetic.

Synthetic is better because it lasts longer. That's it. You can change the oil at ~10k rather than ~3k. That's why I use full synthetic.

I use Mobil1 filters. A few minutes of researching online reveals the broad consensus that Mobil1 filters are superior; maybe the broad consensus is wrong, but I chose to follow it. Many argue that OEM Toyota filters are better because they were specifically designed for the engine; I still choose Mobil1.

it's like using 87 octane in a vehicle that requires 93 octane.

Sorry, but, no, not at all. The thermodynamic properties of fuel differ with octane and this directly affects the components of the engine that are impacted by the compression, speed, expansion and other aspects of the combustion reaction that vary with octane. High performance engines with high compression ratios require high octane fuel; if you use lower octane fuel, it will ignite prematurely and risk actual engine damage. Using the wrong octane fuel is bad. Lubricant is lubricant - either it lubes or it doesn't. Conventional and synthetic oil both lube equally well; one just lasts longer.