First service at dealer--I'm pissed.

OK, I've always changed my oil, etc. But since I got the 2yr, 25000 free service, I decided to make the 65 mile drive to the dealership so I would have the service records (round trip and wait--5hours). When I get home and oil has time to drain I pull the dipstick, and I'm a full quart low! I check the owner's manual, and the 2.7 4cyl (what I have) takes 6 quarts, and the 4.0 6 cyl actually takes 5. When I came in, the service guy mentioned my truck being a v6 since it is a prerunner and I assured them it was a 4--they actually didn't think that trim existed, even though that's where I bought it. Then I noticed they did the 21 pt. checklist and marked that they topped off the washer fluid, even though it was only half full when I got home. Not that I care about 50 cents worth of fluid, but its the lack of attention. Now I'm thinking I drove 65 miles home, not only a quart low but with 5w-30 dino, instead of the 0w-20 synthetic that goes in the 2.7. After 45 min. and 3 calls, I finally got to talk to a service guy. He was apologetic, but said the manager wasn't in till Monday. I don't want to drive it back like he suggested. Not sure what to do next, but not a happy camper (except Bama came back and won!). Did they hurt my truck?

 

I THINK it says in the owners manual either 5w-20 or 5w-30. If you wanted 0w-20 youd have to supply it yourself.

To add I dont know, but I dont think it gets cold enough in Alabama to justify using 0w-20...

to also add a lot of dealers give me the run around with being a 2.7L and prerunner also

 

Just checked again to make sure--but both the owner's manual and the oil fill cap say 0w-20 or 5w-20. No mention of the 5w-30 weight.

 

interesting i will go take another looksy but ya 0w-20 is only really needed once you get to freezing temps BUT i do agree if you want something done they should do it the way you want it done!

did you take the manual in there with you and SHOW them how much oil was needed for your engine

 

No, they're supposed to be the pros. But my trust level went way down! I'm interested to see how they will handle this. I at least want it documented somehow that I at least drove a quart low, if not the wrong viscosity from the dealer.

 

well if they gave you the service records it should tell you on there how much oil was used so there is your documentation

 

Doubtful.

I had the same thing happen to me with a new Silverado a few years back...The service dept. told me to drive back there and they would give me the quart I was low.

I drove to the auto parts store instead...bought and added the quart myself.

That was in the late 1990's I believe...and the last time I allowed anyone to change my oil.

I also have the 25K / 2 year service deal w/ my new Tacoma...I've already changed my oil at 1200 miles, with Mobil-1 syn...and when I had the TSB rear springs installed this past Wednesday...I informed the service advisor that I would not be expecting them to do the oil change at 5k.

I'm pretty confident I can get them to just give me an oil filter...I'll provide my own oil, and do the work myself...thank you.

 

I'd just add a quart and call back on Monday. Tell them you are not driving back. If they put in 5W-30 instead of the 5W-20 it will not hurt anything till your next service. They should duke you with some kind of comp service for the next time you go in. Maybe they can fill your tank for you. Just make sure your tank is really empty when you drop it off for the next service.

 

Doesn't say. Course it says they filled the washer fluid, but didn't. Makes you wonder what else they did or didn't do--now I'm paranoid!

 

haha ya thats the way most of us on this forum are. we are dedicated to doing most of the easy servicing ourselves. it may cost a little more but its done right and the way you want it done

 

Good idea. They said they were sending me a coupon book for the free services. Maybe I can just use it for free filters at the dealer that is much closer.

 

I had the gas pedal re-call done on my 06 last month at Camelback Toyota,
Phoenix . They did the 21 point inspection and told me that my power steering fluid failed and needed to be flushed. The Service advisor told me to schedule an appointment when I was ready. I read the report when I got home only to find out that they indicated on the report that I refused to have the service done. t

I was there for almost three hours and not once did any of those guys ask if I wanted it done. I e-mailed the service manager and replied to their critique's X2 and have yet to hear from them. What ASSHOLES !!!!!!

 

dont go to toyota service dept unless you have too..get a recall fixed thats about it

 

I don't know, I'm not an engine specialists, but the Toyota engineers are, and they specify 20 weight viscosity. I can't imagine driving 5,000 more miles on a brand new truck with the wrong oil. Would you?
Another thought is if I did suddenly get oil consumption, compression loss, etc. I would want to have this documented for warranty purposes. But then if I end up selling it, it would show up in the records in a CarFax or something. Kind of a dilemma. Hopefully no harm done.

 

i have free oil changes for the first 75000 miles free on my truck and i chek everything after each service before i drive off.
they even rotate tires.
its the customer care package i worked into the deal when i bought truck
never had any problems.
when i had the tsb on rear springs, they did it right then as well, didnt have to wait for parts.
guess i just have a good dealership.

 

People swap out different viscosity oils all the time. The farther north you live you may run a thick oil in the hot summer and a thin oil in the cold winter. A good example is the oil recomemdation for the 4cyl. 0w or 5w. If anything the 30 weight might offer a little better protection.

You should have all the documentaion you will need with the service report from the dealership. It will show that you did nothing wrong. Since toyota made the mistake it could be a good barginning chip in the future if you need work done. However IMHO you will not have engine issues because you have 5W-30 for 5000 miles as opposeed to 5W-20.

If however you are still leary about it all you really only have two options. Leave it for the 5000 miles (and worry about something else ) or take the long drive an blow another day by going back to the dealership. Again if you choose this option I would make a stink about the cost of gas driving back and forth and they may just fill up your tank as a comp. At least a good dealership would. Make sure your tank is quite empty when you go in.

 

I doubt you hurt the truck, however, the oil is the wrong specification. You can bet if you did the oil change and had an oil related problem, they would throw the issue of the wrong oil spec right back in your face.
I don't excuse the dealership on the quart low , however, the dipstick on the 2.7 is near impossible to read accurately. That said they should know how much to put in and how much was actually put in, unless its coming from a bulk tank, which might make it hard to figure the amount.

My suggestion would be to make the long run back to the dealer and insist that they change the oil (and filter) to the right stuff and amount. My thought of compensation for the fuel costs would be to suggest that they give you synthetic oil instead of dino. Then you can consider the bad oil change as a flushing change, then do your own changes with synthetic.

In the unlikely event that something goes wrong , you do not want them to be able to tell you that you did not act in a timely manner when you discovered the mistake.
It is precisely this type lack of care that keeps me away from the stealerships. Talking to a service writer is like having a doctor not listen to your symptoms.

 

If you register here http://www.toyotaownersonline.com/index.html you can enter you own service/maintainence information. It will also show all the dealer service that's been performed.

 

The only way to get satisfaction is tell the owner what has happened & don't go back. These are supposed to be highly trained certified technicians; it's really a joke; more than half of work claimed to be done at dealerships, isn't. Especialy when it comes to the mileage check lists; they think most people will never check behind them, and most don't. I do all I can to avoid those certified technicians, they do more harm than good.

 

If you are willing and able and concerned about the wrong oil, why not just change it yourself. You will still have the service record from Toyota/Dealership indicating that you had the service and you will have peace of mind.
You would also save a trip to the dealer.

Now that you know, be sure to triple check everything before you leave.

I agree with your frustration and the fact that they're in the wrong, but why get even more frustrated having to waste a day going back and/or worrying about it for the next 5000 miles.

If they screw up a second time, write off the free services and do it yourself. If you can get free filters great (if it's worth the drive), if not, oh well.

If learnt a long time ago, it's not worth the fight, as they're not going to change.

Shawn