Dealership says they don't carry differential fluid, had to provide own

Before I start, I know I should have just changed my diff oil myself, but that's hindsight. Also aware that the weight oil I used is slightly different than the recomended, don't care it doesn't matter.

So I reached my 15k service interval and wanted to change put my differential oil, front and rear. I tow alot and live in a very dusty environment where I am in 4 wheel drive for days at a time. My manual says to wait until 60k but I wanted to have it done sooner as preventative maintenance and after seeing what was on people's magnetic plugs on TW.

So off to the dealership I go. Mind you when I made my appointment i specifically said that I wanted to change my diff oil. Like any other service appointment I pulled into the service bay and handed over my keys after answering a few questions and signing here and there.

40 mins elapse.

The manager comes out and says, we don't like to change to differential oil because "it makes noises afterwards" I have my service manual in hand and point out that it is in the scheduled maintenance, just not at that mileage. He returns to the garage.

40 minutes elapse.

He returns and says, "we don't carry differential oil". Keep in mind this is a major regional toyota dealership. I say that's absurd and go check again.

20 minutes elapse

He returns and says "we don't have the special differential fluid your truck requires, but you can order it, it's 40$ a quart and you need 6 quarts" 240$ + tax ( f and r diff, transfer case) I say that's ridiculous, does the oil have gold flakes in it? A conversation ensues, the end result being that I am instructed to "get my own oil if you can get a better price than 40$".

I drive to oriellys and purchase 75w/90 gear oil for 12$ a quart.

Return to dealership and give them the oil.

20 minutes elapse.

Manager come out and apologizes, says we have 55 gallon drums of differential fluid, our bad, you can return the 75/90.

20 minutes elapse

Comes back out and says the stuff in the 55 gallon drums isn't the right stuff after all, can please have the 75w/90 again.

We okie dokie, I give them the 75w/90 again.

Hour later, my truck is returned to me. The dealership has been closed for a half hour, and I am rushed through the checkout process, after which I realize that they didn't perform all the other stuff required at an interval service like check brakes, filters, etc. Great. Glad I found excellent tutorials on here on how to x my oils, as I won't be going back there again..

Anybody else find this ridiculous?

 

Holy shit. This is why I never go to the dealer for service. It's easy to do yourself, and it saves headaches like this.

 

You should do a comeback tomorrow and tell them they used the wrong oil lol...

 

That's rediculous Auggie!Pathetic on dealerships part!

 

At several different junctures in this transaction I should have just left, and called toyota corporate but after 4 hours my day was shot anyway and just wanted it done

 

In the end they did discount me the price of the oil, I guess my time isn't worth anything to them, geez thanks

 

Did they discount the $12, or the $240?

 

It was 6 quarts at 12 bucks , they discounted me 80$, no $ for my time of course lol

 

So basically no discount whatsoever lol

 

I would have demanded the $40 x 6 qt discount. When you go in for the servise, lets say its $300. That includes labor and parts. They figure $240 of that is the oil they didnt use.

 

I hear ya I was tired and over it just wanted to go home at that point, if you think the waiting room at the dealership is boring try staying after they close and there is a guy vaccuuming the carpet around you

 

You might want to obtain a few skills and tools and follow the tutorials on TW - DIY = a lot less aggravation, time and $$

 

Would you mind posting the name of the dealership you used. Thanks.

 

That is absurd. I'd have left after they said they didn't carry the differential oil. They are clearly smoking something at that dealership.

 

Dealership service is DEAD across the board. Service writers are complete idiots that are in place to keep you from talking to the mechanic in fear of exposing the mechanics for the imbeciles they are. For you young folks service writers used to actually know about cars, now they're an idiot behind a desk to annoy you and provide protection for the mechanics.

Right now there is a HUGE demand for auto service in general, you would think by now someone would step up and open a shop that provided good old traditional service, you know, actually fix peoples cars. If you did, you would have zero competition.

 

Are you saying if I opened up an independent shop that specialized in general maintenance, provided fair prices, made honest suggestions, did decent work, I might have a chance at success?

 

If you really had nothing better to do with your time, you could just return every day and have them complete 1 of the missed tasks. 1 per day.

 

"Before I start, I know I should have just changed my diff oil myself, but that's hindsight. "

. "Glad I found excellent tutorials on here on how to x my oils,"

First sentence in my original post, and last sentence in the closing paragraph but yes, I agree, lol

 

$20 says that if there is an issue it probably won't be covered under warranty because "customer parts" were used. Also, why does the receipt only say 1.5 qts of 75W90? Did they just top off the diff with 1.5 qts and then pocket the rest of your oil so they can use it on the next customer's truck?

 

Front differential capacity is 1.6q, they changed the front rear and transfer case