Dealer rant... didn't change oil!

They're not all that way, but it seems to be a fairly pervasive attitude among dealers, that if you didn't bother to buy your vehicle from them, then they don't want to be bothered by having to perform the warranty work on someone else's profit. I have a dealership with that same attitude in the town where I live - I got constant push-back on warranty repairs for my '01 Sequoia, and no, I did not buy it from them.

I learned my lesson though... When I bought my Tacoma, I avoided my local ex-49er-owned dealership like the plague. They'd earned nothing but my disdain and were certainly not deserving of any of my future business. I hedged my service bet by buying my Tacoma from a dealership who I knew had already been providing excellent service to other family members (went west, just over the Altamont Pass), and I gave them my money instead. So far, I have no complaints about the service I've received from them. Really nice folks.

But I guess I'll never know for sure which factor, my buying the truck from them or their existing reputation for good service, is the cause of my satisfaction in this instance.

 

But when you are done. Your oil is actually changed!

 

Yeah the few times I have used a dealer I do the same. I normally pop the hood and check it before I even get in the truck. I also marked my tires when they claimed to have rotated them and they hadn't. I very seldom go to the dealer but if I do I don't trust them at all.

 

I very rarely let anyone change the oil, the last time I let the dealer do it there was about half a quart on the underhood fusebox

 

And my dealer re-aligns when the put new tires on. Discount doesn't do that.

 

Never had an issue when someone else has done the oil change. If you don't read the work order before signing it, or don't read it afterward if you had someone else take the vehicle in, that's on you. Have you had a work order showing the oil was changed when it actually wasn't?

Personally, depending on circumstances I'll DIY or have a dealer or good indie shop do it. Sometimes I have so much going on it's worth paying someone else, other times I'd rather do it myself.

 

Reading the first couple pages.....does no one check their oil when they fill up with gas anymore? If I hadn't caught something like this immediately....I would certainly have caught it next time I filled up. For sure you gotta check the oil a few times over the 10K OCI. Freshly changed oil is nearly clear, it would have been quite obvious that it wasn't done.

 

The average person never checks their oil unless there is a problem. I check all fluids about once every other week or so personally.

 

I can't check my oil unless I leave the dipstick out for at least 5-10 minutes. This 0W-20 is like water.

 

I Bet many drivers today don't even know how to check the oil. And as I've gotten older I just wait for the light to come on and tell me it needed changing or of it were to ever to get a quart low. But that's not on the Tacoma. I checked the day I brought it home but haven't driven it enough to need a second check.

 

If you're used to owning Toyota you're most likely not to worry till the next change.
But if you're a bmw or gm owner (among other brands too), and burn a quart every 1-2k you probably should, just saying.

As for paying for it, I'd rather diy or pay a pro I personally know is trustworthy enough to do a good job.
I've seen & heard too many horror stories and the bottom line is this...

To you it's a 40k $$ cash outlay, but to the person working on it, it's only worth the $15 he or she will be making on the job.

You do the math
Cheers

 

I've found the best way is to check it in the morning before you fire it up. If I have to redip I'm not getting an accurate reading for sure.

 

You keep believing that piece of paper bud.

 

Trust but verify.

At some point you have to just trust that the shop doing the work is going to do what you are paying them to do. If you don't trust them, or feel like you need to mark bolts, tires, etc to have them do a good job, STOP GOING THERE.

With that said, it's always wise to double just the oil after an oil change. It's such a vital part of the engine, takes two seconds, and is easily fixable if you are still at the shop. Check for new oil, a proper fill, the fill cap is tightened, and that there are no obvious leaks or oil everywhere. This is more as a safety measure than a "I dont trust you guys" thing. The folks doing these usually do dozens a day and often with a team of guys--all doing random shit on your vehicle and whatever vehicle is back there. All it takes is a simple mistake or miscommunication and you end up with no oil in the engine, a missing fill cap, a drain plug half installed, oil spilled on your exhaust, etc

 

I do all my own shit but went to the dealer for the first change because it was free and snowing at the time. Figured I would give them a shot but they failed and I will never go back.

 

I don't recall mentioning anything about yours. All I said is I don't go to mine. Glad you have a trusted department. I get so sick of hearing people defend the minimum wage dipshit at your dealer doing service on your shit for free. I could give two fucks if you receive inferior service or don't.

 

You're really naive if you think that's all I look at, bud.

 

LOL, okay Cheif!

 

I live in Canada too. My dealer offers free oil changes for as long as you own the vehicle as long as you get scheduled maintenance down at their dealership.

 

Always good to check behind them. Even if they are not shady everyone is human and can make stupid mistakes.