Witness marks on bolts, taking it in for first oil change

You could mark the drain plug, but what happens when the marks line up exactly even though they actually changed it? A hidden camera is about the only real solution. Even then, to what lengths are you going to go through just to prove they actually did an oil change? An oil change which they do dozens of per day and it's literally a nothing job for them to do.

 

Wow. Some of you guys have a hard time with reading comprehension...

Op, if I was in your position, and I have been before, since you already know how to change it yourself, I would continue doing that. To many chances of some knucklehead at the dealership screwing up. Plenty of threads on here of issues with dealer oil changes.
Just document your supply purchase and note when you had it done. In addition to noting it I also write date, milage, and amount of oil with a sharpie on the bottom of the hood. If you can't do the tire rotation then I would go to a tire shop.
Even if you marked the skid plate bolts or even the Oil canister, what would you do if you found out they didn't do the job correctly or at all?
Peace of mind if you do it yourself. Plush you know you didn't over torque the Canister, drain plug, screws or bolts.

 

My PTSD and Reflux is in full swing reading this post.

 

"BMS8-45H, Type I/III" You know it's serious when they're quoting Boeing Material Specs lol.

 

Did it list a Toyota dealer high school apprentice oil change newb rookie tech spec? That trumps all others.

 

You could paint the existing filter yellow and then know if it was replaced. Sharpie trick can be replicated without actually changing the filter element. I guess I don't understand someone who cares enough to want to get it right then decides to take it to a dealer with an 18 yo kid in the express lane slamming 100 ft pds torque on the plastic filter housing even if they actually do change it. How do you trust but verify proper torque? Or does that not matter as long as it was changed?

 

I dont trust the dealers. I marked my tires for my first service. Said they rotated them. They didn't. Then I guestioned them about the oil. The service manager asked me to bring the car back in and I just changed dealerships after leaving a bad Google review. I told the new service advisor that I check everything and expect it done right. I got the freebies out of the way and won't ever go to the dealer unless it's a warranty repair.

 

If you distrust the dealer thus much, why not change it yourself?

 

Have you not read through the thread?

 

With my 2020 Tacoma, I did my first oil change (1,000 miles) at the dealer. I told them ‘I know it’s an early one…but I’ll pay for it’. They did it…and I paid. I checked the dipstick level and felt the oil before and after to verify. When I brought it in for the first free maintenance at 5k, I noticed on the service sheet that they did not change the oil. I confirmed this with the owners manual/service schedule. So I purchased a Toyota oil filter element and took the truck to Jiffy Lube. And I know Jiffy Lube occasionally screws things up…but you just have to be vigilant. Next time I went in @ 10k miles, I asked the dealer if the oil would be changed and they confirmed it.

I go to a reputable Toyota dealer so at some point, I gotta just trust them. But with my new 2023 Tacoma, I’m not taking chances…just going to do it myself with some dealer appointments thrown in until after the 2 year complimentary program when I (hopefully) find a good independent Toyota service center.

 

After one oil change on my 2019 OR, I decided to do it myself. Dealership admitted that they did not do ANY fluid changes as they were in a rush. I marked things prior (This has happened previously on other vehicles) and had a not so pleasant discussion with the place we purchased from.

I know what goes in my Truck! I know I did it correctly! An oil change/filters/brake fluid are easy things for me as I do it all the time on our other vehicles. If you CAN do it, you should...then you know what goes in your vehicle and you also know it is done correctly!

 

There are too many posts about someone doing their own oil change and finding no filter in the housing from a dealership change.

so, you can mark whatever you like and climb under and check everything you want, but unless you do it yourself, you’ll never know if it was done correctly until after it’s too late.

you are going to the dealership. If they mess up and it’s found down the road, you have documentation.

neither change it yourself, or let the dealer do their job to whatever capacity that they do it and be done with it.

 

If you do not trust them to do the work, it is not worth the pittance saved on paying a reputable place to do it, or do it yourself.

 

Just ask for the old filter back; problem solved.

Make up some BS about your wife's boyfriend's step-uncle being a contact at Blackstone Labs, and he's gonna do an in depth oil analysis using the old filter to determine once and for all if its supposed to be 3k, 5k, or 10k oil change intervals.

 

It's a time vs cost issue. Retired guys can change their oil any time. I already have a ton of things to do on my two days off before I even think about doing something fun. I payed a lot of money for a new truck. Part of the enjoyment of owning a new vehicle is not having to worry about maintenance for a while, I'll let the dealer do it. I'm damn sure going to check their work after, it's not a big deal.

 

translation you dont trust anyone

trust and confirm lol

 

He does'nt trust the newb tech trainee at the dealer to do a proper oil change, I don't blame him.

 

Yet, that high school noob does a better job than most owners, as evidenced by all the posts where the owners fucked up their own oil changes by doing it themselves.
You guys assume that everyone posting can wrench on their own.
Newsflash: not many can wrench on their own without fucking things up.

My dealer, when it's time for a fluid change, sends me pics, license plate shown, of him and what he does. Zero problems, zero questions. I check the oil, I slide underneath to check for leaks and I move on.
You guys who think you are better that that high school kid should take a hard look in the mirror and admit you shouldn't ever wrench on your truck because it will be worse than when you started.

 

It’s the way the industry is going. By the end of next year the lube guys at the dealership I currently work at will be required to make a video of the mpi and work to be emailed to the customer showing what was checked and done.

 

You can also update your Toyota profile on line. It’s nice to have it listed in one place.