oil change INSPECTIONS

This is my first post so If I goof I apologize. This is a special notice to all members. I recently had an experience with my dealers service dept. that everyone should take note of. Apparently, there is a practice of inserting old oil quart bottles under the drip tube below the oil filter housing. This puts the bottle jambed and pinched directly against the pulley tensioner arm and your serpentine belt. I ran with this thing for three days after the service date. I always use the dealers service dept to perform all of the recurrent service to keep good maintenance logs. I have had trouble before because they did not tighten the oil pan servicing lug and of course oil leaked out. So I have been inspecting the work they do after each service they perform. I never thought this kind of gross incompetence could take place. They are now going to replace the pulley arm, serpentine belt and the engine cover they damage. DO NOT TRUST ANYONE DOING SERVICE WORK THESE DAYS, EVEN IF ITS THE DEALER. CHECK, RECHECK AND DO NOT LEAVE WITHOUT DOING A THOUROUGH INSPECTION. THIS COULD HAVE BLOWN THE SERPENTINE BELT AS IT WAS DAMAGED BECAUSE OF THIS AND BLOWN THE ENGINE!!!!!!!

 

Blown engine from a damaged/broken serpentine belt?? That sounds like a bit overkill-

but the idea is right...The people you pay to work on your car are the same as you...human. They make mistakes too.

 

Does the dealer you go to have an ExpressLube lane? The dealer I use has several technicians doing the service (1st guy in the pit drains the oil and checks the suspension, 2nd guy fills the oil from an overhead hose, 3rd guy checks tire pressure, 4th guy does the wash, etc.). The entire "line" is behind a glass wall so you can see all the operations. Error is minimized because each guy has a very limited scope of work.

 

The other way of looking at it is the potential for error is compounded 'cause they have to coordinate efforts. A topside guy could mistake the signal and drop oil with the plug missing... you get half full oil as no one wants to admit they dumped it into the drain before noticing. Or worse, start the truck completely empty before noticing the oil light. If they even look for it.

 

They still check the dipstick.

 

well, I will check my dipstick before driving it away...that much I can depend on!

 

Thats why many guys do thier own work, especially oil changes. I do not save much money on an oil change since I use upper end oils and filters- but thats not the point. Knowing good oil and filters are installed correctly, everything tight, proper levels etc., plus you get a chance when you pop the hood to check and look over everything, top off fluid levels if needed, window washer reserve, etc. You would be surprised how much you may find or see ahead of a problem with regular visual expections. Preventitive maintenance keeps you rolling...

 

OP, You're preaching to the choir to about 75% of the people on TW. That's why we do our own oil changes. Thanks for reinforcing what many here already believe.

 

Ha dealers perform service? I tought they only sell cars. snd sell parts

 

Why not just do your own oil changes? It doesnt get any easier than this truck when it comes to an oil change.
imo, the "i go to a dealer for records keeping" is old thinking. Keep the receipts from the oil you purchase if you require records. Thats good enough. I've never asked to see oil change records when I've purchased a used car. Only major services or tsb work.

 

If you use toyotaownersonline.com to keep track of the service you do, then the very same records that the dealership updates get your updates too.

 

^^^^^^ I signed up, but didn't realize you can update your own records. Thanks