Am I crazy for not using my complimentary oil changes ?

I tried to haggle even more money off by not accepting the free oil changes but I guess it doesn't work like that . The dealer didn't care one way or another .

Also , would I have to use the Toyota care oil changes at the dealership I purchased the truck for or can it be any dealer ? Cause there is another dealer much closer then the one I purchased from .

 

I always chalk mark my tires before bringing it in. Once I found that they didn't rotate the tires at all and one time they just rotated one side. When I questioned the service manager he denied it until I showed him the chalk marks..Then he said that only one side of the truck needed the tires rotated. What a dumb ass!

 

Read 30K service. It's a V6 that is used for towing. I did not ask the price
but have heard $500+ no thanks.

 

Any Dealer. It is a Toyota Corp level offer.

 

Always have done it myself. My time is worth more than the headache the dealer may (or may not to be fair) cause. I also like to know exactly what produce it going into my vehicle.

 

THIS^^^

They always want to sell you something else. I do use a guy who runs a quick lube, though. All he does is change the oil and lube what needs it. All the rest, I choose to handle myself.

The main reason I use him is so I don't have to dispose of the used oil and he does it for a few bucks more than what it cost to do it in the driveway.

 

I can't argue with this reason. Me? I used to get a real sense of satisfaction from doing vehicle maintenance. Now I don't even enjoy washing it.

 

You put produce in your truck? Must be some sort of biodiesel mod.. lol j/k

 

Great to see that I am not the only anal retentive bastard that doesnt want a flunky touching my truck. I am really struggling though as I am such a cheapskate it is hard to pass up free. As others have said though, a filter and oil will run about $25, so 5 oil changes is only about $125 that I would be "throwing away". I typically stock up on the parts and the job is really only about 10 minutes of work spread out over an hour or so of working on other stuff in the garage. The hassle of going to, and dealing with the dealer really isnt worth it.

I wish they would just give me 5 oil filters and call it even.

 

I will do it at dealer till it runs out
------
it sucks to hear of peeps who do not trust the dealer

around me there are 14 toyota dealers, and only 1 I trust...

I trust them because back when I had 2.5 years on my 4runner, I went in and
said replace ALL fluids, grease all zerks, replace ALL pads, retension all cables...
and some other stuff I didn't need but I wanted anyway....

and they went through my list (I was ready to pay whatever it would cost) and
they insisted that I not go for pads and some other items...they actually stopped
me from going overboard on service (but I still insisted all fluids in every place
a fluid resides...they convinced me hold off on brake fluid)

so, knowing they have a service dept manager who isn't purely profit, and
wants only to do what is correct and right...I will always go back to this dealer

they happen to be the biggest Toyota/Scion dealer around
(and a huge dealership building with 2nd floor gym for customers who want to work out and wait),
full cafeteria (free if you are in for service)

so...they built that thing on happy customers backs...I am convinced...

I also know you can be pretty shitty and still fly the Toyota flag...so I do not blame peeps
for hating the stealerships because it is more common to find those, than the nice ones with
crews who really care about the correct job, and not pure profit.

 

ive been debating this as well, I want to do it myself but its hard to pass up the FREE. I don't really like the 5k mile intervals either. im sure ill end up doing it myself I want synthetic any way plus its an hr drive to the dealership lol

 

Just had mine done by Toyota. That said, I did shop around to find the best service department in town and went there rather than the stealership I purchased my Taco from. Sales is a whole different animal than Service and you need to shop it as well as you do while looking to make a purchase. There are two or three places in town where I wouldn't take my ride even if they offered to pay me.

 

Im also OCD about my rides. Used to doing everything myself.

However, I just let them do it then checked it all over in the parking lot.

My main objective was to use that time to build rapport and talk a little shop with the service writer for any future warranty work, etc. I may need in the future. At least he knows if/when I may call or show up, I'm not some moron owner without a clue.

 

I AGREE. Not only would I pass on a truck without dealer documentation of service, I personally would pass on a 20 somethings customized truck that has been used as a weekend warrior. Just a street only truck with service records.

 

Most DIY people nowadays keep detailed service records and receipts to back it up. A dealer tech that does little more than oil changes can not possibly do a better job at it than I can. And I'll be especially clean about it and wipe up any residual oil that a dealer tech may simply blow off because he's in a hurry to go out back for a smoke break or call o'girl.

 

I'm with you 100% It pains me to have anyone touch my truck, especially the stealership. But, I made friends with my local service manager and I trust him to do the job right. I figure it's free and under warranty should anything go wrong. I can assure you once my 5 "free" oil changes are completed (two left) I'll be doing my own maintenance. I do recommend double checking levels and torque as this is the first thing I do after a stealership "free" oil change.

 

Your service manager might be one hell of a guy but the trouble is he's not the one that does the actual work. At my dealership it's the other way around... i trust some of the mechanics more than the service manager. Too bad it's not the certified mechanics doing the oil changes.

 

They are going to have some $9/hr kid doing oil changes. They will not have the same guy who can tear down engines doing oil changes.

 

my 2010 Tacoma never saw the service dept for the 2 years and 30K miles I owned it (except for the TSB leaf springs)...

I did my own oil changes...traded it in...and it was on the used lot "Toyota Certified"...

so much for service documentation.

 

Larry ... I am sure they spent a few moments with you, or may have read some of your postings ... ta-da ... they knew you were a straight up guy ... that's my guess ...