Where are people getting their oil changes these days?

Perfectly fine mentality on keeping record and proof.
My nearest dealer is at least 50 miles one way so I just do the oil changes myself. I keep a file folder for each of the vehicles and write the miles and date on a side of oil filter box then keep them in the file.
I'd probably do the changes myself even if a dealer was closer, it's just cheaper.

 

I did mine for years myself, and now do it again myself after having back-to-back bad experiences letting Toyota do it. The “free” ones aren’t worth it — no matter how much you request a skilled tech to do them, they just end up giving that ticket to the rookie teenaged kid because its a low margin service.

The first time I let Toyota do it they put the wrong weight oil in and double stacked the o-rings on the oil filter canister. I discovered that when I changed my oil again myself over the winter. The second time they stripped two of the 4 skid plate screws when I took it in during the summer months, as I thought I was saving myself the hassle during our brutal Texas summer months. What a mistake — the idiot kid tech used a pneumatic wrench to take off the skid screws and hollowed them out. It was a mess and I was livid.

If you can’t do the simple things right, how can I trust them to do the major stuff. I own a service business — and I know its all about the trust and confidence you build with your customers. Toyota Dealerships are largely about volume and turn-and-burn, not quality and building rapport.

All that said, I just do the maintenance stuff myself and for the major stuff I demand the Toyota shop foreman is the only tech allowed to work on it.

 

LOL! Good one. I think my Tacoma will outlast me and the dealer.

 

I guess you and I have a much different expectation of the term “splurge”.

 

Oh, like @randyhill’s truck? Those service records don’t mean sh*t. True, what happened to @randyhill could’ve happened to even the diy’r but don’t blindly believe all is well just because the oil changes were performed by Toyota that all is perfectly fine. This forum is peppered with one example after another of things gone wrong from paying someone to simply execute an oil change- oy vey. Dealers know how to dispose of a body.

 

Yeah I drive a lot haha. We own a horse farm in a small town, so I’m 60 miles from my office and we are 45-60 miles from a decent sized city.

Having had homes all over the east coast from Miami to VA to NC to AL, TN, I can say that my dealership is definitely the exception as far as service and competence. I will say if you know of an independent mechanic that’d be great, but I have a friend that has a repair/tire shop (decent sized - 5 bays I think) and he has a horrendous time finding and keeping mechanics. Perhaps give your dealership a try you may get lucky.

 

Its good to hear from someone who has been to different places around the country. Thanks!

 

In my driveway. I bought a Fumoto valve with the long nipple (so I can put a hose on it) and an aluminum oil filter housing from @Jowett (it came with a Fumoto valve on it too)

So easy now, I would be confident changing the oil while parked on a brand new concrete driveway.
Cleanest, cheapest and easiest oil changes I’ve ever done.....

 

Just in case people aren’t aware, the short nipple variants also accept a tube.

 

I get it, there are plenty of horror stories out there. But I figure that what I got in service records from the local dealer sure beats the heck out of nothing at all. And the truck shows how well cared for it was - I looked over it with a fine tooth comb before purchasing. While I do most of my own normal maintenance, it's important to keep in mind that for every one of the stories that blows up from a poor service performed, lying dealer, etc. there are hundred(s) of cars that go in and out just fine since the majority of people don't work on their own cars and just go to the dealer for standard maintenance on their A to B vehicle.

There are good service departments and there are bad ones. Thankfully the one my truck was serviced at before my purchase has a decent reputation, but some due diligence from anyone who "cares" enough is always a good thing.

 

To be honest, i've sold many bikes, snowmobiles, cars, trucks, and some boats over the years, and no one asked me for the service records of a vehicle. I doubt in most cases a potential buyer cares. I think people that know me know i've got a good reputation, and the ones that don't can care less.

 

I'm almost in the same "age bracket" as you. It's an effort that is almost beyond my patience now to do it myself, but it's mostly because I pay the price for getting down to ground level and dragging around on the creeper get under there to the right spot. My knees remind me that they are especially unhappy. Oh: ....and removing the $#@!&$% oil filter is always a challenge. I still keep an OEM oil filter and a plug gasket on hand in case I get the urge to do it myself.

I like the vintage "Power Wagon" badge on your grille. Nice touch.

Thank you for your service and sacrifice.

 

I pinch my pennies until they bleed.

 

I keep every receipt for repairs and parts on my vehicles to show a potential buyer if and when I decide to sell.

 

I can attest to this...by doing a fit test with the long tip Fumoto I bought. It will be protected by my TRD skid plate...I don't rock crawl with my street queen either, lol!

The skid plate isn't 100% for everything but I'm confident it will not be a problem.

 

exactly my sentiments.
well said.
i have three vehicles and do my own OLF maintenance (on a dry day when i feel like it) two or three times per year before the extreme weather seasons.
perfect opportunity to inspect.
nothing wrong with getting to know the vehicle in case of needed field repair.