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

Tacoma is going in for its first scheduled oil change and we can all easily tell when the oil has been replaced. This motor has a canister type filter so there's no practical way to tell if it's been replaced. I was thinking about putting witness marks on one of the 4 bolts that secures the TRD skid's oil access door.

Any other ideas?

 

If you trust whoever's doing the work this little, I'd find someone you trust more or DIY.

 

Take it to a place you trust. If you have doubts that they are performing the work you’re taking your truck to the wrong place.

 

Replace it yourself?

 

It's the dealership and I'm still under warranty, so I'm somewhat married to them. I don't have a reason to believe the filter won't get replaced but I'm also a trust and confirm type of person.

I did the oil change myself at 5K miles, but the 10K is taken care of by the dealer.

 

they will cover the warranty if you replace it yourself. I’ve asked my local dealer as I don’t trust them to do anything other than deliver me the car and maybe a car cleaning.

 

I used torque seal on my filter and skid plates. Ended up catching them not changing my oil. Been changing the oil myself since or I’ll go to a trusted mom and pop shop if I don’t have the time to check for myself.

 

Sure, but the service is included so why the heck not drop it off for a free oil change. I just wanted to ensure that it's done properly. If not, I'll do it myself.

 

Sounds like you already have your answer. Why ask for opinions?

 

Because the little bit of money the oil and filter costs for DIY provides more benefit than the fear and doubt you've already exhibited taking it elsewhere...

 

I should've known better to ask! When you drop your truck off for service, you don't check to make sure it's been completed?

I'm just asking for methods to mark the bolts. Sharpie, etc...

I guess I can wait for this to turn into an oil thread now.

 

Put a dead mouse or rat on top of the skid plate access door. If they open the access door the rodent should fall out. I doubt they'll put it back in.

 

Yes. Mark the bolts. End thread.

 

If they aren’t actually going to replace the filter why waste your time?

 

A second but probably not equally as fun vote from me is to remove the filter and have it towed there, and see if they put a new filter in afterward or see if the engine seizes once you fire it up to head home.

 

I usually put some chalk on canister type filters right before bringing vehicle in if I have to. It’s easily disturbed if the canister is removed. Oil you can tell by color on the dip. Yes, it’s hard work having trust issues, but that’s the world we live in. Trusting no one and doing my own repairs have personally saved me endless vehicular grief.

edit* I‘be yet to find a way to confirm if they actually put the right TYPE of oil in. A lot of shops dont have 0W oil.

 

No

If I have to question the place so much as to if it will get done then A) I don't bring it to them or B) I do it myself.

Trust but verify is a convenient excuse for "I don't trust them" because it sounds better. If you have to verify then you don't actually TRUST them, so do it yourself.

Or know that you did it at 5,000 miles and missing at 10,000 miles isn't going to risk your engine in any way. Literally the most reliable truck on the planet and folks are worried.

 

If you dont trust the person doing the change, take it somewhere else and pay. Or delete and repost this next Friday.

 

Wow, you have some serious trust issues brother! You really need to find a mechanic you trust or do it yourself. And while you're at it, find a therapist you trust too.

 

My wife’s BMW doesn’t have a dip stick and has a canister oil filter. Dealership does the maintenance and on last visit I am pretty sure the filter wasn’t changed and not sure about the oil. So I don’t blame anyone for not trusting the lube techs.