Bad dealership first oil change experience

So I have 4000 miles on my 2014 Toyota Tacoma DCSB 4 x 4. Figured it was a good time to go get my first free oil change. Was told by the dealer where I bought my truck that the first two oil changes are free. I told him that didn't mean much to me because I change my own oil. He said, "well you might as well use it because synthetic oil is not cheap and that is what your Tacoma takes."

Since I bought my truck at a dealership 40 minutes from my house, I decided to go to my local dealership for the oil change. I called them first to see if I was okay, and they said no problem. I set up an appointment.

When I arrived for my oil change, the guy that comes out to set you up started taking down my information. I asked him if this was going to be a free oil change. He said, let me check to see if this truck takes synthetic or conventional oil, I will be right back. He returned and said yes it will be free this truck takes conventional oil. I said no it doesn't, it comes from the factory with synthetic, and that's what I want. He said well let me go back and check. He came back and said no it takes conventional. I was pissed and said well if you don't know that this truck is supposed to take synthetic, I'm not leaving my truck with you.

Guess I'm out the money I already paid (of course it's worked into the price of the truck) for the 2 free oil changes because I'll never go back there again.

Anyone know the deal with this situation? Are they supposed to give you synthetic for free on the first two oil changes?

 

Do your own oil changes (and lube the driveshaft u-joints while you're at it)

 

Don't believe anything that the salesman tells you. Read the owners manual instead. Lot's of good information in there.

 

I have the same truck. The manufacturer puts regular oil in it.

Personally, I will be going to the dealer and asking for a free filter and doing my own changes with Mobil 1.

You may want to educate yourself on oil. I did so by reading this: http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/motor-oil-101/

 

I never heard of any Tacomas coming with synthetic oil from the factory and I was always told it was just conventional. I think your first dealership you bought the truck was wrong.

 

The dealership was correct. The 4.0 comes with conventional oil. Here is a chart.
http://www.settraining.com/content/course-codes/12_07_HS_Toyota_Engines_and_Synthetic_Oil1.pdf

 

Judgeing by the many threads here of dealership oil change mishaps you might have done yourself a hugh favor by not letting them do it.

 

At my 5000 mile oil change .... The truck (2013 TRD 6 cyl) came with regular oil ... I paid the difference in price from regular to synthetic and the dealer put in synthetic with a new filter . Simple .. and Fair .

 

It's in the manual.

You can't get upset with the service department on this one.

Hunt down that salesman.

 

I thought it was 2 years of free maintenance. What's this about the first two oil changes? Has Toyota done away with the 2 year free maintenance thing?

 

They still have the 2 yr toyotacare going here.

 

The 6 cyl actually comes with a synthetic blend, which is rated conventional. Was just at a dealer the other day talking with a guy holding repair paperwork. Seems the day previous the dealer erroneously put 0-20w in his 6 cylinder for the 5k oil change. I am from out-of-town visiting .. .. .. not a confidence builder!

 

He got a free upgrade and wanted to downgrade

 

So I guess the guy at the dealership service department at T.O. Toyota was correct and I was fed even more BS from my salesperson at Ventura Toyota than I knew. My buying experience with that dealership was bad. Will never go back there either.

I'm very anal about my expensive toys so I only use the best. Going to go synthetic and do it myself. That is the only way I feel confident that I am actually getting what I pay for. When I get my Subie done at the dealership I wonder if they are really putting synthetic in there. The ground clearance difference and filter placement on the Yota make it night and day easier to change the oil than on the WRX.

Any good recommendations for honest oil change places I can take the Subie other than the dealership?

Thanks for the responses all who replied. Appreciate your input.

 

^^^This.

Plus I'm old enough and experienced enough to know that (other) people just don't take the same care with your shit as you. I take meticulous care of my tools and vehicles and unless its something out of my realm of knowledge and expertise, I'll do it myself.

 

At the Ford dealership I work at has the customer pay the difference between conventional and full synthetic if the customer requests full synthetic. last week a customer brought in his new F250 for his first time oil change and he requested the full synthetic upgrade. The difference was 147 bucks between conventional and synthetic. On a side note, the Mustang GT 500 is the only production vehicle from Ford that gets full synthetic from the factory which is 5w50.

Sounds like the OP needs to read his owners manual lol..

 

He could also let the dealership know, he was the one who made the mistake. Respect goes both ways.

Frank

 

Hadn't thought of that. I got two free years of Toyotacare, but have been changing my own. I'm gonna see if my stealership will give me a filter.

 

It's tells you on the oil cap. How hard is that. I thought it was 2 years free service for any Toyota that you buy new or 25,000 miles. Mine was free and no hassles. Even got free soda and snacks.

 

Yup.
People always getting pissed for no reason.