Check your complementary oil changes

Wow. NEVER go to that dealer again. For anything. People can be vindictive and back biting. They work in every profession, including the service writer's desk and service bays at your dealership. Once you prove them wrong or catch them cutting corners you have provided them with all they need to have it in for you in the future. It is sad that in doing your due diligence in checking their works you are summarily shitting in your own hat with the dealership, but that is because of the quality of their character, not yours. NEVER ever give a person at a dealership the opportunity to get a second chance to get even with you. That is just part of good risk management. Go elsewhere and start anew. Better yet, do your own. Nobody is going to take care of it like you will.

 

He didn't have an issue either. Other than the fact that he checked his filter. Not doing so, and having it replaced next time wouldn't lead to an "issue" anyways. So no one would know in theory.

Maybe your trusted dealer has done the same, maybe they haven't. The best thing to do is simply check before/after if at all possible.

 

^ X2

To condense, it's the fuck me once proverb..

 

You sir are a scholar and a gentleman. I think I am just going to do my own. Got ~2K on mine. Been changing oil almost 50 years. Oil and a filter isn't that much, not when considering all of the dealer service horror stories I've read on here. Dealers are like the healthcare industry and Big Pharma: We are nothing more than potential cash streams to them.

 

Having been "trained" and certified by Chrysler as a lub tech and done many cars before and after training I always treated consumers cars like my own. Back in my teens and for a couple year break from building trades supplier production. The dealer I worked for stressed that we were expected to use vehicle specific filters on its dealers brands and generic on all other cars. We had a few bad moments but mostly good history. Mostly from new hires. It was policy that things not checked not done , check and not done = liability All new cars get a PDI and sometimes those are poorly done also, do to paid time. The person to watch is the svs writer if on commission, most places sell products for different flushes that can really add to costs. Find a shop you can trust if don't do your own service. Always save receipts from your work because any warranty issues may need documentation.

 

Yeah, the oil was definitely changed. I actually do all my own oil changes and mechanical work and always have. I rarely go to the dealership. I did the initial change at 5500 miles. The ONLY reason I had them do an oil change was it was free and I was there for the millimeter wave recall and had a couple other issues I wanted documented (I have some diff whine, seeping diff, etc.). I am still waiting for that call back...lol. We will see what tomorrow brings.

 

You sure it wasn't a 5000 mile check? They are no longer oil changes, just checks.

 

Nah, my truck has 11K on it. They were doing the 10k maintenance. The receipt shows that.

 

Good point, 1st 5g tire rotation, 10000, is a tire rotation and oil /filter so you only get 2 free oil changes and 5 rotations

 

So, they reviewed footage and determined that the tech got pulled away by mgmt to do something else and 'forgot' to change the filter. They want to do another full oil change which I will let them do as I am back next week for another issue. The dealership is a very high visibility one and because this is the first time I have caught an error from them (and I don't see any similar complaints online), I will not name them. However, if catch something else, well lets just say you folks will know. This thread is really just a reminder to check any work you have done.

 

Mechanic had a rough night

 

You get what you pay for. This was a free oil change, so quality of work will reflect that more than likely

Save yourself the trouble and start doing the oil changes yourself. Gives you peace of mind knowing that everything was done right

 

I feel like the 10k replacement on the oil is pushing it a little.... It used to always be 5k replacement and it seems the intervals are just getting longer and longer. Leading to shorter engine life down the road?...

 

I have 2 friends which are toyota dealer techs at 2 different dealers.

They say this is a normal occurance, specially on tacomas where the filter is a bit more PITA.

Also when you think you are getting an alignment, all they really do is a "toe and go". Their words LOL...

I am not using any of the "free" oil changes. I am doing them myself. My trucks stays away from dealers as much as possible.

I dont blame them either. They say pay is horrible, especially flate rate stuff which is probabaly what these services are during the time period they give. (2 years?)

Remeber the guy changing the oil is most likely a newbie.

 

I also get complimentary oil changes on my 2nd Gen. I've always put an inconspicuous mark on the filter just for this reason. So far, the dealer has always changed the filter out....so, good on them in my case.
Cheers, Jeff

 

Yeah, you can't mark a 3rd GEN as the filter is internal - no way to look at it. But you could put some powder on the housing and look for fingerprints, etc...

 

You're not alone. In 37K miles of prepaid maintenance, my dealer managed to strip two skid plate bolts, over-tighten the filter cap, and under-tighten the transfer case drain plug resulting in a visible leak.

I'll do it myself from now on, thanks very much.

 

It's not impossible, it's easy to not spill oil all over the housing. Plus what if they cleaned the housing and the dust is just from the drive home?

 

I currently trust my dealership, because they communicate what is actually happening/going to take place when I dropped off my truck. Also my family has been using the same dealership for years with no issues.

You said this was the first service, like 5K service?

If so, the service intervals are 10K for a oil change. So, they would be changing your oil... hence they wouldn't touch the filter.

I'm not saying you're local dealership is great, or they shouldn't be questioned. My dealership told me what they were doing/going to be checking in my first service. Or maybe I'm the only one that payed attention?

 

Dealerships make their money off financing and service. Selling you the truck is just a means to an end. Sadly, I would always check their work