Friendly Reminder: Inspect your truck after Toyota service or lose your skid plate filter door! PICS

You get 2 years or 25k miles of Toyota Care "free" service (5 services total). You're allowed to bypass or skip the 5k service and get the 10k (which includes oil/filter change) whenever you want. But you can only receive two oil changes for free under the service plan.

 

***properly torqued bolts not included***

 

I have had 4 oil changes at 3 different dealers.I always check after a dealer oil change,on 2 of them the skid plate was literally dripping with oil.

 

THE SAGA CONTINUES - THE OIL CHANGE THAT NEVER ENDS! PART 2:

Upon further investigation, it turns out they had the skid plate access panel installed backwards. The curved edge should face forward towards the front of the truck.



Oh, and now I get to deal with this...





Awesome!

 

Went in for my 5k service, said I want an oil change, even if I pay for it. Service guy told me he would change the oil for free, but I had to skip the 5k service and they would just do the 10k. I declined and said I'll pay.

Question is, how freaking important is the 5k or 10k service if they will just skip the 5 or do the 10, 5k early?

 

Probably a good thing they didn't tighten down the bolts at first, may have screwed something up.

 

If they do that, what's to stop them from DRM'ing the thing like a keurig coffee pot? Then nobody could change the oil, except for the dealer.

That's a great idea.

 

Just paid about $60 on Amazon for 6 qts of Mobil1 and an OEM filter (plus $50 for the socket and fumoto valve) to do my first oil change. Worth every penny. As for the tire rotation, that's what the Discount Tire 5 mins from the house is for.

 

Wouldnt it be something to go to a toyota dealership and be able to watch them work on your car?

 

My ex took my old 2000 Tacoma in one time and said all the mechanics had a morning coffee break on my truck, they were all leaning on it and set their mugs on it so she ran in and yelled at them.

 

Now that's a good woman!

 

I've had my truck to the dealer a few times for service just for convenience but as soon as I get some time to install my Fumoto, I'll be doing my own changes from then on. As it is whenever I take my truck in I take the BAMF IFS off beforehand because I don't trust those fools to not cross thread some bolts so I might as well just do the rest of it as well.

 

That's what I was thinking, marry her!

 

--------UPDATE--------

PART 3: TORQUE WRENCH? AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT!

Service manager put my truck on a lift to inspect oil seepage with me present. Dropped the skid plate to find a nice pool of residual oil from what appeared to be the main drain plug. Dropped cartridge filter to find that it had been replaced during the oil change. Whew! Installed new cartridge and o-ring for peace of mind. Had to request for mechanic to use torque wrench on skid plate bolts as he openly admitted that most guys only use impact wrench. Doh! (33ft-lbs,21ft-lbs main skid bolts, 18ft-lbs access panel) Every bolt needed extra tightening.

 

It's possible but they really frown upon having anyone back there for "insurance/safety" reasons. It's worth a shot, but I've gotten resistance every time I've requested. Should have stuck around for this oil change though...go figure.

 

Nobody working flat-rate (at either a dealer or independent shop) will take the time to torque anything except when doing engine assembly. For things like lugnuts, they use torque sticks which will get the torque to +/-20% or so. "Professional auto mechanic" typically means working faster than book time so as to make a living.

 

Yea, that sounds about right. It's a tough gig, for sure. I guess I still have this crazy expectation that a professional auto mechanic should take pride in their work and do the job correctly. Lesson learned. Hope this post helps somebody in the future.

 

Only if you have something to prove.

 

That is why I like my local dealership. They know me well and have no issues with me being in the service area.

 

Confused on what? BPS has huge overhead and builds it in to their prices. They price match but you have to go to service desk to do it not at cash register.