Who can I trust working on my truck?

I usually don't like other people working on my vehicles, but because I've been so busy with other vehicle work/projects and my regular job, I think I have to take my truck somewhere to get the oil changed this time. Have never done that before . I already have the oil and filter which I want to provide. I have the oil filter housing tool too if necessary. What are some recommendations for places/mechanics (in San Diego) I can feel good about having them do this oil change? I don't think I want to go to any of the "quick oil change" places, I would prefer something a step above that, even if it costs more. I'm sure taking it to a Toyota dealer is a huge ripoff? I know it's just an oil change, but I was thinking my best bet might be a Toyota/Lexus shop that seems like they specialize in off-road upgrades and this V6 engine (SD truck shop). Any recommendations let me know, I might also be open to a service/mechanic coming to do it in my driveway.

 

You are wise to avoid the quickie lube (quickie strip a pan) and teaser pricing guys! Also wise to seek recommendations if you don't have a trusty tech.
I'd peep out the Regional forums to find folks local to you for those recommendations. Heck you might even find a local enthusiast that has a shop at home and will take care of you.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/regions.36/

GL

 

Just do it yourself when you get a chance. It's a Toyota and not like it's gonna roll over and die from an overdue oil change.

 

I'd suggest checking out your regional subforum to see what do they say

 

That is absolutely the LAST thing you'd ever wanna do. And especially avoid Walmart also. Same thing I guess....
Ask some of your neighbors who they take their rigs to. And who they give a 'thumbs up' to. There is usually some 'Bob the Mechanic' local shop around that does good work that you don't know about till you ask around.

 

If someone else does your oil change, make sure they put a filter element in the housing.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/no-oil-filter.748693/

 

Since you mentioned the SD Truck Shop we now at least can assume your general location. The SD Truck shop has a very good reputation which might explain that it can be hard to get an appointment but for a simple oil change an appointment may not be needed. But from a time perspective it takes less time to change the oil than it would be to drive to a shop.

 

I've had my wife's CRV oil changed at the high school autoshop. My wife works for the school. The instructor uses it to show students how to change oil and supervises everything. I send with her the oil, filter, and crush washer. My only complaint is the last time I think the enter football team screwed on the filter. The next time I changed it I had to use a big 18" pipe wrench to loosen the filter. The stupid over the top wrenches just spun around.

 

I’d trust Jiffy Lube before letting some clueless 16-year-old wrench on my vehicle, supervised or not.

 

It should take less than an hour to change it yourself. How long will it take to drive somewhere, wait for them to do it, then drive home? Can’t be much less than an hour.

 

Was in a similar position a few weeks ago. Pulled into the garage, pulled the guard under the pan and drained from the fumoto right into an empty container. Swapped the filter over while the oil was draining and filled it back up. Took 25 mins and no jacking the truck off the floor.

you sound like me…busy and don’t let anyone touch your truck… just find the time to do it at home.

 

The time it takes to schedule an appointment, drive to the location, drop it off or wait, pick it up and drive it back home you would’ve been 26 oil changes deep in your own garage. Just sayin

 

I can't say for your location being from Pennsylvania not SoCal but my take on finding a shop for work on vehicles is can't do myself is find a local independent mechanic That friends, family or co-workers have use with success. Give 'em a go with a simple service like an oil change or state inspection. I used a place near work for many years until the guy retired. I then found a "good ole boy" run kind of place but they have newer diagnostic equipment. They seen to be fair and haven't tried to upsell us at all, taking the Tacoma and Wrangler there once

I would be careful about taking your own oil and filter and just expecting them to use that without asking first though. Some shops take issue with customers providing their own parts and materials some do not. To some of them it's equivalent to taking your own ground meat to a hamburger joint, some don't care. Ask when you make the appointment. I know with my old Diesel Jeep Liberty the mechanic we used was OK with using my oil because it took something he didn't stock but if I tried to go to a chain place like NTB with that thing they wouldn't use your correct oil because of liability if it wasn't the correct oil type and it damaged the engine. Then when you asked what they would putin it if we hired them to do the oil change it would be an oil outside of what the Jeeps manual said was acceptable to use, crazy and one of the many reason a chain or quick lube place would be my very last pick.

 

Dealer. Not because it is any better, but because it will show up on your carfax. When you get ready to sell it gives people the peace of mind that your vehicle was dealer maintained.

 

That's really bogus reason to go to a dealership to me. There are independent mechanics that also report repairs and maintenance to carfax. The one I currently use does. You can also enter your own service record and receipt's into carfax.

 

Unfortunately there is value in having that dealer stamp. While the indy shops may do the job just as well, and sure you can post whatever you want, it doesn't compare to the coveted dealer maintained label. Have you ever seen a car listed as 'maintained by owner' on any dealer lot?

 

Dealership. Yeah they suck, but most places suck even more.

 

My daughter’s Corolla needed the brakes done, so we took it to the dealer as I don’t really have the experience, yet, to be working on my kid’s brakes and feel good about it.

While the car was there, it was due for an oil change, which I typically do myself. I thought what the hell and let Toyota do the oil change.

Fast forward to the next oil change, this time in my driveway.

Those Toyota mechanics tightened the oil filter housing to 700000 foot pounds or some shit. I needed to loosen it with a breaker bar, which isn’t easy under a Corolla.

In short, the goddam dealer itself clearly has no idea what a torque setting is.

You can’t win unless you do the work yourself. We are living through a crisis of incompetence and it’s not getting any better.

 

No, I have not seen "owner maintained" advertised at a used car lot on a vehicle. That's a somewhat fair point. I have seen cars in the past on lots and sometimes those were consignment cars with piles of service reqipts with it. I keep my receipts for oil, filter and parts. I keep all the receipts from the shops I use. Also if you're a smart used car buyer you should have a vehicle checked by a mechanic before purchasing it and check it out yourself too. I've seen vehicles with dealer service records that you could tell were beat and those without that you could tell were cared for.

 

Totally agree with you. The problem is that 90% of our population are sheep and blindly give in to marketing nonsense with 'Dealer Maintained' being one of those things that someone thinks is a benefit.