Take in for service at 10,000 miles?

I have been servicing my Tundra 2017 up to this point. Should I bring it in for the 10,000 mile oil change? I see in car fax that the alignment has been checked on some. Just wondering if the dealer dues more then the owners manual said to do. Maybe update the computer?

 

Short answer is Yes!

 

YEP, and it looks good if your decide to trade in at some point. Dealer records everything done. Any TSB's can be officially addressed which you can't do at home. You can too by the way on https://www.toyota.com/owners/parts-service/history

 

nothing is done.... why bother. just change your oil and whatever else needs to get done. like greasing zerks ect (highly doubt dealer will even do that). enjoy your time at home rather than nonsense at the dealer.

 

Take it in since you've already paid for the service, but carefully check everything under the hood and beneath it (as best you can) before you leave. I always check everything in the delivery bay as soon as they bring it out.

 

they can keep their "free oil" and "free service" no thanks

also wouldnt want to be "that guy" going out into the bay to 'check' the work of the men and women earning a living doing the work. More uptight dealers prob wouldnt even let you passed the door to the bays for insurance reasons.

 

I talked to my dealer about greasing the zerks and the service writer said they normally don't do that. I do my own zerks. The only thing you really need the dealer for is updating electronics.

 

I got to watch my complete OME install in the service area.

 

Definitely not worth it if you've already been doing and can do the maintenance yourself.

 

Can you do any ECM related TSB update at home???

 

What tsb is so serious that it would necessitate a trip to the dealer? Tsb’s like cutting the gas pedal, chopping floor mats.... mmm no thanks.

There was an abs one a while back, I think, my truck hasn’t gone careening off the road yet...

 

I'm fairly certain a few folks needed software updates lately. Actually have been posted here on this forum by several. A little research here can't hurt. Goes a long way....I'd did some careening yesterday up in the CO Rockies. Fun!!!

"Tsb’s like cutting the gas pedal, chopping floor mats.... mmm no thanks."


That's old news. A few years ago in fact.... doesn't hurt to stay up to date. I have an 07 but I make an effort to stay up to date with the new Tunny nannies so i stay relevant as much as I can. lol

 

If you have already been servicing up until now I wouldn't bother taking it in. You get to keep using the oil you have been putting in it so far and can be quicker then a dealer oil change as well.

 

You already paid for. Have them do the work. Took mine in the other day and it was done in under an hour. And like previously stated, they keep track of all the service done, which will help resale value. My dealership has an app. I now have it on my phone and it has all the service history plus all the recall notifications.

 

I do my own oil but have never found any grease zerks. Where are they? Every time the dealer has change my oil they over torqued the oil canister and the drain. It took a 2 foot pipe wrench to get it off the first time. One winter I took it in because it was really cold. I gave them them torque specs and they tighten the drain so thigh it loosen the canister when I went to drain the oil. They just don't care. They also over torqued the wheels so now I have to do my own tire rotation. It's really to bad they teach there help better.

 

yup, no one is going to take better care of your stuff than you. For basic things being handed down to the lowest denominator in the shop, I’ll do the work myself. Toyota makes all the routine service so easy. I feel violated when another dude is wrenching on my crap.

The zerks are important to service as outlined in the maintenance book. They are on the driveshaft at the U joints and on the front shaft (propeller shaft). They are easy to find. Off the top of my head I think it’s 7? You’ll know the dealer hasn’t touched them if they are still covered in paint.

 

I just did my 30,000 myself nothing to it! Keep your receipts for your records!

 

I had my 4 free oil changes done on my 2016, when I went to do the 5th myself one of the 3 bolts that holds bumper to skid plate was gone the other 2 are stripped, my oil filter housing has one of the tabs broken off and my zerks look like they were never touched. Dealer of course says too bad, not worth trouble for some free oil changes

 

I have always had my vehicles serviced at the respective dealerships and never had a problem. Reading some of the replies make it sound as if all dealer service department do substandard work; I am not sure how so many Toyotas are able to stay on the road and on top of that usually get the highest reliability rating...............that just doesn't add up. If I were to buy a used vehicle and I have a choice between two identical trucks, one of them owner maintained and the other one with a documented dealer service history I sure buy that one. Which one would you buy?

Just saying!

 

Exactly^^^^. I bought my Tundra 4 years ago. It was 7 yrs old and had ALL service records from Day 1! The truck was in obviously great condition and having the service records in hand was huge. I had proof that all TSBs were addressed, PM's done when they were supposed too. To think most Toyota dealers suck is ludicrous. I've always done my own service and repairs over the years. Not because dealers sucked but because I took auto shop and metal shop all 4 yrs in high school an enjoyed doing it. Still do for the most part except screwing around will the oil change. Oil change is so cheap so why put up with the fuss? The few times I've gone to Stevensons East and West the experience has been great. Treated like a king. They go out if their way to please you. Bottom line....I'll take a service record by trained mechanics over one sporadically updated by someone. On the other hand I also update my records meticulously and go by Toyotas recommended PM..That is important if you DIY.

 

I saw everything hand torqued by the way. Great service techs at Stevenson's. One is here on the forum by the way that installed my OME setup and alignment. Professionally done! See "Ask the Mechanic" @LOTSOFTOYS

 

I took mine in for the 10k first service. But I had changed the original oil at 2500 miles. Consider it paranoia about "break in" oil in a new motor. That being said I saw a dip in MPG with the Toyota oil so at 17500 miles I changed it myself back to Castrol 0-20 and have been doing my own services since.

Its a gamble everytime you trust the dealership with your truck. Frankly a gamble I'm not interested in taking.

 

For any recall issue, software issue, or something that requires tearing down a significant part of the engine (like my Cam tower leak), I will take it in. As noted above, I don't have the ability to perform software updates on my truck. The Cam tower leak was something that I wasn't interested in taking the time to do myself - plus for bigger ticket items like that, the dealerships will "usually" put their "better" techs on.

That said - for almost everything mechanical on my truck - I do myself. When I first purchased this truck, I decided to go ahead and use the Toyota 2 year free oil changes thing to save some money. I used it twice. Both times, I picked up my truck and noticed that they had washed my truck. At first, I thought this was just an added bonus and good customer service. After my second oil change, I was under my truck and noticed what looked like an oil leak. I dropped my middle skid plate and found out what they had done. Instead of using a funnel to guide the oil out, or removing my middle skid plate (I have Bud skids back to the transfer case), they just pulled the plug and let the oil ooze all over my skids (there is a hole in my middle skid, but if you don't use a funnel in there, oil goes EVERYWHERE). Then, when they were done, they just "washed" my truck to try and cover up what they did. I had a nice layer of grime all over my skids thanks to those guys.

Bottom line is - they don't put their "top guys" on things like oil changes. I have always done my own maintenance and the majority of my own repairs. As B737 said - no one is going to take care of your truck like you do. Just do your own work and keep your receipts. Some say that it is harder to sell down the road if you don't have dealer service records, but I personally haven't had any issues selling vehicles. But, I do take really good care of my vehicles. All of them that I have sold have shown that.

 

I have always done my own oil and filter changes on every vehicle I've owned since 1961. I plan to continue this with my new Tundra. I will, however, take it in every 5,000 miles to get the tires rotated. A bit hard for me to do at my age (68), I will gladly let them do it.

Dan

 

That is out of the ordinary routine maintenance that this thread is about. For something like that of course I'll let the dealer take care of it, and I'd be much more comfortable having them hook up some diagnostic tool to a laptop than doing real wrenching work.

 

My wife purchased a certified used Lexus from the same Toyota/Lexus dealer that I bought my new Tundra from, and all the maintenance was done and documented by this dealer. The first oil change and tire rotation I did on her car I had to order a few new lug nuts and the oil filter housing because everything was so damn tight. That was the messiest oil change I've done yet since I couldn't use the oil filter drain tool since they over torqued the drain cap by about 100x too much.

You're putting a lot of trust in these dealer mechanics without any real basis for trusting their work. If I buy a used car from a private seller, I might at least be able to feel them out for their mechanical know how, what other vehicles they own, what their garage looks like, etc.

 

I agree. I never go in for routine maintenance. My Tundra is way past warranty. It's important to know your Service Manager and tech/s if possible. I do. A new truck...I'd probably utilize the dealer the first year, even for the routine stuff. If a person was to register and login to Toyota Owners site you could get heads up on any software updates ,etc that should be done.

 

The few encounters with my dealer service techs/managers I haven't been too impressed. I took my truck in for a constant rattling tailgate, and the service tech took my set of keys, put it in the tailgate lock to unlock it, and was about to slam it shut with the keys still in the lock cylinder. That would have surely left scratches on a brand new truck. That's just one example, but seriously every time I've had to deal with them there is something pretty off turning that happens.

 

I totally get it. I'm fortunate to know some good techs if I have go to the dealer. Doesn't happen to often. I do most of my PM except oil change. I've got a friend that has a Grease Monkey franchise and he always does a good job. I'm getting a little lazy in my old age. At least dicking around with oil changes. Hahahaha.

 

I got two years of maintenance when I purchased mine new. Why should I pay for the oil and filter and do it myself when it was included in the purchase price.