Dealership oil changes…

So here is my story, we have a 2006 4Runner Sport with 175000 miles. The dealer we bought it from has changed the oil for free for the whole time. We bought lifetime oil change for $600 when we bought it. Not one time in all of those miles have we had a problem with service.Now on to my 17 Limited Tundra. I bought my truck at a different dealership that is family owned their GM dealership has one of the best service depts. around. My Tundra was a Certified truck I paid cash for it at their Toyota side. They change my oil and rotate for $100 not to bad but the thing you always worry about happened today, Finger tight drain bolt puddle of oil under my truck is how I found it. Service Mgr. not there on Saturday so will be hearing from him on Monday.I am more pissed at myself for not changing it like I always have on everything else. What do you guys think? Oh and I found it at home an hr away from the dealer.

 

Another example why I do my own regular maintenance. They have the most junior people in the shop doing fluid changes. If it were me, I’d try to get my money back for the oil change, change it myself in the driveway now (or at least check level and top off if needed) and never take it back there for routine maintenance.

 

Funny, went to go get mine done at a dealership today and at the first one I went too had no cars in line whatsoever and they turned me away. Back story to that is that the last time I went there I had the same issue, picked my truck up after hours only to find a huge puddle of oil under and on my skid. Popped the hood checked the dip stick and no oil in it at all!!!! I was livid!!! Went back inside laid into the manager, called the service manager and all he said is I can leave my truck, no loaner and wait till Monday for them inspect it (it was a Saturday). I denied it. Went and got oil filled it up, cleaned up the mess and checked for any drip and none. Got home drained oil, replaced filter, out in more oil. There wasn’t an O-ring when they replaced it and the plug wasn’t even tight either. Got that all fixed and done right and good to go. I figured after the year has passed they would’ve forgot about that but they still turned me away after they went in with my info and came back and said they are full lol. Oh well

So I went to another Toyota dealership just a few miles away today. Got my oil changed. Everything was good. Just had to drop my skid when I got home to clean the oil off. But glad they at least put oil back in lol.

 

Man you here stories like this all the time from something lube, or got it all world, but I expect more from Toyota the dealership where I take my 4Runner a senior tech moved up to service Mgr. and he will not keep any lube techs that don’t perform task as they should.

 

when I was in WA, i took my 4runner to the kirkland toyota dealership to have the oil changed. Those asshole stripped the bolt. took it to the toyota dealership in bellevue for the next oil change and they did a good job. My dad took his sienna in for an oil change and they tighten the shit out of the drain cap. I had to use a wrench strap, along with another wrench to loosen it. my '21 tundra come with 2 years of free oil change, I'm seriously thinking I should change the oil myself. It will take me no more than 30 mins to do it vs driving 30 mins to the dealership, waiting for x hours, hoping I don't find any issue, drive another 30 mins to get home.

 

That sucks OP. I would take a look at your wheels since you had them rotated there.. Took my tacoma in for its first oil change and rotation and they chowdered every lug whole in all four of my brand new after market wheels. After a month of back and forth they finally replaced them. Cheap labor doesn't always equate to lower cost which they learned the hard way. It just goes to show if you want it done right, even something as simple as a rotation, you have to do it yourself period.

 

These stories just scare the crap outa me and are the reason I just ordered a wrench and all the supplies to do my own oil changes. When I had my transmission fluid changed at the dealership a couple weeks ago they left the fill plug loose and there were a couple drips from poor cleanup. IMHO the dealerships push too damn hard for techs to do everything quick and not leave enough time for checking their work. I have not ever been to a dealership that I trust and the feeling has gotten worse in the last 3 years.

 

Cheaper, faster, and no issue fucking it up doing it myself. By the time you could've driven to the dealer you could've changed it yourself.

 

Always change the oil yourself. Free ain't worth it. My wife's 2013 Sequoia came with two years of free oil changes. After the third time I had a puddle in the driveway. They left the bottom o-ring out of the oil filter cap and a surprisingly huge amount of oil was lost in a short period of time. Decided to redo the job on my own and after draining the oil I found I could not remove the oil filter housing even with a two foot breaker bar. There was no point in trying the impact on the plastic housing as I thought it would be torn up. I took it to Toyota and stood there while three techs used a four foot breaker bar to break it loose. TWO freaking guys pulling on the bar and one guy keeping the socket on the filter housing. That's how tight they left it and it could have only been done with an impact - so much for my earlier decision. I haven't let anyone change my oil since. I also ditched the plastic housing and replaced it with the metal one.

 

Every Dealership has their good and bad for sure, but as a former Mazda Tech myself I think the fundamental problem has always been the flat rate system. When I worked for them in the late 80's I was making $18.00 an hour F/R and an oil change paid .3 hrs. that's a little over $6.00 in my pocket before taxes. Although I took great pride in my work for very little pay in some circumstances, other Techs I worked with could give a shit less about you or your vehicle. The guy in the bay beside me never bothered to change oil filters, he would just shine up the old one, and throw the new one in the bottom draw of his toolbox which was filled to the brim with them. When I confronted the Service Manager about this in private, he just shrugged his shoulders and did nothing.

 

Changing my own oil gives me great satisfaction. I'm not as fast as some of the guys here but 45 minutes of my time is worth it. I did not use the "free" oil changes.

 

TundyMc, yes they scratched one of my wheels letting the socket go crazy coming out of the whole only one but the wheel is ruined. I am going to do the oil an rotate my self going forward I always have on my trucks I was just hoping this dealership took more care. The only way you know it’s right is if you do it your self. In 40 plus years of changing oil on many forms of engines I have yet to leave a drain plug loose or a lug nut loose. I appreciate all the comments and this forum, I drive Toyota by choice not by chance.

 

First time in my life I let someone else change my oil. Since I'm towing I did the 10k service at 5k. Toyota freebee. They did save my filter as requested but screwed up on the tire rotation. I run 35 ft and 38 rear while towing and they didn't bother to check TP. So, since they don't have an air line outside back in the shop it went.
I suspected this might happen but didn't say a word when the truck went in initially. Shouldn't assume the tech isn't going to do his job but checked TPs before I left the lot.
I the next day a survey popped into my email and I wrote that the my Tundra door sticker says 30 psi ft and 33 in the rears. A good tech would have questioned my higher pressures and had the service advisor ask if this was intentional. I did rate everyone I interacted with very highly as they were very polite. Later that day I got a confirmation email and a phone call from the dealer saying they were very sorry and they would educate their techs to check tire pressures when rotating tires. Can't wait to get back home next spring and go over the truck myself. Just hoping I don't need to borrow my neighbor's 3/4" drive impact to get the lug nuts loose for a proper torque setting.

 

Come on guys. You're overly paranoid. Take your truck to the dealer. Or to the quicky nifty lube. For your oil changes. For you tire rotations. But. But. But. You will want to be sure that when you pick the truck back up that you have a full compliment of tools with you. Maybe even a creeper. And then get the truck located RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE SERVICE BAY and then pull the skid plate and start checking everything for proper fastening and torque. Right in front of the service guys. This is THE ONLY way you will know that your truck is safe to drive away. And if it's phvcked up then you can start yelling from underneath it. Or beside it if it is wheel lug torque.

Or..................you can do it all yourself and know, without regard to doubt or incompetence, that it is done right.

I've never ever had the problems described. Doing it all myself since 1985. You can too.

 

My dealer offered free lifetime oil changes, first 4 years they changed it every5000 miles. Called in last time now they change every 10,000 no explanations.

 

Paleot11 On my 4Runner it’s had conventional oil it’s whole with that dealer I can go 3 or 5000 miles no question. They are all different we have bought 5 new vehicles from them but it seems there is no relation between sales and service anymore. I was in the car business in the 80s service to be exact sales and service were a lot more in tune with each other back then.

 

Back them most dealerships were single dealerships for the Owners. Now most dealerships are part of a much bigger business and are one of 15 - 20 dealerships run by the same guys at the top. Shit service is a muted voice deep in the forest.

 

Free really isn't free.

 

I do mine myself also. I swear they didn't even change my oil on my 1 free oil change. I put a fumoto valve on and put in a door n my skid plate, bought the motiv kit. Super clean easy job now. With no worries about drain plug either.
Plus I put in amsoil signature which IMO is the best oil available cheaper than a dealer change

 

I hate hearing stories like this. I contemplate doing the oil change myself every time it is due. My dealership has a lifetime engine warranty as long as you take it there for oil changes. I get that the warranty isn't free, I am paying for it with each change and taking on the risk that the tech gives a crap about their job. A different dealership snapped the head off of one of the rear skid plate bolts on our sequoia. The rest of the bolt is still in the frame. I didn't catch until after we moved and started doing the oil changes myself.

 

I n that case I would check the drain plug and the filter housing for leaks and tightness, and obviously oil level everytime it was done

 

I've done all the oil changes on mine since new, the experience with my previous Subaru and dealer changes convinced my that any "free/included" services weren't worth it. I put fumoto valve when on at the first oil change which makes draining the oil super simple and little to no mess. Now I need to cut a trap door in the stock skid plate so I can stop messing around with taking it off every time.

 

Well here is my update the service Mgr could care less that I have a permanent reminder on my $4000 dollar concrete and told me he doesn’t usually have that problem because they have to write down they tightened then torqued the drain plug to spec on his copy of the RO. He offered me nothing other than thanks for pointing it out and he would address it. I said if I had been going to my daughters in Kansas CityI wouldn’t have made it. Nothing. Back to doing it myself as I should have in the beginning.

 

Sadly, this is the way.

 

My truck came with several oil changes. First one I did filter can was so over tightened I needed a long breaker bar and cracked the housing. Purchased the all aluminum replacement and the fly torque to spec. I recommend the aluminum canister and motive wrench

 

I had a timing belt done at a toyota dealership one time, first and last. My upper radiator hose clamp was not even in position, it was about midway down the hose. The two 12 mm bolts holding the timing belt cover on had threads showing. The dealership tried to get me for a brake service, I checked my rear drums, still frozen to the hub with rust.

These were only the obvious defects after a 2 minute cursory inspection.

I can change parts too, doesn't make your techs special, Toyota.

 

Hope engine was not damaged. How low was oil on dipstick or was it not even measuring to that point?

Unfortunately the personnel they use for oil changes are not Mechanics, just entry level no experience folks. Uggg.