my rant w/dealer oil change

Voodoo · 07-09-2005, 02:16 PM

My dealer called me up for a free dealer oil change. Cool, I thought and brought it in...dropped it off and picked it up 4 hours later. This was at 1000 miles and since it was free, wth

Now 3500 miles later I decided to change the oil myself

To my disbelief, I noticed that all the hardware when removing the skid under the oil filter was in mint condition, not even a rub mark. then I get to the filter and drain plug, it took herculean strength to unscrew, and finally....the oil that drained out was pitch black.

I am 100% sure that the dealer didnt change my oil at 1000 miles

Looks like I will be changing my own oil for years to come.

I have always been a trusting individual, but know I will just trust myself

Bassomatic · 07-09-2005, 02:25 PM

You gotta be kiddin' me.....I would write a letter to the service manager and the dealership manager. Tell them of your dissatisfaction and that you will never take your truck there again--for any work. Be professional, but firm. I would imagine you will get numerous offers for free oil changes, plus some other bennies. Dealers make good $$ on warranty work and will more than likely try to get your business back. If not, piss on 'em.

baseballfanz · 07-09-2005, 02:32 PM

Always mark your oil filter if you are going let anybody change your oil beside yourself. The place I goto, they let me stand there about 3 feet from my vehicle. Definitely let the service manager hear it.

**goathead** · 07-09-2005, 02:55 PM

one way to tell is that the factory filter will have some japanese writing on it.....

**HudsonValleyTitan** · 07-09-2005, 05:09 PM

A quick check of the dipstick after they "changed" you oil would have confirmed your fear. I'd be sure to check it in the future if you have someone else do it. I change my own for these reasons.

keiffers · 07-09-2005, 05:15 PM

when I had my Tundra and received free oil changes from the dealer, the mechanic put the drain plug back in wrong, drove home 20 miles and found it was leaking oil...took it back and they fixed it no questions asked. Wrote a letter to the service manager covering multiple issues and was told in response to the drain plug issue and resulting oil leaking that the oil was probably old oil found on the chassis, even though I said in the letter that I had put a brown paper sack down under the plug and came back 20 mins later and found oil on it. Didn't know the bag was part of the chassis. Complain to the service manager, but keep in mind you just might get a standard BS answer back in return. I've found dealerships don't give much of a crap anymore about even an oil change. You can goto Jiffy Lube or the dealer and both of them will either screw up or tell you that you need something you don't

schneid · 07-09-2005, 08:31 PM

Took mine in Thursday before the Fourth for 22.5k service. Don't know if they changed the oil and fileter but they nicely "un"balanced the tires. Had to get off the road after three hours to get them re-done. One was trashed and we had to use the spare. Just to be extra nice they lowered the pressure to 30 lbs all the way around too.

I won't be going back.

Carson City Nissan in case you wonder.

Bayou Titan · 07-09-2005, 09:23 PM

I would have more use for an all expense paid vacation to Iraq than I would free oil changes from the dealer. There are lengthly threads on this forum about horror stories, including dents, etc., from dealer oil changes. The old saying "you get what you pay for" sums up what I think about free oil changes.

Can't they even change the oil right???

First Dealer Oil CHange - Oil cap left off for 20 miles - Problem?

FLfinfan · 07-10-2005, 10:30 AM

I totally agree. If I can do it, the dealer don't touch it. Unfortunately thats not always the case.
I just had the dealer do the brake fix with the new rotors and pads. Should have been happy, and I am, with the brakes. But.......
I took the left front tire off when I got home to take pictures and found they had dumped or over flowed about a 3rd of a bottle of brake fluid in the engine compartment, right under the brake fluid reservoir, which then leaked down on the inside of the left front wheel well. It was all over the shock, spring, tire, control arm ect..... what a mess. They made no attempt to clean it up. They figured I would never look or investigate. I double check everything they do. You have to.

miketan · 07-10-2005, 11:54 PM

Keep the dealer horror stories coming. Everytime I get lazy and think about taking mine to get the oil changed, I remember posts like this and all of a sudden I get re-invigorated to do my own oil changes.

The only time a dealer or quick-lube place is gonna touch my Titan is when they pry the oil-filter wrench from my stone cold dead hands.

As for the brakes, I wish they'd give me the updated rotors/pads over the counter (under warranty) and just let me do it myself.

**P's Titan** · 07-11-2005, 12:08 AM

Have an interesting story... took my Titan in for a problem with it acclerating and it turned out to be a bad valve body, anyways on my service form it says it needed to replace a oil pan & bolt. Didnt think anything about it but now I am going to find out exactly WTF thats about after reading this stuff