Dealer oil change...

[johnsmellsalot]

When I bought my car, the dealer changed the oil. A week later, they sent me an email offering 3 free oil changes. It's a good thing I didn't do it because I had to use my leg to get the drain plug off. I even managed to break one of my sockets while doing so. Amazingly, the oil pan was not stripped.

I also discovered a Pronto oil filter. I'm surprised they didn't use a Mopar filter. I'll probably cut it open and post it in the oil filter section. It'll be a while before I do though.

BTW: I bought the car 2 months ago and I'm just now changing the oil.

Oh and when they did change the oil, they put a Castrol sticker on the window. It says next service due at 48,441 miles. My car has 47,199 miles. I don't know why I wanted to change it so bad. I'm just going to follow the intervals in the owner's manual. The owner's manual says 48,000 miles, then 51,000 miles, 54,000 and so on. I'm not going to change the oil until 51,000 miles since my car is pretty much at 48,000 miles.

 

[simple_gifts]

I got the dealer installed "Buy 200lb ft get 200 lb ft free" option and never went back.

I figured after purchasing the vehicle "a simple oil change" could be trusted to them.....

 

[bdcardinal]

Was the dealer a Mopar dealer? I know when we get Mopar vehicles traded in there is no way I am getting a Mopar filter, the closest Dodge/Chrysler dealer is about 30 miles away. Plus the used car dept dictates the cheapest parts possible on used cars.

 

[antiqueshell]

Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
I got the dealer installed "Buy 200lb ft get 200 lb ft free" option and never went back.

I figured after purchasing the vehicle "a simple oil change" could be trusted to them.....


And the thing is I believe that this is NO accident either, and it is NOT simply because they are concerned that the oil plug will fall out, it is in fact because they want to deter DIYers, and that is CRIMINAL FRAUD when a business does that. Because many times over tightening the fastener or bolt results in damage to the parts. STEALERSHIPS, there is a reason why they earned this name.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
I got the dealer installed "Buy 200lb ft get 200 lb ft free" option and never went back.

I figured after purchasing the vehicle "a simple oil change" could be trusted to them.....


And the thing is I believe that this is NO accident either, and it is NOT simply because they are concerned that the oil plug will fall out, it is in fact because they want to deter DIYers, and that is CRIMINAL FRAUD when a business does that. Because many times over tightening the fastener or bolt results in damage to the parts. STEALERSHIPS, there is a reason why they earned this name.

Baloney.

 

[fdcg27]

Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
I got the dealer installed "Buy 200lb ft get 200 lb ft free" option and never went back.

I figured after purchasing the vehicle "a simple oil change" could be trusted to them.....


And the thing is I believe that this is NO accident either, and it is NOT simply because they are concerned that the oil plug will fall out, it is in fact because they want to deter DIYers, and that is CRIMINAL FRAUD when a business does that. Because many times over tightening the fastener or bolt results in damage to the parts. STEALERSHIPS, there is a reason why they earned this name.


There may be some truth in what you've posted, but it isn't just dealerships that over-tighten the drain plug and the oil filter.
Most quick oil change outlets will do this as well.
This has been well documented in many threads here.
So you want to try changing your own oil?
We'll make it darn near impossible.
If you didn't know any better you'd simply deceide that you lacked either the strength or the tools to do an oil change, and you'd then just take it back to the last shop that changed it.
Now, the factory installed oil filters of the last three Japanese brand cars we've bought new were really on there.
Of course I got them off, but it did require some effort and a little ingenuity.
With our last new Ford, though, the factory filter came off without any undue effort.

 

[HyundaiGuy]

My dealer does a great job. Plus they charge less than $40 for a synthetic oil change with the OEM Hyundai filter. Not all dealerships are bad.

 

[yonyon]

If you would otherwise be inclined to take them up on the three free oil changes you could say "Please don't overtighten the plug and filter." when you drop it off. They should know better without being told, but kids these days...

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: yonyon
If you would otherwise be inclined to take them up on the three free oil changes you could say "Please don't overtighten the plug and filter." when you drop it off. They should know better without being told, but kids these days...

Tightness is subjective anyway. When a Toyota or Honda drain plug is torqued to the recommended 27 ft-lbs (or thereabouts), my dad would have trouble removing it with his puny 6" wrench and scream bloody heck...

 

[stephen9666]

I would definitely use the 3 free oil changes. Just mention to them that you want them to make sure to properly torque the drain plug, not over tighten it.

As another member mentioned, some drain plugs are spec'd to 25-30+ ft-lbs, which can be difficult to remove by hand, depending on what tool you're using.

Also, there's probably nothing wrong with the Pronto filter. I bought several that were made in Korea and had good build quality.

 

[johnsmellsalot]

The torque spec for my drain plug is 20 ft. lbs. The torque spec for my mom's Honda is 29 ft. lbs. I use a torque wrench to tighten the drain plug. I have no problems when removing the drain plug from my mom's car with a wrench.
Originally Posted By: stephen9666
I would definitely use the 3 free oil changes. Just mention to them that you want them to make sure to properly torque the drain plug, not over tighten it.

As another member mentioned, some drain plugs are spec'd to 25-30+ ft-lbs, which can be difficult to remove by hand, depending on what tool you're using.

Also, there's probably nothing wrong with the Pronto filter. I bought several that were made in Korea and had good build quality.

 

[Kruse]

Originally Posted By: johnsmellsalot
WIt's a good thing I didn't do it because I had to use my leg to get the drain plug off. I even managed to break one of my sockets while doing so. Amazingly, the oil pan was not stripped.


Probably a dealer thing. In December of '87, I bought a brand new '88 Cougar. The dealer threw in free oil changes for the life of the car. (I tried to negotiate that away, but the dealer did that to all new car sales and it was a given) On the VERY FIRST oil change, the lube monkey stripped out the plug and it left a puddle in my apartment complex. I took it back to the dealer and they drained my oil into a dirty catch pan, put in a new plug and put the now-dirty oil back into my car. I never went back to them again for service, the necessary recalls or the purchase of my next car.

 

[yonyon]

Back in the 80s Ford still had the whole "write us a letter and we'll make it right" thing going on. You probably could have gotten a new car or at least a new engine to make you happy if you'd followed through. The dealer would suffer a black mark, but would still get paid for the "repair" and there's even a 50/50 chance they wouldn't have to return the "damaged" engine so one of their techs could have made out but good too. They aren't like that anymore, but back then, yeah.