Dealership Oil Change Experience

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I'm surprised nobody else mentioned this, but how cold could it have possibly been inside your garage in CA? I bet it was still way warmer than it is here today (it's just above the freezing mark) and I'm going to do my oil change outside. I don't mind changing oil when it's cold out, I just don't like doing it when it's windy out (it makes the oil splash all over the driveway when draining it)
 
I doubt Nissan has a thing to say if it's not warranty work. If aftermarket filters do not void the warranty when installed at a quick-lube joint, they are perfectly acceptable at a Nissan dealership. If the dealer is successful at moving units, no one at Nissan corporate is going to bat an eye over aftermarket oil filters. If they are consistently below sales goals, they have a lot more to worry about than oil filters.

If the dealer advertised a particular brand of filter and made a substitution without consulting the car owner then they are wrong. Otherwise, where is the foul?

I still can't understand why any professional service department would allow a customer to bring his own parts/supplies. Bad business practice to be sure.
 
Best deal in Western Civilization,those dealer oil changes. They check your car over very well,looking for work,adjust your air pressure,etc. Liked the plastic bagging of left over oil. Just specify which filter you want up front,or bring your own. I go 2x per year and let them do my state inspection on the Spring oil change.
 
Originally Posted By: Patman
I'm surprised nobody else mentioned this, but how cold could it have possibly been inside your garage in CA? I bet it was still way warmer than it is here today (it's just above the freezing mark) and I'm going to do my oil change outside. I don't mind changing oil when it's cold out, I just don't like doing it when it's windy out (it makes the oil splash all over the driveway when draining it)

Critic is in No Cal, inside his un-heated garage the temperature can be below 50F the last few days. To No Cal 50F or below is cold, to So Cal 60F or below is cold.
 
I wish the NY dealers were like that I'd probably do some business with them. The sales dept I bought my Jeep from was great, their service dept sucks! That seems to be the norm around here. I caught an attitude on the phone with my Jeep dealers service dept, that cost them a customer. Some people should learn how to treat a customer, it might help their bottom line! They need me, I don't need them.
 
Should be common knowledge that Critic doesn't like to change his own oil, which is his choice. So being "cold" just added to the list of reasons to get a dealer done oil change.

If the dealer installed the filter then they would have to stand behind it, no biggie. OEM Nissan China made filter is nothing special anyway, a fiber endcap cheapie.

As for the comment regarding Nissans being sensitive to crush washer replacement, I had to chuckle a tad. To my knowledge I still have the original crush washer on my 03 Altima with 79k and never had a leaking issue or retightening issue with DIY and the few dealer done changes. The crush washer appears kind of fused to the plug at this point, works fine though.
lol.gif


I don't see much issue with this dealer done service. Got a record of it, good to go!

BTW, I'm enjoying reading the 'different perspectives' on the thread, volvomix being the topper.
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You can say that again.... Really... The OP was treated very well. Bringing in your own oil and having them do it for practically nothing. What's the complaint about? Using a Nippon Filter and not a "Nissan" filter? Really?

And the drain plug? I've used the same crush washers many times over without harm. As long as there are no leaks... What's the harm? Seriously...

And to the poster that said: "You were lied to and deceived. Don't go back.".... Really? Please.... The OP got an Oil (AND FILTER) change. How was he deceived? 99% of customers out there would be thrilled to have this service done. AND at that price.

Gimme a break. If you ran a dealership you'd be out of business before you even opened. Not all dealers are the way you portray them. There's plenty of wonderful Service advisers too. Everything was done right. Talk about nit-picking!
 
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR

Critic is in No Cal, inside his un-heated garage the temperature can be below 50F the last few days. To No Cal 50F or below is cold, to So Cal 60F or below is cold.


That's not really cold at all, it was only 36F here when I changed my oil outside, and even though it wasn't the best of conditions, I'd rather do it myself than take it to someone. Then that way, everything is done 100% the way you want it done.
 
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Everything was done right. Talk about nit-picking!

Kind of like an old lady at a restaurant that complains about everything, if its so bad then you need to stay home and cook your own meal. Same goes for an oil change or any other work on your car.
 
I think that HTSS_R is trying to say that what's cold for someone in one region, is not looked upon/felt the same for someone in another region. If I whined about getting uncomfortable working outdoors above 85F, the southerners would be all over my sissy-ness.

Looking at The Critics post carefully, I think this would not be much of an issue had he not gotten two different stories from the adviser vs. the manager.

That's the issue that would make me wonder if I would trust these guys to more serious repairs. Now a days, one has to somewhat take control of your own life (as best possible), whether it's a mechanic or a doctor you are dealing with. Seeing that he seemed to be pleased with the technicians actual work, he now knows that he has to "manage the managers" a bit more carefully.

Chock it up to a life lesson about getting things done to your expectations. While most here are criticizing the Critic about the details he admitted he could live with, some credit goes to him for paying attention, being assertive in a reasonable way, and at least "testing the waters" by expressing his concerns to the dealer. In "choosing his battles", he declined anymore work, but successfully brought some issues to the managers attention. Don't you HR people call that a "win-win" situation!!!

Who knows, maybe the dealer will take note and mend their ways a bit. After all, maybe they ARE interested in developing good will to get more business. At least the manager seemed to have that style.

In the mean time, the Critic will have to worry if they REALLY did change the crush washer.
lol.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Patman
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR

Critic is in No Cal, inside his un-heated garage the temperature can be below 50F the last few days. To No Cal 50F or below is cold, to So Cal 60F or below is cold.


That's not really cold at all, it was only 36F here when I changed my oil outside, and even though it wasn't the best of conditions, I'd rather do it myself than take it to someone. Then that way, everything is done 100% the way you want it done.


That's what I was thinking, I changed the oil in my daughter's Civic yesterday when it was about 34F outside. Actually the hot oil running down my arm when removing the filter felt pretty good LOL
 
Honestly I don't know why the dealer just didn't state in small print that the oil filter was a OEM equivilant filter ...it would save them the occasional hassle, heat from Nissan, and almost no customer would be concerned..as long as the application was correct...

Stupid move by the dealer....because it sounds like they actually DID treat the customer pretty well compared to most of the stealerships.
 
Originally Posted By: JGmazda
You can say that again.... Really... The OP was treated very well. Bringing in your own oil and having them do it for practically nothing. What's the complaint about? Using a Nippon Filter and not a "Nissan" filter? Really?

And the drain plug? I've used the same crush washers many times over without harm. As long as there are no leaks... What's the harm? Seriously...

And to the poster that said: "You were lied to and deceived. Don't go back.".... Really? Please.... The OP got an Oil (AND FILTER) change. How was he deceived? 99% of customers out there would be thrilled to have this service done. AND at that price.

Gimme a break. If you ran a dealership you'd be out of business before you even opened. Not all dealers are the way you portray them. There's plenty of wonderful Service advisers too. Everything was done right. Talk about nit-picking!




Isn't it about the Oil and the Filter? The reason we in Bitog is to nit pick....DUH!
 
Originally Posted By: hate2work
I changed the oil in my daughter's Civic yesterday when it was about 34F outside. Actually the hot oil running down my arm when removing the filter felt pretty good LOL


^^2nd on that one :^) I`ve changed my oil when it`s been in the teens,in my driveway,and man that warm filter and oil is nice :^)
 
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Originally Posted By: hate2work
Originally Posted By: Patman
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR

Critic is in No Cal, inside his un-heated garage the temperature can be below 50F the last few days. To No Cal 50F or below is cold, to So Cal 60F or below is cold.


That's not really cold at all, it was only 36F here when I changed my oil outside, and even though it wasn't the best of conditions, I'd rather do it myself than take it to someone. Then that way, everything is done 100% the way you want it done.


That's what I was thinking, I changed the oil in my daughter's Civic yesterday when it was about 34F outside. Actually the hot oil running down my arm when removing the filter felt pretty good LOL

I like to change oil when ambient temperature is between 65F and 75F, we would have days like that in an month of a year, sometimes I have to wait 4-5 days or a week to have perfect temperature, 65-75F, to do my chores.

I agree, nobody can do the oil change 100% the way I like it done. Dealers or Indies can do an okay job, but why drive somewhere to pay someone to have it done when I can do it at the convenience of my garage at the time that I like ? The only thing I hate is dispose of used oil.
 
i thought the stealership treated you pretty well... if you have been on this site for awhile then you must know any modern oil or filter is good...i try not to be a pita to schlubs in retail or tire/oil places cuz i know how much i would care if i was making 8$ hr...i would try to do mu job but dont expect me to touch my toes for you
 
Originally Posted By: doitmyself
Looking at The Critics post carefully, I think this would not be much of an issue had he not gotten two different stories from the adviser vs. the manager.

Exactly. That's my main concern. Either their department is that disorganized, or the manager is playing dumb and is trying to resolve this on a case by case basis. It sort of reminds me of the example that my econ professor used about pricematching.

Originally Posted By: Vizzy
Honestly I don't know why the dealer just didn't state in small print that the oil filter was a OEM equivilant filter ...it would save them the occasional hassle, heat from Nissan, and almost no customer would be concerned..as long as the application was correct...

As I probably hinted in the original post, if the coupon had said that a non-OEM filter would be used for this special, or if I was informed of this beforehand, I would not have any problem with it.
 
Wow! I specify Nippon filters for my Nissan truck and get them for about $2.95 from RockAuto. They're everybit as well-built as a OEM Nissan filter and may BE OEM for all I know.

I personally think the OP got a great deal on his service. However, I too would have appreciated being told that I'd be getting a non-OEM filter for that price. The proper thing to do would have been to offer a choice with the adjustment to the cost being noted.
 
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