Did I Get Scammed?

[bobbob]

I went into one of those "Lube" places for a tire rotation and
was told there was a big carbon buildup in the throttle body.
(The car is 6 years old) I watched them do the grease cutter
spray deal, do you think it was necessary? Thank you

 

[Bad_Robot]

Let's see, you went in for a tire rotation, but out of the goodness of their heart and out of concern over your baby having smoker's lung, they went out of their way to check the throttle body. You should have asked them to show you all that carbon buildup.

Yeah, you got gypped.

 

[santov]

Plus spraying that junk in the throttle body for your engine to digest isn't good.

Depending on the make/model you might be able to take it off and use a microfiber towel and throttle body cleaner to get all the junk out. It made a noticable difference in my wife's VQ engine.

 

[oilboy123]

Just don't take some shop people telling you what's good for you. Otherwise they will make you feel cheap and used.

Next time tell them you will take it under advisement and think about it. Quick lubes have a real bad reputation for trying to bump up their bottom line on every car that comes in. Think about it? If you came in for a rotation $12.99 or whatever..... Then they get you for a throttle cleaning $25, or whatever. They just bumped up their profits big time. Be skeptical be very skeptical............... You could have probably done the same thing with a can from the parts store for less than $5 in 10 minutes.

Just use this as a learning experience. Run it by us guys next time.......

 

[Unearthed]

Don't sweat the small stuff!

 

[229]

It needs it periodically but you can do it. Just use the proper chemical.

 

[chad8]

You didn't get scammed , they stole money from you.
How would some lube jockey know if carbon was a factor in the running condition of your engine without a engine scan . Plus , the stuff they used will not remove anything but surface deposits.
You paid for something that was totally unnecessary and really not done at all.
This is the 2011 version of the half quart low (dipstick not in all the way) trick from the 1960's.
Can you spell BBB.

 

[gathermewool]

What were they doing taking things apart on your car? The last time a quick-lube place checked my gf's air filter, they left EVERY SINGLE bolts loose on the air cleaner housing. They're not all idiots and/or scam artists, but why risk it?

 

[MONKEYMAN]

I get my tires rotated at large chain store. Three tire rotations ago it was suggested my struts should be replaced since they were original. Two rotations ago leaking rear wheel cylinder and front pads needing replacement. I just said no. Learned how to do brakes myself and let the struts alone. Saved over $1,000 dollars. I clean my throttle body every year. But I have an oil burning Saturn and it gets very dirty. It is also easy to do. Went to clean throttle body on Lexus RX300 with 35,000 miles and I could have eaten off it. It looked brand new. I guess it depends on the car and mileage and if you DYI.

 

[Jakegday]

no... in 08, i was hearing of 04 and newer grand prixs having problems with carbon buildup in the throttle body, which would negatively affect their "drive by wire" system, where theres no accelerator cable..

 

[KrisZ]

No scam, throttle bodies do need periodic cleaning. So, unless they charged the OP and did not perform the service, I see no scam.

If bobbob is not happy with the price, that's another story and the lube place cannot be faulted for that.

 

[JHZR2]

These things need to be done... but this is one of those "iffy" profit makers.

An informed customer would ask to see a picture (if not there) or see it in the shop if there.

If they gave a runaround, especially if there in the shop, I'd make a stink because of concern that my engine was being opened up unnecessarily.

 

[eljefino]

Did a wheel bearing on a friends saturn. His TB was completely mucked up. Gas pedal was sticky leaving idle.

I comp'd him the cleaning, two minutes, two paper towels, and a teaspoon of gasoline. (Old skool!)

He didn't know he needed it. But it was foolishly easy. And his engine didn't breathe anything unusual.

 

[Papa Bear]

Originally Posted By: oilboy123


Just use this as a learning experience. Run it by us guys next time.......

Preferably BEFORE you do it, not after......

 

[OldCowboy]

I used to get all my oil changes done by one of those "Lube" places. Every time I was in, they tried to sell me something I didn't need. After 12 changes in three years I realized I'd never seen the same "technician" twice. Considering the level of "expertise" these "technicians" had and the level of personnel turnover, I decided to start doing my own oil changes.

 

[JOD]

6 years old and the TB was never cleaned? Yeah, I'm sure it was dirty. Whether or not it affects the performance depends on the car.

I use one of the spray cleaners (3M), since it also cleans the intake valves, along with manually cleaning the throttle body.

Upselling is what those places do, and how they make money. It's up to you as to whether or not it's worth it, but those saying they 'stole your money' or 'scammed you' are being ridiculous, IMO. Sometimes the services they recommend are, well, actually needed.

 

[brelandt]

Where I had applied to work they spend 1/4 of the time inspecting the vehicle for such stuff as this. 2 reasons for it. Yes it does make them extra money, it's a business after all (they note what needs done and the customer must approve). 2 you will not believe the amount of people out there that do not give a [censored] about their cars and drive them around half broken. They actually NEED someone to tell them when things are due because they will not open the manual themselves and read it. so it's a service as well.
This place also as a two man system which means when the first tech has done a job another reads through and double checks the work. If you use a torque wrench the second guy double checks the setting and rechecks the bolts.
Not all places are like this.

 

[JOD]

Originally Posted By: brelandt
Where I had applied to work they spend 1/4 of the time inspecting the vehicle for such stuff as this. 2 reasons for it. Yes it does make them extra money, it's a business after all (they note what needs done and the customer must approve). 2 you will not believe the amount of people out there that do not give a [censored] about their cars and drive them around half broken. They actually NEED someone to tell them when things are due because they will not open the manual themselves and read it. so it's a service as well.


Yeah, in a certain sense this is one of those 'no win' situations for the lube place. Years ago working in a bike shop I ran into this scenario constantly. Someone comes in to get a flat tire fixed and you notice their brakes are barely functioning and the bike doesn't shift. Do you fix the flat and send them on their merry way? It's a tough thing to diplomatically say "hey, this thing really needs some help" without seeming like you're trying to sell unnecessary stuff.

 

[oilboy123]

Originally Posted By: brelandt
Where I had applied to work they spend 1/4 of the time inspecting the vehicle for such stuff as this. 2 reasons for it. Yes it does make them extra money, it's a business after all (they note what needs done and the customer must approve). 2 you will not believe the amount of people out there that do not give a [censored] about their cars and drive them around half broken. They actually NEED someone to tell them when things are due because they will not open the manual themselves and read it. so it's a service as well.
This place also as a two man system which means when the first tech has done a job another reads through and double checks the work. If you use a torque wrench the second guy double checks the setting and rechecks the bolts.
Not all places are like this.


You have some good points about some people neglecting their cars. I have worked in some shops and saw the same thing. Sometimes people broadbrush all shops as bad when not all of them are. Human nature.

 

[01rangerxl]

The car may or may not have needed it, but why were they even looking at the throttle body if they were only asked to do a tire rotation?

Odds are they never bothered to take the intake tube off until they did the cleaning (if they did it). I worked for a quick lube...as far as management was concerned, every car needed everything. That was how the shop got bonuses. Upselling was pushed hard.

On some cars the throttle body should not be cleaned with any solvent or chemical. There is a warning label on my truck's throttle body that says not to clean it, period, because some coating on it could be damaged. After 9 years and 107K miles, the truck still runs great and the throttle body has never been touched.