I had my wife bring her Honda minivan to a local independant to have the oil changed since I didn't have the time to do it. I supplied 6 quarts of M1 5w/30. There were 2 quarts left over on an engine that takes 5.5 quarts. Makes me wonder what they added for that last quart and 1/2.
Hack Lube Tech At Dealership
- Thread starter The Critic
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No they changed the filter with the one I supplied but it only holds half a quart anyway. I'm not too worried about it, it's just makes me think.
I refuse to use a dealership for anything other than warranty work. My mechanic has 30 years of experience and charges half of the dealership's hourly rate. Everything I can do myself I do, everything I can't I take to him. I think a lot of people believe that going to a dealership means you get a more qualified tech or mechanic and that's just not true. No offense to any good dealership mechanics intended.
Techs are very hit and miss and often the dealer techs are less qualified than independent shop techs. We have a huge education problem in our business because business owners are always willing to hire whoever is cheaper so why would someone want to get a degree in Automotive Technology to get [censored] wages to do [censored] work?
I've said it before and I'll say it again. I dont understand where all these [censored] dealers are at.
The two that get my business, a Ford and a GM store, both are fantastic. The Ford dealer, I've been with for years, I know the guys up front and the guys out back. Most of the mechanics are car guys themselves, they race on weekends some of them. Others I see at Milan Dragway all the time. Never had a problem with warranty work on a modded car, never had any of the problems I read about online.
Not saying the bad ones dont exist, they sure do, no doubt. I guess in the end, it's the truth that any endeavour has it's bad seeds involved. Sorry you ran across one of them.
Like any business, the problem starts at the top, the guy in charge may not see it that way, but that only proves he is part of the problem.
The two that get my business, a Ford and a GM store, both are fantastic. The Ford dealer, I've been with for years, I know the guys up front and the guys out back. Most of the mechanics are car guys themselves, they race on weekends some of them. Others I see at Milan Dragway all the time. Never had a problem with warranty work on a modded car, never had any of the problems I read about online.
Not saying the bad ones dont exist, they sure do, no doubt. I guess in the end, it's the truth that any endeavour has it's bad seeds involved. Sorry you ran across one of them.
Like any business, the problem starts at the top, the guy in charge may not see it that way, but that only proves he is part of the problem.
These are low paid lube techs, why do you guys expect them to do the job correct ?
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
These are low paid lube techs, why do you guys expect them to do the job correct ?
Doing a LOF is a simple job that anyone with an IQ of 60 could do in minutes flat and get it done right...It is the character of the person, training, and working conditions that will make or break how the job gets done even with this simple task.
Of course if more people had access to a lift they would do it themselves.
These are low paid lube techs, why do you guys expect them to do the job correct ?
Doing a LOF is a simple job that anyone with an IQ of 60 could do in minutes flat and get it done right...It is the character of the person, training, and working conditions that will make or break how the job gets done even with this simple task.
Of course if more people had access to a lift they would do it themselves.
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
These are low paid lube techs, why do you guys expect them to do the job correct ?
Up until recently the Ford stealership has been overall good...But the last couple of times they short changed me a quart and dented my wheel covers after rotating the tires...They also stole cd's I had in my trunk.
I think I am going to buy my own oil and have a honest independent garage do it from now on.
These are low paid lube techs, why do you guys expect them to do the job correct ?
Up until recently the Ford stealership has been overall good...But the last couple of times they short changed me a quart and dented my wheel covers after rotating the tires...They also stole cd's I had in my trunk.
I think I am going to buy my own oil and have a honest independent garage do it from now on.
Originally Posted By: Vizzy
Doing a LOF is a simple job that anyone with an IQ of 60 could do in minutes flat and get it done right...
O rlly?
You mean LOF, tire check, pressure check, brake check, belt check, fluids check, grease fittings, talk to the customer, and write everything down...
in Michigan rust all in 30 minutes or less. Can't spend any more time than that upselling services, ya hear?
To do it in 45 minutes is poor quality. It can be done in 30 but the rush ensures that things will be forgotten. I'm never surprised when flat rate mechanics mess things up on a regular basis. Flat rate and customer satisfaction are diametrically opposed.
Ask how much time is allotted for a LOF. If it's 30 minutes or less for a single mechanic, steer clear. The lube shops can do it that fast because there are 2 or more working on the same car and some don't upsell things that would require lifting the car.
Doing a LOF is a simple job that anyone with an IQ of 60 could do in minutes flat and get it done right...
O rlly?
You mean LOF, tire check, pressure check, brake check, belt check, fluids check, grease fittings, talk to the customer, and write everything down...
in Michigan rust all in 30 minutes or less. Can't spend any more time than that upselling services, ya hear?
To do it in 45 minutes is poor quality. It can be done in 30 but the rush ensures that things will be forgotten. I'm never surprised when flat rate mechanics mess things up on a regular basis. Flat rate and customer satisfaction are diametrically opposed.
Ask how much time is allotted for a LOF. If it's 30 minutes or less for a single mechanic, steer clear. The lube shops can do it that fast because there are 2 or more working on the same car and some don't upsell things that would require lifting the car.
Originally Posted By: severach
Originally Posted By: Vizzy
Doing a LOF is a simple job that anyone with an IQ of 60 could do in minutes flat and get it done right...
O rlly?
You mean LOF, tire check, pressure check, brake check, belt check, fluids check, grease fittings, talk to the customer, and write everything down...
in Michigan rust all in 30 minutes or less. Can't spend any more time than that upselling services, ya hear?
To do it in 45 minutes is poor quality. It can be done in 30 but the rush ensures that things will be forgotten. I'm never surprised when flat rate mechanics mess things up on a regular basis. Flat rate and customer satisfaction are diametrically opposed.
Ask how much time is allotted for a LOF. If it's 30 minutes or less for a single mechanic, steer clear. The lube shops can do it that fast because there are 2 or more working on the same car and some don't upsell things that would require lifting the car.
I can do a LOF and rotate in 30 min in my own garage with jack stands and a floor jack.
A person doing it on the lift with air tools should be able to do it in 20 min or less.
I mean, what do you really need to do?
Pull car in, check oil level.
Raise car, unbolt drain plug and take-off filter. While oil is draining, check all air pressures then take off tires and rotate.
Get flashlight and check for any oil leaks, wiggle ball joints with prybar.
Put on new filter, reinstall plug, refill with new oil.
Originally Posted By: Vizzy
Doing a LOF is a simple job that anyone with an IQ of 60 could do in minutes flat and get it done right...
O rlly?
You mean LOF, tire check, pressure check, brake check, belt check, fluids check, grease fittings, talk to the customer, and write everything down...
in Michigan rust all in 30 minutes or less. Can't spend any more time than that upselling services, ya hear?
To do it in 45 minutes is poor quality. It can be done in 30 but the rush ensures that things will be forgotten. I'm never surprised when flat rate mechanics mess things up on a regular basis. Flat rate and customer satisfaction are diametrically opposed.
Ask how much time is allotted for a LOF. If it's 30 minutes or less for a single mechanic, steer clear. The lube shops can do it that fast because there are 2 or more working on the same car and some don't upsell things that would require lifting the car.
I can do a LOF and rotate in 30 min in my own garage with jack stands and a floor jack.
A person doing it on the lift with air tools should be able to do it in 20 min or less.
I mean, what do you really need to do?
Pull car in, check oil level.
Raise car, unbolt drain plug and take-off filter. While oil is draining, check all air pressures then take off tires and rotate.
Get flashlight and check for any oil leaks, wiggle ball joints with prybar.
Put on new filter, reinstall plug, refill with new oil.
There is no such thing as a "Lube Tech'. There is a "Lube Guy", with minimal training, that gets paid $8-10/hr + spiffs on upsells. That's about it. There is so much employee turnover in that position you never know what kind of service you will get. It is hard (not impossible) to QC every LOF that comes through the shop.
We had a great shop foreman who tried to get $12/hr as starting pay for lube techs so he could hire/retain better personnel. Incompetent management squashed that real quick, and cost the shop time and p*ssed customers.
If you really want to see a sloppy LOF, give it to a $25/hr performance tech while the lube guy is at lunch.
We had a great shop foreman who tried to get $12/hr as starting pay for lube techs so he could hire/retain better personnel. Incompetent management squashed that real quick, and cost the shop time and p*ssed customers.
If you really want to see a sloppy LOF, give it to a $25/hr performance tech while the lube guy is at lunch.
expect the newest, lowest paid guy to be the 'lube tech'.
I have years in dealer service depts. and the things I saw and heard have made me a strict believer in DIY!!!!
I have years in dealer service depts. and the things I saw and heard have made me a strict believer in DIY!!!!
Customers have a Jiffy Lube mentality when it comes to how much time a LOF should take to complete at the dealership. Problem is that even if you're "waiting" at the store, there's no guarantee that it will be worked on immediately. The RO might sit in the bin for 20 minutes (or more when it's really busy) before anyone even touches it. The most likely reason is that there are 5 other customers, also waiting, ahead of you.
Also, at a store like ours, we only have one lube tech at night, as opposed to two during the day. Which is backwards, because everyone comes in after work for oil changes and waits. So we have one guy who is expected to crank out around 30 oil changes per night without a proper break, most of them customers who are waiting in the lobby.
And yes, many of them can be hacks, for many reasons. Not owning the right tools, having to rush through every car, not giving a [censored], etc.
Also, at a store like ours, we only have one lube tech at night, as opposed to two during the day. Which is backwards, because everyone comes in after work for oil changes and waits. So we have one guy who is expected to crank out around 30 oil changes per night without a proper break, most of them customers who are waiting in the lobby.
And yes, many of them can be hacks, for many reasons. Not owning the right tools, having to rush through every car, not giving a [censored], etc.
Maybe the dealer's strategy is to have customer get tired of waiting in the service dept and kill time by looking in the showroom.... sitting in a new vehicle and get bitten by the new car 'bug'
For a poverty wage of $10, I would rather work at Walmart than get all dirty and burned by hot oil working on cars
For a poverty wage of $10, I would rather work at Walmart than get all dirty and burned by hot oil working on cars
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When you take you vehicle to a dealer for minor service you do not get a certified mechanic. While the guy doing the work is usually supposed to be watched over by a mechanic it seldom happens. often times there is only one or two mechanics at a dealership and they do the more serious stuff. Learned this the hard way. Your oil change may have been performed by the guy who sweeps the floor at close up time.
Originally Posted By: Eddie
When you take you vehicle to a dealer for minor service you do not get a certified mechanic. While the guy doing the work is usually supposed to be watched over by a mechanic it seldom happens. often times there is only one or two mechanics at a dealership and they do the more serious stuff. Learned this the hard way. Your oil change may have been performed by the guy who sweeps the floor at close up time.
I love when the service donkey pages you while your outside [or calls you on your cell] as your blundering threw the used cars while waiting for your car to get done and says the tech [donkey changing the oil] recommends you do this and that right now...Thats generally when the fight starts.
When you take you vehicle to a dealer for minor service you do not get a certified mechanic. While the guy doing the work is usually supposed to be watched over by a mechanic it seldom happens. often times there is only one or two mechanics at a dealership and they do the more serious stuff. Learned this the hard way. Your oil change may have been performed by the guy who sweeps the floor at close up time.
I love when the service donkey pages you while your outside [or calls you on your cell] as your blundering threw the used cars while waiting for your car to get done and says the tech [donkey changing the oil] recommends you do this and that right now...Thats generally when the fight starts.
Originally Posted By: Vizzy
...
Most tires are overinflated by the techs who often put the MAX sidewall pressure in(44). My Yaris rides, drives and handles best with 28psi in the fronts cold rather than the 32 spec on the door jamb. Maybe he did you a favour - Why does my 2300lb car with 185 65R15 need 32psi!? [/quote]
Probably it squeezes out another .5 MPG....
[/quote]
Sometimes lower than factory pressures cause the sides of the tires to wear out before the center of the tire.
But anyway, it seems 1/2 of the Japanese cars built say to use 32 PSI. Perhaps the manufacturer doesn't care, and just wants a simple number?
...
Most tires are overinflated by the techs who often put the MAX sidewall pressure in(44). My Yaris rides, drives and handles best with 28psi in the fronts cold rather than the 32 spec on the door jamb. Maybe he did you a favour - Why does my 2300lb car with 185 65R15 need 32psi!? [/quote]
Probably it squeezes out another .5 MPG....
Sometimes lower than factory pressures cause the sides of the tires to wear out before the center of the tire.
But anyway, it seems 1/2 of the Japanese cars built say to use 32 PSI. Perhaps the manufacturer doesn't care, and just wants a simple number?
Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
Most tires are overinflated by the techs who often put the MAX sidewall pressure in(44).
I see this all the time. I even here techs who should know better say 32 psi is the 'standard'.
Most tires are overinflated by the techs who often put the MAX sidewall pressure in(44).
I see this all the time. I even here techs who should know better say 32 psi is the 'standard'.
Hey, the tire over-inflation is the least of your worries, when I supervised techs, the worst problem I had was the way they put the cars on the lifts. They never used the proper jacking points and were always damaging the under-side of customers' vehicles. They wanted to use the body seams to support the vehicle and I had many complaints until I forced them to use the correct jacking points. You would not believe how much damage can occur to the body by doing that.
After training the techs to use the factory correct jacking points and having diagram charts posted in the shop, if they did incorrectly after that -- they got sent home for the rest of the day without pay.
It is very easy to repair a stripped oil drain plug, but much more expensive to repair damaged rocker panels.
I even had one noobie tech who caused a pickup to fall backwards off a hydraulic lift that was 8 feet in the air. Nearly totaled the truck. Nobody got hurt, thank goodness.
After training the techs to use the factory correct jacking points and having diagram charts posted in the shop, if they did incorrectly after that -- they got sent home for the rest of the day without pay.
It is very easy to repair a stripped oil drain plug, but much more expensive to repair damaged rocker panels.
I even had one noobie tech who caused a pickup to fall backwards off a hydraulic lift that was 8 feet in the air. Nearly totaled the truck. Nobody got hurt, thank goodness.
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