New car... should I let the dealer change the oil?

Geonerd · Sep 16, 2009

Changing your own will save time and money, and you won't have to worry about the dealer's minions doing something dumb. It's also likely that the oil and filter you install will be of higher quality than that which the dealer would install. As stated, save the receipts, and mark them with odometer mileage.

opus1 · Sep 16, 2009

While the warranty is in effect, I'd go with the dealer. If there are any "maintenance issues" you can produce the receipts. Once that's over, I'd do it myself. In fact, 3/4 of the fleet is coming up on an oil-change and I can't wait.

The Cobalt will be visiting the dealer in October for an oil change/check even though the cost is going to be way more than if I did it myself -- even if I went out and bought the synthetic oil at regular price. But who here does that?

tmorris1 · Sep 16, 2009

If you don't trust the dealer to do the oil change under warranty, they I wouldn't have bought the car from them.

CROWNVIC4LIFE · Sep 16, 2009

Originally Posted By: Familyguy

My dealer offered me "free" oil changes for the life of the car.

Free oil changes at the Toyota dealer in Deerfield Beach Fla means the oil does not get changed...It happened to my sister and some other people I know...Complaints to Toyota fell on deaf ears and they could not care less...What the dealer does is bring the car to the back for about 20 minutes then brings up front. If you are offered free oil changes don't take your eyes off the car for even a second and check the oil before you pull away.

CROWNVIC4LIFE · Sep 16, 2009

Originally Posted By: Eddie

With a new vehicle, it can be good to build a repore with a dealer. I'd let them do the first and maybe second oil change.

I would stick to dealer for sure until the warrenty runs out..If you don't like that dealer find another one you like.

JOD · Sep 16, 2009

Originally Posted By: Sink

I would like to have it serviced at the dealer. The main reason for this is that it looks great to have consistent service records and I know that they are stored in the computers as well. Also, laziness.

This was my rationale for taking the car to the dealer to have it serviced. It's really no more expensive to have it serviced at the dealer--I'm always getting $19.99 coupons in the mail for LOF, and the Motorcraft Synthetic Blend and MC filter cost almost that much at Walmart, more than that at my local Schucks. The first time I took it to the dealer, there was a slight leak from the oil filter, which was spun on but not tightened. The second time, it was under-filled by a quart. That was enough for me. When I went to change it, the breaking torque on the drain plug was about 3 times the torque spec. on my aluminum oil pan. I'm sure the dealer has many very qualified mechanics, but I'm not sure they have those guys doing the $20.00 LOF... I'll stick with doing it myself, keeping my receipts and calling it good. I also update everything online, and I can print that out for someone if I sell the car. If I were looking for a used car and someone had been updating the records and had receipts, that would be good enough for me. The other issue is time. I'm lazy, too--but it's just so much quicker for me to do it myself rather than going into the dealer. Then again, changing the oil on a 3.0 Duratec is a 3 minute process, and I don't even have to put my car on ramps. On my Eurovan, I felt differently... I'm not sure if that's a consideration with your car or not?

CROWNVIC4LIFE · Sep 16, 2009

Originally Posted By: tmorris1

If you don't trust the dealer to do the oil change under warranty, they I wouldn't have bought the car from them.

You really don't know how the service department will be until you use them.

PF52 · Sep 16, 2009

Originally Posted By: Familyguy

My dealer offered me "free" oil changes for the life of the car.

I always believe those "free" oil changes are paid for somehow. Either at the time of sale, or during those "free" service visits, you'll pay eventually.

ARCOgraphite · Sep 16, 2009

Only trust 2 sevice bays out of 10 around here. U Wont know till you try though. -Funny note: I had a new, big ford truck and brought it in for my free oil change. They have a quick OC spot at the dealership with glass windows so you can watch from the service waiting area. Well, the service person was this very short woman, and she required a ladder(!)to open my hood. She got bulk oil in a pitcher and climbed the ladder. She could barely reach the oil fill. I saw here pouring the oil for what seemed an eternity. When I got the vehicle back - I routinely check the level befor driving off. When I opened the hood I saw oil splashed ALL OVER THE PLACE; on hoses and belts and the battery and fan shroud. I checked the level on the dipstick and it was almost a quart low. So 5 qts in the engine and 1 everywhere else

Needless to say, I didnt get any more free OC's at this Ford shop in Salem NH.

webfors · Sep 16, 2009

19 years old?? Change your own oil man! Dealer trust? That's a pretty general statement when there are so many different individuals that can work on your car. I had an experience recently with a friends VW that came to visit us from out of town. Before she left she had VW perform an oil change and air filter. As with all of my wife's friends who are towing 1, 2, or 3+ kids around I always offer to check their car out before they leave my house to return home. What did I find when I checked out that Golf 1.8T? You won't believe me, but here were the results: 1. Giant flat head screwdriver (12+ inches) laying over the right front strut assembly. Just sitting there.. no word of a lie. I asked if it was hers, and she said not a chance. She was going to go back to the dealer and lay into them for that 'mistake'. 2. Tires were WAY over inflated. All four tires had different pressures ranging from 40 - 55 psi. I asked her for the invoice of the VW service to check what they did, and total was $120 for oil change, air filter, and general inspection. What a mess that could of had serious implications. NO ONE touches my car but me, and if it has to go to the dealer I insist that I'm there to watch. Sorry, my safety is worth more than convenience.

Eddie · Sep 16, 2009

My Mazda dealer gave me two free oil changes on my new CX7. I was talking to the mechanic? as he drained the 6 quart sump. He changed the filter element and then replaced 6 quarts of MC 5w30 blend oil from quart bottles. Can't beat that. I have had some service departments that drive your vehicle out to the service location a 100+ feet away behind a fence and won't let me go there. I don't go to dealers like that and tell them so. If they don't want me to stand 20 foot away and watch then it is not my kind of dealer.

Gary Allan · Sep 16, 2009

Quote:

The main reason for this is that it looks great to have consistent service records and I know that they are stored in the computers as well.

Great for resale "value added" ..but if you're keeping it to 100k ..that's not going to be a factor except in a private sale.. and merely confirms that on THAT aspect, you're not pulling a fast one. "By the numbers" service records are great, albeit at higher costs. It does tend to sway the warranty genie in your favor on border line stuff. If you're footing the bill for the meat and potatoes ..they can forgo the gravy when the time comes. If you never used them, then they have no reason to extend any "forced good will" since they have no reputation to uphold. An former girl friend of mine had the 5 speed in her Cummins go bad over a year out of warranty. Since she had maintained it to the OEM schedule at the dealer they paid for one or the other (either the time or the trans/parts) on the job. I'm not sure if it was the factory or the dealer finagling it or what. When she asked, "What can you do for me", they had a reason to do it. Maintaining a vehicle by the book should result in no premature fatigue on anything.