What do you think?

[ITSMR2U]

I took my '03 Forester to the dealer for an oil change and brought my own Mobil 1 oil. Crankcase capacity is 4.2 quarts on this car and I brought four quarts to the dealer with he intention of topping off when I got home. Checked the oil when cool and it was about 1/2 quart overfilled! I either got their bulk oil and the tech kept the Mobil 1 or the filter was charged for but not changed.
They also told me I needed new tires. I measured at home with a depth gauge and have 6/32 tread depth - not even close to the wear indicators. Wrote the dealer a letter two weeks ago and haven't heard from them to date.
Any other ideas about why the crankcase was overfilled on 4 quarts of oil?

 

[DieselPower]

Sounds like either the tech just kept your oil or they used your oil and completed the fill with whatever they use and overdid it a little. I think I would be stoping by to talk in person with the service manager about this.

 

[The_Jeff]

If you weren't completely clear you were going to top it off they could easily have put 1/2 a quart of their bulk oil in.

The boss probably really rides the lube guys with their checklist and won't let a car go out even a tablespoon low. I think, but cannot confirm, that most dealers overfill by 1/4 quart or more, but people can't tell, because the dipstick narrows down and turns a bend immediately above "F". This also helps create an illusion that a car burns absolutely no oil when it burns a teeny bit.

Really seems like you'd gain satisfaction from doing it yourself from now on or finding another shop, where you can watch them work through a window.

 

[Tosh]

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I either got their bulk oil and the tech kept the Mobil 1 or the filter was charged for but not changed.

Any other ideas about why the crankcase was overfilled on 4 quarts of oil?

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To determine what happened, you could drain some of the oil and send it off for analysis. Or you could compare your sample with some M1 in a visual freezer temperature viscosity comparison (like the TV ad). But if you can't even figure out if you have a new filter or not, then draining some oil could be a real challenge.

 

[toocrazy2yoo]

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But if you can't even figure out if you have a new filter or not, then draining some oil could be a real challenge.

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Good point, Tosh, it's a limitation.

Also points up what crooks they are. Folks, if you take a car in with your own oil, and it isn't a garage where you can see the guy put the oil in, it's not going to go in. Plan on it. What's going in is the dealer's dino. Only place the Mobil 1 you brought is going, is in the mechanic's or service manager's trunk.

Its, next time you want to do this, find a small tire-change place (I used Tires Plus for my girlfriend's car), take it to them. Friendly folks, charged, I dunno, 15.00 labor for the oil change for her car (my oil, their Purolator filter) and rotated the tires for another 20.00, even used a torque wrench on the lugs.

They let me hang with the guy while it was on the lift so I could have a gander at the underside of the car (2000 I-30, 58,000, garage kept, it's pristine except for the sludged motor), and showed me where the filter was located, and in general was quite helpful.

Take it to the dealer, and they go who knows where with the car, with signs all over, "Customers NOT allowed". Insurance issues Riiiight. Insurance they won't get caught being crooked, that is..

Its, in the future, remember. Where the Stealership is concerned, if it smells fishy, it IS.