Why I Ceased Having My Engine Oil Changed by the Dealer

SoCal 370Z

Why I ceased having my engine oil changed by the dealer:

1. Typically, the low man on the totem pole gets oil changing duty. "Hey, you, yeah you, when you're done jockeying that customer's car around the back lot get over here as I have some oil changes that need to be done!"
   
   
2. No cost deduction for bringing my own oil versus what their Service Department may or may not have to offer. We wouldn't want the customer to be happy, especially since we can't gouge them for our crappy oil, but we surely can for labor costs.
   
   
3. Learning the hard way that you need to ask for all your used oil containers back; also, numbering each container so that you can verify that they actually used your oil. (And still this is no guarantee that Joe Six Pack* didn't simply store your high-end oil in another container and pump their low-end oil into your engine. There's a happy lot jockey somewhere in the world tonight that he's now running synthetic oil.)
   
   
4. My personal favorite: Far too many stripped oil drain plugs from idiots who cannot discern foot pounds from "that feels about right," let alone use an actual torque wrench. You know you've been had when you look underneath your oil pan and see a shiny new oil drain plug (most likely oversized because the lot jockey used an air ratchet to speed-up your oil change in between his having to drive customers cars around. Whoops!).
   
   
5. When I change my oil, I know it's done correctly. (And I actually change my oil filter...not write-down that I did on a customer's invoice.)**

*Mind you, if Joe Six Pack drinks dark beer, then he's cool; if he drinks piss-water light beer, then he's not.

**For those of you who actually work at a Service Department and take pride in your work—this is not regarding you, and I commend you, but your type is few and far between.

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Why I NEVER say NO to the Panda Lou Fusz!!!

dad

That's the way I feel also!

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We can do without any article of luxury we have never had; but once obtained, it is not in human nature to surrender it voluntary.

AK370Z

True. I'm always so nervous when I take my car to the dealership service. I'm always thinking someone is not paying attention and making a mistake on my car. I took my car for first oil change to the dealer because it was free of charge . I don't think I'm taking it in anymore. I will do my own.

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>135I

Planning on doing my first oil change myself this weekend. Either one of you guys use royal purple??

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I will miss my Z. I hope she goes to a good home.

msl82

Dont you need a jack, or some other machine to lift up your car in order to change your oil? How do you change your oil?

Also, is royal purple better than Synthetic Mobil oil (the best one)?

Do you guys trust franchise stores, such as Jiffy Lube to change your car oil?

Many thanks.

ACoupe

You're supposed to change the oil in a car?????

SiXK

I know a guy here in orlando that has worked for one of the Nissan dealerships service departments for over 20 years. I hire him on the side sometimes to help me work on my Z32 whenever I have a job that takes two people. He told me that the oil change guys forget to put oil back in customers cars "probably once a month" and then crank the car on up. When they realize what they did, he said they turn the car off real quick and put oil in it. If it appears theres no damage they just go with it, but he said probably once or twice a year they have to replace engines due to oil change techs forgetting to put in oil.

He also told me, a few years back, that if they saw someone drive up in a Z32 they would tell them almost anything to get them to go away, as they did not like working on them any longer. I can't imagine taking mine to a dealership and I won't take my 370 either unless its an absolute necessity or an alignment or something else I can't do.

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Magnetic Black 2009 370Z / Pearl Yellow 1991 300ZXTT

semtex

I'm assuming you're kidding. Right?

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316.8whp & 248 ft/lbs (Dyno Dynamics) | 319whp & 256 ft/lbs (DynoJet) (04/23/10)
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drdre8424

Yea! You just drive it till the oil lite comes on.

U235

Yes to jack or ramps or something.

I think Royal Purple is overrated. The top-end Mobil-1s are pretty good, not sure if it's better than RP, but my guess is yes.

PS - Dealers usually have interns changing oil. I've had two cars that had problems with dealer oil changes.

1) Toyota dealer - Forgot to put oil cap back on. After 60 miles I got out and oil was EVERYWHERE. It was coming out of the grill, burning (smelly) on radiator, etc. I took it back, they apologized and power washed my car, but I was never able to get rid of this burnt oil smell in the AC system.

2) Lexus dealer - Put the oil filter on wrong (missed the threads). Oil was getting on the exhaust manifold and left some nice memories on my driveway.

If I don't change the oil myself, I generally find a quick-lube place near where I live, bring my own stuff, and seek out their best guys. If you roll up to those places in a nice ride, they do seem to care more. I had this guy once that was so meticulous, but their place shut down. I got a new place doing the Infiniti now, I'm real happy with the guy that does my changes (he drives a Camaro SS that's in great condition so I know he cares).

I gave up on changing my Infiniti's oil. There's some 22 screws holding up that plastic underguard, it's just an annoyance to take off/take on all the time.

ACoupe

Oh yeah, no worries there. However, my wife's mother drove her car dry and told her husband when the engine seized that she didn't realize you had to change the oil...

drdre8424

I agree. But anytime i have anything done to my car, i ALWAYS WATCH THEM. Stand there, right next to my car, while they work on it, i dont care what there doing. If they tell you you cant be there, just ask them if there paying for your car, im sure they will shut up.

drisko

LOL!!!! I would love to see that. I can't imagine how much that would piss them off. If I had the guts, I would do that too

drdre8424

yea, just wait till they pull your car in, and just watch them work on it. Ask them questions too, it's there job.

eXo5

Youre allowed to be in the work area? Any dealer around me will not allow you into the maitenice bay unless they escort you to your car to show you a "problem".

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