Oil change experience at dealer.

[okiebutnotfrommuskogee]

I took my Prius in to the dealership Monday to get one of my "free" oil changes. I asked the service adviser, or what ever they call them, to put a notation on the service ticket that said "Please do not overfill".

When I went out to get the car and leave, I did check the oil. The level was just fine. When I got home and was putting the service ticket in my notebook, I looked at what he had written on it. It actually said "Do not overfill. Customer will check oil in parking lot." How cool is that?

[Rest]

What's cooler is changing the oil yourself, then you know it is done correctly.

[okiebutnotfrommuskogee]

Originally Posted by Rest

What's cooler is changing the oil yourself, then you know it is done correctly.

I have been driving cars legally for 58 years and during most of that time I have done my own oil changes, however I am still in the process of using up my free oil changes on both the Avalon and Prius. When I finally get them used up I will probably go back to doing it myself.

Besides, It is kinda fun to go to this dealer and hang around a bit to enjoy the cafe and waterfall and the big leather chairs and BS with "our" salesman. He is really a good guy that has now been elevated to new car manager.

Ya I know all that fancy stuff has been paid for by the thousands of people that they have sold cars to, but it is neat to go there anyway. It is big, beautiful and they make you feel at home.

[harold johnson]

I was not aware of FREE oil changes. Is this a Toyota freebie or a local dealers promo.

[TonyPSchaefer]

Originally Posted by Rest

What's cooler is changing the oil yourself, then you know it is done correctly.

Changing my own oil? ~$20.
Letting the dealer do it correctly for free? Uh, free.

[richard schumacher]

Originally Posted by harold johnson

I was not aware of FREE oil changes. Is this a Toyota freebie or a local dealers promo.

Dealer's promo. Early Priuses got free oil for some time courtesy Toyota, but that is long over.

[okiebutnotfrommuskogee]

Originally Posted by richard schumacher

Dealer's promo. Early Priuses got free oil for some time courtesy Toyota, but that is long over.

Mine's not that early, 2007 bought in Feb of that year. Our dealer used to give three free oil changes with a new car purchase. They also used to give you a free one if it took over 30 minutes. Those freebes are gone now, they don't offer them anymore. I got one on the 30 minute deal. Also, when you attend the new car owners dinner they give you a certificate for one. Two cars = two certificates.

I also got a $300.00 good will offer from Toyota in California that I could spend at any Toyota dealer on service and accessories. So I paid for two or three oil changes, bought mud flaps for the Avalon, bought engine and cabin air filters for both cars, had tires rotated, and bought a cargo net for the Prius. Then got paid back for all of that with a check from Toyota. I used up all but about $4.00 of their offer.

I also have a couple of certificates for free oil changes given to me by the customer service representative, just because. So you see that I still have some oil changes coming. After they get used up, I will probably start doing them myself again.

[mcsenerd]

There are several dealerships here in Texas that offer "Oil Changes for Life" and a few that do the tires for life thing as well...(I'm sure that they make it up in other areas or some seriously fancy fine print...)