10 K Service, less than impressed! dealership misery!

Yes, I knew a service advisor who worked at a Toyota dealer near me—one I visited for service once actually—and the commissions he was making was incredible. He made at least $120k a year and didn't even work for 40 hours a week. He later started working for a Honda dealer. Dealers definitely overcharge for services unless it is done through a insurance company, who gets far better pricing.

Regarding mechanics, that is true naturally. Nevertheless, overall management and mentality at the dealer also makes a big difference. Better management is also likely to hire better mechanics and train and manage them better.

 

I agree but I still go by "trust but verify" Even with an oil change, I'll check the work ASAP.

My son-in-law used to be an Asst Manager at a big Walmart that had an automotive service department. He told me of numerous incidents where the guys doing oil changes screwed up $40,000 cars by doing stuff like forgetting to replace the oil drain plug or forgetting to put oil in the cars....those engines were toast! Then, a few months later, I asked him if they had any more cars killed and he said, "Nope, the Toyota dealership hired our worst guys!"

Just something to think about when you drop off that car at Toyota!

 

Again, your experience will vary greatly from dealer to dealer, as they are franchises. Some have excellent service; some have bad service. You can't make a blanket statement either way.

How do you verify an oil change? There are so many things that might have been done wrong or not done at all. The only way to be 100% sure is to do it yourself, but that's a lot of pain for most people: jack up the car, get your hands dirty, likely spills in the garage, recycle the oil, pay even more than at the dealer if you want to use TGMO, etc. Besides, you get free oil changes for the first two years. If I had a hydraulic lift in my garage, maybe, but otherwise, meh. And this is coming from someone who has done hundreds of oil changes in the past.

 

That's true but you can just pull the car over after Toyota gives it to you, turn off the engine and wait a few minutes (5 if you have a turbo), then pop the hood and check the oil level on the dipstick...just make sure it was filled and at the correct level.

 

I resolved to DIY future oil changes, while lying under a previous car, holding the backed-out drain bolt just in the hole, trickling out the almost-a-liter overfill. Had to stop because my arms started shaking/cramping.

 

That's part of the Pre-Delivery Inspection you paid for.

 

Didn't you know that this wonderful contraption existed? It is for collecting used-oil analysis (UOA) samples from the dipstick tube, but you can also correct overfills with it.

Quick-draw pump | Blackstone Laboratories

 

Phttt, makes it too easy, lol.

 

This is what I use. It can suck out the whole crankcase fill.



Works good for lawn mowers as well.

 

Buy Fumoto® Valve Online | Replace Oil Drain Plug

Had one on my old car, made oil changes easy. Helps if you take the oil cap off before you go to drain. Is slightly slower than removing the bolt. When I start doing my own oil changes to the prius I'll install one again.

 

I've used one on my last 4 Hondas and they really are handy. I will need to check the spacing around Prius drain bolt to see if it would require the extension fitting or if there is enough clearance for the valve to be attached directly.