Oil changes?

Every 5000 miles. This is an incentive to bring it back to the dealer for service. Not necessarily a bad thing.

 

Hey, Dixiechick, welcome to PriusChat! Don't let the dealer try to talk you into more work than your "Passport" maintenance book calls for, mostly oil/filter change and tire rotation. Some unscrupulous dealers "give" you a "free" oil change, but then want to do some expensive work you don't need. Just follow the regular maintenance schedule.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bill Merchant @ Jul 24 2007, 10:21 PM) [snapback]484547[/snapback]</div>

Yeah, what Bill said. BTW they might give you free oil changes, but I'll be they charge for rotating your tires. When I first got my Prius, I took it to Discount Tire (also America's Tire) and paid $40 for rotation and balancing for the life of the tires. Wal-Mart does the same thing, I believe, or maybe a Goodyear tire place would do it.

I think very few people drive in "extreme" conditions, so just the oil and tires is all you need.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dixiechick @ Jul 24 2007, 07:12 PM) [snapback]484473[/snapback]</div>

Every vehicle that has an internal combustion engine uses oil sweatheart.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dixiechick @ Jul 25 2007, 07:04 AM) [snapback]484632[/snapback]</div>

It wasn't that dumb a question.
If a salesperson is throwing in free stuff, always check the validity of it

There is a blue booklet, hopefully, in your packet of reading material (mine came in a manilla envelope), that says "Maintenance Passport" on it. That has your schedule for everything.

Our salesman made a big deal of walking us through the Passport, showing us the service intervals, and pointing out where the "Certified Toyota Mechanic" would sign, verifying that we were maintaining the car correctly. He tried to seriously make it sound like you HAVE to use their mechanics. You don't. But, the Passport is a great place to keep track of it, and document it, for future reference.

 

Just remember that nothing is ever free. As has been pointed out, it is really just a way to get you back in the door in an attempt to sell you more service that you really don't need.

Also, I'm sure the oil they are giving you for free is pure crap. In some cases, it might not even be the correct viscosity. Make sure they are filling your Prius with the recommended 5W30 and that they don't overfill.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bill Merchant @ Jul 24 2007, 09:21 PM) [snapback]484547[/snapback]</div>

God forbid they try to upsell anything, ever.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mcbrunnhilde @ Jul 24 2007, 11:09 PM) [snapback]484573[/snapback]</div>

You'd be surprised. If you drive your vehicle long enough for the engine to reach operating temperature that would be an extreme condition for the drive cycle.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rae Vynn @ Jul 25 2007, 07:31 AM) [snapback]484672[/snapback]</div>

If you want to retain your warranty...

Having Joe Schmoe at Iffy Lube sign your maintenance manual is completely worthless for holding the dealer to warranty work.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TLS @ Jul 25 2007, 04:26 PM) [snapback]484915[/snapback]</div>

You clearly have no idea what you are talking about. The Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act clearly protects the consumer in cases like this. As long as you are changing your oil at the specified intervals and using the right viscosity oil and filter, the Toyota dealer can't refuse to fix the engine because the guys at the quick-lube place used another brand of filter that meets the exact same specifications. Only if the manufacturer can determine that the aftermarket part is in some way responsible for the mechanical problem, can it refuse to pay for the repairs under the warranty.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Swanny1172 @ Jul 25 2007, 01:30 PM) [snapback]484925[/snapback]</div>

Sell that story to a service manager. If said dealership did not perform all of the maintenance for the history of the car, what reason do they have to trust that the outside vendor performed the maintenance properly? Beyond that, what reason do they have to show allegiance to a customer who will not reciprocate?

That's the way many of them think.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TLS @ Jul 25 2007, 07:08 PM) [snapback]485052[/snapback]</div>

Yes, that is why IMO "many of them" are scum. Just because I'm invoiced for the work and it is entered in the dealer's computer how do I KNOW the work was done? Since they lie about what is needed they'll probably lie about doing it.

Take the dealer's free oil changes without regrets. They either made enough on their more gullible customers or on you when you bought the car. As for me, I'm not paying a dealer $40 for an oil change when everyone else does it for $20. Firestone will rotate the tires and change the oil for ~$20.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TLS @ Jul 25 2007, 04:08 PM) [snapback]485052[/snapback]</div>

First of all, Toyota pays for warranty work, not the individual dealerships.

Secondly, the main reason car makers and their dealers have to accept outside vendors doing scheduled maintenance is to avoid getting into legal trouble with the Feds.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TLS @ Jul 25 2007, 07:08 PM) [snapback]485052[/snapback]</div>

I don't have to sell anything to the service manager. The burden of proof is on him, not me. Again, please read the Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act and do a little research on your own before making such an outrageous claim.

If the service manager wants to deny a warranty claim, then he needs to show that the maintenence, or lack there of, that was performed is what caused the mechanical failure. If he can do that, only then can the OEM can refuse the warranty claim. However, as long as the maintenence was performed at the intevals specified by the OEM and was done using the correct specifications, then the OEM has to honor the warranty claim.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Swanny1172 @ Jul 26 2007, 08:47 AM) [snapback]485329[/snapback]</div>

And as pointed out above, the dealership's service department gets paid for doing warranty work. Often they will help convince the manufacturer that the work should be done under warranty.

Tom

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ Jul 26 2007, 08:59 AM) [snapback]485333[/snapback]</div>

Moreover, it is simply not true that you have to use the dealer for oil changes, even on a brand new car. If dealers say you are required to use their products or else have your warranty voided, then the work is considered warranty work and must be provided for free. The requirement is to use approved products. In fact, you can do the oil change yourself as long as you use approved products and do the oil changes at the required intervals. If you do them yourself simply keep documentation.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimN @ Jul 25 2007, 05:43 PM) [snapback]485125[/snapback]</div>

That's exactly why the dealer system needs to be monitored more closely. They are the face of Toyota and are also where most consumers get their impression of Toyota's operations.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IsrAmeriPrius @ Jul 25 2007, 06:07 PM) [snapback]485132[/snapback]</div>

Yes, but the techs are paid differently for warranty work and the parts department earns no mark-up on warranty parts. That takes incentive away from both.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dixiechick @ Jul 24 2007, 07:12 PM) [snapback]484473[/snapback]</div>

Of course. It has an internal combustion engine like any other car, only it doesn't run all the time when your driving.
Toyota recommends an oil change every 5000 miles, and my dealer at least, uses a synthetic blend oil. I use a full synthetic oil and purchased a lifetime change that covers every 3 months/3000 miles.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LuvMy06Prius @ Jul 29 2007, 12:53 AM) [snapback]486949[/snapback]</div>

What a waste of time and money... changing synthetic oil every 3000 miles on a car that never revs over 5000 rpms, does not overheat, and spends a substantial time of those 3000 miles with the engine off.