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Dealer oil change question...

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by xliderider, Dec 5, 2013.

  1. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    I just don't understand why someone would go through all this trouble to add a drain valve to drain off excess oil from the Dealer oil/filter change and still have them do the oil service. :confused: Just buy your oil/filter/washer from them and do it yourself, because you will likely be under there every time anyway. This will in no way affect any warranty.
     
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Shouldn't have to be like that. First off, if you're going to continue going to that dealer for oil changes, there is something wrong with this picture, lol. You should not have to pay them, AND crawl under your car. But that aside:

    If you back out the (stock) drain bolt, 'till it's almost off, then apply pressure while unscrewing slightly more, then tilt the bolt slightly, you can get a thin trickle going. Have some kind of clear graduated container at the ready, and bleed off what you need. Then screw it back in and torque.

    Yeah I know, you had to be there. ;)
     
  3. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    I did it exactly as you described, however the oil ran down my fingers holding the drain bolt, then my hand, and my arm.
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    ^ Ok, gotcha :ROFLMAO:
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    after spending hours trying to siphon mine out of the dipstick tube with a three dollar pep boys squeeze tube, it hit me that i bought a craftsman oil and fuel siphon many years ago. after some searching, i found it new in the bos out in the barn. it's about a half gallon plastic bottle with a rge rubber stopper, 4' tube and pump attached. took me about 3 minutes to pump out a quart of oil. doh!:mad:
     
  6. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    I hear you, but as a customer of Servco in Hawaii, the option to log in to Toyota's website and log maintenance performed on my vehicles is not an option. Our VIN numbers don't come up as valid.

    Keeping a folder filled with receipts and a log of maintenance performed likewise also not appealing.

    I will either do it myself, or take it to my neighbor's independent shop in the future.

    SCH-I535
     
  7. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    The Courts have ruled that, if your record being NOTES is plausible, complete and NOT locking is significant evidentiary gaps, the evidentiary record is on your side.

    Basically, a service log or diary written by the owner is sufficient according to the law.

    In order for the manufacturer to VOID your warranty, the burden of proof lies with them to prove negligence. The company has to prove that the lack of timely change oil is the direct causal effect of the damage that resulted in the voidance of the warranty.

    If the manufacturer requires that the service has to be performed at a specified dealership or provider, the service must be provided for FREE.
     
  8. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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  9. neez

    neez Member

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    Next time, just buy a measuring cup and pour 0.75quarts into it. Put that somewhere safe, once you do 6 more oil changes, you won't even have to buy oil. It's measured perfectly every time, so the tech can't screw it up.

    I don't know about your particular shop, but most shops use oil from a 50 gallon drum, it's the same stuff, just in a big drum at a discount. They also have an electronic fill adapter that lets you type in the oil amount and it automatically fills your car with that amount and stops automatically so they can do other things while they fill. The good thing about 0w20 oil is that it can old be made full synthetic. There's no standard 0w20 so most likely it's mobile 1 or toyota branded oil they put in there, but either way it's full synthetic. They do make synthetic blends, but i really doubt they put that in there. Just call the dealership and ask what oil they use. Toyota gets paid for each barrel of oil, and most likely requires their dealerships to buy it, similar to how mcdonalds the franchise makes their money by forcing them to buy ingredients from them.