Are all dealers overfilling engine oil?

[Alex38]

I've yet to have an oil change done at a dealership that was done properly. Most of the time they are overfilled. That's why do everything that I can on my vehicles. Usually the least experienced and least qualified guy in the shop is doing the oil changes and tire rotations. That was the case when I was younger and worked at a Ford dealership. That said, I was amazed how many of the older techs didn't know the oil capacity of the various Ford engines that they worked on. I heard one guy say "6-cylinders take 5 quarts, V8's take 6." Yikes!

 

[mtwofeathers]

My wife’s Pacifica has free oil changes, so the 3.6 goes implosion is on them. They screw something up they are responsible for something they did.

Hard part is proving they over filled it.

 

[jagman_xjs]

2 things come to mind here. 1. It is way BETTER than Valvoline Oil change place. 2. In the late 90s the Chrysler fix for tapping lifters on the 2.0 engines were to add a extra half quart. Here is my complaint with Valvoline Oil Change; Valvoline is NOT the place to get your oil changed . You will get CHEATED. I took my Jeep into the Madison IN location and they under filled it saying that was per the factory recommendations. Then I demand it be topped of as it SHOULD be . One guy takes a empty bottle and pretends to pour oil in . That is an old gas station trick sorry not this time buddy. Then I can see him from the gap in my hood and cowl use his finger to move the oil up as he shows the dipstick to me as well as he is wiping his finger on his pants. They are thieves. So I came back a week later to get the oil topped off and they told me they were out of oil . Seriously ???? How stupid are people to buy this GARBAGE? That was the LAST time I used them and the manager that told me that is still there.

 

[thestuntboy]

2 years ago I was in a hurry for a trip so I let the local Dodge dealership service my 2001 2500 5.9 gas. Going down the road it suddenly started bucking,smoking and vomiting oil . Got her home and drained 4 quarts of oil out to bring it down to the full mark. I have a chevy garage service my 2018 3500.

 

[Jeff400650]

This thread is discouraging to read. I have a 2019 2500 Cummins with 10,500 miles that is going to the dealer on Monday for it's first oil change/service. I stupidly bought the FCA extended warranty and maintenance plan at purchase 11 months ago. I mentioned that the fuel filters should be changed as well to two service people on the phone. They both say they don't think it's covered, and have to check my plan. I looked it up, and it is covered. Took me 1 minute online to sign in and check, but they won't tell me before I bring it in what they will even be doing to it. Not to mention recommended other 1 year services like chassis lube, etc...
And when I mention that I have a couple of warrantee issues (rear axle misaligned, etc...) they say they have no "room" in the computer system to add comments or instructions. Isn't that the core function of their job?

 

[Anthony Kalos]

I never had a problem with a Walmart oil change…

 

[turkeybird56]

I heard they're also the ones that work on major engine repairs on the trucks that have Lifetime Extended Warranties.

I always check in front of SA before I leave dealership. But then, I do not buy Bulk Oil, I get 5-20W Full Synthetic, which requires 8 (1) quart bottles, so no way they can screw up, unless they do not put in which I check. AND I Specifically tell SA, rotate tires, and check and tighten using a Torque wrench, not friggin air hammer. I also carry a Breaker Bar and I also carry my Torque wrench and check nuts in front of SA. Keeps them honest. I am lucky, got a decent dealership and SA.

 

[GTyankee]

When you get an oil change & the tech brings the vehicle to you.
You should ask them to park it on level ground & then after about 10 minutes, check your oil, if it is a gasoline engine.
( at my dealership where they bring out the vehicle, the ground slopes to the passenger side & the front bumper is quite a bit lower than the rear bumper )

If you have a diesel, especially the Ecodiesel, it takes a lot longer for oil to drain down to the pan

Have you ever noticed, when you check into the Service Center the Service Writer walks around your vehicle, not only are they checking for bad tires, they are looking for dents & scratches & taking notes.

You should be doing the same thing before you drive off of the property, check your fluid levels as well

 

[EdGs]

I had a friend/client who took his Audi to a dealership for service. The tech drained the transmission fluid, and replaced it with engine oil, and put trans fluid in the motor. So the problem exists in dealerships of many brands. I'm not sure how they were able to back the car out of the bay, or then pull it up to the door, but the trans failed as he was leaving the dealership driveway.

Wow! Bet that was an expensive mistake.

My in-laws had their vehicle in for service. The dealer took it somewhere else to get some additional work done and wrecked it, then tried not to tell them.

Talk about pissed off!

 

[JJEH]

I don't know, I'm not satisfied with them CJDR dealerships here in OK and TX... I need to find one I can trust.

 

[ram1500rsm]

I don't even remember the last time i let a dealer changed my oil. I don't want to get bothered by a service special i may need according to them. Changing my oil gives me visual access to my equipment so if something is leaking or whatever i will see it. I have zero time to schedule something as silly as an oil change, much less the will to drive 30 minutes to my closest dealer to do so, then i'll have to leave the car with them half day and coordinate a shuttle home and back to the dealer. i have zero interest on leaving any of my vehicles at the stelearship. If dealers begun offering better pricing i might consider trips to them. We don't call them Stelearships in vane For me the further away my car is from a dealer the best i feel. One because that means the vehicle is very reliable, and two dealers want to charge you arm and leg outside of warranty, and while on the warranty they want to charge you double for things like changing your cig litghter fluid, remote seat fans... lol you have mods ? dear lord the entire warranty is now voided the moment you said you had an aftermarket cotton air filter.

 

[gfh77665]

I never had a problem with a Walmart oil change…

Wow, I sure have. You can read on Bob is the Oil Guy more horror stories than you can stand. Personally, I had two problems with Walmart.

1) I paid for Mobil 1, but they put SuperTech in. I like SuperTech, its perfectly fine, but I paid $60.xx for the Mobil 1 synthetic change since I ran 10K intervals at that time. The ST was conventional and cost something like $24.xx for it.

2) Worse, they DOUBLE FILLED my Chevy truck! They put 12 quarts in it and I drove around for 2 days with it leaking out somewhere. The manager and a helper drove to my workplace to "rechange" the oil in the parking lot, but their 7 qt. drain pan overflowed by 4-5 qts! NOT GOOD!

BTW I don't think WalMart intended any fraud, its just they had 17 year old kids running around, joking, talking on phones, etc. instead of being focused on the job at hand. Its early still, but my my dealership has not messed up yet, AFAIK.

 

[Terry Nemitz]

I have heard of this too. Some deals are putting a suction tube down the dip stick, and trying to suck out the oil, and guess what, they do not get it all. Then they put in the required amount oil, plus the oil they did not get out, and GUESS WHAT, there is too much oil in the engine.

 

[Octane]

I never had a problem with a Walmart oil change…

But at my local walmart I had to train the boy on how to rotate the tires.

 

[SitKneelBend]

My 3.6L Ram came from the factory with a "miscalibrated dipstick". It actually had a replacement part, was a known issue but I had to inform the dealership of the issue myself. Prior to that when the dealer did the oil changes they were giving it an extra quart to match the full on the stick. Probably ran that way for at least 2 years and wouldn't have known if I didn't start doing the oil changes myself after it was out of factory warranty.

Sent from my HTC U11 using Tapatalk

 

[gfh77665]

One extra quart is not optimal but it really does not hurt anything. In fact it could be useful if someone forgets or neglects to top off when needed.

 

[CaptOchs]

I had Valvoline Instant Oil change really screw me over years ago. I had a '92 Suburban with a 5.7. They wanted to charge me an extra $4 because they claimed my truck took 6 quarts instead of the usual 5. I have done my own oil changes. I showed them in the book the half ton took 5 quarts and the 3/4 ton took 6. I didn't get charged. So I got home, hooked up the camper after just washing and waxing it and heading out on a camping adventure. I get to the last 25 miles of the trip and the truck is smoking. It sprayed oil through the exhaust and all over the side of my camper. It was filled at least 2 quarts over. I limped to the camp ground and dumped some oil in the parking lot after it had cooled down. It was a mess because I had to catch it with a gallon milk jug. I got the oil level back to normal, but I lost a half day of camping because of it. VIOC offered two free oil change coupons. I really feel they damaged the engine or the exhaust because I lost some power. Again, they denied responsibility. Since I didn't have the truck towed 60 miles back to their shop for them to examine, they said I couldn't prove the oil change caused the issue. Pictures of my camper and oil coming out of the tailpipe weren't enough. I told the manager where he can go shove those coupons.

 

[Mister Luck]

Don’t even get me started on dealership horror stories

Towncar owner is called by police at midnight for them to report they have his vehicle and found it safe 150 miles away

He had dropped it by the dealership the day before to have routine service and was scheduled to be picked up that afternoon

Walked into the service office as promised but waited nearly an hour before the service manager apologized profusely that they couldn’t find his car.

 

[DodgeDude99]

better over-filled than not enough.

Over filling is just as bad as not having enough. When the crankcase gets over filled, the crank sloshes around the oil and aerates/cavitates it (you can do this with the Lucas gear displays at the auto parts stores).
You ask how caviation in oil is bad? Your oil pump can’t pump foam.

 

[Trail Ryder]

Yeah, my Ram dealer overfilled me on one of 16 oil changes.