Dealership Oil Change Questions

[Hootbro]

So, Grease Monkey pulls it over the pit, and the guy tells me there's aftermarket skid plates, etc. I said "no" and explained how the truck was ordered and built at the TRD plant. The guy says " I have an XSP and it's nothing like this." I explained that this is an XSP-X, a top-of-the-line model.

What you are calling "the TRD plant" is Southeast Toyota Distributors distribution region vehicle procession facility. Southeast Toyota Distributors is a private company that is a hold over from the initial days when Toyota first launched in the USA and could not afford to own their distribution network. They and Gulf States Toyota are the only ones still left private to distribute Toyota vehicles in their respective state regions.

Southeast Toyota Distributors is allowed to modify Toyota vehicles and present them as "OEM" as if Toyota corporate built them that way from the factory but they are not truly OEM and are quasi aftermarket. Basically glorified dealer special model add ons. Outside Southeast Toyota Distributors region, those special models like XSP-X or the like have no extra value and will usually only book value what the base model they were built upon like the SR, SR5 and Limited.

 

[Sherman Bird]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This!

I too was very fortunate to have a father, grandfather and uncle who never hired anything to be done. My dad did all of his own automotive work. We had a bookshelf full of greasy Chilton repair manuals. I will forever be grateful for the "hands on" education I received in practical life skills from around the age of 10 until I left home at 18. In 1980 when I was 13-14, my Dad rebuilt the engine in his 1970 FJ-40 (Toyota Land Cruiser). That was real learning experience. That old FJ was SO easy to work on and maintain.

My Dad once told me, "real men change their own oil". For some reason, that always stuck with me. The ONE TIME I used a free dealer oil change back in 2004, I got home, parked the vehicle and started some yard work. About 30 minutes later I was standing out at our street, looked up the driveway and noticed a shimmering under the vehicle. Got closer and realized the shimmer was a huge pool of oil under the car. Drain plug was barely finger tight... I think Dad was trying to tell me something from the grave. Called the dealer to complain, and the conversation went something like this: "Drive it back and we'll make it right". I hung up on the service advisor.

At least the Service advisor didn't deny ever seeing or having that issue!
These current, modern service personnel are totally lost in the concept of "Heel clicking" service where, when there IS such a huge F%$K-UP on their part, they should send a wrecker and loaner car, give you time to gather the crowd to ooh and aah over them kissing your **** while profusely apologizing for the inconvenience.

One of my uncles shared a story from the 50's where the department store chain which he was in management to address customer satisfaction had a STRANGE issue.....
A woman who was a preferred repeat customer of this company had the store install several window unit air conditioners. (This was before central A/C was the norm). The next year, she called upon my uncle to request the annual service where the A/C units were literally removed from inside the home, carried out into the yard, and the coils were cleaned, then the units were returned to their locations.

Well, the time had come for the coils to be serviced, and the lady called my uncle and specifically asked that he send his best crew out to provide the service; she was well off financially and spent copious amounts of money with this company. She went on that the original workmen had gotten greasy footprints on her light colored beige carpets. He assured her that her wish was his command.

The Uncle went on to tell how he hand picked a crew of his best men, explaining the greasy footprint issue, and asked that these men take paint drop-cloths and that their feet were to never touch any flooring throughout the home.

With that understood, they went off to perform the A/C coil cleanings. The woman wasn't home at the time, but her maid was there to let them in for that day's service. Well, during the service in the A/C unit in the formal living room, little "FiFi" doggy comes in a takes a dump on the carpet right under where the A/C was. The men immediately beckon to the maid and pointed out this pet mess.

That afternoon, the men got back and, knowing the gravity of this customer relations issue, told my uncle (their boss) the entire story.

My uncle just knew the lady was going to call up in a fury, and he was planning how he was going to rebut her when that inevitable phone call came in.... He rehearsed his comeback!

Sure enough, the lady called my uncle later that evening, and went off!!! As he tried to get a word in edgewise several times, she just wasn't going to let up until she was done chewing him out! The last thing she said totally flabbergasted my uncle... when she said " I just KNOW that stuff came out of the air-conditioner, because it has a greasy feel and a pungent odor!".
Struggling to keep his composure, (he wanted to fall to the floor laughing), he assured her that the problem would be taken care of at no cost to her. He sent a crew out to steam clean her carpets, never telling her that she'd been playing in dog poop!

 

[BinaryData]

If you work construction, you should have the aptitude to learn how to do your own oil change. Taking that over is the only way you will 100% know it is done right.

As to getting the dealership to cover anything, that is going to involve them admitting any fault which will be low.

I do know how to do my own oil changes, but I don't have anywhere I can do them easily. I usually drive up to my brother's place and do it there, but due to a falling out with his friend over dumb stuff, I can't do it there anymore. My apartment complex refuses to allow any mechanical work at all to be done. I got a warning for replacing my tail lights and the plug for the bulb.

I agree. I have the money to have my trucks worked on by others, but I've found that if you go that route you will typically get cheap parts installed by incompetent mechanics.

For something like an oil change at the stealer you won't get the best mechanic in the shop, more likely you'll get the seventeen year old high school dropout who might think the impact gun going rat-tat-tat is just SUPER cool. Learn to do your own oil changes and tire rotations. They are messy and you'll get all dirty but you'll have a better chance of not having a wheel fall off on the freeway.

I have no problem with dirt or getting messy, I used to live on a farm. Once you slip and land in cow sh**, not much bothers you anymore. I would 100% do an oil change on my own, but I just lack the place to do it. I live in an Apartment complex where they are stupidly strict about anything car-work related. My neighbors received a fine of $150 for every day they worked on their car replacing speakers.

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I got back from the dealership, mentioned the issues above and they were confused as to why no one bothered to mention it in the report. I told them that I wasn't upset that it happened, just the fact that I wasn't told about it. As someone in here stated, the truck is 15 years old, it's been through some stuff and nearly 260k miles on it now. If you break something of mine or damage it, but your honest with me about it and don't try to lie your way out, I'm a lot more forgiving.

As for the oil pan bolt, they said it would look into it.

But the lessons I've learned from this is; If you want the job done right, do it your damn self.


In other fun news, I'm leaking oil, my ball joint boots are heavily damaged, and they suggest full ball joint replacements. Yippee! Another $3500 in repairs or more. Bout to send this truck into the ocean =|

 

[pscarbor]

I do know how to do my own oil changes, but I don't have anywhere I can do them easily. I usually drive up to my brother's place and do it there, but due to a falling out with his friend over dumb stuff, I can't do it there anymore. My apartment complex refuses to allow any mechanical work at all to be done. I got a warning for replacing my tail lights and the plug for the bulb.



I have no problem with dirt or getting messy, I used to live on a farm. Once you slip and land in cow sh**, not much bothers you anymore. I would 100% do an oil change on my own, but I just lack the place to do it. I live in an Apartment complex where they are stupidly strict about anything car-work related. My neighbors received a fine of $150 for every day they worked on their car replacing speakers.

--------------------------

I got back from the dealership, mentioned the issues above and they were confused as to why no one bothered to mention it in the report. I told them that I wasn't upset that it happened, just the fact that I wasn't told about it. As someone in here stated, the truck is 15 years old, it's been through some stuff and nearly 260k miles on it now. If you break something of mine or damage it, but your honest with me about it and don't try to lie your way out, I'm a lot more forgiving.

As for the oil pan bolt, they said it would look into it.

But the lessons I've learned from this is; If you want the job done right, do it your damn self.


In other fun news, I'm leaking oil, my ball joint boots are heavily damaged, and they suggest full ball joint replacements. Yippee! Another $3500 in repairs or more. Bout to send this truck into the ocean =|

You probably won't be able to replace the ball joints. I did mine two years ago and discovered the ball joints cannot be removed from the lower control arm. I wound up replacing upper and lower control arms on each side which included ball joints. Not really that expensive, just a big PITA.

I still have the ball joints I ordered before I discovered they couldn't be pressed out.

 

[Jeepwalker]

Most likely the OP or some previous owner, or a driver you didn't know about (teenage kid?) drove over obstacles, rocks or whatever (or launched the vehicle), or someone put a floor jack under the pan, which dented the pan ...and the drain plug got whacked or weight-loaded on one side in the process ...and damaged the threads.

It's actually not that uncommon. They make oversized and self-tapping thread oil plugs...or you could tap it yourself/or a shop could and put a different sized plug in the hole. Insert a small hose up there on a shop vac and suck out the chips inside...


Could have had it fixed in the time it took to write about the problem.

 

[BinaryData]

You probably won't be able to replace the ball joints. I did mine two years ago and discovered the ball joints cannot be removed from the lower control arm. I wound up replacing upper and lower control arms on each side which included ball joints. Not really that expensive, just a big PITA.

I still have the ball joints I ordered before I discovered they couldn't be pressed out.

Well, more happened with my truck that's for another thread but your on the right path.

Most likely the OP or some previous owner, or a driver you didn't know about (teenage kid?) drove over obstacles, rocks or whatever (or launched the vehicle), or someone put a floor jack under the pan, which dented the pan ...and the drain plug got whacked or weight-loaded on one side in the process ...and damaged the threads.

It's actually not that uncommon. They make oversized and self-tapping thread oil plugs...or you could tap it yourself/or a shop could and put a different sized plug in the hole. Insert a small hose up there on a shop vac and suck out the chips inside...


Could have had it fixed in the time it took to write about the problem.

I'm a son of a mechanic, and my brother is one, though I don't trust him to do most repairs on my truck because he loves doing things cheaply, while I have no problem paying to get the right parts for the job and waiting.

For example, the hose on our 79 Ford F-150 is corroding. What's he do instead of replacing it? He puts a bigger hose clamp and silicon glues it. It's a cheap part, which is had already bought, including coolant.

I got an a** chewing by my brother for where to place my jack when I did my first oil change and he showed me why placement is important.

But your right, I could've fixed the problem in the time it took to write and explain in the post. But I'm car stupid. I mean that 100%, I freak out at every little sound that's new. I need to learn more about vehicles but I have no one trustworthy to teach me and I'm already swamped with school and work. I hate posting in here because I feel dumb/stupid/overreacting when I do.

If it was a computer or server, I'm solid and can fix it. Cars, not so much. The 79 above, I wanted to use as my entry way into vehicle repairs by restoring it to a degree but turning it into a nice mudding truck. The truck is dope, stock with a 400, 9" rear axle, 3 speed automatic transmission and turned 35" MT tires like it was nobodies business. My brother is planning to sell it for $500, and I'm going to buy it if he'll let me.


Back to the main topic, oil is changed, dealership has been spoken too, and I'm somewhat happy. More repairs to do, and now I have a new problem, finding out which shop lied to me.