1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Dealer oil change question...

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

Page 1 of 3
  1. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,919
    3,142
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Dropping our car off tomorrow for it's first oil change after the Toyota Care free maintenance has expired.

    I am providing them with an OEM filter, drain plug gasket, and oil. The oil is 0w- 20 synthetic, but it is in a 5 quart jug. Since the oil required with filter change is 4.25 quarts, how should I handle it? My fear is that the "technician" will dump the entire contents of the jug into the car and call it a day, which means it has been overfilled.

    Do I give them the whole jug and tell them I expect a quart back? Then top it off myself?

    Or should I open the jug and take out 0.75 quarts?

    What would you do?

    SCH-I535
     
    #1 xliderider, Dec 5, 2013
  2. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,919
    3,142
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Ok, I know what most of you will say. That you would change the oil yourself. ;)

    Let's just say that that option is off the table for the sake of this discussion. :)

    SCH-I535
     
    #2 xliderider, Dec 5, 2013
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,671
    39,222
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I'd go with the first option, that they return the bottle with a quart in it still. But:

    This sounds like a near 100% hostile business relation. And that makes it almost impossible to do business.

    I think you need to deescalate with them. Let them supply the products, express your concerns up front, but then just see how it goes. You might be pleasantly surprised. If it goes badly, go to the service manager, let him know.
     
    #3 Mendel Leisk, Dec 5, 2013
  4. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2012
    2,593
    764
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    I'd give them 4 quarts, tell them to only INSTALL ONLY 4 quarts, and top it off myself.

    The two times that I had the dealer change oil, they OVERFILLED it.
     
    #4 Mike500, Dec 5, 2013
  5. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2013
    1,476
    1,552
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I would go with option #1 as well, but say it in a nice manner :)
     
    #5 NutzAboutBolts, Dec 5, 2013
  6. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,919
    3,142
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Thanks for the feedback. :)

    SCH-I535
     
    #6 xliderider, Dec 5, 2013
  7. Grren4ever

    Grren4ever Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2013
    347
    167
    19
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    I have a buddy who works at Toyota as a tech. Bottom line is that they don't give jack *hit about your car from the stories he tells me. It's all time and money for them.

    i have one free oil change that i have to redeem at the 8000km interval. i'm having 2nd thought about bringing it in. I'd rather buy my own oil and do it myself...even if it is in my garage at a miserable -1 degrees !
     
    #7 Grren4ever, Dec 6, 2013
  8. engerysaver

    engerysaver Real Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2011
    426
    130
    0
    Location:
    Tyler, Texas ; USA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    If you spent all that time and money on oil and filter, ect; spend a little more for a filter wrench, and do it yourself.
    You will save money in the long run, and you know it was done right.
    I know you said it was off of the table :( ..... their are threads on changing the oil and filter, if that would help you.
     
    #8 engerysaver, Dec 6, 2013
  9. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2013
    1,476
    1,552
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I don't think xliderider has the time, thats the issue maybe? :D
     
    #9 NutzAboutBolts, Dec 6, 2013
  10. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,919
    3,142
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Nope, I have changed the oil on many cars in my lifetime. I have all the tools and ramps, etc. as well. ;)

    I'm not lazy either. :D

    My reason for letting the dealer do it will probably start a debate as well. :p

    We purchased the extended warranty, up to 7 yrs., so I will let the dealer do all maintenance on the car. That way there is documentation for all work done and should any warranty work be needed, there will be no question whether the vehicle was properly maintained. :cool:

    SCH-I535
     
    #10 xliderider, Dec 6, 2013
  11. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,919
    3,142
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    My reason for purchasing the extended warranty is the fact that the Prius hybrid Synergy Drive System is a complex piece of engineering and electronics, so any major component failures are bound to make the warranty worth it as we intend to keep the car for a while.

    SCH-I535
     
    #11 xliderider, Dec 6, 2013
  12. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2013
    1,476
    1,552
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    that's a good reason :)
     
    #12 NutzAboutBolts, Dec 6, 2013
  13. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,871
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    I would drop the car off at the dealer and pick it up with all the work done right, but I know my dealer.
     
    #13 JimboPalmer, Dec 6, 2013
  14. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,919
    3,142
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    But do you know every single tech that works on the cars at your dealer?

    SCH-I535
     
    #14 xliderider, Dec 6, 2013
  15. -1-

    -1- Don

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2013
    1,247
    434
    8
    Location:
    Chester, Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    :confused:Common, unacceptable problem. I've had this issue with VW and Mercedes dealer service. ALWAYS check for the proper oil level after ANY oil change, BEFORE leaving the dealer. I always do a quick walk around to verify any damage when I drop it off and when picking up..
     
    #15 -1-, Dec 6, 2013
  16. Mr.Electric

    Mr.Electric Member

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2011
    287
    102
    0
    Location:
    San Francisco
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I don't think you have to worry about correct oil level since it is so easy to verify yourself. I would worry about competence of service on something more difficult like a head gasket or transmission rebuild. I see your point about documenting service. It is a difficult issue. A receipt from jiffy lube counts but they are far less trust worthy than the dealer.
     
    #16 Mr.Electric, Dec 6, 2013
  17. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,871
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    No, I know the only tech that works on hybrids at my dealer. And I know his days off.
     
    #17 JimboPalmer, Dec 6, 2013
  18. sprtent

    sprtent Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2012
    104
    75
    0
    Location:
    SF Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I would put a polite note on the jug itself telling the tech to let you take .75 quarts home for your spouse's car, which in need of a top-off (y)
     
    #18 sprtent, Dec 6, 2013
  19. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,919
    3,142
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Lol, I was actually going to put a note on the cover of the jug to leave 1 qt in the jug and leave for owner. However, I looked at the mileage on the car and this is only the 25k service, which doesn't include an oil change. :p

    SCH-I535
     
    #19 xliderider, Dec 6, 2013
  20. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2012
    2,593
    764
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    The engine evidently runs better at the "middle" mark on the dipstick, which is about four quarts.

    The "overfill" and the "underfill" marks are LIMITS. I check my oil often and keep it between the two marks.

    More is NOT better.


    I'd fill all the way to the top mark only of the engine is a leaker or a burner.
     
    #20 Mike500, Dec 6, 2013
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 3