So... What are you paying?

Honest question, why are you still going to a Toyota dealer?

They're great for warranty work, but just too expensive for everything else. I wouldn't even think to take our car there.

 

Agreed... Though It seems to be that most everyone I know doesn't understand that a Toyota Delearship is the wrong place to go because they think if they do warranty work, they must do other work too. Wish we could change that...

 

i was paying my local mech $100. last year

 

$30 for four qts of oil and a filter. Rotations free at Costco.

 

I truly didn't mean to unalive you... I mean, I understand very little of what you say, but least of all do I understand your word "topic" when it comes to our daily grind for free here on PriusChat

PS: I can usually do a Prius repair for 10% of what dealer charges because I'm a shade tree mechanic who charges $48 per hour. Being a super cheap mechanic with no ownership of significant property/assets does wonders for not just personal liability if things go wrong, but also huge tips if things go right.

 

$50 oil changes are a bit of a loss-leader.

I would weigh the costs, for oil, filter and drain bolt washer, then add 1/2 hour labour. That labour charge is basically what you’re paying. $50 USD for that alone would be reasonable.

If you DIY this, say with floor jack and safety stands, you’ll appreciate it’s not a trivial task. For fit/experienced mechanics with a lift and top-end air tools it goes quick, but that equipment and know-how does not come cheap.

FWIW I still prefer to DIY, affords you the opportunity to check tread for nails, repair as needed, wash/wax rims (and lug nuts), apply a little ant-seize to the hub interface, check pressures, eyeball the brakes and so on. And you can do it at your leisure

 

Well if you need a number my answer isn't much different from rjparker... Around $24 for a 5-quart jug of oil + a $4 filter.

 

This thread motivated me to check Costco price: $10 off the usual $60 (CDN funds) right now, for a 2-pack of 5 quart bottles of Kirkland motor oil. That’s $18~19 USD per 5 quart bottle.

oil filters through dealerships range $8~12 (CDN), and drain bolt washers around $2

 

how can they charge you $67.95 for the forerunner if it is free?

 

The pragmatic approach: you still have your 2 free oil changes. Do your earlier one, either DIY or employing pros. Say at 5k. Then get the free one, and so on, back and forth. You eventually get your free ones.

up here in Canada, no free oil changes, no service reminder in the dash, no problems.

FWIW, even if Toyota Canada was offering free oil changes, I’d pass.

 

The two free changes and rotations were and are designed to get you used to going to the dealer.

The two free started with the gen3s when they moved the oil change interval from 5,000 miles to 10,000 because of recommended synthetic oil. The rest is history.

By the way, the dealers around here often send service postcards with buy one get one free oil changes. Not too bad of a deal paying $79 total. You do need to get on their service dept mailing lists.

 

i had to argue for a 5,000 mile oil change on my 2012. threatening to go to another dealer helped.
for our '24 hycam, i asked and received without issue. they do like to remind you that you only get two, like you're truing to scam them or something.
downside of dealer oil change is that it's overfilled by a half inch.

 

Generally for my car I don't go to dealerships for any work. Though my HV battery did just die for the 3rd time in 4-5 years and from what my new mechanic says my old "specialist" has been giving me old/refurbished batteries, which means I'm probably going to see if a dealership can replace it with a new one. But outside of big big stuff like that(used to go to a local mechanic who also does hybrid stuff, stopped when it became obvious they started doing shoddy work and a lot of local people suggested new mechanics) I just go get my oil changed or tires rotated or get maintenance done at Jiffy Lube or Pep Boys now. Jiffy Lube generally you can get a coupon online and its ~50-70 depending. Its not bad at all.