In all my other cars I've ever had you can just open the hood to look at the new oil filter and then look at the color of the oil from the dipstick on a paper towel to confirm that the oil has been changed. I only drove the Prius 1,650 miles in 1 year from the last oil change and maybe that's why I can't tell the difference between the old and new oil. I put oil from before and after the oil change from the dipstick on a paper towel and you can't tell them apart. Do you think they didn't change my oil or was my old oil just as clear as new oil?
If you only drive 1650 miles, the oil will not be dirty. Unless you are able to actually watch them, the only think you could do is to send the before and after oil in for a test. There should be some difference. I would bet they changed it. Unless you think they are a shady place.
With our 2010 I find oil on the dipstick looks very clean, right up to oil change time, which I'm doing at an admittedly very short 3000~4000 kms on average (once every 6 months). Still, if I collect a little bottle of the drained oil, it's black as ink. If you could siphon or drain a few oz's you could tell: near-new oil should still look amber, transparent. Loosening the drain bolt till you get a trickle is one way, but it's a bit nerve-wracking. I've done it on occasion, to remedy overfill. A syringe style siphon with hose down the dipstick tube would be easier.
Once my dealership said they did a tire rotation and a tread check, but couldn't supply the paper or remember the numbers when they were done. They also find some new issue everytime I go in, so I am beginning to think my dealership is either sketchy or just reckless
Oil experts here say oil color doesn't necessarily reflect oil age or engine wear. Some claims here have been once fresh clear transparent engine oil is poured into the engine, chemical reactions take place and oil darkens quickly. Not all oil will darken quickly due to various formulation. Red line won't go dark coffee brown til 12,000 miles for me.
Well, with only 1650 miles the old oil may not have changed color. I guess the question is do you trust the dealership? If they cheated you, and you can not prove it, some say synthetic oil can be okay to change every two years, so I don't think you have a problem as the oil still has a golden tint to it. Maybe the only way to know for sure is to send an oil sample to, for example, Blackstone Labs. I think the test cost is $30. Good luck.
Only way to know for sure is change it yourself. Or have a friend do it. I stopped going to my Toyota dealer after 5 loyal years. Yes I waited too long, but all is well. Luckily Prius only need the oil changed and tires rotated in that time. And a filter or two I now change my oil, rotate tires, etc. I have also done a trans drain. Brake check and lube and other various maintenance on both my Prius. Honestly, if I found out that the oil was never changed, or if all those multipoint inspections were never done, brakes were never looked at, tires were never rotated etc. I would not be one bit surprised. I will say tho, there may be some honest dealerships out there. Mine actually never tried to pull anything on me, but I now only go for state inspections.
You want to type which kind of filter because the topic is oil change then I'll believe you meant 1 to 2 oil filter changes in 5 years
I can remember paying for a 500 mile service + valve adjustment for my motorcycle at a sketchy dealership. It was many hundreds of dollars. I bought some clear nail polish and rain a bead across the block, valve cover gasket and cover. I picked up the bike and the polish bead was broken. They could have done a shoddy job but at least someone pulled the cover and it gave me piece of mind.
What do you do but trust the dealership? Oil changes are pretty basic and rudimentary procedures. You would think a service center wouldn't put themselves at risk for charging for services they didn't do. If you have paperwork stating they did the oil change? I'd trust the work was done. Since less than 1,700, on your previous oil, probably not expected to see a big difference in color. Comparative paper towel test? Just going to feed angst. If you are going to drive less than 2000 miles between oil changes, I wouldn't subject myself to the worry by even comparing. All it's going to lead to is some dirty paper towels.
