You Make the Call!

don't sweat the small stuff.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Betelgeuse @ Aug 29 2007, 02:27 PM) [snapback]503868[/snapback]</div>

That alone would move me to look elsewhere. If they make it right with a genuinely contrite attitude, they gain some measure of my loyalty. If my holding their feet to the fire on a small job provokes this kind of response, I don't want them handling the big ones.

Of course, as you've likely seen in other threads, an oil change is an easy DIY job.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Betelgeuse @ Aug 29 2007, 01:21 PM) [snapback]503860[/snapback]</div>

Of course, you mean "mm" not "cm".


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Betelgeuse @ Aug 29 2007, 01:21 PM) [snapback]503860[/snapback]</div>

Anything beyond the "full" mark is a waste. Isn't using less be something both dealer & consumer would be happy to encourage?

As for the complete redo rather than just draining the excess, he was obviously letting his emotions influence the outcome rather than trying to please the customer.

 

There was absolutely no need to completely drain the crankcase of
NEW oil and even less reason to touch the filter. I can't imagine
why they took it upon themselves, especially a FLAT-RATER guy, to
make a big pain-in-the-nice person show out of it like that. I would go up
the management chain with the story and ask why that was done.
.
To see it from their perspective, of course, you're one of many
customers they're trying to crank through their shop as fast as
possible, and mechanics know that a little overfill doesn't
necessarily *hurt* an engine and the last thing they're concerned
about is your MPG and the state of your PCV or throttle body as
long as they've completed what it says on the paperwork.
.
So to answer the question, we've got both. However, they being in
a customer-service environment went over the line, and you should
call BS on it because they need to learn that they don't muck with
what a tight-knit owner community knows is essentially a common-
pattern failure on the HUMAN side. It's one thing to be able to
diagnose and service a car, but it goes hand in hand with keeping
the people who buy them confident.
.
Nonetheless, here's one vote of encouragement for doing your own oil
changes. The equipment needed is minimal, there are several public
documents that lay out the whole process, and you can happily pour
in your 3.5 quarts. Tire rotations should be easy too -- use the
spare as a "buffer" while moving the real wheels around, and then
you're also confident that a> the spare has proper air in it, and
b> your lugnuts are properly torqued.
.
_H*

 

I prefer the 'Skinner' approach:

Write a nice note thanking everyone for being so gracious when they corrected your overfilled, Prius oil pan. The extra effort shows their respect for your wishes to keep the car at peak efficiency. So please enjoy these fresh, Krispy Kreme donuts as my thanks for a job well done.

The note is something management will appreciate and the mechanics will enjoy the donuts. The 'positive re-enforcement' will also get the message throughout the whole organization and lead to more attention to your wishes in the future.

Now if it happens again, there is the stick but let's not go there right now.

Bob Wilson

ps. If you are not in a Krispy Kreme area, Dunkin Donuts is an acceptable substitute.

 

Why didn't you just loosen the drain plug at home and let a little drip into a rag, rather than waste time and gas driving back there for what you knew would probably be less than a cordial discussion?

Your OP question is not an either/or. He was obnoxious and you were a little anal.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bwilson4web @ Aug 29 2007, 03:16 PM) [snapback]503901[/snapback]</div>

WOW That's a stretch! =)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Darwood @ Aug 29 2007, 02:47 PM) [snapback]503916[/snapback]</div>

I don't know about the OP , but If it were me and I paid $$$ for a job it better be done right anal or not
I was an owner of an appliance repair company in Phx. AZ. and the Satisfied Customer is what makes your bread and butter.
Plus it is not brain surgery either, the techs and lube boys should know about their product that is sold there.
another point is I am disabled and do not crawl under cars anymore, so there is no need to if the job was done right the first time.

Just maybe we / us as americans just do not do a good job anymore???, but we sure like our big bucks. Now don't read anything else into this but maybe that is why the big 3 are not selling QUALITY CARS ANYMORE.

 

Here is a scenario which may explain what happened to Betelgeuse, me, and undoubtedly thousands of other highly protective Prius owners:

1) Betelgeuse drove his car to the dealer for an oil change.
2) The service department drained the hot oil and replaced it with room temperature oil . . . and, giving the employee the benefit of the doubt, he checked the level, being at or below the line, he released the car.
3) Betelgeuse drove the car home, thereby heating up the oil. Then, upon checking, finds the dip stick reporting an overfill condition.
4) Betelgeuse drives back to the dealer, dealer checks the oil, and yes, the dip stick is reporting an overfill.
5) The dealer drains the hot oil and replaces it with more room temperature oil, and it registers correctly.

My questions:
How much is motor oil affected by thermal expansion?
Did Betelgeuse check his oil level again when he got home? :huh:
Is the space for motor oil in the Prii designed in such a way, either on purpose or by accident, that its dip stick readings are highly sensitive to overfills - to where normal thermal expansion could explain the rash of dealers "overfilling" the oil?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Betelgeuse @ Aug 29 2007, 11:21 AM) [snapback]503860[/snapback]</div>

I vote that if you are paying them to do the service, and they do it wrong, then they should make it right without complaint. They should not be condescending or argumentative. But that's just my opinion.

Don't fear the tire rotation; it is not difficult or dangerous if you have a good level surface and good quality jack stands to support the car.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sufferin' Prius Envy @ Aug 29 2007, 02:14 PM) [snapback]503964[/snapback]</div>

1. Almost zilch.
2. Don't know.
3. No.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Betelgeuse @ Aug 29 2007, 02:21 PM) [snapback]503860[/snapback]</div>

I think everyone overreacted.

I wonder if they would completely deflate the tire if the psi were too high.

 

I demand that my waitresses, waiters, and bartenders (ESPECIALLY MY BARTENDERS) are polite and friendly. Cranky mechanics? Good Lord! If I demanded happy friendly mechanics, I might never get my oil changed.

 

I bring three quarts of my own oil and ask they use only that and I'll top it off at home. Hasn't been overfilled since.

 

Another reason why we introverts change our own oil.

PA P

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GreenJohnny @ Aug 29 2007, 07:34 PM) [snapback]504025[/snapback]</div>

A good barmaid has my beer on the bar before my butt is on the stool.

I vote for bitchy mechanic. I suspect they are overpriced but you may want to give them 1 more chance. Next time ensure "3.5 quarts" or "3.5 l" or whatever makes you happy is written on the work order. Let the service writer know you will inspect the car immediately after the service and complain if it isn't done right.

If they can't get the little stuff right how in h*** are they going to fix something serious?