I Just Needed an Oil Change, but did I Rooked?

What makes you think that? The price? That's a fair price for Toyota 0W20. I buy it in bulk, currently for $4.95 (CDN) per liter. Everything's likely fine. Do check the level/condition on the dipstick.

They're likely an up-and-up place, with prices a bit on the steep side. On the flipside, the cheaper places will hustle you like hell, pushing bogus extra services.

Did they maybe do a tire rotation too??

 

In my Chicagoland neighborhood ... since like forever ... everything is upfront on paper what the cost is. All the "inspection" stuff has generally been included along with common liquid fills and tire inflation. I remember always seeing a big price list in view in every shop. Most every place here go on a 5-qt fill w/ conventional oil. More oil is listed and so is synthetic. Most places list premium/specialty conventional and synthetic too. From my house on the main business drag for the +/- 4-miles there must be a dozen places, not counting dealerships, that do oil changes. There are also 7 parts stores that want your DIY business. Competition is fierce.

 

first question: how much is an oil change?

second: what brand oil and filter do you use?

i pay my local mobil station 90 bucks for oil change with mobil 1.

so if they checked everything out on top of that for 20, that's not horrible.

if they rotated the tires, which needs to be done if the oil needs to be changed? bonus

 

I'd consider it pretty disqualifying for a shop to do work I hadn't asked for and want me to pay for it.

But I guess the best time to make that clear to them is right up front.

 

The prices for the oil, filter, & gasket as well as the disposal don't look bad. But typically, the inspection is done for free in the hopes that it turns up more service work. $70 looks very steep to me for labor for just an oil change. It only takes a few minutes with the hoist. If they took the whole splash shield off the bottom of the car for inspection, that would add time, but it's not needed for the oil change.

You don't have to have this done at Toyota. Any shop can change your oil. Any shop can over fill the crank case, forget to tighten something, or even forget to put in the new oil. I don't let other people change my oil, even Toyota.

 

Don't know about Portland, but labor rates at dealers around here run anywhere north of $125/hour. I would say your bill looks reasonable, but only IF they actually did a tire rotation. Your invoice isn't too clear on that matter...

BTW, which Portland? Maine or Oregon?

 

The coupons in My area start at $19.99. Generally a synthetic change goes ... on the cheap ... for $39.99. The oils used are usually on the advertisements of the shop. Valvoline, Castrol and Mobile are the most common. "House" filters are almost always used. They are no-name filters produced by a major filter company. Some places believe it or not use Wix or Purolator filters with NO label on them.

For regular non-auto maniacs I always felt that the best sale shop was the one to go to. Whatever shop has the sale at the time. If you do your maintenance on time on spec ... it's as good as any. I do my own ... but I'm a generally psycho car guy. I had NO problem taking my mom's car to an oil-change shop on sale. None of her cars ever blew up.

By me you're not gonna get a tire rotation w/ an oil-change. They will check the pressure and fill/release if necessary, but not rotate. Oil change places are not really built for that. There are though, more than enough dealers and tire places that will do it for FREE if you ask.

Whatever car dealer or tire place that sold you your car or tires should do rotations for FREE anyway. That goes without saying in Chicagoland.

 

IF you didn't sign the paperwork, you aren't responsible for payment. And if you didn't approve of any extra work,
you don't have to pay for it.
Not sure what the laws are in washington, but in Florida, they cannot keep your keys or car if you don't pay.
If they call the cops, they will say you have to take it to court, but they have to give the car back.

I believe you need to get a lawyer, they did threaten you.

 

The price is about what our Toyota dealer would charge for routine service with an oil change. At the independent shop, it is a bit high, but not unheard of. I would shop around next time or DIY.

 

Can't comment about Oregon auto repair law.
In Calif you need to approved an up front estimate and if need be you can contact the Bureau of Automotive repair to complain.

Parts prices seems OK.
Labor rate $70...is that for 1/2 hour...what is the hourly rate?
If tires rotated and splash pan/lower fairing removed, that could take an hour and I too think labor seems reasonable.

Your call whether to "boycott" this shop in the future or use them now with the knowledge of their operation.

FWIW Oil change, tire rotation, inspection Toyota dealer "special" is $90. in my area.

Good luck, enjoy the stereotype Portland rain LOL.

 

I worked with older checker for a while, and he would bemoan the thicknesses of steel that Junior Engineers would call for, say for a base plate or whatever. He'd say I'd like to hand them a hacksaw and a mere 1/4" thick plate, tell them to go at it, get a sense of just how substantial and stubborn it can be.

Something similar comes to mind, with all the armchair oil change assessments. First off, yes, a pro shop has nice lifts, air tools, heated bays and so on, but that stuff doesn't grow on trees. It took effort and ongoing investment.

If you DIY an oil change, and a tire rotation, with just the typical DIY setup, you maybe will come away with an appreciation for what you're paying for.

Again, for just the oil change, OP's bill is a little on the high side, but not worth sweating. With tire rotation too, not bad at all. Try hoisting up tires and getting them pushed onto the studs. Or lying under there with a hot oil filter in hand, and a trickle of used oil just about to your armpit.

 

Vivid description .

Sounds like you’ve been doing it for a bit.

The oil trickling down your arm got me.

Not that it’s ever happened to me before .

 

Mendel ... I like you ... You're a good guy. ... But I have an air-gun. I swap out tires in less than 5-minutes each while enjoying a cold frosty malted beverage. ... I also NEVER get any oil dripping down into my armpits.

I'm just sayin'.


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Raytheeagle ... You're a good guy too.

I'm still just sayin'.​

 

My son and I did his CX-5 on father's day, oil/filter and tire rotation, he tried to do most of it.

 

i used to change my own oil. now, $90. is a bargain. some people spend that on a couple glasses of wine

 

If you change your own oil, that makes the expensive wine easier to explain .

 

From the last CX-5 oil change to this the oil filter went from $10 to $15

 

I’m sure the filter is now made of even better components .

 

Damn if I'm going to pat $90 for a oil change , I put in synthetic Pennzoil or mobil 1 with the filter change and it might cost me $15 with the rebates I get