First Service Foolishness

[TrueFaith]

I had my 2.5 6MT in for it's first service (oil change) on October 31 of last year. Since then I have put less than 1000 miles on the car. The other day before taking a long highway trip I popped the hood to check the oil level and got TWO nasty surprises. First, the engine shroud was splattered with oil. This was obviously not from any oil leak - it was caused by sloppy work at the dealership when adding the new oil. The second nasty surprise was that my oil level was down a FULL QUART. How the heck do you go through a quart of oil in a new car after barely driving it 1000 miles? My old '97 Corolla would only use 1/2 a quart after 3000 miles. I'm rethinking my original intention of having my car serviced by the dealer if this is the result. I am quite capable of changing my own oil, but wanted to follow the manufacturer's recomendations at least for the first few services because I plan on owning this car for a while. If they're going to sabotage the darned thing every time I bring it in for service I'll do it myself and at least know it's done right. Anyone else experience such shoddy dealer service yet?

[phobs]

That's a shady dealership doing poor work, wouldn't be too surprised about the stories about some dealerships. If you plan on keeping the vehicle for a quite a while, might as well do the proper maintenance from the beginning by yourself. Nothing beats the quality and devotion of doing it yourself, which is why I do all my own oil changes. As long as you keep the receipts of your oil and filters and records of the mileage, you're in the clear.

[boystar22]

I would have to agree that it's probably very shotty work from the dealer, but keep in mind that you will loose more oil between changes when your under the break-in period because all the seals and rings are new, so they will absorb some of the oil at first. The dealer probably didn't fill it up full, but it might not have been filled quite as low as it is now. But I do agree, thats pretty bad service work especially to leave the shroud covered in it. I have to take the shroud off the engine to fill it since the fill cap is so recessed, but I'm sure the dealer has the hose dispenser.

[LongBeachCoupe]

most likley they didnt fill it right, and it was always low.. check it before you leave the shop and dont go there again!

[Ferguson]

My motto.... "Buy from a dealer, then say Bye!"

[TrueFaith]

Ha! I just got a "reminder" email from the dealer for my second service. They obviously don't know how little I've been driving since the last one. I think I'll email them back and tell them what I thought of their last service and why I won't be back. Hard to imagine why a dealer who is desperate for any kind of business these days would do such shoddy work if they want return customers. To go out of your way to get dealer service of this quality is simply not acceptable with so many good mechanics out of work. Thanks for your opinions. From now on nobody touches my baby but me!

[marlin29311]

Ha! I just got a "reminder" email from the dealer for my second service. They obviously don't know how little I've been driving since the last one. I think I'll email them back and tell them what I thought of their last service and why I won't be back. Hard to imagine why a dealer who is desperate for any kind of business these days would do such shoddy work if they want return customers. To go out of your way to get dealer service of this quality is simply not acceptable with so many good mechanics out of work. Thanks for your opinions. From now on nobody touches my baby but me!

Don't even bother - it's not worth the time for yout to write back. Just leave them alone, and don't give them anything to use as ammo against you if you ever have to go back there for something.