Here is yet another adventure in Corolla land. This one involves the second oil change that was done on the car. I still couldn’t remove the oil filter because it was on so tight. I needed a lift due to the awkward position, so I took it to a local garage where I once had a clutch replaced on another car.
I provided the Fram oil filter and four quarts of Mobil 1 I was going to use, and told them to only mount the oil filter “hand tight”. Ok done, no problem.
Months later I’m changing the oil again. The filter is still stuck so I look at it. It’s the original Toyota filter, which is blue. Fram filters are orange.
I checked my log and called the shop on it: “Pardon me, but did I pay you to not service the car?”
“No, that’s not possible.”
“Well you tell me why the original filter is on there when I brought the supplies and have the receipt that shows you only charged me for labor?”
[Long pause]
“Ok, bring it in and we’ll take care of it.”
After I verified it was done you can be sure I never went back to that shop. Call me paranoid but you can see why it is important to keep records.
Showing posts with label oil change. Show all posts
Showing posts with label oil change. Show all posts
Dec 24, 2009
Did Your Oil Really Get Changed?
In 2004 my Mom bought a new Toyota Corolla. I change the oil on all our cars. So when it came time for the first oil change on her car I bought the oil and filter and then found I couldn’t remove the filter. It was on tight and it was hard to get a grip on it without a lift.
So I brought my oil (Mobil 1) and filter to a shop where I had a clutch replaced once, and they had done a good job. I told them to tighten the new filter such that it would be snug, and I could remove it myself next time.
Five thousand miles later I’m under the car to do the next oil change. I still can’t remove the filter. So I look and see the original blue filter which came with the car. I use Fram which is orange.
I checked my maintenance log, called the shop and explained the situation. Their response was that it was “not possible”. I countered with the fact I keep records and asked them what they were going to do about the problem.
They asked me to bring the car in and they would “take care of it”. After I got it back you can be sure I double checked. And yes, it was done.
Unless you can verify the work was done, you can never be sure. Does it happen all the time? I don’t know. But I do know that uncertainty is a synonym for risk. And risk costs money.
So I brought my oil (Mobil 1) and filter to a shop where I had a clutch replaced once, and they had done a good job. I told them to tighten the new filter such that it would be snug, and I could remove it myself next time.
Five thousand miles later I’m under the car to do the next oil change. I still can’t remove the filter. So I look and see the original blue filter which came with the car. I use Fram which is orange.
I checked my maintenance log, called the shop and explained the situation. Their response was that it was “not possible”. I countered with the fact I keep records and asked them what they were going to do about the problem.
They asked me to bring the car in and they would “take care of it”. After I got it back you can be sure I double checked. And yes, it was done.
Unless you can verify the work was done, you can never be sure. Does it happen all the time? I don’t know. But I do know that uncertainty is a synonym for risk. And risk costs money.
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