Oil changes/warranty work

[deerefan]

As I posted before, I bought a new Silverado and Traverse in December, 2011 models. The dealer did the first oil changes as they were free. I usually do my own oil changes, but discovered the filter was loose on the silverado and was leaking oil, a very small amount. I noticed it the other day and the oil was last changed in March. The truck was about half a quart low, so the leak was very small. I called the dealer and he admitted to a tech error. I snugged the filter but it still weeped oil. I brought it in this morning and they changed the oil for free and so far no leak. As for the traverse, it is not leaking but the filter was little loose for my comfort so I tightened by hand and a 1/4 turn with my wrench. I usually do not like other changing oil in my vehicle, but now that there is a recoreded issue I think it might be best to let them continue. If there is ever an issue, it is on them. The dexos oil is also hard to locate. I think from now on, just to cover myself, while my vehicles are under warrany the dealer will service. That way if there is an issue, they did the work and can't point the finger at me. How do you guys feel about this?

 

[Diamondpilot]

This is just the reason I do my own. Like you though, my Titan I bought new in 09 came with 4 free changes and I let them do it.

I never use a wrech to tighten, just my hands. I do lots of changes, 6 since Monday, and never had a single problem.

Chris.

 

[bp fick]

Just me, but finding the oil down only a 1/2 quart just isn't that big of deal. Good catch on your part to see and if you only seeped a pint, no damage was done.

I also only hand tighten, but now-a-days, my grip isn't what it used to be. Tightening 1/8 of a turn with a wrench will do no harm.

Over tightening is a problem because a leak can be caused, rather than prevented. Also, many filter weeps are not caused by the filter being loose or tight, but rather that bug-a-boo that happens from time to time. The old filter left the rubber gasket in place and the tech didn't see it. Two gaskets will indeed leak. Normally, not a gusher, so the tech didn't catch it. But the heating/cooling cycles cause it to by-pass some oil.

Again, I think you got off fine on this deal. Me? I do my own. Nobody to blame but me if it goes wrong. In a few years, I'll likely just ask one of my boys do it when they come for a visit. Maybe, I'll even teach my tom-boy granddaughter or two. If I have any tom-boys among them. Jury's still out on that as they are all princess crazy. :laughing::laughing:

 

[deerefan]

Just me, but finding the oil down only a 1/2 quart just isn't that big of deal. Good catch on your part to see and if you only seeped a pint, no damage was done.

I also only hand tighten, but now-a-days, my grip isn't what it used to be. Tightening 1/8 of a turn with a wrench will do no harm.

Over tightening is a problem because a leak can be caused, rather than prevented. Also, many filter weeps are not caused by the filter being loose or tight, but rather that bug-a-boo that happens from time to time. The old filter left the rubber gasket in place and the tech didn't see it. Two gaskets will indeed leak. Normally, not a gusher, so the tech didn't catch it. But the heating/cooling cycles cause it to by-pass some oil.

Again, I think you got off fine on this deal. Me? I do my own. Nobody to blame but me if it goes wrong. In a few years, I'll likely just ask one of my boys do it when they come for a visit. Maybe, I'll even teach my tom-boy granddaughter or two. If I have any tom-boys among them. Jury's still out on that as they are all princess crazy. :laughing::laughing:

My 7 month old daughter is showing tom boy tendencies. She is fascinated with the tractors and atv. It is going to be hard for me to let the dealer service my vehicles, but I feel with the issue documented it might be best to cover my butt. After they are out of warranty, I will probably take it back over. They are under warranty for 100k miles and we have 7k miles on both, average about 700 miles a month. I will continue to service my 97 F150 myself. The Ford dealer nearest me does not have very reliable mechanics.
I change the oil in all my vehicles @ 5k miles and run regular dino oil. They do not see extreme driving conditions and the new truck pulls a trailer maybe 3-5 times a year, mainly to retrieve hay. I use castrol 10w-30 in my F150 and the new vehicles call for 5w-30. I do not know if the dealer uses castrol. I have put about 60 miles on the truck today since the oil change and no leak. I do check my oil at fill ups and look under the trucks periodocally, so if it does I will hopefully catch it prior to any damage.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Heck, I would take my old stuff to them and do the new stuff myself. Maybe they will screw up the old and you will get a new motor.

My uncles step brother took his Dodge Hemi in about a year ago to get the oil changed. Came back after lunch, paid for it, started it up, drove about a mile and it blew up. Tech drained oil, changed filter, and that was it. Never put oil back in it. Did not catch it moving it out of the bay and into the lot. He ended up getting a new motor.

Chris

 

[dstig1]

I don't consider that a decent new vehicle plan, Chris...

 

[ultrarunner]

Every time a engine failure case came to me at arbitration, the manufacturer would pass out the factory maintenance schedule and have a service printout to to establish service history.

As an arbitrator, it was our job to determine if proper maintenance was performed.

Some owners easily established they had followed manufacturer maintenance schedule by providing receipts for parts and lubricants with a service log...

One aircraft mechanic provided the most meticulous records... even had oil analysis reports in his file.

 

[Chef Pa]

I think from now on, just to cover myself, while my vehicles are under warrany the dealer will service. That way if there is an issue, they did the work and can't point the finger at me. How do you guys feel about this?

Deerefan - I discussed this concern with my dealer and they said no problem doing your own as long as it's documented. I normally purchased oil/filters etc for at least two changes on sale or whenever it was time, but now do that on non-warranty only, and purchase oil/filter for warranty at or close to time of change, to document date. Might be overkill but I'm concerned about the dealer/factory looking for a way to get out of a warranty cost repair also. Nothing says they still won't try, but at least it's documented. I would rather do this and know the change is done correctly. Just my $.02

Heck, I would take my old stuff to them and do the new stuff myself. Maybe they will screw up the old and you will get a new motor.

My uncles step brother took his Dodge Hemi in about a year ago to get the oil changed. Came back after lunch, paid for it, started it up, drove about a mile and it blew up. Tech drained oil, changed filter, and that was it. Never put oil back in it. Did not catch it moving it out of the bay and into the lot. He ended up getting a new motor.

Chris

Chris - can you provide step-by-step instructions on this?

Greg

 

[pilot-werx]

Every time a engine failure case came to me at arbitration, the manufacturer would pass out the factory maintenance schedule and have a service printout to to establish service history.

As an arbitrator, it was our job to determine if proper maintenance was performed.

Some owners easily established they had followed manufacturer maintenance schedule by providing receipts for parts and lubricants with a service log...

One aircraft mechanic provided the most meticulous records... even had oil analysis reports in his file.

Have to love aircraft type....

 

[PoorMansCat]

DeereFan... Trust me when I say that I understand the position you are in... The local Jeep/Dodge dealer left the air cleaner lid completely off the airbox on my wifes Grand Cherokee (brand new at the time) I found it 4800 miles later when I popped the hood to add some washer fluid!!!.. One other time they rotated the tires and left the right rear wheel loose... almost wrecked the vehicle going down Interstate... In the end, I fired the dealership and got rid of the Jeep.
My company vehicle is a 2011 F550 that has always been serviced my the same Ford dealership.... at about 28K the truck shut down (out of town) come to find out, the truck had the original fuel filters on it, at 38K, noticed that it had the original air filter on it... Pulled invoices and found that we had been routinely charged for filters....
I had started using this Ford dealer to service my wifes new Mazda, but after finding this, they have been fired also...
I have given up and started servicing the Mazda myself. Not what I wanted to do since I spend every week working on large displacement stationary engines...
You might do as others have suggested, simply use the maintenance logs available in the owners manual and do the p/m 's yourself.. The quickie lube places are just as bad...

 

[Soundguy]

Just me, but finding the oil down only a 1/2 quart just isn't that big of deal.

not for a GM anyway..

Heck.. GM says my yukon can burn nearly 1qt per 1000m and be within book spec.

hows that for cool...

soundguy

 

[Diamondpilot]

not for a GM anyway..

Heck.. GM says my yukon can burn nearly 1qt per 1000m and be within book spec.

hows that for cool...

soundguy

They would not fix my last Saturn and it burnt a qt every 600 miles. They said that was in spec at under 40,000 miles.:confused2:

I have owned dozens of Fords, a Honda, a Mazda, a Mitsubishi (really a Eagle Talon), a Toyota, a Infinity, a Nissan, and probably more I can not remember but not a single one of them has needed a drop of oil between changes.

I have had 4 GM products and 2 or 50% drank oil as quick as gas.

Chris

 

[deerefan]

They would not fix my last Saturn and it burnt a qt every 600 miles. They said that was in spec at under 40,000 miles.:confused2:

I have owned dozens of Fords, a Honda, a Mazda, a Mitsubishi (really a Eagle Talon), a Toyota, a Infinity, a Nissan, and probably more I can not remember but not a single one of them has needed a drop of oil between changes.

I have had 4 GM products and 2 or 50% drank oil as quick as gas.

Chris

What puzzles me is where is it going? A coworker had a truck similar to mine, a 2010 and it would be a quart low every 5k miles. Didn't seem to burn oil and he found no leaks. My vehicles do not do this, but they are still new (only 7k miles on each in 9 months).

 

[Diamondpilot]

What puzzles me is where is it going? A coworker had a truck similar to mine, a 2010 and it would be a quart low every 5k miles. Didn't seem to burn oil and he found no leaks. My vehicles do not do this, but they are still new (only 7k miles on each in 9 months).

Both of mine were dry as a bone and did not smoke any. My college roomate is a die hard GM guy and he currently has a 2011 Silverado and a 2010 Tahoe. both with the 5.3. The truck uses no oil but the Tahoe uses 2 qts between oil changes. He hates that they take this "its acceptable practice".

It just seems to be hit or miss. Funny thing is the GM engines that use oil seem to be dead reliable.

Chris

 

[PoorMansCat]

My wife had a Pontiac back when we first met... it was brand new.. (so was the car!! hahaha..) Anyway.. it used so much oil between changes that I had it back at the dealership 4-5 times.... I tried different brands/weights of oils... nothing seemed to slow the consumption down... Between that and the electrical issues, I finally dumped that car..

 

[bill50cal]

it is going out the tail pipe BUT with the higher combustion temps, a catalytic converter and that amount you wont see it and this attitude towards oil consumption is just ONE MORE reason GM should have been aloud to fail

What puzzles me is where is it going? A coworker had a truck similar to mine, a 2010 and it would be a quart low every 5k miles. Didn't seem to burn oil and he found no leaks. My vehicles do not do this, but they are still new (only 7k miles on each in 9 months).

 

[grsthegreat]

I admit to always doing my own tractor maintenance and i keep all records of filters , oil, etc in a file in my office.

However for the trucks, i have always used a local quick lube place in town. They do great work and you can watch them do the job. I have never had an issue with their work, the price is very reasonable. They grease all Zerk's and check all fluid levels. I have a computer printout of all maint done that will satisfy all warranty claims.

I used to do my own autos/trucks, but as my work got busier, i found less and less time available to do the scheduled maintenance, and the time between changes kept getting longer. Now i get it done on time and on mileage without issues. The dodge has 280,000 miles with no engine issues, The ford 54,000 no issues and the Chevy van 138,000 with NO engine issues. cant ask for more.

 

[Diamondpilot]

My wife had a Pontiac back when we first met... it was brand new.. (so was the car!! hahaha..) Anyway.. it used so much oil between changes that I had it back at the dealership 4-5 times.... I tried different brands/weights of oils... nothing seemed to slow the consumption down... Between that and the electrical issues, I finally dumped that car..

Still have the woman?:laughing:

Chris

 

[grsthegreat]

Still have the woman?:laughing:

Chris

well just wait till the woman starts to short out......hehe

 

[Soundguy]

What puzzles me is where is it going? A coworker had a truck similar to mine, a 2010 and it would be a quart low every 5k miles. Didn't seem to burn oil and he found no leaks. My vehicles do not do this, but they are still new (only 7k miles on each in 9 months).

a quart per 5k? you can burn that and not see smoke ont he tail pipe.

In fact.. a quart in 5k.. I wouldn't be worried about that even.. it's the quart per 1k that gets ya. My wife does 3k oil changes on her yukon.. I have to add makup oil in between changes.. what a bummer of an engine design.

I got 1 truck that has a leak.. my 99 350 will make a few drops of either trans or ps fluid on the driveway over night.. that's it. I will go under with a creeper when i get time and take a look. i have half an idea is a cooler line.. at a few drips.. I'm not overly concerned.

my 99 450 no leaks or burning, neither on the old beater 98 dodge I still have, parked out int he barn. no burning..e tc.. had an old 90 ford mini van.. no leaks or burning... the old lincoln mkvii had no leaks or burning... only other thing I had in recent history with a leak was an old 90 crown vic with a weepy rear main... got rid of it long ago...

soundguy