Price of Dealer Oil Change

[TheBigSgt]

I was young once!

 

[TheBigSgt]

Not to start an :-{} but maybe its just because I'm probably younger than most of you (21), but I prefer to change my own oil so I know its done correctly.



That and I can usually do it for less than $30 ($8-9 filter, $18 for oil)

I was young once! But as a Disabled VET, I'll let the boys in the shop do it.

 

[TheBigSgt]

I use to work for the Dodge dealer ship in Layton Utah, Layton Hills Dodge, Full time as the Business Manager. I bought myself a new 2500 Quad cab 555 Cummins 4x4 with a 6spd this last spring. So I have had alot to do with Dodge warrenties. The oil change contracts that we have been talking about are great in my book. I have the 7-100 Maximum care contract and the Diesel Essential Oil Change contract. The oil change one I got is for 28 oil changes to be used in 7 years. Important to remember this has to be used in 7 years from the time the contract is purchased. Also it is NON- transferable.



So I had to family emergency in St. Louis and the wife wanted us to drive. So off we go. After things where taken care of in St. Louis, I was at about 5500 mile on the truck. I like to change my oil every 5k. So I go to the local Dodge dealer in North County in St. Louis. I asked the service advisor about how much it cost for a LOF, the guy tells me 102 bucks. I said I work for a dealership and he tells me OK 95. I'm a little mad now, and he tells me he's a union shop and that's what it cost! Well, I think theis is BS, so I ask him, if I call back to my dealership and have them fax the LOF oil contract to him, will he take that. He says sure. I say or I could just pay you the 38 bucks that Chrysler pays you to do it. He says no. I say, but you'll take the faxed contract. He says yes. Or I could just pay you the 38 bucks, He says nope, can't do that. So, I have to wait for my dealership to open and a manager to come in so he can write the contract for me. In the end, they got 38 bucks from Chrysler. I had also talked with several other DODGE DEALERS in St. Louis and nobody said they would charge me anything near what they wanted to. I also have a copy of the bill for 95 buck before he zeroed it out. So I always check around.





Now I would never use anything but a Mopar filter, I have seen off brand filters get sucked into the engine. So use only mopar filters.

 

[nickleinonen]

Now I would never use anything but a Mopar filter

and it is made by fleetguard... it is a good lube oil filter, but the fleetguard stratapore is a bit better

 

[rbattelle]

I have seen off brand filters get sucked into the engine.

Could you please explain this statement? How, exactly, does an oil filter running under positive pressure get SUCKED into an engine? Sucked into where? Through the oil filter mount? And just exactly what is the "no suckage" design feature on the Mopar filter that prevents this condition?



-Ryan

 

[Cohomojo]

My dealer in Tacoma, Washington sells a "Cummins Turbo Diesel 6 pack"

6 oil changes for $199.

 

[SOLER]

Not to start an :-{} but maybe its just because I'm probably younger than most of you (21), but I prefer to change my own oil so I know its done correctly.



That and I can usually do it for less than $30 ($8-9 filter, $18 for oil)

This is exactly why I do mine (not because I'm only 21 )



With my old suburban, I had a coupon for an oil change. It was cheap, and the coupon said they'd top off all fluids. I thought, I'll let 'em do it. I always change my own, but wanted to take a break.



Whatever! They didn't even top off the damn oil! They filled up the crankcase until the dipstick said full, but didn't account for the filter. And "top aff all fluids?" All they filled up was me. They filled me full of SH!% And chassis lube. What's that? I just don't trust anyone to do it but me.



$50 is cheap, I guess. But the two dealers close to me SUCK! Remember my turbo problem? (Bad News Turbo). The tech said they had to raise the whole motor to get the turbo off. And the other dealer... I had a leak from the rear of my oil pan on my '01. 5. They said it was the oil breather bottle. I know what and where the bottle is, but I asked them, "where is the breather bottle?" The guy said it's on the front of the motor, and he began to lecture me on the fact that it needs to be drained every oil change. I said, "you're right, and that's why I don't let you change my oil, because I can't trust you to do it. By the way, I continued, "if the bottle is full, why is it that the only place the engine has oil is IN THE BACK OF THE MOTOR? No oil on the front or sides, or on any of the frame or steering parts WHATSOEVER!!" They couldn't answer. They finally fixed the leak.



Those of you that have good service at your dealer, you're lucky.



Oops, I told myself I wasn't going to rant or vent. Sorry!



SOLER

 

[Rosco]

I'm way too anal retentive to allow my dealer to perform oil changes. Thankfully my town has a recycling program that takes waste oil and used filters at no cost. So I charge myself $80 dollars and several lagers to peform an oil change. I do however use Delvac1 and a Stratapore filter to justify my high cost. Also, by performing this task myself I know that my drain plug is torqued to the proper 37ft lbs (you think a dealer uses a torque wrench) and the area around the filter is properly cleaned.

 

[exfuzz01]

I got the service plan when I bought my truck. 5 years or 20 oil, filter, lube services. The cost of the plan made it about 1/2 the regular price.

 

[TheBigSgt]

Could you please explain this statement? How, exactly, does an oil filter running under positive pressure get SUCKED into an engine? Sucked into where? Through the oil filter mount? And just exactly what is the "no suckage" design feature on the Mopar filter that prevents this condition?



-Ryan

OK, pushed into the engine. Don't ask me how or why, but I've never heard of it happening with a MOPAR filter. Also if you keep good records, then you can show it was there mopar filter, I think Mopar will stand behind it.

 

[rbattelle]

OK, pushed into the engine. Don't ask me how or why, but I've never heard of it happening with a MOPAR filter.

Big Sgt-



I notice your signature indicates you're working at Layton Hill Dodge. What do you do for them, out of curiosity?



-Ryan

 

[Mad Bomber]

oil change

When I bought mine they offered a 1 time fee of 250. 00 for a LIFETIME oil change It only took them a month and they realized that on the CTD they loose money :-laf They even wash and vacuum. This is the only thing I allow the dealer to do for me.

 

[wgood]

Free Oil Changes

My dealer is Royal Gate Dodge in St. Louis. I have a 2003 3500 DRW 6 spd HO which I bought this summer. I get free oil and labor for as long as I own the truck. All I pay is $13 or $14 for the oil filter. Its a great deal.

Bill