Shesh, If he's got a good relationship with the service department, there's no reason to believe they don't put the Mobil 1 oil he brings with him into the engine.

Having worked at various dealerships in the service department I know we did regularly install parts that the customer would bring us. From radios to oils to accessories. If the customer brought it in to us, and would pay us to install it, we would take the money and install it.

About the only way we wouldn't was if it was inherently unsafe. Ie, things like wooden brake pads and such. And then, all we'd do is say no.

 

I worked at firestone as a salesman. We had a $9.99 oil change and used the lube-tech's to do these low profit jobs.

One guy forgot to put the oil cap on, so the customer left and their engine started smoking. They had it towed in, and there was oil everywhere! We had to get the engine steam cleaned

The same tech forgot to put a drain plug in the oil pan on a Toyota Truck and got 5 quarts of oil all over the place.

Another tech was putting oil in the engine and left to get a smoke, leaving the lube gun on. He put 15 quarts of oil in the engine and let it go. Luckily the owner checked it and let us know before he drove it too far. He was fired.


I have heard other stories of people forgetting to put in filters or oil into the engine and then the customer will come back with a blown engine.

The lube tech's at jiffy lube, firestone, etc. Don't have any training, they are just guys off the street trained on how to loosen a drain bolt and install a filter.

That's why I ALWAYS change my own oil.

BTW, my dad takes his 4Runner to the dealership to get the oil changed and it is Valvoline 5W30 dyno.

 

Thanks for the backing on this. One of the main reasons I'm taking it in to the dealer is that this is the 45k service and I don't have either a grease gun or a heated garage, and its darn cold out here right now! Plus if they find any warranty issues, I can have them handled under my extended warranty with little hassle. I've done this with other dealers & indy shops and haven't had a problem, plus I can watch my truck make its rounds as the lube area is right by the service drive.

 

I'd much rather change my own oil, but now that my folks have moved out of state (It was nice to use my dad's garage) and I live in an apt., it's just easier to take it to the Xpress Lube. It sucks to pay $25+ for an oil change when it can be done for $10, but at least I don't have to worry about disposal of old oil plus I get my windows washed and my floors vacuumed

 

My local toyota stealership service dept said they use Mobil 10W30 dino (owners manual says to use 5W30). Definitely not having my oil changed there!

 

I have been dealing with my local Toyota dealer since '97...they have no problem using the oil I bring in. The question is...how long between changes with synthetic. My dealer says 10k miles! It's hard to believe. I'm at 4500 with the current oil with my 2003 4runner...should I change or wait a bit?

 

Look here:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/

 

You may wish to read this informal study.

http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/s.../oil-life.html