Honesty of dealership oil changes

[Cobrargc]

I turn wrenches for a living and have always done all my own maintenance. That being said, I am questioning the honesty of my dealership in regards to the "3 year free oil changes". My Jetta is a 2013. I took it in for its 1st annual service in September 2013. The car had 5,688 miles. That invoice appears to indicate the oil and filter were changed. I few days later I checked the oil level and though it was a touch low, I notice the oil on the dip stick being much darker than I would have expected it to be.

This week I took the car in for its 2nd annual service at 10,134 miles. The invoice again appears to indicate new oil and a filter. This morning I checked the oil level and it was a bit low and seems to be darker than what it was last year after the 1st oil change. I have no love for dealerships and anticipated the same issue, so I took a photo of the oil level on the dipstick before the oil change and compared it to what it looks like this morning. The level and color look identical.

When I purchased the car it appeared the correct spec oil was a little tough to find and decided to just let VW change is for free. Mistake?? I actually dread the day I do my 1st oil change on this car. Will I find a stripped oil pan bolt or other surprise?

A couple of questions: What is the color or clarity of the new 5W-40 supposed to look like? Is it the normal amber color? Has anybody else had the same issue?

As a side note about my luck with dealerships in general, I'd asked them to adjust the drivers door at the 1st annual maintenance. The door required a heavy hand to get it to close properly. The other three doors shut and latch normally when closed. The drivers take much more effort or it will not catch the second latch. You can look down the at the gap between the left front and rear doors and clearly see that when closed, the drivers door sits in further than the rear door. The dealership said there was no problem with the door. The colder the weather the stiffer the rubber seals and more effort to close. I had to move the striker out about 2mm myself to adjust the door correctly.

 

[Fav40]

You're not alone

 

[tdiatlast]

The required 507-spec oil is a 5w-30. ALL 507-spec oil is 5w-30. Most, if not all, VW dealers use Castrol, which has been proven by UOAs to be adequate.
The instant diesel oil is poured into a diesel crankcase it darkens, sometimes quite dramatically, depending on how diligent (length of time) the drain was, and whether or not the tech siphoned out the oil cooler beneath the oil filter housing. Dark oil is NOT an indication that they oil wasn't changed. Dark oil IS an indication that it's doing its job.

FYI, there are many here that share your distrust of dealership service. There are many that don't. With one exception, I've had excellent dealer service, and will continue to support those that perform well.

 

[TDiSkater]

Oil holds soot in suspension. No oil changes gets every drop out. Thereby oil is dark again almost immediately. I just had my 60k and always check oil level before driving off the lot. It was pretty black. They still use bottles for oil change and always leave me the extra .4L on my floor in a sealed bag.

If dealer isn't getting the door right. Try a different dealer.

Good luck

 

[TDiSkater]

Is your 2013 Jetta a TDI? If so, the "free oil changes" (which you paid for in the sales price) are to be performed at 10k, 20k and 30k. I have no idea why they changed the oil early.
The required 507-spec oil is a 5w-30. ALL 507-spec oil is 5w-30. Most, if not all, VW dealers use Castrol, which has been proven by UOAs to be adequate.
The instant diesel oil is poured into a diesel crankcase it darkens, sometimes quite dramatically, depending on how diligent (length of time) the drain was, and whether or not the tech siphoned out the oil cooler beneath the oil filter housing. Dark oil is NOT an indication that they oil wasn't changed. Dark oil IS an indication that it's doing its job.

You are correct to question the dealership, since they changed your oil, twice, at DOUBLE the VWoA recommended OCI. That fact in itself would make me doubt them.

I'm surprised, since you "turn wrenches for a living", that you wouldn't have chosen to perform the OC yourself. Removing the oil filter is a bit complicated, but not hard. I'm also surprised you didn't take the time to read the owner's manual, and VWoA's recommended service intervals, before you turned the car over to ANY service personnel.

FYI, there are many here that share your distrust of dealership service. There are many that don't. With one exception, I've had excellent dealer service, and will continue to support those that perform well.

I believe the OP said he was at the 12 month interval. The OCI is every 10k or yearly.

 

[ItAintRodKnock]

Sad to read, but I believe it.


So in regards to your question:
I use mobile 1 TDT 5-40 it's naturally amber, however, after an oil change if I crank the car up at all, shut it down and recheck oil it will be dark already... Now with that being said, I drive a 2001 golf with 235,000 miles; i don't know if it's accurate to say a new one would darken the oil that quickly, i would suspect a clean new engine would not.

A far as the level being th same before and after, yeah, I don't trust them or what they say they did.
If it were me, and I really cared to go this farther step, I'd set them up. Make marks on specific items that are involved in the oil change. Easy to catch them that way.

Sounds like if you take it in with low oil it'll come out with low oil too, go back in with a reciept showing an oil change and the level being low, they'd have a hard time
Explaining that.

 

[tdiatlast]

Sorry. I completely misunderstood the timing of the OP's post, forgetting that his 2013 could very well be 2 years old. I'll edit my post.

 

[ruking]

First off, diesel motor oils (in this case, 5w30 VW 507. specification oil (13 Jetta) in TDI's changes color almost as soon as it is circulated (changed) in the engine.

Looks BLACK to blacker are not valid indicators. The VALID (real) indicators (UOA's) are percentage wise, VERY rarely done.

My local VW dealerships use Castrol EDGE 5w30 VW 507.00 and oem oil filters and a crush washer. Whether I or anyone else likes it or thinks there are better brews and oil filters are WHOLE different discussions.

I have seen them use 1 L bottles, to drawing it from 42 gal barrels. I have watched them (the dealers, they have either invited me up close to under the car to watch or watch through windows) any number of times doing oil and filter changes.

So while I share some of the doubting that goes into dealership's mis trust, my anecdotal experiences indicates (to me anyway) they actually put the car UP on the rack (why would you even do THAT if you are going to fake an oil and filter change?) DO the oil, oil filter and crush washer changes.

 

[Fav40]

I'd like the option to watch to ease my mistrust, but many dealers, shops etc simply do not allow this for insurance reasons.

If I saw them putting individual bottles of oil in my car, I'd trust having them do future oil changes at my cost.

 

[Tuco]

The only guaranteed way it will be done correctly is by doing it yourself. No one has more invested in the car than you, the owner.

 

[splendid]

You could try placing a "tell" on the filter housing. (small piece of tape, paint marker line etc.)


After a questionable visit to the local independent garage, I've learned to do almost all maintenance myself.

 

[Cobrargc]

Thanks for the help guys. As I said, I normally do all the maintenance on my vehicles that's not under warranty. Still the temptation of free oil changes for 3 years saves me probably $40 in materials?? I have yet to purchase the oil or filter for this vehicle so it could be more. When I bought it neither Walmart or the other parts stores (O'Reillys, Advanced or Autozone) stocked the TDI specific oil. This made the decision to let the dealership do it easier. I am just one of those guys that is anal about his vehicles and it seems like on the rare occasion I have something done by someone else, there will be grease on the seats or center caps left off the wheels.

If you want something done right, do it yourself. I will do the next oil change myself. Hopefully the availability of the oil has gotten better in the last couple years.

I'd bought a Ford F series Power Stroke some time back and performed all the oil changes. I don't ever recall an issue with the Rotella oil turning black right away. Maybe it's the make up of the TDI blocks or the Castrol oil?

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

Three oil changes are included in your car's cost. The engine has a 10,000 mile oil change interval. Sounds like you've used two of the three in 10K. I'm guessing the dealer recommended 5K change intervals, a common practice as it enhances their revenue stream. 10K is fine with these cars.

And the fluids aren't cheap when compared to older cars. We sell an oil change kit for your car for $50.95, which is a pretty competitive price. It may sound high, but remember you're probably changing it less often than you have in the past. And you're right, the correct spec oil is difficult to find at most retail stores. Dealers usually have it, and sometimes they have pretty good pricing. It's worth checking.

 

[kjclow]

So let me add my comments:
In about 240k miles of driving VW diesels, so approximately 24 oil changes, I have only seen amber oil after a change once. The car had been turned over long enough to get it out of the garage.

Reading through the OP. A second time, it sounds like he's only putting about 5k miles on a year. I believe that the recommended oil change is 12 months or 12k miles. Doesn't seem like the best use of a diesel, but to each their own.

As far as leaving a "tell" on the filter housing, the thing only goes back together one way. Using a marker or paint pen will tell you nothing

 

[bluesmoker]

most dealers just drain the crankcase leaving the oil filter housing full of old (really black) engine oil, this mixes with the new oil

the moment they start it up it goes black

I use an oil extractor to drain my 04 PD engine, the new oil stays amber for a few days at least

 

[Tuco]

most dealers just drain the crankcase leaving the oil filter housing full of old (really black) engine oil, this mixes with the new oil

the moment they start it up it goes black

I use an oil extractor to drain my 04 PD engine, the new oil stays amber for a few days at least

^^^ I think that's correct. My last oil change, I used the Pela to extract through the dipstick and got all the oil out of the oil filter canister. I also pulled the drain plug to see how much remained in the oil pan - approx. 25mL to 50 mL.

I used a different brand of oil for this interval, and it stayed amber for almost 300 miles. I actually started getting worried it wasn't suspending soot. After 700 miles, it's black as midnight.

 

[cheoah]

most dealers just drain the crankcase leaving the oil filter housing full of old (really black) engine oil, this mixes with the new oil

the moment they start it up it goes black

I use an oil extractor to drain my 04 PD engine, the new oil stays amber for a few days at least

Most dealers? No. Some techs? Sure.

OP should not expect amber oil and it'll be just fine, as long as fluid is changed. Even I have a bias against the dealership, but I don't have to exaggerate their shortcomings.


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[bluesmoker]

Most dealers? No. Some techs? Sure.

OP should not expect amber oil and it'll be just fine, as long as fluid is changed. Even I have a bias against the dealership, but I don't have to exaggerate their shortcomings.


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I agree, the car will be fine,

I was just stating the usual oil change procedure at the dealer (and at most iffy lube places too)

 

[drew1202]

I had a short conversation with a guy in the parts department asking him stuff about pricing and they said that they have a dye in the oil that they use. Maybe the dye that they use?

 

[jrm]

I knew they changed mine, it was on the add line when I got home

 

[raitchison]

I agree with others that darkness is not a good indicator that the oil was or wasn't changed. I change my own oil with an oil extractor and can tell you even with less than a minute of idling my brand new oil will look as dark as the oil I just drained.

That being said, I change my own oil, not because I don't think they will bother to change the oil, but because I don't trust them to use the correct oil. I've only done 3 oil changes and bought the oil at the dealer each time (VW 507.00 oil is not available in any of my local auto parts stores) and one time they tried to give me the wrong oil (not 507.00) and the last time it took them 10 minutes to find the correct oil.

A few months ago they sent me a $100 gift card good for any service because "they hadn't seen me in a while" (they have not touched my car since I took delivery in 2012). That would have been more than enough for the oil change but I tossed it in the trash (after verifying I could not use it on parts).

 

[Henrick]

My 1.6 TDI runs so lean that the oil stays golden color a few thousands after an oil change.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

A few TDIs do. Odd.