So as most of you know I just recently bought a WRX and I just completed the break in period. I want to change the oil now.
I am not sure if I should go with the dealer for an oil change or if I should do it myself. I’ve changed the oil on every car I’ve ever owned up until I bought my Focus and started working full time. Due to a lack of time and me being lazy I just took the car to the dealer. I was also driving a lot more and I wanted the service department to check the car regularly to make sure things were kosher with it. (I don’t think they were very thorough as my tires were completely shot and on the last report they gave me they were “checked” out as having plenty of meat)
I realize that by doing the changes myself that I will save some money, however, I also think back to the troubles that newman had with his STi and oil change records and such. I would hate to be denied warranty coverage because I decided to not be raped by a local dealership on routine maintainence.
go to a monroe or some place that has $14.95 oil changes, and have them sign off in the back of the owners manual, and keep the reciept in an envelope in the glove box. Always what i have done
I don’t think its a question of me being rough with the car. There is always going to be a fair share of that…maybe not to the degree you took your STi to, but some spirited driving is always needed.
There is always some stupid little thing that fucks up on a car just enough to make it eligible for warranty repair.
I like the sound of the oil changes at a quick lube or whatever. I just wonder what kind of shit they are putting into the car.
be careful with some of those real cheap places, ive had two friends have problems with them. the tech forget to tighten the drain plug on one of them and added 6+ qts on the other, when it only needed 4.
i am telling you right now that when it comes down to a questionable warranty repair, subaru of america TOLD me that people who are dealer serviced get prefernetial treatment. their exact words:
“someone who is willing to spend the money at the dealership will always get good will towards repairs”
I still change my own oil, but I put Mobil 1 in everything and good filters. Costs me like 30 bucks, would be I guess 100 at a dealer or oil change place. I like to see whats going in the car too, and know that its done right. But it is a bitch and messy, not really worth the trouble for some cars. Matters how hard it is to change, and if you have a place to do it.
If your talkin northtown you will get a coupon for a $21 change every few months but if you do synthetic i don’t know what they use and the charge like an extra $36. I have been changing mine but I am pretty confident that keeping regular records will be good enough. I also went one step further called the dealership and talked to their service department. Took down the ladys name and asked her about changing my own oil. So if i have any issues i can always give her name.
I do my own for many reasons and many horror stories of oil change places…
Buy OEM filters
Keep good records
Use reccomended oil
Keep all the receipts of the oil purchases/filter purchases
If they see all that you should not have much of an argument if anything happens.
I buy OEM filters and have the receipts for them and I buy Mobil 1 at walmart and keep the receipts. This way I am getting a synthetic oil change for about $22 or so.
i agree with jeller, you know and trust your own work, i always feel better knowing thtat i did something right. Good oil, good filter and change it often.
normally, i would say fuck the dealer and do it yourself. but after knowing what Newman went though, people at Subaru seem to be really big pricks about warrentee stuff so untill the warrentee is up, id go there. that $20 a pop (or whatever it costs) may be worth it in the long run, you never know
personally, i ususally have my mechanic (Frank over at Advanced Auto on Niagara Falls Blvd) take care of maintanence on my truck because only beacuse i’m usually really bussy and dnon’t have time to even do something as simple as an oil change. and i trust thier work over there too
I had the same problem but with another place…I had the oil change done in Rochester while visiting my sister and on the way home my oil light kept blinking on and off…I eventually stop at the rest stop and popped the hood…oil cap wasnt fully tightened and oiler was all over the engine…
Just DIY and save all the receipts and have good documentation of everything you’ve done to the car. I dont see why the dealership can denied warranty repair if you have good documentation.
Can’t speak for Subaru, but the Nissan Dealer only gets like $21 for an oil change. They’re just as quick as the dedicated oil changes, too.
While my car was under warranty, I got all of my service done at the dealer. For the same reason newman mentioned. If they have all the service records, they can’t say the car wasn’t properly maintained. Now that the waranty is up, though, I’ll be doing my own service.
