Keep Records of Your Oil Changes Folks!

[sns2]

I started a thread a few weeks back about my wife's 2013 Honda CRV. All the check engine lights come on and there is a loud grinding noise upon startup, particularly when cold. After a trip to an independent to diagnose the problem, I end up at the stealership to have them fix it, as I realize there is one month and 2000 km left on powertrain warranty which I had initially thought was expired. Bonus.

They acknowledge the problem. Go into engine to replace the VTC actuator, whatever that is, and see the timing chain is stretched, which admittedly was one of the possibilities for the code it was throwing. I was warned they would try and deny it and blame on improper oil changes. Sure enough this is exactly what Honda Canada did. After the first oil change which ran me $111 at Mr Lube I started doing them myself, then later at my school which has an automotives program. I never kept any receipts. So dig into school invoice files, and credit card files. What saved my bacon was that I bought my oil at Canadian Tire using My Canadian Tire Mastercard which itemizes exactly what you buy at their store. Honda couldn't deny that I bought the right oil and filter because it was in black and white. If I bought it at any other store I would have been hooped.

Lesson learned. Keep an oil change/maintenance file with receipts or you may be screwed. I fluked out, but it would have run me well over $2 grand if I didn't produce those receipts.

[wags]

Originally Posted by sns2

I started a thread a few weeks back about my wife's 2013 Honda CRV. All the check engine lights come on and there is a loud grinding noise upon startup, particularly when cold. After a trip to an independent to diagnose the problem, I end up at the stealership to have them fix it, as I realize there is one month and 2000 km left on powertrain warranty which I had initially thought was expired. Bonus.

They acknowledge the problem. Go into engine to replace the VTC actuator, whatever that is, and see the timing chain is stretched, which admittedly was one of the possibilities for the code it was throwing. I was warned they would try and deny it and blame on improper oil changes. Sure enough this is exactly what Honda Canada did. After the first oil change which ran me $111 at Mr Lube I started doing them myself, then later at my school which has an automotives program. I never kept any receipts. So dig into school invoice files, and credit card files. What saved my bacon was that I bought my oil at Canadian Tire using My Canadian Tire Mastercard which itemizes exactly what you buy at their store. Honda couldn't deny that I bought the right oil and filter because it was in black and white. If I bought it at any other store I would have been hooped.

Lesson learned. Keep an oil change/maintenance file with receipts or you may be screwed. I fluked out, but it would have run me well over $2 grand if I didn't produce those receipts.

I'm trying to get past the $111 oil change at MR Lube.

While I do my own oil changes, $69 to have it done at the dealership. All things considered, if I add my time, it's cheaper for them to do it.

[sns2]

Originally Posted by wags

I'm trying to get past the $111 oil change at MR Lube.

While I do my own oil changes, $69 to have it done at the dealership. All things considered, if I add my time, it's cheaper for them to do it.

It is with your time for sure, but I actually don't mind doing them myself, as the wife thinks I am looking after her.

I work a long ways from the dealership, and don't have flexibility that way.

Live and learn.

[RavYak]

I do my changes at Jiffy Lube. They aren't cheap at $120 a go but that is also for full synthetic not the cheap crap.

The same oil at Canadian tire would cost me $65... Or if I stocked up on the 5L bottles when it was on sale like now $41 and I would always have a partial jug laying around. I need to first drive to said store and buy the oil, a filter, and not to mention windshield washer fluid. I would have to take the time to do the oil change in my cramped unheated garage and to get the equivalent service I would also have to check my diff fluids, check tire pressures, grease doors, check lights, check air filter etc. Then I would need to find somewhere to dispose of the filter and oil. So all in we are talking $60-80 and at least a couple hours of my time and the inconvenience of it all.

That is why I suck it up and pay the $120 and have my oil done in 15 minutes on my way home from work one day. Money well spent imo and it helps keep a few more guys employed as well.

I keep every receipt. Not because my car has warranty(which it is a long ways out from) but so that I have records if/when I sell it. I also always go to the same shop so if for some reason I ever have an oil related issue I would know the shop responsible and have records stating I have had my changes done there for years. I have been using the same Jiffy Lube for years now and have had probably a dozen changes on my current rav4 alone, they get the job done and don't harass me saying I need to change my air filter, transmission fluid etc every time(I wouldn't return to the places that try and pull that crap).

[Big Grey Wolf]

SNS, typical dealer ship trying to always get the customer to pay $$ rather than Honda, which manufactured engine with faulty parts. Though on us farmer types that buy oil in 5 gallon pails and use on a number of vehicles/tractors, ATV's etc. Only common de-nominater is the type of oil filter.

[elkhunter11]

I pay $50 to $60 For the dealership to provide a filter, change the oil with my AMS oil, and dispose of the old oil. We even take advantage of dealer promotions as low as $39 including synthetic oil, now and then. I see this as no at well spent, as the dealer keeps records of all work, and I never have to worry about this type of thing.

[CaberTosser]

It’s been 6 years since having a vehicle with a warranty and I do the oil changes for our vehicles. I plan on getting a new van for work this year and the one I’m looking at has maintenance included in the purchase for the first few years. If I do any oil changes I’ll not only keep the receipts for the oil and filter, I may even take video of the process including a walk over to show both the odometer and VIN in one take

[KGB]

Same here, both of my vehicles go to the dealership for oil change and with a synthetic oil I pay around $90. And don’t have to get dirty. And I have time to look after my wife “different way”, lol!!

[Stinky Buffalo]

Ah, dealerships and their "oily handcuffs"... Can't turn a bolt or screw on a car for fear they'll void the warranty.

And the oil changes aren't cheap.

Glad you were able to find your receipts, SNS2!

On a side note, how's the A/C compressor doing on that CRV? I hear that's a weak point on those vehicles... My sister-in-law had that issue with hers.

[sns2]

Originally Posted by Stinky Buffalo

Ah, dealerships and their "oily handcuffs"... Can't turn a bolt or screw on a car for fear they'll void the warranty.

And the oil changes aren't cheap.

Glad you were able to find your receipts, SNS2!

On a side note, how's the A/C compressor doing on that CRV? I hear that's a weak point on those vehicles... My sister-in-law had that issue with hers.

Wife drives it, so I can't really say with certainty.

[darren32]

Originally Posted by Stinky Buffalo

On a side note, how's the A/C compressor doing on that CRV? I hear that's a weak point on those vehicles... My sister-in-law had that issue with hers.

We started having A/C compressor issues on our 2010 CRV ..... so I sold it to my sister who lives in Las Vegas LOL.

[bobtodrick]

Originally Posted by KGB

Same here, both of my vehicles go to the dealership for oil change and with a synthetic oil I pay around $90. And don’t have to get dirty. And I have time to look after my wife “different way”, lol!!

Yup...I used to do my own oil changes. My local mechanic charges me $54 for an oil and filter change...plus checks all the level, tops up if needed...tire pressure, etc.
The time it would take me to do this is worth way more the $54.

[fordtruckin]

Originally Posted by bobtodrick

Yup...I used to do my own oil changes. My local mechanic charges me $54 for an oil and filter change...plus checks all the level, tops up if needed...tire pressure, etc.
The time it would take me to do this is worth way more the $54.

Geeze I change my own truck oil it takes me less then 20 minutes and costs around 25$ for oil and factory filter. Worth my time easily.

[fishtank]

Originally Posted by sns2

I started a thread a few weeks back about my wife's 2013 Honda CRV. All the check engine lights come on and there is a loud grinding noise upon startup, particularly when cold. After a trip to an independent to diagnose the problem, I end up at the stealership to have them fix it, as I realize there is one month and 2000 km left on powertrain warranty which I had initially thought was expired. Bonus.

They acknowledge the problem. Go into engine to replace the VTC actuator, whatever that is, and see the timing chain is stretched, which admittedly was one of the possibilities for the code it was throwing. I was warned they would try and deny it and blame on improper oil changes. Sure enough this is exactly what Honda Canada did. After the first oil change which ran me $111 at Mr Lube I started doing them myself, then later at my school which has an automotives program. I never kept any receipts. So dig into school invoice files, and credit card files. What saved my bacon was that I bought my oil at Canadian Tire using My Canadian Tire Mastercard which itemizes exactly what you buy at their store. Honda couldn't deny that I bought the right oil and filter because it was in black and white. If I bought it at any other store I would have been hooped.

Lesson learned. Keep an oil change/maintenance file with receipts or you may be screwed. I fluked out, but it would have run me well over $2 grand if I didn't produce those receipts.

Go into engine to replace the VTC actuator, thats a common problem with honda

[58thecat]

So sad how these multi billion dollar companies try to screw people over for something so simple to repair and move on especially under warranty. Had Toyota and Kia pull that crap with me and after a lot of my time, my everything I got what I wanted, I did tell them that never again would I buy thier products, I know vehicles of all manufaturers have issues but customer service is critical for return sales, that being said we bought a Nissan car and I ask the sales rep if I could use his phone, called the Toyota dealership, the manager man who knows me well with all our past issues, I told him putting down 20K on a Nissan and thanked him for directing me to this dealership due to thier lack of customer service...Nissan fella said in all of his 15 years he never saw anything like that and laughed...we laughed.