First oil change at dealer - not a good experience

[ZL1-PA]

I tell the service writer that I want a Synthetic Oil change, state and emission inspection. I asked if the first oil change was free (to make sure he knows how to write it up - just in case).
- he told me that it was free, and that I only had to pay for the emission inspection.
I told him if it costs any extra for Synthetic oil, I will pay it.

I was called to go to the cashier and the bill was quite high so I asked if the oil change was free. The service writer chimed in:
- it wasn't free because it has been over two years.
I told him it was a 2014 and I had it less than a year.
- he checked and saw they had the mileage listed at 999,999
They corrected the bill to what I was told when I got there and I left and went to lunch. I checked the receipt in the car and it stated 1929300 dexos1.
I checked on it and it appears that is not synthetic, or not fully.

I went back to the service writer counter and talked to another service writer about it - asking if this was synthetic and if they had synthetic.
- he told me that all of the GM cars are now recommended to have dexos1 now, but they could redo it and put in synthetic if I wanted them to at extra cost.

That's what I asked for in the very beginning even when I made the appointment in writing online...
I said I'll leave the dexos1 in for now... and left.

Is it any wonder that I had been doing my own oils changes myself for the last 30 years... I figured since the first oils change was free, and to ensure the warranty was clearly covered on the most expensive car I ever purchased, I would have them do it.
I have been using synthetic oil in my turbo cars for 20 years.


Sorry, had to rant a bit....

[pickwithaustin]

Mistakes can happen, but they are redeemed by how well they are corrected. It does not sound like they corrected this issue properly. As a matter of shear principle, I would escalate this up the chain and address it with their higher up's. If nothing else, they need to learn how to take care of customers properly when they make human error.

[ZL1-PA]

I agree completely - I am a senior manager (service) in the Bioreactor business.
I would have admitted our mistake and re-did the oil change with synthetic for free...

My old(er) 2010 SS had synthetic and the dealer I bought that from put in synthetic.
Since my other cars are turbos and the engine oil goes thru the super hot turbos, I always made sure I put synthetic in. Never wanted to seize up a bearing, and never did.

[hognutz]

most dexos 1 oils are full synthetic.


basically I think just like most dealerships the guy is stupid in some ways and just did not repsond correclty.

you would have to know which exact oil they used though.


My .02 is ditch the cats and don't use dexos oil at all but that is another topic.

[ZMEnow]

Originally Posted by ZL1-PA

I tell the service writer that I want a Synthetic Oil change, state and emission inspection. I asked if the first oil change was free (to make sure he knows how to write it up - just in case).
- he told me that it was free, and that I only had to pay for the emission inspection.
I told him if it costs any extra for Synthetic oil, I will pay it.

I was called to go to the cashier and the bill was quite high so I asked if the oil change was free. The service writer chimed in:
- it wasn't free because it has been over two years.
I told him it was a 2014 and I had it less than a year.
- he checked and saw they had the mileage listed at 999,999
They corrected the bill to what I was told when I got there and I left and went to lunch. I checked the receipt in the car and it stated 1929300 dexos1.
I checked on it and it appears that is not synthetic, or not fully.

I went back to the service writer counter and talked to another service writer about it - asking if this was synthetic and if they had synthetic.
- he told me that all of the GM cars are now recommended to have dexos1 now, but they could redo it and put in synthetic if I wanted them to at extra cost.

That's what I asked for in the very beginning even when I made the appointment in writing online...
I said I'll leave the dexos1 in for now... and left.

Is it any wonder that I had been doing my own oils changes myself for the last 30 years... I figured since the first oils change was free, and to ensure the warranty was clearly covered on the most expensive car I ever purchased, I would have them do it.
I have been using synthetic oil in my turbo cars for 20 years.


Sorry, had to rant a bit....

ACDelco Dexos1 is the recommended oil and is a Synthetic Blend.. The better dealers offer Mobil 1 for the Vettes and Z's but you must pay for it..

11-12 Service and Maintenance
Recommended Fluids, Lubricants, and Parts
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
Usage
Fluid/Lubricant
Engine Oil
Use only engine oil licensed to the dexos1 specfication, or equivalent, of
the proper SAE viscosity grade. ACDelco dexos1 Synthetic Blend is
recommended. See
Engine Oil on page 10

Black plate (12,1)
Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC 2nd Edition - 9/12/12
11-12 Service and Maintenance
Recommended Fluids, Lubricants, and Parts
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
Usage
Fluid/Lubricant
Engine Oil
Use only engine oil licensed to the dexos1 specfication, or equivalent, of
the proper SAE viscosity grade. ACDelco dexos1 Synthetic Blend is
recommended. See
Engine Oil on page 10
‑
13
.
Engine Coolant
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and use only DEX-COOL Coolant.
See

[aurora]

Originally Posted by ZL1-PA

I would have admitted our mistake and re-did the oil change with synthetic for free...

That is exactly what I think. They should have given you two options:
1. To keep it the way it is
2. Or to re-do the oil change for free

Charging you to fix the situation was the wrong answer. I am sure if you went up the chain they would have offered you better, but who has that kind of time and patience and energy.

These vehicles aren't cheap, you kind of expect, or at least hope for, good service and a good experience. Maybe next time.

[aurora]

Originally Posted by hognutz

most dexos 1 oils are full synthetic.

basically I think just like most dealerships the guy is stupid in some ways and just did not repsond correclty.

Okay, that seems very likely....

[ZL1-PA]

Hognutz,
Full synthetic and synthetic blend are not the same, but yes by adding a bit of synthetic to conventional motor oil you get some of the full synthetic properties but not all.

My opinion is:
I asked for Synthetic verbally twice and in writing prior to the work being performed - service writer error.
Plus - they have full synthetic there...

[strych9]

If it were my service department, I would offer to do your next oil change for free using the the oil you specify. Period.

[ZL1-V]

My dealer does a lot of Corvette's and apparently some of the owners can be picky. They do indeed use Mobil 1 synthetic when requested. I of course pay the extra for the synthetic. They use their Corvette mechanic on the ZL1's

[hognutz]

Originally Posted by ZL1-PA

Hognutz,
Full synthetic and synthetic blend are not the same, but yes by adding a bit of synthetic to conventional motor oil you get some of the full synthetic properties but not all.

My opinion is:
I asked for Synthetic verbally twice and in writing prior to the work being performed - service writer error.
Plus - they have full synthetic there...

I realize that but dexos synthetics and other synthetics are not the same either in terms of zinc contecnt as well.

so this topic get a level deaper than that. It think a dexos 1 blend and a dexos 1 full for a normal driving will just be a littel bit shorter change.

due to trying to save cat's they have made oil even more confusing. I still work on flat tappet motors sometimes and oil is just harding to buy now.

[joeybsyc]

What dealership was this?

[ZL1-PA]

Chevy21
1100 Hellertown Rd
Bethlehem, PA

I purchased the car there new in October.

[Jbrick11]

I think most service writers think that all people are stupid and they can say some of the stupided stuff and we will believe it.. I hate dealership. I do not hate the people just I have never really had a good experance.