Should I be worried about cheap oil change?

molamann · 02-12-2009, 10:06 AM

I dropped off my car at the dealership for my first oil change yesterday and although it's somewhat my fault, I didn't quite specify what oil I wanted which was Nissan factory non synthetic ESTER oil. I just thought it was somewhat obvious and not to mention dishing out cash for quality oil.

Anyways, I went to go pick up my car and the oil change was merely $31. So I asked the service manager what oil they used and used a synthetic castro oil. I didn't mind too much at the time but now I'm getting quite concerned that they used cheap (maybe even recycled) oil since the dealership only charged me $2.71 per quart. Should I go ahead and switch it out with Royal Purple or Mobil 1 since the dealer forced me to synthetic?

SoCal 370Z · 02-12-2009, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by molamann

Anyways, I went to go pick up my car and the oil change was merely $31.

That's too cheap to do the service, let alone the cost of synthetic oil, and a mandatory oil filter.

dad · 02-12-2009, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by molamann

I dropped off my car at the dealership for my first oil change yesterday and although it's somewhat my fault, I didn't quite specify what oil I wanted which was Nissan factory non synthetic ESTER oil. I just thought it was somewhat obvious and not to mention dishing out cash for quality oil.

Anyways, I went to go pick up my car and the oil change was merely $31. So I asked the service manager what oil they used and used a synthetic castro oil. I didn't mind too much at the time but now I'm getting quite concerned that they used cheap (maybe even recycled) oil since the dealership only charged me $2.71 per quart. Should I go ahead and switch it out with Royal Purple or Mobil 1 since the dealer forced me to synthetic?

How many miles you have on your car?
$31.00=something is not right.

SoCal 370Z · 02-12-2009, 11:33 AM

I forgot to ask, did you purchase the Maintenance+Plus program?

molamann · 02-12-2009, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCal 370Z

That's too cheap to do the service, let alone the cost of synthetic oil, and a mandatory oil filter.

It was about $9 for labor, and the rest went towards oil + filter. As for maintenance plus, is that something you purchase as part of the warranty package?

@dad

About 1270 so far now.

SoCal 370Z · 02-12-2009, 01:10 PM

Nissan Maintenance+Plus Details

dad · 02-12-2009, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by molamann

It was about $9 for labor, and the rest went towards oil + filter. As for maintenance plus, is that something you purchase as part of the warranty package?

@dad

About 1270 so far now.

Wait till 3500 or 5000 for synthetic. But if your really concerned about the oil they put in, drain it , put in a good name brand oil.

dad · 02-12-2009, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by molamann

It was about $9 for labor, and the rest went towards oil + filter. As for maintenance plus, is that something you purchase as part of the warranty package?

@dad

About 1270 so far now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCal 370Z

Nissan Maintenance+Plus Details

Why is the dealer changing oil so soon, at that low of mileage?

SoCal 370Z · 02-12-2009, 01:34 PM

Dealers purchase their oil in 55 gallons drums. If it is a Nissan dealer I would be surprised if they used anything other than new oil on such a new car. Is this dealer known for shenanigans? I doubt they used synthetic, but ask them to show you their oil drums as they will clearly show what brand and weight they are. Do they have flyers or ads advertising they use Castrol oil?

o0javi0o · 02-12-2009, 03:28 PM

I doubt, in my opinion, that they used synthetic oil on your car, but who knows what are their prices and service plans in your local Nissan dealer. Just to be used as a comparison, I have an 07 350z, Yet, I have 17.8K miles on it right now. Every time I go to my local Nissan Dealer to do oil and filter change I ask for synthetic and they charge me $63.
Probably, you asked for synthetic but they misunderstood you and put regular oil, my opinion.
Also, I think that it was to early to do your oil change. As dad said, try to wait 3K for regular or 5K miles if synthetic, or 3 month whichever comes first.
Check the color, level and/or viscosity of the oil before.

But if you want to make sure, some dealers also accept you to bring your own preferred brand quarts of oils and they only charge you for labor, and wont affect warranties. That's other thing that you can do, if you still want to deal with the dealer.

Good luck buddy.

370z · 02-12-2009, 05:47 PM

dude.... c'mon.... you can't cheap out this type of maintenance !

albertu · 02-12-2009, 06:39 PM

Sorry guys, but there's no such thing as too early for an oil change. 3k? 5k? even 1k depend on how you drive or how deep is your pocket. 5k is kind of the nom nowaday, but if you can do it at 3k, even better.

Nikon FM · 02-12-2009, 07:45 PM

I have driven near what is called out for in the manual up to this point ~730 miles. I checked the oil using a white paper towel and saw a bunch of stuff that didn't look like oil residue on the towel, so I took the car in to get the oil changed. I took my own oil in (Castrol 5-30w) and asked them to give me the filter before cleaning it up. Sure enough, some of the same stuff I saw on the paper towel was on the inside seal area so I asked the mechanic about it. Turns out to be "normal". I'm going to moniter how the oil looks but most likely will change it out again at 2-2500 miles or when I see the "normal" stuff again.

My dealer has a special price for the first oil change so my total cost was only $7 and change.......no complaints.

dad · 02-12-2009, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikon FM

I have driven near what is called out for in the manual up to this point ~730 miles. I checked the oil using a white paper towel and saw a bunch of stuff that didn't look like oil residue on the towel,

Was it "kinda white froth" looking?

dad · 02-12-2009, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albertu

Sorry guys, but there's no such thing as too early for an oil change. 3k? 5k? even 1k depend on how you drive or how deep is your pocket. 5k is kind of the nom nowaday, but if you can do it at 3k, even better.

Sure, buy your Z , take it home, change the oil right then. Let me know how you engine is when you get too 25 or 30k.

02-12-2009, 10:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
molamann A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,666 Drives: 370Z with NAVVVVV Rep Power: 284	Should I be worried about cheap oil change? I dropped off my car at the dealership for my first oil change yesterday and although it's somewhat my fault, I didn't quite specify what oil I wanted which was Nissan factory non synthetic ESTER oil. I just thought it was somewhat obvious and not to mention dishing out cash for quality oil. Anyways, I went to go pick up my car and the oil change was merely $31. So I asked the service manager what oil they used and used a synthetic castro oil. I didn't mind too much at the time but now I'm getting quite concerned that they used cheap (maybe even recycled) oil since the dealership only charged me $2.71 per quart. Should I go ahead and switch it out with Royal Purple or Mobil 1 since the dealer forced me to synthetic?

02-12-2009, 05:47 PM	#11 (permalink)
370z Enthusiast Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: South West Posts: 258 Drives: 96 240sx(sold in 07) Rep Power: 491	dude.... c'mon.... you can't cheap out this type of maintenance ! __________________ http://www.leavingfearbehind.com/ http://www.tchrd.org/category/video/ http://www.channel4.com/video/dispat...bet/index.html

02-12-2009, 07:45 PM	#13 (permalink)
Nikon FM Track Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Snoqualmie WA Posts: 973 Drives: 03 996TT Porsche Rep Power: 606	Brought my own oil --- 1st oil change was $7 and some coin I have driven near what is called out for in the manual up to this point ~730 miles. I checked the oil using a white paper towel and saw a bunch of stuff that didn't look like oil residue on the towel, so I took the car in to get the oil changed. I took my own oil in (Castrol 5-30w) and asked them to give me the filter before cleaning it up. Sure enough, some of the same stuff I saw on the paper towel was on the inside seal area so I asked the mechanic about it. Turns out to be "normal". I'm going to moniter how the oil looks but most likely will change it out again at 2-2500 miles or when I see the "normal" stuff again. My dealer has a special price for the first oil change so my total cost was only $7 and change.......no complaints. __________________ Buddy Revell: "One man's sooner is another man's later" Last edited by Nikon FM; 02-12-2009 at 07:56 PM.

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02-12-2009, 11:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
SoCal 370Z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: US of A Posts: 2,842 Drives: Answers Rep Power: 33	I forgot to ask, did you purchase the Maintenance+Plus program?

02-12-2009, 01:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
SoCal 370Z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: US of A Posts: 2,842 Drives: Answers Rep Power: 33	Nissan Maintenance+Plus Details

02-12-2009, 01:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
SoCal 370Z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: US of A Posts: 2,842 Drives: Answers Rep Power: 33	Dealers purchase their oil in 55 gallons drums. If it is a Nissan dealer I would be surprised if they used anything other than new oil on such a new car. Is this dealer known for shenanigans? I doubt they used synthetic, but ask them to show you their oil drums as they will clearly show what brand and weight they are. Do they have flyers or ads advertising they use Castrol oil?

02-12-2009, 03:28 PM	#10 (permalink)
o0javi0o Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 458 Drives: '15 ///M3 6MT Rep Power: 16	I doubt, in my opinion, that they used synthetic oil on your car, but who knows what are their prices and service plans in your local Nissan dealer. Just to be used as a comparison, I have an 07 350z, Yet, I have 17.8K miles on it right now. Every time I go to my local Nissan Dealer to do oil and filter change I ask for synthetic and they charge me $63. Probably, you asked for synthetic but they misunderstood you and put regular oil, my opinion. Also, I think that it was to early to do your oil change. As dad said, try to wait 3K for regular or 5K miles if synthetic, or 3 month whichever comes first. Check the color, level and/or viscosity of the oil before. But if you want to make sure, some dealers also accept you to bring your own preferred brand quarts of oils and they only charge you for labor, and wont affect warranties. That's other thing that you can do, if you still want to deal with the dealer. Good luck buddy.

02-12-2009, 06:39 PM	#12 (permalink)
albertu Base Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: USA Posts: 30 Drives: 09 370Z 6M spt pkz Rep Power: 16	Sorry guys, but there's no such thing as too early for an oil change. 3k? 5k? even 1k depend on how you drive or how deep is your pocket. 5k is kind of the nom nowaday, but if you can do it at 3k, even better.