I'm not much into cars. Always drove junkers, and since they were junkers, I didn't keep up much with the maintenance on them. However, The Hearse is being babied and cared for with TLC.

I phoned the dealer's service department to make an appointment to to get my winter tires changed out. The conversation went something like this:

Service Person: Do you want us to service your car while it is here?

Me: What would that entail?

SP: How many kms?

Me: 5000

SP: 5000??????? errrrr, we can change the oil . . .

Me: It doesn't need to be changed, it is still good.

SP: You should have the oil changed.

Me: But my DIC sais I still have 70% life on it.

SP: Really?

Me: I do a lot of highway driving, that is supposed to be easier on the oil.

SP: Oh, okay.


Just seemed really odd that I would be the one telling the Service guy about the oil life. Sounded to me like a desperate attempt to get me to pay for a service I don't need.

Anyone else have these kind of convesations with their service department? The service people being adament that you needed something done to your car when you did not?

 

You hit the nail right on the head!!

 

Something similar happened to us.

The DIC said the oil was at 35% and this was in October 2006, and we took it into the dealer to get changed, it was and the DIC was reset.

When we were leaving we noticed that the techie dude had put the little sticker inside the window that said our next oil change was November 2006.

WTF?

I was born at night, but not last night.

 

This is how some make their money. Not all, but some.

 

Mine had a sticker saying it had to be serviced again after 3,000 miles. I know one thing, they get your car done a lot faster when it's only maintenance and not warranty work!

 

I would`ve assumed from your initial statement that you "Babied" your ride, that you would`ve done the oil change and went on down the road, resting assured that all was well with the little fella, and been happy.
Many people live by the 3000 mi. theory. I like to stick close to it, just for peace of mind.
The DIC is like any other gadget, if it`s wrong, who`s fault is it then...?
If it`s about the cost, get a filter wrench, a case of oil, do it when ever you want. Leave the dealer out of the loop. But keep records.

 

After posting my story I read the other thread on oil changes, I never realized that oil change was such a controversial and sensitive topic!

 

Oil changes are a easy money maker for dealership service departments.

When I had my oil changed at the dealership, they put the window sticker saying the next change was in 5,000 kms and then ticked off the "oil monitor equipped" box.

I think they do that so that folks that still subscribe to the old school ways know when to get the oil changed.

 

Every single GM dealer has been pissed off since OLS was introduced on the 1994 Corvette. Then Cadillac, Olds, and Buick got it. Now Chevy and Pontiac. Saturn's had a similar system since they started, but it's evolved from a simple 3,000 mile reminder to the OLS algorithm.

The dealers are now desperately trying to avoid losing the "every 3,000 mile customer" with which they make more profit on than the actual initial sale of the vehicle. Not only do they change oil, but they look for any other possible maintenance item they can "take care of for you".

I took my parent's Envoy to the local Pontiac dealer a year ago when I was going on a trip with them. The SM handed me a service reminder brochure that was printed by Wynn's, not Goodwrench, slapped a 3,000 mile reminder sticker on the windshield, and also didn't reset the OLS like they should have.

 

I take my HHR to the dealer to have the oil changed. I provide them with the Mobil 1 Synthetic and they do the work and provide the filter. Last time I was there in November, they put a sticker on the window that said next oil change due 1/07 at 7100 miles. Needless to say, I'm not to the 7100 mile mark yet, but I just checked and my DIC says 38% oil life left. I figure when I hit the 7100 in 500 miles it will be time according to both the DIC and the odometer.

I could change the oil myself...but I don't want to be bothered with oil disposal and all that jazz. For the $20 they charge me for the labor and filter I'm happy...plus it's documented by the dealer that it has been done.