Dealer 10k service-- I got got, help me understand how badly

[HeyBales]

Sometimes you can tell the Google AI search sources are from advertisements. See below description. And it was indeed.

Top tier fuel as manual recommended will take care of this, if you think not, then buy your own fuel additive and take care of it. Time it before the next oil change to run thru a tank of fuel with it, then new oil, just in case you think it matters, which it probably doesn't.

With a hybrid - oil change timing wasn't an issue. Would be good if they listed all the multi-checks they did, or the results of some of them. Coolant strength, tire depth, ect, not just brake pads.

Biggest lesson is this world that encourages you to multitask or take care of things at the last minute just because it's possible - doesn't mean it's a wise move.
(maybe it still works getting short notice airline tickets or hotel reservation to get cheaper - but that always had a risk)


AI Overview

A Fuel/Air Induction Service is a professional cleaning for your vehicle's fuel and air intake systems, using specialized chemicals to remove carbon deposits from the throttle body, intake valves, injectors, and other components. This service improves engine performance, fuel efficiency, and can reduce emissions by ensuring the engine receives the proper mix of fuel and air. The process involves a thorough inspection followed by the application of powerful cleaners, which are atomized into the engine while it runs to dissolve and remove harmful buildup.

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[todd92]

I said potentially. Waiting 10,000 miles to change the break-in oil on a truck has ruined engines let alone potentially building up gunk & sludge. Don’t be a “10,000 Mile Recommend” sheeple. Talk about misinformation sheesh!

Evidence? Cause it didn't happen.

 

[Cancunbadlands]

The induction service was a money-grab and is pretty common, you agreed to pay so, lesson learned

 

[zen_]

Wow. Retail cost of the filter is $15 and $36 for the oil. I can see $100 for parts as a reasonable mark-up, but (IMO) $190 is in rip-off territory. The $32 most likely includes disposal fees for the old oil.

The $107 oil change is normal range here. May be high, but oil changes make the service department almost no $ while carrying a significant amount of risk if a tech does poor work. Unfortunately that is why dealers and unscrupulous shops can't help themselves adding on items like the fuel / air service that at best pouring a bottle of techron in the tank and blowing out the engine air filter (not a new one, or there would be a charge), but possibly they did nothing at all.

The misc. charges and total charges items, what are those? Suggesting brakes on any vehicle at 10K is also a scam unless you ride the brakes descending mountains or regularly street race. The hybrid brakes will probably corrode out before wearing out; they did on my Prius anyway.

Bright side is OP only got taken for a few hundred dollars and knows he can't trust that dealer going forward for any work. People easily get taken for thousands these days.

 

[Meeka]

It's the way of the world now. The recommended brakes work in future part sounded pretty sketchy but without seeing them no absolute way to tell.

I've a mixed mind about induction cleaning services, I think it does have value under some conditions (DI-only engine, lots of short trip driving, many more thousands of miles on the odometer), but not even 10k miles on a naturally aspirated port fuel injection engine? That does not make a lot of sense unless you already had a rough idle, sluggish overall throttle response, misfires, etc. In a perfect world, the cost to borescope the intake would be minimal, and you could then decide for yourself if the condition warranted treatment. But I'll bet the cost of a borescope at a dealer would be in line with the cost of the induction service itself.

You will never find Ford Motor Company "recommending" that kind of chemical induction service work at x miles interval in any written form. Their dealers are not under that kind of constraint; it's probably more of a concern for them that the service doesn't cause any additional problem.

Last year Ford (Motorcraft) and BG 'partnered ( BG Products, Inc., and Motorcraft® Announce the Launch of the Motorcraft® BG Enhanced Chemical Maintenance Program – BG Products, Inc. ). What was metered into your intake probably was in a Motorcraft can, but a BG Chemicals product. You can see the generalize 'procedure' they used here: Ford 2.5L Hybrid Engines – BG Products, Inc.

People used to (and maybe still do) walnut shell blast their intakes. Gotta take the intake manifold off though ($). Is the chemical-only treatment you received as good at cleaning as walnut blasting? BG would probably say yes or likely, for me I'm not sure.

Here's an interesting blurb on walnut blasting - Walnut Shell Blasting – SPEED LOGIC. A CA company, work only on BMW's. Was surprised to see the service could be as low as $300 (including new intake manifold gasket). And the big plus being, you get to actually see before and after. But even they state:

"Walnut Shell Blasting involves "shooting" a mixture of compressed air and Walnut Shells into the Intake Ports to clean carbon deposits and buildup that occurs slowly over time on the Intake Valves. It is considered a scheduled maintenance service that is required only on Engines that have Fuel systems known as Direct Injection (or DI). Many vehicle makes and manufacturers have modern vehicles that are Direct Injection which would also require this cleaning at a specified interval, not just BMWs."

The only walnut shell stuff I recall years ago when I was a pup was my Dad buying walnut shell retreads or recaps for new winter tires. They were good traction wise.

 

[Meeka]

The $107 oil change is normal range here. May be high, but oil changes make the service department almost no $ while carrying a significant amount of risk if a tech does poor work. Unfortunately that is why dealers and unscrupulous shops can't help themselves adding on items like the fuel / air service that at best pouring a bottle of techron in the tank and blowing out the engine air filter (not a new one, or there would be a charge), but possibly they did nothing at all.

The misc. charges and total charges items, what are those? Suggesting brakes on any vehicle at 10K is also a scam unless you ride the brakes descending mountains or regularly street race. The hybrid brakes will probably corrode out before wearing out; they did on my Prius anyway.

Bright side is OP only got taken for a few hundred dollars and knows he can't trust that dealer going forward for any work. People easily get taken for thousands these days.

I disagree, a dealer would never use Techron , too expensive for them . Motorcraft stuff instead.

 

[Meeka]

Sometimes you can tell the Google AI search sources are from advertisements. See below description. And it was indeed.

Top tier fuel as manual recommended will take care of this, if you think not, then buy your own fuel additive and take care of it. Time it before the next oil change to run thru a tank of fuel with it, then new oil, just in case you think it matters, which it probably doesn't.

With a hybrid - oil change timing wasn't an issue. Would be good if they listed all the multi-checks they did, or the results of some of them. Coolant strength, tire depth, ect, not just brake pads.

Biggest lesson is this world that encourages you to multitask or take care of things at the last minute just because it's possible - doesn't mean it's a wise move.
(maybe it still works getting short notice airline tickets or hotel reservation to get cheaper - but that always had a risk)


AI Overview

A Fuel/Air Induction Service is a professional cleaning for your vehicle's fuel and air intake systems, using specialized chemicals to remove carbon deposits from the throttle body, intake valves, injectors, and other components. This service improves engine performance, fuel efficiency, and can reduce emissions by ensuring the engine receives the proper mix of fuel and air. The process involves a thorough inspection followed by the application of powerful cleaners, which are atomized into the engine while it runs to dissolve and remove harmful buildup.

Ask it for pictures, that shit just scares me, not looking forward to the “FUTURE”!

 

[Maverick123]

...
People used to (and maybe still do) walnut shell blast their intakes. Gotta take the intake manifold off though ($). Is the chemical-only treatment you received as good at cleaning as walnut blasting? BG would probably say yes or likely, for me I'm not sure.

Here's an interesting blurb on walnut blasting - Walnut Shell Blasting – SPEED LOGIC. A CA company, work only on BMW's. Was surprised to see the service could be as low as $300 (including new intake manifold gasket). And the big plus being, you get to actually see before and after. But even they state:

"Walnut Shell Blasting involves "shooting" a mixture of compressed air and Walnut Shells into the Intake Ports to clean carbon deposits and buildup that occurs slowly over time on the Intake Valves. It is considered a scheduled maintenance service that is required only on Engines that have Fuel systems known as Direct Injection (or DI). Many vehicle makes and manufacturers have modern vehicles that are Direct Injection which would also require this cleaning at a specified interval, not just BMWs."

For anyone reading this thread for reference, the hybrid's 2.5 motor has port fuel injection ... It does NOT need walnut shell blasting. The fuel spray cleans the intake and the back of the valves.

As mentioned further in the quote, walnut blasting is ONLY needed for direct-injected engines.

I wish people would stop copying those damn AI generated garbage answers in here

 

[SuperK401]

I’m being totally serious here. Why would anyone ever go to a dealership for anything?

 

[mapnerd]

A few tips:
1. Find another dealer. They've shown their cards. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice...
2. Sometimes you need to work or take a call while at the dealer waiting on service and they will of course always be ready for you at that worst possible moment. I've had this happen to me on more than one occasion and what I do is take a page out of their playbook and treat them the same way they treat me when I walk in and they are on a call with a customer. I give them the index finger and tell them I'll be with them in a moment.
3. Misc. charges are relatively normal. They are most likely shop fees and that is to be expected. Some places will call it exactly that. Others won't.
4. Email the dealership GM. Tell him about your experience and how disappointed you were that the technician recommended service you did not need but then went a little further a recommended brakes the next time you visit which you almost certainly will not need. Nothing may come of it, but sometimes the GMs really are trying to run a good ship and when they find out about this kind of nonsense, they step in and clean things up and might refund you in good faith to try and earn back your business. I wouldn't hold my breath but I've certainly had GMs reach out to me after I sent them an email at least to offer an apology and some kind of token gesture when I've had a bad experience. If the GM does do that, don't feel obligated to return. Decide whether or not you want to on your own.

We've all been had at some point in time. Today you lost but in the grand scheme of things, it's really not that bad and a good lesson to learn at a modest cost. Others have spent a whole lot more learning the same lesson.

 

[mapnerd]

I’m being totally serious here. Why would anyone ever go to a dealership for anything?

• service history matters when you have a substantial failure that should not have occurred, even if you are out of warranty.
• service history matters somewhat if you plan to trade in, matters more if you plan to sell privately

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

• service history matters when you have a substantial failure that should not have occurred, even if you are out of warranty.
• service history matters somewhat if you plan to trade in, matters more if you plan to sell privately

Adding to the above post.
I would HOPE for a mechanic who works on Ford products 8 hours a day 5 days a week, to know a Ford product better than a general all makes mechanic.
When it comes to these rolling computers hope is about all we have.

 

[zen_]

People used to (and maybe still do) walnut shell blast their intakes. Gotta take the intake manifold off though ($). Is the chemical-only treatment you received as good at cleaning as walnut blasting? BG would probably say yes or likely, for me I'm not sure.

Here's an interesting blurb on walnut blasting - Walnut Shell Blasting – SPEED LOGIC. A CA company, work only on BMW's. Was surprised to see the service could be as low as $300 (including new intake manifold gasket). And the big plus being, you get to actually see before and after. But even they state:

You have to physically remove carbon deposits from intake valves on GDI only engines; the fuel never touches them no matter what magic bottle you try.

Vehicle owners with good old port injection can just pour a bottle of anything with PEA in their gas tank every 5,000 miles or so, use top tier fuel where possible, and never have issues.

 

[surfstar]

I said potentially. Waiting 10,000 miles to change the break-in oil on a truck has ruined engines let alone potentially building up gunk & sludge. Don’t be a “10,000 Mile Recommend” sheeple. Talk about misinformation sheesh!

Correct! So much misinformation - I 100% agree.

Follow the OLM (oil life monitor) - don't be a sheeple and blindly change your oil at 5k or 10k mile intervals.

That's what you mean, right?
Or are you a sheeple to Big Oil and Big Mechanic who changes their oil way too often and likes to waste money?

 

[surfstar]

How outraged should I be about all this?

I'd be incensed.
But I've been DIY'ing all that I can on my vehicles since I was a teen - in order to save $ and know that it was "done right".

Some people value their time differently, or some use a "hourly pay" comparison - did your meetings more than pay for the upcharges?

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