Oil Changes - Dealership vs Local Mechanic

[Kevin DeLuca]

Yep use your own guy. Much better plus records are not required for warranty. I have never had them even ask.
Almost all the time they know if it was lack of oil changes or something else. In fact I’ve known a few who never changed oil and still got covered under warranty.
As long as it doesn’t look like tar inside they will cover it.

Be careful, I broke a rocker arm shaft on a vehicle covered by carfax and they didn't like my clipboard of notes of oil changes. Luckily I was having a shop do about half of the oil changes. They mulled it over for about a week before they decided to cover the cost

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[Drelec]

I have a new 24 Maverick Eco.

Already did first oil change with the Ford Dealership at 1200 miles to flush oil.

I had so many issues with this oil change service with the Ford dealership, I am thinking going back to my VERY trusted mechanic shop of 18 years for further oil changes.

Are there really any benefits with having the Ford dealership do this maintenance work, such as from a documentation or records keeping standpoint? Warranty issues? It is nice to see service history in Ford Pass App.

I am not going to change the oil myself, so that suggestion is not helpful.

One thing for sure, I will not be going back to the Ford Dealership that did the oil change.

I have a new 24 Maverick Eco.

Already did first oil change with the Ford Dealership at 1200 miles to flush oil.

I had so many issues with this oil change service with the Ford dealership, I am thinking going back to my VERY trusted mechanic shop of 18 years for further oil changes.

Are there really any benefits with having the Ford dealership do this maintenance work, such as from a documentation or records keeping standpoint? Warranty issues? It is nice to see service history in Ford Pass App.

I am not going to change the oil myself, so that suggestion is not helpful.

One thing for sure, I will not be going back to the Ford Dealership that did the oil change.

So what happened?

 

[Snox801]

Be careful, I broke a rocker arm shaft on a vehicle covered by carfax and they didn't like my clipboard of notes of oil changes. Luckily I was having a shop do about half of the oil changes. They mulled it over for about a week before they decided to cover the cost

Was that a carfax warranty or ford. I’ve never heard a decent review from aftermarket but the ford one is pretty solid.

 

[Ozarkbeard]

I DIY and keep book, and found out I need to add it to my Ford Pass or it yells at me TIME FOR SERVICE!

Also, reset your Oil Life Monitor, in the instrument cluster display. Navigate to the OLM screen, then hold down the OK button to reset it.

 

[Vettereddie]

OK, just uploaded all my self-service records. For anyone else new to this, or thinking of doing it, it's much easier to enter your records on the web vs. the app. I found the app to be clunky and not well designed. You can't even see all your notes without opening your record to edit. Really Ford? I also found the records sync'd up almost instantly between the app & web.

Thanks again to @bbhaag for providing the suggestion! Moving forward, I will continue to add records via the web, along with my paper journal (which still works, even during an alien invasion, or zombie apocalypse...)

Does the web let you upload photos of the receipt? Tried with the app and got to the submit screen after editing out credit card info but it keeps failing for some reason.

 

[MavJet]

I too perform as much maintenance as possible myself, since I’m an Aircraft Mechanic and perversely Ford Dealer. Definitely would go to the dealer for anything that I need.

 

[XHusker]

You might want to check, a lot of NAPA Auto Care Centers are certyified Ford warranty centers.

 

[Kevin DeLuca]

Was that a carfax warranty or ford. I’ve never heard a decent review from aftermarket but the ford one is pretty solid.

CarMax, not carfax. Damn auto correct.

 

[Suzukiridr14]

I have a new 24 Maverick Eco.

Already did first oil change with the Ford Dealership at 1200 miles to flush oil.

I had so many issues with this oil change service with the Ford dealership, I am thinking going back to my VERY trusted mechanic shop of 18 years for further oil changes.

Are there really any benefits with having the Ford dealership do this maintenance work, such as from a documentation or records keeping standpoint? Warranty issues? It is nice to see service history in Ford Pass App.

I am not going to change the oil myself, so that suggestion is not helpful.

One thing for sure, I will not be going back to the Ford Dealership that did the oil change.

I am using my Ford points for my oil changes, and any other services at Ford, since I can't spend them anywhere else. I don't need any of there merchandise, maybe able to spend them at the parts dept.

 

[dalola]

Does the web let you upload photos of the receipt? Tried with the app and got to the submit screen after editing out credit card info but it keeps failing for some reason.

I did not see that option on the web, but I wasn't looking for it either, so it may well be there. It's not something I plan to do, since I have paper copies. Agree, the app is lame when it comes to the service uploads. Apparently Ford can't afford a competent app designer....

 

[Chris_G]

I did not see that option on the web, but I wasn't looking for it either, so it may well be there. It's not something I plan to do, since I have paper copies. Agree, the app is lame when it comes to the service uploads. Apparently Ford can't afford a competent app designer....

They have them, they're just in the field doing recalls

 

[supertiger]

I have a hard time finding an independent mechanic who wants to change the oil and rotate tires for $60. Meanwhile, there 3 Ford Quick lanes near me who can get it done in 30-45 minutes and charge ~$60.

 

[clos0791]

No need to go to a dealership for routine services.

Yes, if you can do basic maintenance and have a garage, I say do it. The dealerships have good and bad workers so there is always a risk. I've had good and bad experiences. Some personal bad experiences include: leaks, smudges/scratches on the interior, and even door dings. However, I see how taking it in is more convenient and cheaper for many people.

 

[Montana]

Yes, if you can do basic maintenance and have a garage, I say do it. The dealerships have good and bad workers so there is always a risk. I've had good and bad experiences. Some personal bad experiences include: leaks, smudges/scratches on the interior, and even door dings. However, I see how taking it in is more convenient and cheaper for many people.

Right - but you don't need to take it to a dealership is the point. The only thing you would need them for is warranty work.

 

[bbhaag]

Car dealers are (generally speaking) an untrustworthy lot. I had my first oil change done by the dealer where I purchased my Maverick, but unless you can watch them service your vehicle, there's a nagging suspicion they're pumping in inferior oil or using an inferior filter.

I mean generally speaking that can happen anywhere whether it be a dealership or independent shop and IME neither place will let you stand there and watch as they do the service.

I guess that is were the trust part of my post came from. I trust them because they have proven to me to be competent at what they do whether it be body work(had over 5K in hail damage),recall work, or regular maintenance like oil changes.

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