Alright so I purchased my car from a dealership that gives you free oil changes for the life of your car. I don't like anyone else touching my car, but the tech who worked on my car this morning (see my post on brake squeal) has an 08 gt500 and I think he said an 07 v6, 89 5.0, and also a shelby kit car. Still I have some reservations because I don't know if I can fully trust someone other than myself working on my car.

Anyway I can get the semi-synthetic for free or upgrade to full synthetic for $30-$35. What would you guys do in this situation? Also, the full synthetic would be by the quart vs. the semi from a drum.

 

Some dealers are better than others and have great techs and customer service. If this is one of those dealers and your comfortable with the tech I don't see a problem. Otherwise do the oil changes yourself. As for the oil I would get the full synthetic by the quart.

 

Again, please know I don't know anything!! I would get the full synthetic. Car will just live better on the good stuff, maybe?

 

An oil change is about as simple as it gets. So long as they put in the full 8 quarts, remembet to put the bolt back in the pan and don't overtighten anyting, there's nothing to worry about.

Assuming they let you follow the "severe duty" oil change schedule, I see no problem sticking with Ford's blend. The main advantage for the full synthetic would be longer intervals and in my opinion, this is a bad idea anyway.

The drum vs. bottle thing shouldn't matter unless there is some weird case where the drum sits around for months after it has been opened.

So... I would take advantage of the free changes. Just check the dip stick before you drive away and there shouldn't be any reason to worry.

 

And make sure they reset the oil life %. They always forget that by me for some reason.

 

How often will they do the free oil changes?

I'd let them do it.

Of course they offer you this with the hope that they can sell you something else while they have you there.

 

I'm not sure on the frequency, if I can bring it in only at 5,000 or when the light comes on? They schedule you for your first one 90 days from when you purchase so I maybe could do every three months which would be about every 3,000 miles.

And yea it's just them wanting you to get comfortable at the dealership so you spend money with them in service and parts and then buy from them again when you're ready.

 

Sounds like I should just have them change with the semi as long as I can do it about every 3,000. If I have to wait for the light then maybe I will do full just so I feel better about waiting 5,000-10,000 which seems like forever on an oil change!!

 

i would let the dealer change it. make sure the guy with the shelbys works on it. tip him!

everyone wins.

beers

 

I had this with a Jeep dealer, and we purchased several cars from them. Never had a problem and they changed it every three months/3000 miles.

My mother in law, who is 86, bought a new VW from this same dealer, in 2001. She is still getting her free oil changes, and never had a repair.

So I say, go for it. This a lot of money over the life of the car, and if something does happen, they can never question the maintenace.

 

I change my own. I just don't trust them (dealership ) to use full synthetic when I request it. I drive my car like it's a sports car not a Camry. So the peace of mind is worth the few extra bucks.

 

I change my own oil........

Short story: My Mustang is in the body shop. The car rental car place just had the oil changed in the Focus (2012) i rented, done by a local oil change place down the road. The next day i opened up the hood on the Focus to show my Dad the engine. There was the strong smell of oil and little spray drops of oil on the engine. I drove the Focus to my house to check the drain plug and filter. The oil filter was covered with motor oil. I had to re torque the oil filter to stop the leak. The oil change place had installed the filter too tight. Things like this is why i do my own oil changes.

 

X10000

 

Well just had it changed by the dealer . . . no cost and they did use 8 qts! I was at about 2,000 mi's with like 80% oil life reading and they changed it no questions asked. And yea they forgot to reset the OLM, shocker. I was back BS'ing with the tech while he changed it so I know it was done alright.

 

For me it is a no brainer....I'd do it myself!

 

I change my own but I'm a Ford tech so it's a simple matter of me making sure nothing is on my rack overnight