wrench trust

flyenby · 01-04-2013, 07:36 PM

Ethics
So I take my daughters 02 ford explorer in for a new fuel pump, don want to drop the tank at home. Guy comes highly recommended reasonable price. Goes on to tell how me dirty oil is..I changed it and the filter 300 miles ago mobil 1. Give him a chance to back down......he doesnt. Am I insane..or is the a jerk who cant be trusted

Thanks in advance been a hard week

matt f · 01-04-2013, 07:40 PM

Jerk.

flyenby · 01-04-2013, 07:43 PM

Please excuse the spelling errors and the bad grammar

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt f

Jerk.

I agree, but the two things are not mutually exclusive.

matt f · 01-04-2013, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tobra

I agree, but the two things are not mutually exclusive.

Agreed.
I should have stated, "you may be insane, but the wrench is a jerk."

Hugh R · 01-04-2013, 07:57 PM

Don't know about Mobil 1, but if first change to it, it could look dirty on a dipstick.

pavulon · 01-04-2013, 08:01 PM

Did you happen to ask why he would be looking at engine oil when you brought it in for a fuel pump? Maybe tell him you're compelled to administer a breast exam to his wife before paying him...ya know...as long as everyone is doing public services.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

A mechanic who doesn't know that you can't tell how "dirty" oil is by looking at the dipstick is an idiot or a crook, neither is good for you...

ckelly78z · 01-04-2013, 08:09 PM

"Go for the upsell" is the motto of most garages. I had a place tell me I needed all new tie rod ends on my diesel 4x4 F-250 to fix my tire scrubbing problem on the inside edges.....it turned out to have 3/4" of toe-in for some reason, but now it's fixed for free.

You need to find someone you can trust not to screw you on repairs or estimates.

weseeeee · weseeeee's Garage

Jerk!

LeeH · 01-04-2013, 09:24 PM

Just went through something similar.
I was told my air filter was so dirty that I'd "pick up a couple of MPG" if I changed it. While the filter wasn't new, it was no where near as dirty as they suggested. The shop owner got extremely defensive when confronted.

fastfredracing · 01-04-2013, 11:03 PM

Bad mechanic, he forgot to sell you a cabin air filter, and new wiper blades .

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I don't think I've removed the dipstick in my 993 in over eight years, but I change the oil regularly and it always looks like honey when it comes out.

Laneco · 01-05-2013, 04:51 AM

What did you see when you looked at the dipstick?

Here is why I'm asking. Last winter I picked up a 2009 Ford Edge down in Texas (actually bought two, one for me and one to sell). Both were company cars being turned in on their 3 year leases. One had regular maintenance, that was the one I kept. The oil was changed regularly and looked very clean when I picked it up. The other had deferred maintenance....

When I picked up that one, it had 60,000 miles on it. I drove it to a shop for an oil change as the oil was overdue and nasty black. I WATCHED them do the change. After running about 5 minutes, the brand new oil looked atrocious. Looked like it had been in the vehicle for years. They recommened a engine oil flush - the only disagreement we had was that was something they should have thought of BEFORE they changed the oil. They didn't charge me for the first change, flushed the system and refilled. I drove it home from Texas, kept it about two months and sold it. The oil looked brand new the day I sold it.

So please don't assume the mechanic is trying to hose you. Look at the dipstick yourself - if it looks dirty, the guy may have a point.

angela

Don Ro · 01-05-2013, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyenby

Guy comes highly recommended ...

By whom?

onewhippedpuppy · 01-05-2013, 05:01 AM

Upsell, upsell! This is why I DIY.........

sc_rufctr · 01-05-2013, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laneco

What did you see when you looked at the dipstick?

Here is why I'm asking. Last winter I picked up a 2009 Ford Edge down in Texas (actually bought two, one for me and one to sell). Both were company cars being turned in on their 3 year leases. One had regular maintenance, that was the one I kept. The oil was changed regularly and looked very clean when I picked it up. The other had deferred maintenance....

When I picked up that one, it had 60,000 miles on it. I drove it to a shop for an oil change as the oil was overdue and nasty black. I WATCHED them do the change. After running about 5 minutes, the brand new oil looked atrocious. Looked like it had been in the vehicle for years. They recommened a engine oil flush - the only disagreement we had was that was something they should have thought of BEFORE they changed the oil. They didn't charge me for the first change, flushed the system and refilled. I drove it home from Texas, kept it about two months and sold it. The oil looked brand new the day I sold it.

So please don't assume the mechanic is trying to hose you. Look at the dipstick yourself - if it looks dirty, the guy may have a point.

angela

I'm with Angel. Have a look like she suggested.

bell · bell's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laneco

What did you see when you looked at the dipstick?

Here is why I'm asking. Last winter I picked up a 2009 Ford Edge down in Texas (actually bought two, one for me and one to sell). Both were company cars being turned in on their 3 year leases. One had regular maintenance, that was the one I kept. The oil was changed regularly and looked very clean when I picked it up. The other had deferred maintenance....

When I picked up that one, it had 60,000 miles on it. I drove it to a shop for an oil change as the oil was overdue and nasty black. I WATCHED them do the change. After running about 5 minutes, the brand new oil looked atrocious. Looked like it had been in the vehicle for years. They recommened a engine oil flush - the only disagreement we had was that was something they should have thought of BEFORE they changed the oil. They didn't charge me for the first change, flushed the system and refilled. I drove it home from Texas, kept it about two months and sold it. The oil looked brand new the day I sold it.

So please don't assume the mechanic is trying to hose you. Look at the dipstick yourself - if it looks dirty, the guy may have a point.

angela

This.......

And he probably looked at the oil as a courtesy, I go over the entire car....spend about 10-15 minutes doing that at no charge to the customer....
Yesterday a guy brought in his Benz for some little stuff.....easy money......upon my inspection he had a total milkshake in the expansion tank, but oil on dipstick was fine.......head gasket.
If you're guy ONLY checked the oil then that would be my concern.
Just because your wrench points out a possible issue on something doesn't mean he's ripping you off.....out means he's thorough.......but its all in how its presented to you.
I'll tell you how serious or not it is....

bell · bell's Garage

Oh....and cabin filters.......
I regularly see cabin filters so clogged they are getting sucked into the inlets.....that will put extra strain on the fan.

And if the ops oil looked clean on the dipstick then the situation is questionable.....

lm6y · 01-05-2013, 05:46 AM

I agree with Bell, and Angela. You'd be surprised if you actually worked in a garage. If you change brake pads, and the car blows an engine from lack of oil, most customers won't own up to their own mistake, and try to hang it on the shop. Before you do anything to a customer's car, you check all fluids, and give it a once over. If you see something, no matter how small, you point it out to the customer BEFORE you spin a wrench on it.