Maintenance Interval - Dealer Scam?
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6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2006
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Maintenance Interval - Dealer Scam?
The first major service I had on my 04 Corvette was in March 2006 at 27,000 miles, soon after the "Change Oil Soon" light came on. When I took it in the service rep commented that "it looks like you've missed a few scheduled services". I wound up getting billed for a "27,000 GM Passenger Car Service" which came to $615.
The dealership put a sticker on the car saying the next maintenance was due at 32,000. So when I recently reached 32,000 and the oil life still showed 60 percent, I called the dealership and asked them what the 32,000 mile maintenance was all about. I pointed out that the only requirement in the manual was when the "Change Oil Soon" light came on. They responded that they were obligated to advise me that maintenance should be performed every 5,000 miles. Huh? I want to keep this car well maintained, but I don't want to pay for some arbitrary and unnecessary maintenance program. Any advice?
The dealership put a sticker on the car saying the next maintenance was due at 32,000. So when I recently reached 32,000 and the oil life still showed 60 percent, I called the dealership and asked them what the 32,000 mile maintenance was all about. I pointed out that the only requirement in the manual was when the "Change Oil Soon" light came on. They responded that they were obligated to advise me that maintenance should be performed every 5,000 miles. Huh? I want to keep this car well maintained, but I don't want to pay for some arbitrary and unnecessary maintenance program. Any advice?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,984
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From: Central Coast CA
Dealerships routinely advise a more detailed service schedule than GM recommends. It is needed, in my opinion no. GM knows more about their vehicle than dealerships do.
Do you own oil changes and use the oil life monitoring system. This period with vary with how you drive the car. Don't let a Dealership talk you into giving them more of your money.
Do you own oil changes and use the oil life monitoring system. This period with vary with how you drive the car. Don't let a Dealership talk you into giving them more of your money.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,661
Likes: 67
From: Ocean Springs MS
Of course they're going to tell you that. You already paid $615 for an oil change and air filter. That's the only thing necessary until 50K, if I recall correctly. They're certain they've found a sucker. You really think the dealer knows more than the company who would have had to pay for any warranty work during the 1st 3 years?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,123
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From: Orland Park Illinois
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Don't fall for this dealer BS. It is not uncommon for new car dealerships (not only GM either) to push the so-called required maintenance inspections/check ups. They will also decrease the factory time/mileage guidelines, thus, making you bring your car in more frequently, resulting in more money in their pockets. If you bring your car into the dealership and have all that so-called required maintenance done---you will not have enough money to put fuel into that Corvette of yours. You can do most of the routine inspections yourself. Just follow the owners manual. Change your oil every 7500 miles or 1 year and you'll be set to go. Good luck...
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
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Originally Posted by BiggieBoy
Don't fall for this dealer BS. It is not uncommon for new car dealerships (not only GM either) to push the so-called required maintenance inspections/check ups. They will also decrease the factory time/mileage guidelines, thus, making you bring your car in more frequently, resulting in more money in their pockets. If you bring your car into the dealership and have all that so-called required maintenance done---you will not have enough money to put fuel into that Corvette of yours. You can do most of the routine inspections yourself. Just follow the owners manual. Change your oil every 7500 miles or 1 year and you'll be set to go. Good luck...
Le Mans Master
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From: AKA Harvey Mushman-I know just enough to be dangerous "Those who sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither"- B. Franklin
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Originally Posted by hardtop
I am just curios what the dealer allegedly did for the 27000 maintenance. please let us know. $600.00 sounds like a lot to me.
oil filter $5
air filter $15
Vasoline $3
profit $550+/-
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Tech Contributor
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Originally Posted by hardtop
I am just curios what the dealer allegedly did for the 27000 maintenance. please let us know. $600.00 sounds like a lot to me.
Former Law Dawg Moderator
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Eads, Tennessee
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St. Jude Donor '05 thru '24
Originally Posted by Grumpy
did they want to rotate the tires too??
Regarding your oil change intervals, I'd watch you "oil life" monitor and change the oil when indicated, near 10%, or once yearly, whichever comes first. There's been many debates on this issue and I've learned to trust the monitor or yearly change intervals and save my $$$$.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,171
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From: Longview Texas
Just follow what's specified in the owners manual and you'll be fine. From some of the articles I've read, it isn't good to change synthetic at 3,000 mile intervals (for example). Doesn't give it the chance to "break in". Use the DIC.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Norfolk VA
Originally Posted by tangoloco
They responded that they were obligated to advise me that maintenance should be performed every 5,000 miles. Huh? I want to keep this car well maintained, but I don't want to pay for some arbitrary and unnecessary maintenance program. Any advice?
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 391
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From: Boston MA
I look at the owners manual and review the scheduled maintenance items and intervals. If I think items are necessary based on my driving habits and miles driven under what the conditions were at the time I will do them myself or if I can't I will tell the dealer to do specific items. I never ever let them do full interval maintenance based on miles driven. Its a ripoff.
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The only one that benefits from these routine maintenance visits is the dealership. I say. Trust your DIC on the oil change intervals - according to your owner's manual, you can go up to 15K miles or one year (which ever comes first) unless your oil life indiactor tells you otherwise.
The oil life monitor uses a complex set of algorithims to determine how much life is left in the oil. It is not an optical reader, meaning that it does not look through the oil to determine how clean the oil is. It bases the recommendations on the way the car has been driven (throttle position, etc.)
There are no Zerk fittings under the car - so there is nothing to grease, check your owner's manual for the recommended intervals for changing the other fluids like differential fluid, transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid, etc... and you shouldn't have to do this again. If you get a quality aftermarket airfilter, you don't have to even replace them....just clean them. The filter on my Blackwing for example will last the life of the car as long as it is cleaned periodically, with the proper products and techniques.
I say. Trust your DIC on the oil change intervals - according to your owner's manual, you can go up to 15K miles or one year (which ever comes first) unless your oil life indiactor tells you otherwise.The oil life monitor uses a complex set of algorithims to determine how much life is left in the oil. It is not an optical reader, meaning that it does not look through the oil to determine how clean the oil is. It bases the recommendations on the way the car has been driven (throttle position, etc.)
There are no Zerk fittings under the car - so there is nothing to grease, check your owner's manual for the recommended intervals for changing the other fluids like differential fluid, transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid, etc... and you shouldn't have to do this again. If you get a quality aftermarket airfilter, you don't have to even replace them....just clean them. The filter on my Blackwing for example will last the life of the car as long as it is cleaned periodically, with the proper products and techniques.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Originally Posted by Grumpy
did they want to rotate the tires too??
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,385
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From: Orlando FL
Originally Posted by gordonb50
Just follow what's specified in the owners manual and you'll be fine. From some of the articles I've read, it isn't good to change synthetic at 3,000 mile intervals (for example). Doesn't give it the chance to "break in". Use the DIC.
