Did all the oil changes on my 2014 Z51, the 500 mile change on my Grand Sport and just bought two 5 quart jugs of dexos approved 5-30 Mobil 1 at Walmart for $25/jug for the upcoming needed change.

Scanned the receipt and put in on the Mobil 1 rebate web page. Two $12 rebates making it $2.60/quart. Put the original receipt in an envelope I keep in the Owner’s Manual. This time rather than my usual Amazon purchase of an AC/Delco PF64, Walmart had it, slightly cheaper! That is on the receipt as well!

I use the PF64 while on warranty “just in case.” One of the car mags had an engine failure testing a C7. GM found it was the filter. Even though a low probability IF the Delco fails GM will have to cover the engine. I’m sure Mobil will give me a new filter BUT not cover the engine!

I use Fram in my Street Rod as it is the only one I have found that is readily available and short enough to fit between my 502 cid engine and the long tube Sanderson headers! Just clears. I just buy when there is a sale.

 

^^

Just checked with my Courtesy Delivery Service Manager since I will be there Monday for the MRC update. Wanted to see if they had the new GM 0W 40 Vette oil as was considering to have a dealer change oil for the first time in 5 Vettes!

They do not so will do as usual and change my own oil next week!

Was thinking I could use the 0-30 Mobil 1 for my Street Rod and that the filter would be fine when Free oil changes run out!

 

I have had the oil in my dry sump cars changed by three different dealers in different sections of the country for 9 years now with no issues. It is rare to have somebody screw it up at a dealership as they have been doing them for close to 13 years now. Most reports I see on the forum lately are due to the owner not understanding how to check oil Vs a screw up by the dealer.

However, I do change the oil in my C7Z once per year when I put in the Mobil 1 15W50. The dealer doesn't carry that oil so I do the change myself. Then when the racing season is over I take the car in for an oil change at the dealer to record the oil was changed at least once. That works with the number of miles I put on the car per year.

When the new Mobil1 ESP 0W40 becomes available I will have the dealer fill with that and stop doing my own changes. I direct as much business to the dealer as I can as I get preferential treatment from them due to being a good Customer. If there is an issue that arises the judgement falls toward me rather than the other way around. I just had the dealer change the diff fluid as I had just gone over 24 track hours of usage and the OM says to change it then.

I even take my 2003 Tahoe to them to have the oil changed. With 115K miles I don't need to prove anything to GM but I like the service and they have found a couple of things wrong that I didn't realize needed to be repaired. It is in its wear out phase for a number of parts and I like keeping it in great mechanical shape.

Bill

 

I've had trouble with the dealer's techs over tightening the drain plugs and the filter. When the 'Vette went in for the first 500m oil change, I copied the page out of the OM that specified tightening procedure. When I went to pick the car up, there was a comment that said: "Tightened per customer requirement" I made them change the statement to "per Owners manual requirement".

They also overfilled the brake fluid reservoir. Good thing my next move was to change to DOT 4.

Not enough adult supervision, and some of the techs know less than they think they know. When I showed them they overfilled, they said the max is at the top of the reservoir. I showed them the min-max marks. " How' bout that" was the reply, from the shop manager! I think they may put their greenest techs on oil changes.

 

The ONLY way to totally trust a dealer to do a proper oil change is to stand next to the tech as he/she does it.

If you’re not there to witness it, did it really happen? Out of my 3 free changes only one could be confirmed by me because I was standing there. The second showed paperwork that claimed it was done correctly. The third showed Dexos (I requested Mobil 1) and it was overfilled! Never again will I trust a dealer oil change.

 

My friend has a 7 bay auto repair shop and is on the automotive program advisory committee of our local 6000 student technical college. I have been chair of the welding advisor committee for the past 8 years. We talk about the difficulty in getting qualified people into the programs.

My expectance is it is often a newbie "mechanic's helper" working the oil change bay and if the dealer doesn't sell many Vettes 99+% of what they do are wet sumps and they use the 55 gallon drum of GM certified dexos oil that could be a blend. Thinking you accomplish anything with a Mobil filler cap is almost a waste of time, IMO. You have to watch.

I do my own oil changes but for my recent alignment stood outside the service bay and let the tech know there would be a tip for a good job. He had me come in and watch the Hunter alignment machine screen as he made changes on each wheel to my specified camber.

Those that get a C7 Certified Tech to do an oil change are lucky!