First Oil Change at Dealer - Sloppy Job

[Mr Lahey]

Took my 2024 GT back to the dealer for its first oil change. First time I've let someone change my oil in 20 years and was quickly reminded why I do it myself.

Mechanic left his oily handprint on the hood. Spilled oil under the hood. Left a half filled oil bottle covered in oil on the passenger side footwell. Couldn't even be bothered to reset the oil life.

I've brought decades old rust buckets to the quick-lube in my youth that got better treatment than this!

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[erocker]

Sounds like a typical dealer service experience to me! From what I understand most Ford techs are paid fuck-all and on some stupid rate.

 

[Mr Lahey]

Out of all of it, the oily hands on the finish is the real problem. I didn't catch it until a few hours later. I was at work and had to get it to the car wash to clean it up.

The half quart of oil is also puzzling. The oil level on the stick is exactly between the add line and full line. That half quart belongs in the motor, not on my floorboard!

 

[LouG]

Jeez, I'd turn bloody feral if they did that.

 

[Neggytive]

The Ford dealership in Port Charlotte FL has done both my 07 and the 2024

The guy who did my 2024 was extremely careful, going so far as to make a tin foil catch pan/drain to make sure no oil got on the cross member when he pulled the filter, he also used about a half a can of brake clean or something to get any residual oil off the car.

I was able to watch from a distance, and I was so impressed I gave him a $20 and told him the first beer was on me after work.

Unfortunately oil changes are part of my job, and I know what it takes to do it right, and the guys who did mine the last 2 times at that dealership did it right.

I did have the oil changed in Salem NH at 1000 miles and although I didn't stick around to watch them do it I had no complaints about the condition of the car when I got it back.

Most dealers are using oil out of drums or tanks, I'm surprised they are using quart containers as they increase the cost significantly.

Which is why they can do a 10 quart oil change for a few bucks more than the oil and filter would cost me wholeseale

 

[MAT1955]

@Neggytive .... kudos for tipping the tech. the word spreads fast and soon everyone treats my cars like glass. Telling the service manager is also a great idea. As for the dealers using oil out of drums you are also correct. I posted about this on another thread in this forum but fast review....my friend owned a big GM dealership. That bulk oil is not necessarily GM or Ford oil and may not have the VI package that Ford branded oil has - and - it will almost certainly NOT be FULL synthetic - and - may not even have the VI package that Ford FULL synthetic has. You get what you pay for. I buy the Ford FULL synthetic and oil filter from the dealer (so I have it in advance) and bring it to the dealer. At oil change time I remind them that I bought the oil from them so they don't think I'm a cheap a$$hole. The $20 tip is an awesome idea that I use too and more if its a big job. Whether that's fair, right or wrong it WORKS as they treat my cars like glass.

 

[Mr Lahey]

I think the only reason they used the bottled stuff is because I requested the full synthetic. Otherwise they'd have put the blended stuff in.

The whole thing is just bizarre. I bring this thing to the dealer to avoid the quick-lube hijinks. So much for that idea. Now I'll have to get underneath and look for the other usual nonsense. Who wants to bet on whether the drain plug is tightened down to 60+ lb-ft?

 

[Eli GT]

I took my Ford Escape to the dealer for an oil change and twice they put in 5W-20 instead of the required 5W-30. I always request full synthetic for all three Fords I own. The service manager told me he can't find good help, which is BS. I say it's poor training. When I was younger I worked at a full service gas station and did all the work on my own cars and changed many customers' oil. The Ford manager said they have 5W-20 in the drums but 5W-30 full synthetc is in the quart containers. I fired that dealer and now go to another dealer where I can watch the techs do the oil change thru a big window in the customer lounge. I can see the techs carry out the 10 quarts of 5W-30 full synthetic and put it in the engine.

 

[Doug Watson]

I'm 70 and still do my own.

 

[Starship Enterprise]

Out of all of it, the oily hands on the finish is the real problem. I didn't catch it until a few hours later. I was at work and had to get it to the car wash to clean it up.

The half quart of oil is also puzzling. The oil level on the stick is exactly between the add line and full line. That half quart belongs in the motor, not on my floorboard!

The dirty hands is one thing, but I think I have a reason for the oil amounts. Since Ford revised the oil pan, oil capacity is now 9.5 qts. as stated in my 2025 manual….so he diligently put in 9.5 qts and left you the extra half qt.

Supposedly having the oil in the middle between the 2 dots on the dipstick is the sweet spot, and is certainly preferred over overfilling.

I think your dealer service was lacking on the care to be clean, but it doesn’t sound like they screwed anything up.

 

[Doug Watson]

The dirty hands is one thing, but I think I have a reason for the oil amounts. Since Ford revised the oil pan, oil capacity is now 9.5 qts. as stated in my 2025 manual….so he diligently put in 9.5 qts and left you the extra half qt.

Supposedly having the oil in the middle between the 2 dots on the dipstick is the sweet spot, and is certainly preferred over overfilling.

I think your dealer service was lacking on the care to be clean, but it doesn’t sound like they screwed anything up.

The 2024 manual says 10 qts but the my vin says 9.5 qts, I did contact Ford but nothing will get re-written.

 

[DarkMatterGrey]

Not to scare you but oil changes in the GT S650 are a little tricky. They may have removed the belly pan to get access to the oil filter. The belly pan contains over a dozen small screws and 2 each of 2 different types of push pins. One of the push pin types (attached pic) does not come out clean and usually has to be replaced. I’m 62 and do my own oil changes. Dealing with the belly pan on the GT S650 takes up half the time. If I were to take it to a dealer, I’d expect a factory outcome.

 

[turtletim]

I had a positive experience at my dealer for the first oil change. The mechanic let me look under the car while he worked and explained the procedure. Also discussed the issues regarding the many fasteners he removed etc. They put in 10 quarts and also explained that the dipstick level for full is in the middle. I will keep going there until they give me a reason not to. Your experience is unfortunate but not common in my opinion.

 

[Doug Watson]

Not to scare you but oil changes in the GT S650 are a little tricky. They may have removed the belly pan to get access to the oil filter. The belly pan contains over a dozen small screws and 2 each of 2 different types of push pins. One of the push pin types (attached pic) does not come out clean and usually has to be replaced. I’m 62 and do my own oil changes. Dealing with the belly pan on the GT S650 takes up half the time. If I were to take it to a dealer, I’d expect a factory outcome.

I changed these pins to the 2 piece pins for easy removal.

 

[DarkMatterGrey]

I changed these pins to the 2 piece pins for easy removal.

Question is what did the dealer do (or not do) to the OP’s vehicle. Pay dealer price, expect at least factory level outcome.

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