30K mile maintenance - dealer ripoff?

[Jester4kicks]

So my 06 4wd auto DC is about to hit 30,000 miles, and on my last stop by a dealer I got a nice little brochure telling me all the nice things they can do for me. There are three maintenance "packages" to choose from...

Let me see if I can get any jaws to hit the floor.

"Minimum Factory Required Service" (yes, it's in bold on the form)
-Change engine oil and filter
-Rotate four tires. Check and adjust tire pressure (including spare), and inspect tires for damage or uneven wear.
-Inspect coolant level, radiator core, A/C condenser, battery level, brake fluid, automatic transmission fluid, wiper fluid, and power steering oil. Top off as needed. Lubricate door and hood hinges.
-Replace engine and cabin air filter.
-Replace limited-slip differential fluid.
-Lubricate steering knuckle; lubricate propeller shaft (re-torque bolts)
-Inspect ball joints and dust covers; drive belts; brake lines and hoses; brake linings/drums and brake pads/discs; driveshaft boots (re-torque flange bolts); exhaust pipes and mountings; rear differential oil; steering linkages and boots.
-Inspect fuel lines, connections, fuel tank mount straps, fuel vapor emission control hoses, and fuel tank cap gasket.
-Check all warning/indicator lights, interior and exterior lighting.
-Reset "Maintenance Required" light.

Package Price $359.95
For vehicles with standard spark plugs: Replace spark plugs: $69.95
For vehicles with standard coolant: Replace engine coolant: $69.95


"Dealer Recommended Service"
Includes all Items in Minimum Factory Required Service, Plus:
-Install premium engine oil treatment - helps reduce friction and engine wear.
-Install premium fuel treatment - helps reduce engine carbon deposits, helps remove gum and varnish deposits from fuel system.
-Remove battery cables, clean and install anti-corrosion pads and protectant. Reseal terminals and connections.
-Balance four tires.
-Automatic transmission service - Drain and refill
-Cooling system Drain and Fill
-4 x 4 service - drain and fill front & rear differentials & transfer case

Package Price $629.95
For vehicles with standard spark plugs: Replace spark plugs: $69.95
For vehicles with standard coolant: Replace engine coolant: Included


"Dealer Premium Service"
Includes all Items in Dealer Recommended Service, Plus:
-Cooling system flush service - Helps prevent damage to cooling system due to rust, scale, and acid. Contains corrosion inhibitors and extends coolant life.
-Automatic transmission flush service - Removes virtually all old contaminated transmission fluid. Helps prevent oxidation and acid formation to extend fluid life. Also conditions seals and o-rings.
-Perform fuel induction throttle body service - Helps remove gum and varnish from intake runners, decarbonizes intake valves and combustion chambers
-Power steering flush service - Provides wear and rust protection, high shear and oxidation stability.
-Brake system fluid flush - Meets or exceeds Federal requirements. Meets OEM and SAE specifications.
-Road Test vehicle.
-"On the road" Roadside assistance program. Receive complimentary towing, jump start, tire change, delivery of gas and more.
-Includes COMPLIMENTARY one day rental car

Package Price $ =1059.95
For vehicles with standard spark plugs: Replace spark plugs: $69.95
For vehicles with standard coolant: Replace engine coolant: Included


There's also a note at the bottom:

Additional charge for spark plug replacement for 6 & 8 cyl vehicles. Additional charge for 4x4 vehicles. Replace timing belt on 4.7 engine. Replace spark plugs on 4.0 engine. Where required, replace rear differential oil including limited slip differentials and repack front wheel bearings.



I'll post my own thoughts on this crap in a minute... what does everyone else think? See any complete scams? I'm pretty good with a wrench (did my own cam swap on my old v6 mustang without any previous engine knowledge)... how much of this can reasonably be done myself?

Thanks all!

[Jester4kicks]

-Change engine oil and filter I can do myself, although I usually just pay a shop to do it to save time.
-Rotate four tires. Check and adjust tire pressure (including spare), and inspect tires for damage or uneven wear. The shop that changes my oil usually includes this service for me.
-Inspect coolant level, radiator core, A/C condenser, battery level, brake fluid, automatic transmission fluid, wiper fluid, and power steering oil. Top off as needed. Lubricate door and hood hinges. Ok, so check all fluid levels and grease up some hinges... can't be that hard.
-Replace engine and cabin air filter. I'll do it myself.
-Replace limited-slip differential fluid. Can I do this myself? What's involved?
-Lubricate steering knuckle; lubricate propeller shaft (re-torque bolts) I have no idea, what's involved?
-Inspect ball joints and dust covers; drive belts; brake lines and hoses; brake linings/drums and brake pads/discs; driveshaft boots (re-torque flange bolts); exhaust pipes and mountings; rear differential oil; steering linkages and boots. The shop that does my oil changes will look at this stuff for free.
-Inspect fuel lines, connections, fuel tank mount straps, fuel vapor emission control hoses, and fuel tank cap gasket. The shop that does my oil changes will look at this stuff for free.
-Check all warning/indicator lights, interior and exterior lighting. I'll do this.
-Reset "Maintenance Required" light. The oil change place will do this for free.

Package Price $359.95 My cost so far: est $100, sound right?
For vehicles with standard spark plugs: Replace spark plugs: $69.95 Do I have standard spark plugs? I didn't realize there were "non-standard spark plugs"
For vehicles with standard coolant: Replace engine coolant: $69.95 If it's just a drain/refill, I'll do it myself.


"Dealer Recommended Service"
Includes all Items in Minimum Factory Required Service, Plus:
-Install premium engine oil treatment - helps reduce friction and engine wear. Sounds like a fuel additive or something. $5 at a gas station?
-Install premium fuel treatment - helps reduce engine carbon deposits, helps remove gum and varnish deposits from fuel system. Sounds like a fuel additive or something. $5 at a gas station?
-Remove battery cables, clean and install anti-corrosion pads and protectant. Reseal terminals and connections. So, disconnect the terminals and clean the up a bit... that about it?
-Balance four tires. Oil change place I got to will check the balance for free. Not sure if they'll make any repairs.
-Automatic transmission service - Drain and refill Can I do this myself?
-Cooling system Drain and Fill I know I can do THAT myself.
-4 x 4 service - drain and fill front & rear differentials & transfer case How hard is it to do this yourself?

Package Price $629.95 My price: est $200, sound about right?
For vehicles with standard spark plugs: Replace spark plugs: $69.95
For vehicles with standard coolant: Replace engine coolant: Included


"Dealer Premium Service"
Includes all Items in Dealer Recommended Service, Plus:
-Cooling system flush service - Helps prevent damage to cooling system due to rust, scale, and acid. Contains corrosion inhibitors and extends coolant life. Doesn't sound like it's even remotely need at this point.
-Automatic transmission flush service - Removes virtually all old contaminated transmission fluid. Helps prevent oxidation and acid formation to extend fluid life. Also conditions seals and o-rings. Doesn't sound like it's even remotely need at this point.
-Perform fuel induction throttle body service - Helps remove gum and varnish from intake runners, decarbonizes intake valves and combustion chambers Sounds like a seafoam treatment.
-Power steering flush service - Provides wear and rust protection, high shear and oxidation stability. Doesn't sound like it's even remotely need at this point.
-Brake system fluid flush - Meets or exceeds Federal requirements. Meets OEM and SAE specifications. Doesn't sound like it's even remotely need at this point.
-Road Test vehicle. How kind of them....
-"On the road" Roadside assistance program. Receive complimentary towing, jump start, tire change, delivery of gas and more. I think I already get this through my insurance company.
-Includes COMPLIMENTARY one day rental car Yeah, cause if they're going to bend you over without any lube, you might as well be back in your own bed. ROFL

Package Price $ =1059.95
For vehicles with standard spark plugs: Replace spark plugs: $69.95
For vehicles with standard coolant: Replace engine coolant: Included


There's also a note at the bottom:

Additional charge for spark plug replacement for 6 & 8 cyl vehicles. Additional charge for 4x4 vehicles. Replace timing belt on 4.7 engine. Replace spark plugs on 4.0 engine. Where required, replace rear differential oil including limited slip differentials and repack front wheel bearings.

Does the timing belt really need to be replaced? And what's the deal with the spark plugs?

[Big_Al1]

Definitely a ripoff.Fuel treatment and engine treatment ha if you don't want to keep your truck very long add lots of engine treatment.Tundras don't have cabin filters.Toyota Parts and Service Check out this link input your info it will tell you what actually needs to be done.Per manual I don't beleive spark plugs or coolant needs to be changed until like 100k or so.

[Jester4kicks]

Any other thoughts?

[ArtM]

Originally Posted by Big_Al1

Tundras don't have cabin filters.

My 08 DC SR5 TRD does. I've taken it out and looked at it.

[ArtM]

Originally Posted by Jester4kicks

Any other thoughts?

Dealership shops are in business to make money - which they certainly will charging what you've shown. Does it mean you have to go there? No. But, there are those folks that have money to pay for such services, yet don't have the time or skill to do any maintenance themselves. If I had money to throw around, I might bite on the "recommended" service. LOL

You've found a less expensive alternative. Good for you! Go for it!

[Big_Al1]

Originally Posted by ArtM

My 08 DC SR5 TRD does. I've taken it out and looked at it.

Okay until 2007 models tundras didn't have cabin filters.He has an 06.

[JHinds57]

Can we (owners) reset the Maintenance Required indicator? If yes how, Thanks in advance.

[tempetom]

Turn ignition key to "ACC" or "lock" with odometer reading shown.
Turn ignition key to "on" while pushing trip meter reset knob in.
Hold knob in for at least 5 seconds.
Odometer reads "000000" and light goes out. (hopefully?)

Owners manual page 179

[HOGWILD]

Insert flyer into garbage can and keep your hard earned money
I think you answered your own question in the post name! Dealer and ripoff in same sentence

[Jester4kicks]

Well not I'm starting to wonder if even some of the things I was planning on doing myself will be neccessary.... based on this site: Toyota Parts and Service it looks likes all I need to do is:

All done tomorrow when I get my oil changed:
Replace engine oil and oil filter
Rotate tires
Lubricate propeller shaft (4WD)

Do myself?
Replace limited-slip differential oil, if equipped - I'm pretty sure I have a LSD, how do I replace the oil?
Replace spark plugs - Everytime I see this, it seems to indicate I might not have standard spark plugs... how do I know?
Re-torque propeller shaft bolt - I don't have a torque wrench... how can I get this done?
Replace engine air filter - I'll do it myself.

I'll try to have the oil change place inspect this stuff, and I'll do the work as needed:
Inspect the following:
Automatic transmission fluid
Ball joints and dust covers
Brake lines and hoses
Brake linings/drums and brake pads/discs 7
Drive shaft boots (4WD)
Engine coolant 8
Exhaust pipes and mountings
Front differential oil (4WD)
Fuel lines and connections, fuel tank band and fuel tank vapor vent system hoses
Fuel tank cap gasket
Manual transmission oil
Radiator, condenser and/or intercooler
Rear differential oil
Steering gear box
Steering linkage and boots
Transfer case oil (4WD)

[Big_Al1]

lsd easier than oil change on the pumpmkin in middle of rear axle there are two plugs bottom to drain back to fill.Remove fill plug first would hate to get drain plug off and not be able to filler up drain out 3-4 qts raise driver side to get all of it out.Drop her down refill until it dribbles out of fill hole close it up and your done.75-90 royal purple works without and friction additives.Plugs I believe the only one that need changing are the v-6 something to do with emmision.

[Jester4kicks]

Originally Posted by Big_Al1

lsd easier than oil change on the pumpmkin in middle of rear axle there are two plugs bottom to drain back to fill.Remove fill plug first would hate to get drain plug off and not be able to filler up drain out 3-4 qts raise driver side to get all of it out.Drop her down refill until it dribbles out of fill hole close it up and your done.75-90 royal purple works without and friction additives.Plugs I believe the only one that need changing are the v-6 something to do with emmision.

Sounds fairly easy.

Quick question though... I have an inclined driveway... and it would be a lot easier for me if I could do all the draining while my front wheels were just a little elevated on the driveway (wheels chocked of course)... but then I would have to roll it back down a little bit to refill it. I assume it's safe to roll it 5 feet without any oil in the differential, but I wanted to be sure.

Edit: Oh... and I assume all of this should be done with the differential is still warm...

[Big_Al1]

i find level ground to get all old fluid out and for filling purposes.

[Jester4kicks]

Originally Posted by Big_Al1

i find level ground to get all old fluid out and for filling purposes.

Yeah I bit the bullet and just bought all the stuff I needed.

Just purchased:
4 quarts of 75W90 Royal Purple
Drain Pan
3 ton jack
Torque Wrench
Napa air filter

Do I absolutely need some kind of pump to get the oil from the bottle into the differential? Looks like there might be enough clearance to just pour it in.