So, a friend got an oil change at the dealership....

"mkbruin, Atlas VP" (mkbruin) 04/23/2018 at 10:17 • Filed to: None

2

35

She purchased a 2016 Acadia Denali with 34k miles a few months ago. She recently took it into the dealer for an oil change, and they recommended quite a few things:

I repeat: at 30k miles.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/23/2018 at 10:26

1

My friend was recommended these things for a 2015 A4 at 15k miles. I told him not to.

He ignored me and had them done anyway.

random001 > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/23/2018 at 10:26

2

Brakes I could see, as that’s an age thing, too, and maybe PS depending on the condition of the fluid

OPPOsaurus WRX > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/23/2018 at 10:27

0

i’m guessing her oil change was over $100

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/23/2018 at 10:29

4

Brake flush every 2-3 years regardless of mileage. Steering fluid, meh, doesn’t hurt, but I wouldn’t call it necessary. Oh wait, it’s a GM, the steering system will crap out at some point, definitely not a bad idea. Unless it has electric steering? Fuel injection, have you seen the runners and chambers if a direct injection engine? This stuff works and is good maintenance.

Urambo Tauro > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/23/2018 at 10:31

1

I’m not familiar with GM’s maintenance intervals, so I can’t comment on the PS fluid, but 30k sounds about right for brake fluid.

As for the fuel induction service, is this one of those direct-injected engines that needs frequent cleaning?

crowmolly > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 04/23/2018 at 10:32

0

If I remember correctly some GM DI engines of that era have “issues” with fuel delivery.

Ash78, voting early and often > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo 04/23/2018 at 10:32

5

Audi is just a maintenance organization that uses flashy cars to get people in the door.

Quadradeuce > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/23/2018 at 10:32

1

Ask the dealer to point out in the owners manual where it recommends these services at this mileage.

Ash78, voting early and often > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/23/2018 at 10:33

2

Fuel induction? Sounds like her gas is joining a secret society. That fee probably pays for the reception dinner and a deposit on the costume.

Milky > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/23/2018 at 10:33

1

My local Mazda dealer has left me message saying to come in for a 30k service. I haven’t called them back.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/23/2018 at 10:34

3

These recommendations would have been overly cautious based on the fluid chemistry of the fifties. Sixty years later, they’re outright delusional.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > Ash78, voting early and often 04/23/2018 at 10:35

2

See: jkm

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/23/2018 at 10:35

0

5W/30? That’s some heavy weight oil for a modern car.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/23/2018 at 10:35

0

Hmm the maintenance schedule should be in the owner’s manual. If I had too much time on my hands I’d look this stuff up, see when the recommend interval is, and then lay some heat on the service manager as to why the services are being recommended early.

That said, I think Volvo recommends a brake fluid flush every 3 years or 30k on my C30.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > crowmolly 04/23/2018 at 10:38

0

I think you’re right. Pretty sure most manufacturers have issues with their first few years of DI.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/23/2018 at 10:38

0

...Out of curiosity, has the acadia switched to electric steering yet? I’m amazed an average family car would still be hydraulic at this point.

benjrblant > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/23/2018 at 10:43

0

Stop taking it to the dealer and her woes will be magically cured! (=

DipodomysDeserti > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 04/23/2018 at 10:43

1

My BMW takes 0w40

facw > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 04/23/2018 at 10:45

1

Volvo says 3 years/37,500 miles for my S60 (Or annually in mountainous or humid climates).

facw > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/23/2018 at 10:45

0

Cash Rewards > Ash78, voting early and often 04/23/2018 at 10:58

1

Keeping the metric system down ain’t cheap.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/23/2018 at 10:59

0

I wouldn’t have paid for any of those either.

My 2014 Taco — a vehicle designed in the mid ‘00s — uses 0w-20. How can a 2016 Acadia still take 5w-30? That’s the same weight my Tercel and Vibe used...

facw > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 04/23/2018 at 11:06

1

Checked the owner’s manual, it does indeed recommend 5W30 (or 0W30 for harsh winter conditions).

FWIW, modern (and older) Volvos take 5W30.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > facw 04/23/2018 at 11:11

0

Maybe my subaru wouldn’t burn so much oil if it was just a tad thicker.

shop-teacher > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 04/23/2018 at 11:53

0

GM has been sticking with 5/30.

TFSIVTEC drivesavolvo > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/23/2018 at 11:56

0

Does a 16 Acadia even have hydraulic power steering? I really want to know how a dry electric steering rack can be “Flushed”

His Stigness > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/23/2018 at 14:31

4

I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I actually agree with 3/4 of their recommendations, and those prices are totally reasonable. Good god!

Let’s break this down:

Fuel induction service: on a direct injection car this imperative, and I would absolutely, 100% recommend she get this done now. And $165 is a great price. I’m assuming they’re using BG products, and my cost alone on the chemicals for that would be $45. And the tool would cost me about $600 or so. It takes about an hour or so if it’s done right.

Why should she get it done now? Direct injection, as you may very well know, sprays fuel directly into the combustion chamber bypassing the intake valves directly, so the back of the valves never has fuel washing them. Over time the valves will become caked with carbon and by 100k miles, or less depending on how the customer drives, the valves will be so caked that the engine will start misfiring. Once that happens you have to take the vales off and either use a walnut blaster, or soak the valves and try and clean them out as best you can. An induction service, if done at least every 30k miles will prevent this entirely because you introduce a strong chemical into the intake stream and do the job of what fuel used to do with every injection cycle. And if the dealer is using BG products then they’ll add a product into the gas tank which will clean the injectors too, because if the customer isn’t using Top Tier gas the injectors will also get clogged too, and at least on German cars they cost me about $100 an injector, and she has six on that car.

Brake flush: if the car is at least two years old she should do it now. 2 years is the recommended interval from all manufacturers, and if GM is still only using DOT 3 I would be doing it every year. DOT has a lower wet and dry boiling point than DOT 4, and from what I understand with that it is more susceptible to absorbing moisture from the atmosphere, increasing the risk of boiling off and not working in a panic braking situation. And routine brake flushes also prevents seal degradation throughout the system, so she won’t have to replace brake calipers if she keeps up on brake flushes. A brake flush on most cars takes between half an hour to an hour, so $120 is a good deal from a dealer.

Now to the power steering flush: if I were her service writer I would not have recommended a PS flush at only 30k miles, but I also don’t know GM’s service schedule. I would only be doing it if they recommend it under the NORMAL service schedule. Most, if not all, service writers go off the SEVERE schedule to get more work sold. But the severe schedule is mostly BS. Have her check her owner’s manual to see what it says in terms of the PS flush.

If you have any questions I’m happy to answer them and help. I have many professional certifications and have worked at dealers and run multiple indy shops. I generally speak from experience and actual knowledge instead of out my ass like most service writers.

His Stigness > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 04/23/2018 at 14:33

0

t Does GM have an issue with PS fluid? I’m so shocked.

I didn’t know, though, so I told him it probably doesn’t need it right now.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > His Stigness 04/23/2018 at 15:21

0

I’ve seen my fair share of power steering pump and leak issues on GM stuff. Regular service certainly wouldn’t hurt.

His Stigness > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 04/23/2018 at 15:23

0

I must have blocked that out from my time at a regular indy shop. But I have changed my fair share of BMW E46 PS pumps. I know flushing those would probably help. And BMW was nice enough to update the pump and required the pressure hose to be changed too.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > His Stigness 04/23/2018 at 15:43

0

I have my own GM power steering pump puller. Sooooo yeah there’s that.

His Stigness > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 04/23/2018 at 15:45

1

Well that says a lot. I’m glad that PS steering pumps don’t cause smog failures.

aquila121 > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/23/2018 at 17:52

0

Knowing nothing about wrenching or service intervals, my initial (totally uninformed) reaction was this:

pip bip - choose Corrour > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/24/2018 at 04:00

0

of those 3, the brake flush is the only legit one, as the vehicle is around the 2 year old mark.

CaptDale - is secretly British > mkbruin, Atlas VP 04/24/2018 at 14:07

0

Those are usual 30k services in the servicing guides.