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30k "Big" Maintenance & Flushes

9 messages,  Last post on Mar 16, 2011 at 4:12 PM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 2 of 2

#2 of 9 Re: 30k "Big" Maintenance & Flushes [pilot1226] by ateixeira

Jan 14, 2011 (9:25 am)

Replying to: pilot1226 (Jan 14, 2011 6:12 am)
The $150 for some of those optional services makes me cringe.
 
Why would you need an Engine Oil Exchange service? What does that even mean? Do they pull the oil pan and clean it? That's absurd at 30k miles.
 
Front & Rear Differential Service - I've done this myself, it's not that complicated. The rear diff took one quart of gear oil, the manual trans/front diff took 3.7 quarts IIRC. You have to get under the car, but even if you buy a hand pump or funnel, it won't cost you $30. I used synthetic for both and spent about $7 x 5 quarts = $35 plus less than $10 for the hand-held oil pump.
 
Transfer Case Service - this puzzles me, it's sealed, they're not supposed to service this. $150 for nothing? Red flag, IMHO.
 
Whoa. Quite a few things not listed in the dealer's package and quite a few things seem to be not necessary in the dealer's package, no?
 
Yes, agreed.
 
I imagine this'll cost around $250 unless I need the Trans & Diff drain and filled. Thoughts?
 
Show the dealer the list of stuff that is supposed to be done per Subaru and ask for a price on that.
 
For the gear oil I'd follow the severe maintenance interval per the owner's manual. 30k may be a bit sooner than necessary.

#3 of 9 Re: 30k "Big" Maintenance & Flushes [ateixeira] by xwesx

Jan 14, 2011 (9:42 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 14, 2011 9:25 am)
Big red flag on that dealer! That's just shockingly dishonest! What they are doing here is taking advantage of owner ignorance, and that is just disgraceful.
 
The "transfer case" and "propeller shaft" services are, perhaps, the most alarming, as it indicates to me a gross negligence of the car they are offering to service. As AJ stated, the transfer case is not a serviceable unit, nor is the "propeller" shaft, or drive shaft as it is more commonly known in automobiles.
 
I recommend going with a different service shop altogether and giving the dealer that gave you that laundry list a swift... piece of your mind....
 
Changing the differential and transmission fluids may be soon at this point, but I would change out the stock fluids by 50K if it were my car.
 
At bare minimum, a dealer's "package service" should have at least what the manufacturer requires. It doesn't look to me that yours even includes the brake fluid flush without an additional, exorbitant, fee.

#4 of 9 Re: 30k "Big" Maintenance & Flushes [ateixeira] by pilot1226

Jan 14, 2011 (9:39 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 14, 2011 9:25 am)
Thanks for responding. Welcome to the northeastern part of the country, I guess. Things are more expensive here, but I guess it balances out because cost-of-living and salaries tend to be higher as well.
 
I'd love to do MORE to both of my cars - but the problem in doing so is that we're living in a townhouse, so the "parking" area is considered a common property, and the management association really frowns upon you doing any of your own work aside from mandatory things (like, jacking up a car to switch a flat tire and a donut, so you can bring it somewhere to get fixed.) I'm pretty sure oil changes (and the diff fluid you mentioned above) would be red flagged.
 
Oil Exchange service sounds like a flush to me. So I will certainly be skipping it.
 
Very funny about the "Transfer Case Service" - lol. I wasn't planning on doing it anyway since it wasn't in the owner's manual.
 
You're right - it just says to "inspect" the gear oil - not replace it. But, how does one know if I needs replacing? I'm thinking discoloration, so we'll probably do that.
 
I'm still a little torn on the brake fluid. I know that it's recommended, and I know that there are a few people on the forum (like paison if he still posts here) that are very, very emphatic about regular (2 year) brake flushes because it absorbs moisture.
 
That being said, I've never replaced the brake fluid in any of my cars aside from when I get brakes done - probably around every 4 years? - and I've never had "mushy" brakes or any trouble stopping. So, something to ponder.
 
Thoughts on spark plugs? My biggest concern is that they're indeed a copper plug which will cause trouble for my exhaust system (cat converter) down the road.
 
Good call, I will certainly bring my manual inside with me and ask specifically a quote for all the things that the manufacturer says needs to get done.
 
I'm wondering if cars these days are built so much more "sturdy" that dealers are losing revenue from repairs, and they're using these flushes and optional services to try to make up that lost revenue.

#5 of 9 Re: 30k "Big" Maintenance & Flushes [pilot1226] by xwesx

Jan 14, 2011 (9:46 am)

Replying to: pilot1226 (Jan 14, 2011 9:39 am)
Sorry about my last post - I put it up there with almost no info, then went and added a bunch to it after re-reading your original.
 
For the spark plugs, it won't hurt anything to replace them with a higher quality plug. $10-15 per plug is not an inexpensive spark plug!
 
On my '96 Outback, which used the same plug as the new ones if I recall correctly, I ran them 60,000 miles and they both looked and operated fine even at that interval, so 30,000 does seem premature.

#6 of 9 Re: 30k "Big" Maintenance & Flushes [xwesx] by ateixeira

Jan 14, 2011 (10:08 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Jan 14, 2011 9:42 am)
I can imagine them re-torqueing the drive shaft connector bolts (AWD Siennas actually call for this service every 30k), but that's a simple job that should take minutes, and not cost $150. Puh-lease.

#7 of 9 Followup by pilot1226

Mar 14, 2011 (7:31 am)

Just a followup, brought my Subie down to the local shop that Paisan runs, they did a great job and did a 30k service in the same amount of time I was used to waiting for an oil change from the dealer.
 
And the cookies were good too. I'll have to schedule an afternoon appointment next time so I can try the tap.

#8 of 9 Re: Followup [pilot1226] by paisan

Mar 14, 2011 (6:51 pm)

Replying to: pilot1226 (Mar 14, 2011 7:31 am)
Thanks for the followup! Great meeting you!
 
Stop by anytime, even if you don't need service!
 
-mike
Subaru Guru and Track Instructor

#9 of 9 Re: 30k "Big" Maintenance & Flushes [pilot1226] by tommy312

Mar 16, 2011 (4:12 pm)

Replying to: pilot1226 (Jan 14, 2011 6:12 am)
I would never walk into that dealer again. I have been told that at some dealers the managers get a % of the money from work orders so they do work that is not really needed. Not sure how true that is but nothing would surprise me ESP In the NYC area. Always use a trusted mechanic ...

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