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Road Trip Oil Change Proves Puzzling - 2015 Dodge Viper GT Long-Term Road Test
Edmunds.com
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Road Trip Oil Change Proves Puzzling - 2015 Dodge Viper GT Long-Term Road Test
Edmunds gets a mid-road trip oil change performed on its long-term 2015 Dodge Viper GT during a 3,124-mile road trip from North Carolina to California.
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Also, it looks like the shape of the oil pan and the location of the drain plug stop the oil and any debris draining completely.
It is the irony of a dealership oil change. Often they aren't with the actual factory branded oil; which isn't a big deal as long as it is quality oil but most people think if they go to a Honda dealer they are getting Honda oil. And the people aren't anymore trained than any other oil change guy. Basically what you are getting are levels of management above them that you can yell at if there is an issue and hopefully a discounted price to get you in the door.
I mean, can you even GET to the engine from the trunk in mid engine cars? I thought you had to go about from below.
What a nitwit.
Meanwhile there are dozens of independent shops in Utah, that have highly skilled techs who would have had no trouble servicing this.
So is he a thief? That can't be ruled out either. How many times have you seen stories where the attempt to rehabilitate some misguided youth included sending them to school to try to become a technician? As noble of a plan as that may be along with the occasional success story it has created the obvious problem, and that is it can put people into the bays that we as a trade and you as a consumer don't want there.
How many times have I written that we can't attract the people that we really need, and when we do manage to draw someone that has the potential to become that master technician that you need us to have the odds are against them staying in the trade long enough to do so? The quick lube trend also takes what was once a position directly supervised by senior technicians and turned it into little more than a dead end job. Even with a problem like this one occurring you are not going to see management and owners of dealers and quick lubes change their business plans unless the consumer forces them to. FWIW, I did a quick check and there was an independent in Richland who was ready to service this vehicle, with the correct oil and filter in stock.
The hood release is grill in front of the drivers door on this car, maybe that is what got him looking for the engine when he could not find the hood release inside.
It looks like the Vipers had the hood release on the outside as well, in the last generation it was in the front grill. http://www.edmunds.com/dodge/viper/2009/long-term-road-test/2009-dodge-viper-srt-10-opening-the-hood-old-school.html
Usually, car owners will get cars serviced in preparation for a road trip and especially if you know you are going to hit a service interval during the trip. It is one less thing to worry about. I know of no one that plans a road trip, and then just gets up that morning, loads up the car, and heads out. That's just asking for trouble.
It would be fitting for this novice to really be the kind of prospect that he could actually be the master technician that the consumer needs in the bays in the future, only too see him walk away from the trade long before he ever gets there and have this story be one of the main reasons that he does. JMHO
I have been taught that rather then proceeding blindly and causing damage to the companies reputation or to the Car, then consult the resources that are available: Coworkers, the service manual, Google, etc. being able to work independently is what makes a good employee and will lead to advancement then next time he will be confident on the correct way to service this car. I hope that if he or the dealer is reading this he they use it a learning experience rather then quitting and giving up.