Calling Auto Mechanics about possible scam

[Razncain]

It’s a shame what these places are capable of doing to some, and they seem to target women.

There really isn’t much to do for winter, especially if you owned the car the year before, and probably the best advice you could give your daughter for any of these winter prep places, is just stay away from them altogether. If fluids meant checking radiator antifreeze, that would be a good thing. But if it was good the year before, it will last you for many years if you haven’t had to add any water to it. Some claim to change after a certain amount of years, maybe a good thing after 4-5 years or so, some may say earlier, but if it still looks good to me and passes the test, I do nothing. I suppose they added some antifreeze to the windshield wiper container on a yearly basis if she uses it much during the year to clean her windshield.

Buy her a antifreeze tester for Christmas, they are cheap, show her how to use it.

Virtually all motor oils will go 6,000, synthetic blends more, full synthetic up to 25,000 miles that Mobil 1 is claiming on one of their specific oils. So he didn’t do her any favors. I too, bet it wasn’t even synthetic, or if it was, maybe a synthetic blend. What percentage is synthetic vs regular motor oil, can be pretty much anything. It’s been awhile since I last looked, but never have found any percentages on that. Even full synthetic may not be totally 100%, but close to it.

Consumer Reports proved beyond a shadow of doubt, for me, anyway, that the 3,000 oil mile changes was a true waste of money and time, based on their extensive NYC taxi cab study, and engines being broken down and compared to the 6,000 mile oil changes.

[kanicbird]

@excavating_for_a_mind

I suspect there are some things that have been lost in the translation.
…
The “fuel line degreaser that gets rid of filament that gunks up your motor during the winter” I suspect has been garbled. It’s either … or, perhaps, an air intake cleaner that cleans the intake passages of deposits …

That was my take it as well, (with perhaps a MAF sensor cleaner as well). This badly translated by your daughter but does make sense. Also it does not make sense for the mechanic to make up something (like filaments) upon a call about what service was preformed when he could use something legit (even if he didn’t do it). the mechanic knows if he is being questioned the person is most likely suspicious of what was done and may check further, so my take is that your daughter is mistranslating.

As for if it is needed, I would say yes as part of regular maintenance as engines age, while the air should be filtered there is still the PCV system which is pumping products of combustion and oil from the crankcase into the intake and that over time can cause buildup in the manifold and valves, which over time and buildup can cause predetonation (knocking).

[Gatopescado]

@Chefguy

I’ve asked her to let me know what was actually put into the car.

I was going to suggest “Drop it!”.

@Chefguy

Well, my daughter won’t tell me what was on the invoice, and instead reverted to the “You don’t think I know anything, boo-hoo” ploy. ::shrug:: It’s her money.

But I see you have figured that out by now.

[steronz]

@Xema

This is nonsense bordering on gibberish. Someone capable of uttering this should not be allowed within 20’ of a motor vehicle.

Carbon buildup in the cylinders can create focal points for “hot spots” and cause pre-ignition, which is perhaps what the service adviser was trying to say, but without more information we’re just trying to read tea-leaves at this point.

[Xema]

@Chefguy

… “You don’t think I know anything, boo-hoo” …

Translation: “I actually don’t know anything about this subject - I was hoping that wouldn’t become obvious.”

[Xema]

@Razncain

It’s a shame what these places are capable of doing to some, and they seem to target women.

They target anyone who can’t distinguish nonsense from fact. This includes plenty of men (and yes, probably a higher proportion of women).