Up-selling Issue of unneeded service
I have had the oil…read morechanged in my 2009 Tundra at the Jiffy Lube at 1799 South University Drive, Davie FL twice (April 2024 and April 2026) and twice have been told that the rear differential oil was "dirty" and was offered a fluid change. This felt like up-selling of a service that is very likely not needed by most people and definitely not needed with my vehicle. I am not sure who at Jiffy Lube is qualified to make the assessment that the differential fluid was "dirty", so I asked questions. When I started questioning the floor person about how it was determined that this service was required she told me the technician in the pit said it was the case. Immediately a man approached and asked if there was an issue. I asked to speak with the manager, he said he was a manager. First, he told me that the service suggestion was made based on the truck milage (158,000 miles). When I asked how this determination could be made without the service history for the truck and that I was told the oil was dirty, implying they took out the fill plug and looked, he said they would speak with the employee implying he acknowledged the sketchy foundation of the attempted sale. Soon another man approached me, identified himself as the manager and asked if there was anything he could help me with. I told him I thought it odd that on both visits I was told there was a problem with the differential oil and offered a differential service. I informed him that the differential oil had been changed less than two years ago, about 20,000 miles, so I doubted it was compromised. He was defensive and quickly told me that the change interval was every 10,000 miles, a ridiculous claim that I simply replied to with a no. His tone became defensive. My confidence in the ethos of the whole operation was eroding by the moment. Sitting in the truck, I made a Google AI inquiry that said 50,000 to 60,0000 miles, which was incorrect unless the vehicle is used for heavy towing which it clearly is not. The manager said he did not care what Google had to say on the topic, not politely. He went to his terminal and told me now that the service interval was 20,000 to 30,000 miles, also wrong. It seemed to be a game of if you don't believe that, how about this?
Later, consulting the Toyota 2009 Tundra Maintenance Guide, for the life of the truck, except for heavy hauling (60,000 miles) there is no recommendation for differential oil change, ever, only a service recommendation to check the level and I am assuming look for evidence of water intrusion.
This attempt to sell me an unnecessary service did not cost me anything because I am knowledgeable enough about vehicle service not to take the bait.
A couple of additional points:
* A young woman brought my clean air filter to the window and asked if I wanted it replaced. No comment on the condition of the filter, again clean, just did I want to buy a new one. Not good
* If you Goggle Better Business Bureau complaints Jiffy Lube at 1799 South University Drive https://www.bbb.org/us/fl/fort-lauderdale/profile/lube-service/jiffy-lube-0633-11001650/complaints?page=5 there is a lot there that should give you pause
* As to the Jiffy Lube platform in general, Google search Undercover Investigations of Jiffy Lube. Some of the key findings included underperformed services including flushing transmission fluid or replacing filters, that were never done. Unnecessary repairs where hidden cameras captured technicians recommending costly unnecessary repairs, fraudulent techniques using incorrect numbers on testing devices to falsely indicate battery failure and pressure cooker environments where former employees cited intense, supervisor-driven pressure to meet high sales quotas, leading to unethical behavior.
