Took my 09 RX8 (36K) for an oil change to a local dealer. After a few minutes, the service manager comes out, asks if I had an oil change at another place previously. I told him I had and whether they screwed something up. He does not answer but shows me, fiirst the oil covering below with a little bit of oil on it, says that the engine was covered with oil. I explained that maybe it was me spilling some when adding oil and then he takes me to the back of the car, points out that there also seems to be a "differential" leak (a bit of oil out there) and he would like me to leave the car with them to check it out. I said I would bring it back for a check, to just change oil for now.

The car is running fine so I wonder what all of it was about? I do not see any oil on my garage floor or anything. Should I let them check it out, get a big bill for it?

 

Bring it in and get an estimate.

Consider taking the car and the estimate back to the place that screwed it up.
Gather everyone's input before you spend anything.

 

Get a second opinion from a specialist, preferably one that specializes in Mazda's.

 

He could be legitimate, or he could be trying to pull one of the oldest scams on you.
Where exactly is the oil leaking from at the differential? One of the fill/drain caps? Or at one of the seals where the driveshaft/axleshafts hook up at?

You might want to throw this dealer's name into google to see if they have done this before to other customers.

BC.

 

Well, it could be true. Do not assume they are just trying to scam you.

However, as bladecutter said, it is entirely possible they are pulling an old trick on you as well. Many dealers unfortunately try to sell people services they don't really need. Quite a profitable practice. Most people don't care and agree with everything. You know, like going to the doctor and agreeing to treatment that you have no clue about.

But You do not have to agree to anything the servise writer recommends. they are good at scaring people. Just tell her/him to do the 'oil change for now.'

As it was mentioned already, you can always take the car to another place for another opinion - provided that you do not trust this place.

 

better for u to see if u can find someone local who knows RX-8 who work on his own car to look at it for u.

 

36,000 even or 36,001 +?

 

Where exactly is the oil leaking from at the differential? One of the fill/drain caps? Or at one of the seals where the driveshaft/axleshafts hook up at?

At the seals I guess.

 

The dealer that did the inspection and you are the only ones that can answer that question.
Raise it up, look underneath and let us know.

 

Some dealerships could scam someone that they know they could. They will find something that is not broken and they will let you know that it needs to be replaced. Believe me, it happened to one of the auto shop here in Vegas. They were trying to investigate this auto shop because some customers complained about unexpecting charges that the auto shop told them that they need to be replaced or get it fixed. To keep the long story short, they got busted because they bring cars that has been rigged with hidden cameras and the technicians got caught in tape lying about certain thing that they said it needs to to fixed.