Automotive Service Upsells and Scams to Decline
One of the most commonly asked questions in the Car Talk Community and also on many automotive social media pages is, “Do I have to do this unexpected service suggested by my dealer or shop?” The answer is often, “No, you definitely do not have to do that service.” The fact is dealers, quickie lubes, and independent shops will frequently “recommend” work that is not listed at all in your owner's manual.
Four services that may fall into this category
- Throttle body cleaning
- Fuel injector service
- Transmission or engine 'flushes'
- Alignment
To be perfectly clear, if your vehicle is showing a check engine light symbol, running poorly, or doing something else out of the ordinary, one or more of the services above may be needed.
However, if your vehicle is running properly, you are likely being sold a profitable upsell by your service provider. None of the services on our list will do your car any good if they are not needed. Let’s look more closely at each of these services.
Throttle body cleaning
The throttle body in your modern vehicle is part of the intake. It is a mechanical butterfly valve that regulates the airflow to the engine. The valve, properly called the throttle, is actuated via an electric motor. Although it is downstream of the engine air filter, the throttle body can become somewhat dirty. This service removes the contamination - if any is present.
To clean the throttle body, the mechanic will remove part of the intake’s plastic or rubberized plumbing. Next, she will spray some cleaning solvent on the inside of the throttle body and perhaps use a brush to help remove any build-up of any dirt and grime.
An improperly working throttle body can certainly be helped by a cleaning. However, they also work pretty well when they are a bit dirty. Many vehicles can operate for their entire life spans without needing the throttle body cleaned. We’ve never seen an owner's manual that listed this as routine maintenance. EVs don't have a throttle or a body for one.
Car Talk Expert Mechanic Jr. Damato says, “Throttle body cleaning is very profitable for shops.” His shop does not routinely offer this service as preventative maintenance.
Car Talk Expert John Paul also agrees with this approach, saying, “If the vehicle is running well, in my opinion, this is not really needed.”
Here’s how much throttle body cleaning costs.
Fuel injector service or cleaning
Another part of the vehicle’s fuel-air intake system that some shops love to clean or pretend to clean is the fuel injector system. Your fuel injectors help atomize and deliver fuel for combustion. Like throttle body cleaning, fuel injector service is often suggested to vehicle owners who take their vehicles in for service. If your manual calls for such a service, by all means, do it. However, both of our trusted mechanics have some qualifications for performing fuel injector service.
Properly cleaning fuel injectors requires that they be removed from the vehicle. Opening an engine without a diagnosis or even a symptom of trouble is never a good move. If your car is running well, and your manual does not specifically call for it, do not pay to have your fuel injection system cleaned.
Car Talk Expert Jr. Damato points out that it is actually the valves that suffer carbon build up, not the injectors. “I recommend a product like Seafoam every 50K miles to help vehicles that have direct injection from suffering from carbon deposits.”
Car Talk Expert John Paul says, “TopTier gas is a real thing and can help prevent carbon build up on injectors and valves.”
Here’s how much fuel injector cleaning costs.
The fluid flush scam
If your trusted mechanic points out that your vehicle is overdue for a transmission fluid change, it may be wise to double-check the manual for the recommended service interval. Proper fluid changes are essential to maintaining your vehicle. What is not essential is forcing dirty fluid under pressure through transmissions and engines when it is not called for.
We’ve never seen an owner’s manual list “transmission flush” or “engine flush.” Fluid changes are almost always included. So what’s the difference? A fluid change is a safe and effective way to change the fluid in your vehicle to keep it running properly. A fluid flush is an invention of companies that make fluid flush machines. You’ve seen their nifty countertop displays. They show you three fluids, implying that only a flush will allow your car to make it to next Thursday. It’s just not the case. Mazda specifically warns customers against transmission flushes in technical service bulletins.
Brake fluid is one liquid that is flushed out of the vehicle. It is necessary to do so, and it is commonly mentioned in owner's manuals. Brake fluid cannot gravity drain, so a hand pump or other pump is often used to assist in the removal of the old fluid.
Wheel alignment
Wheel alignment is sometimes mentioned in owner’s manuals. Do it when it is called for. However, some shops with dubious morals often suggest a wheel alignment when there is no justification.
If you are not changing tires due to improper wear, have not had suspension or steering work performed, and your car goes straight down the road, there is no justification for a wheel alignment.
Car Talk Expert John Paul says, “Wheel alignment is a good practice if new tires are installed and a must if any steering or suspension parts are replaced.”
Car Talk Expert Jr. Damato, who sells and installs a LOT of tires at his shop, says, “If the car is not pulling to one side, and the tires are not wearing improperly, I recommend that customers leave the alignment alone. I find that only about one out of every ten vehicles I put tires on needs to be aligned.”
Here’s how much it costs to have a wheel alignment.
How to handle unexpected service suggestions
We understand that it can be hard to resist suggestions to perform preventive maintenance. Many trustworthy shops often suggest that maintenance intervals be shortened in order to provide better protection. The four we have listed here are not in that category. These are service upsells that are most often not needed.
Our first suggestion is to just say, “No, thank you.” Have the work you want performed, and then consider the suggestions for your next visit. You can also say you'd like to see where the manufacturer recommends this service in writing, not just the shop.
In the meantime, you can check your owner's manual’s service requirements carefully yourself. If the work is listed, by all means, get it done. If it is not listed, and your vehicle is running well with no check engine lights or other signs of trouble, skip the upsells.
Read more on the topic of Owning a Car here.
