60k checkup and they did an Emissions Service?

[MazdaLoyal]

I have a 2006 Mazda 3. I took it in today for my 60,000 mile checkup. They said the front brakes needed work (at 30k, 4 years ago, they said back brakes needed work), so I agreed to it ($310). They said the #3 engine mount had broken, so I agreed to that ($313). But then they said I needed an Emissions Service, for which I paid $180. Did I get ripped off? What is this?

I don't put a lot of miles on my car as you can tell.

 

[flatlander937]

I'm a tech myself... and honestly I have never even heard of an "emissions service" let alone what it would consist of.

I think you got taken for a ride.

edit: The closest thing I can -guess- is that they ran something like fuel injector cleaner through your engine and/or some kind of fuel additive... but that is more commonly called a fuel system service(which is also stupid overpriced and not worth the cost).


The emissions system runs self tests all the time while you're driving. If there was a problem with your emissions system, it would let you know in the form of a check engine light.

 

[MazdaLoyal]

OK, well thanks for letting me know. I have to take my wife's 2009 Mazda 5 in for one her checkups too, so I'll make sure to remember for that. I think they were probably legit on the brakes and the motor mount, but this emissions thing not so. He claimed on the phone that would increase my miles per gallon.

 

[flatlander937]

Yeah... it sounds to me it's more likely a fuel system service thing that they may be marketing as an "emissions" service.

You're better off going to the store and buying a can of Seafoam engine cleaner and pouring 1/2 into your gas tank, and sucking the last half into the intake manifold to get the carbon off the backs of the valves. You can probably search for "seafoam" on here and I'm sure you'll find a million threads about how to do it. Plenty of Youtube videos to see the spectacular smoke show you will likely get when you start your car up after doing the intake treatment for the first time.

Cost: $10-15 maybe?(not sure what a can of the stuff costs, this is a high estimate) and at most 30 minutes of your time if you've never done it before.