These are all super great points and I’m so glad I asked, been worrying about it! Thanks so much for your help!
He didn’t have a Check Engine Light. It was a Service engine soon light. Which is basically a reminder to get an oil change or some other scheduled service.
Since most people only keep their vehicles under 150k miles…that 400k miles is kinda hard to prove.
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I don’t see any posts by anyone named Johnny ???
The post was removed by either Carolyn or Victoria because it was Spam.
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That is incorrect
A “service engine soon” light IS the same thing as the check engine light or the orange engine symbol
General motors has often used the “service engine soon” light in its cluster, and the letters are orange, by the way
I believe you’re thinking of the “maintenance required” lights . . . ?
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Check your owner’s manual.
My cars is a Toyota product, and it has two separate lights. One is the Check Engine" light (an icon in the form of an engine), and the second is a “Maint. Req’d” light, indicating the oil change (+) due. Yours may have a “Service Engine Soon” light instead of a “Maint Req’d” light.
Again . . .
“service engine soon” is NOT a maintenance required light
It is the check engine light, or the orange engine symbol, as you just mentioned
Poe-tay-toe…poe-tot-toe.
On my Highlander and wifes Lexus there’s a Check Engine light and Service Engine light are two different meanings.
I’m standing my ground here
I do smogs and I know what illuminated lights are permitted, and which ones will result in an inspection failure. As I mentioned earlier, the color of the illuminated symbol or text is also very important
I’ve owned several Toyota products over the years, and for me, it’s always been crystal clear if it’s the check engine light or a maintenance required light
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Yes some dealers as well as independent shops will up sell. Perhaps the worst are the fast-lube places.
I am very fortunate to have a very honest dealer. My Mustang is approaching a 100,000 yet still goes there.
My F150, same.
Now back to the 30,000, 50,000 checkups. Almost all the items to be checked are checked during routine oil changes by my dealer.
Heck yeah! Generally inferior work and the upsells.
I haven’t seen your posts around here @Gpierce001 but that is a nearly universal theme by the frequent posters - stay away from the fast-lube places! It’s been a little while since we had unhappy fast-lube customers with a destroyed engine from 1) NO oil, or 2) Way too much oil or 3) The oil filter fell off/disappeared/leaked all the oil out of the engine.
Stick around a bit and you will undoubtedly see one.
You forgot one!
There have also been posts in regard to Jerky-Lube or its clones putting the wrong fluid (or no fluid) into
(pick one or more):
Transmission
Brake hydraulic system
Cooling system
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Ohhh yeah! I forgot those. Or forced them out of my mind so the night terrors don’t return. 
Remember the one about the “mechanic” cutting a gaping hole in the plastic belly pan, in order to access the oil filter and/or drain plug . . . ?
I believe this was in one of those operations, where the customer drives over the pit, and the mechanic below drains the oil
For the same cost as quickie oil change shops, one can find an honest full service station for oil changes who will tell you what will go wrong next & need your attention while changing the oil.
Car Talk episodes taught us many things:
older cars burn more oil and when it burns, it gets lower faster as the remaining oil works harder = threat to damage, so check it often
cars driven less may go a year … or 6 months … before an oil (& always filter change)
AutoZone and competitors - when not busy - will for free attach a reader to your car’s computer to see what might be setting the Check Engine Light off and can even reset this Idiot Light if it’s just a mileage reminder to get major service … that’s not required
Many parts are simple to replace bought from such stores, others are well worth the labor money to have someone experienced with tools to getRdone and be done with it
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@Sunfish Older cars may burn oil, my 03 with 188k is at the full mark now, 2900 miles since the last oil change, It has been at the full when I get the change done around 5k miles. It has an oil life moniter, and I have never seen it tell me I need to change my oil. I think my car qualifies as older.
Good update and news
My '99 now burns ~ 1/2qt before it gets to its annual oil change.
It’s not driven much (under 60k orig. miles) but driven hard for fun.
I’d change the oil more frequently under those conditions. Just my opinion.
Remember, the oil change intervals are calculated on typical number of times an engine rotates per mile. If you keep it in lower gears, then the engine rotates more per mile and you should reduce your interval accordingly.