Oil change at dealership led to huge engine problems

[Rusty PW]

It had to be bad............ and I'm surprised these didn't detect and warn of the lack of pressure. Like - no red light? No CEL for oil pressure loss?

Hell, even my 73 would tell me if I lost oil pressure before any damage was done. (I am a former tech so know how it all works - but no warning??)

Some of the newer vehicles have the low pressure oil light going on at 10 psi. By the time the light comes on. The engine is toast.

On the Nissan VQ motors. If the gallery gaskets fails. The oil light comes on and the engine is dead.

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[Ted Striker]

Or there's the possibility that the tech forgot to even put oil in the engine at all and the service manager is just covering for him by saying it was a faulty oil filter gasket.

 

[kevman65]

I'll repeat the story again so maybe others can learn from it.

In the late 80's my wife had a new Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. Took it to dealer for oil change and tire rotation. Tech rotated the tires while the oil drained. Then swapped out oil filter. Lowered lift and popped the hood, took off oil cap, stuck in funnel and poured in the required amount of oil. Put cap back on then hopped in to start. Never saw the puddle on the floor under the car. Motor seized almost instantly.

Dealership said they'd get it replaced under warranty, I said no, this is on you for using students unsupervised to work on cars. They aren't supposed to work without a fully certified Tech to check their work.
Dealership got huffy and I called the Olds Customer Service line and told them the story.

Dealership had to do the new engine themselves. Turned it in on their insurance. Service Writer got canned and dealership got a black mark from corporate.

Moral of the story is, the "free" oil changes aren't worth it because unqualified people are doing the work.

 

[Rusty PW]

I'll repeat the story again so maybe others can learn from it.

In the late 80's my wife had a new Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. Took it to dealer for oil change and tire rotation. Tech rotated the tires while the oil drained. Then swapped out oil filter. Lowered lift and popped the hood, took off oil cap, stuck in funnel and poured in the required amount of oil. Put cap back on then hopped in to start. Never saw the puddle on the floor under the car. Motor seized almost instantly.

Dealership said they'd get it replaced under warranty, I said no, this is on you for using students unsupervised to work on cars. They aren't supposed to work without a fully certified Tech to check their work.
Dealership got huffy and I called the Olds Customer Service line and told them the story.

Dealership had to do the new engine themselves. Turned it in on their insurance. Service Writer got canned and dealership got a black mark from corporate.

Moral of the story is, the "free" oil changes aren't worth it because unqualified people are doing the work.

Had old GF buy a new '75 Camero. First oil change. The o-ring from the first filter stuck to the block. The tech installed the new filter without checking to see if the old o-ring was still there. They double o-ring the filter. She didn't make it far from the dealership before the engine locked up.

 

[Cripton805]

They probably forgot the old oil filter gasket when they pulled the old one. A double gasket will do that....

*from experience. ?

 

[Barnaby’sdad]

Or there's the possibility that the tech forgot to even put oil in the engine at all and the service manager is just covering for him by saying it was a faulty oil filter gasket.

Yup. That happened to a neighbors new Volvo years ago.

Doesn't really matter what happened as long as they fix it.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

They did the work so they are responsible for the fix but my father in law had something similar happen on his Chrysler with a bad filter ring and it blew oil out the same way. He could smell oil and shut the engine down before any damage was done but it definitely was the oil filter that was the issue. Blaming the dealership without knowing the exact cause and being a online mechanic seems petty to me. I'm sure they rectify the problem but I love how everyone thinks all dealerships suck ass when it comes to doing any work on a vehicle. I know a couple dealerships around my area that I would let do the work over anyone else and I've never heard a complaint or had a complaint myself when I used them.

To the op I would let the process play out, contact @JeepCares and get all conversations in writing or gets notes placed on the account and printouts of the notes. They already gave you a loaner so they know that they are gonna have to figure it out, maybe new engine, who knows.

 

[dcmdon]

Why is this always brought up? Most people could care less if it’s repaired correctly. Assumption normally is if a dealer does it that will be the case. Also, this assumes carfax shows anything accurate…

Because people don't seem to understand that a new engine doesn't hurt the value.

There are 2 possible issues.

1) Oil sprayed on the engine compartment. Possibly ruining the alternator, serpintine belt and lets just throw in the starter.

Solution - replace those items, clean the engine and everything is fine.

2) The oil level got low enough that oil pressure was lost with engine damage ensuing.

Solution - replace the engine with a new engine and everything is fine.

Its not the end of the world as long as the dealership is taking ownership for this and making things right. Which it sounds like they are doing.

 

[joeym7]

Sorry to hear this, hopefully they will make it right for you without too much aggravation, stress, and certainly without you having to pay a lawyer...Totally sucks, shit happens, keep us updated so we can see if this shit was caused by a manufactures defect (as they claim it was the filter; or maybe a failure of the oil pressure light) or technician incompetence.

 

[Lunentucker]

Reason number 237 I do my own oil changes.

 

[abe57]

Well with my experience working the parts counter at new car dealerships the dealer has a dedicated oil/lube guy that does not have any certification and mostly just a blow jovian off the street to do this job . Mine will never get a oil change done at the dealer free or not ,I do my own oil changes . Same go's for the 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback we have ..In the deal I had them give me 3 oil filters and oil for 3 oil changes...

 

[Jeeperjamie]

Reason number 237 I do my own oil changes.

A faulty oil filter seal would be a tough catch even if your doing your own oil changes.

 

[Lunentucker]

A faulty oil filter seal would be a tough catch even if your doing your own oil changes.

That's just it. I did catch one once years ago. But I caught it because I always test and inspect in the garage and then do a short test drive and inspect again.
I don't have a queue of next vehicles and a service manager pushing me to get more done quicker.

 

[Gvsukids]

I don't have a queue of next vehicles and a service manager pushing me to get more done quicker.

My dealerships oil change they is never that busy.

 

[Mel]

Easy, it had a drop in oil pressure (cam bearings, main bearings and rod bearings all got toasted, hence the knock)......the motor is fucked. They F'd up, now they have to fix it.

Is it fixable?

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