Waiting on a tow after leaving dealer after oil change

[ShadowsPapa]

I would only push for that if the vehicle was driven without any oil.

And frankly, that should be on the driver.
We had a Ford truck brought into the shop. The guy hit a piece of construction debris in the road.
Ripped a hole in the pan, engine failed.
When it came time to pay the bill, the owner insisted his insurance would take care of it.
The insurance said sure - we'll cover the pan, but the rest is on the driver who kept going even after the oil pressure warning light came on. He was pissed - but he was also an idiot. Those who keep driving after a warning comes on deserve nothing, not a thing. IMO, it's an expensive lesson in COMMON SENSE and "just what the hell do you think that light is for, anyway??"

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[WILDHOBO]

And frankly, that should be on the driver.
We had a Ford truck brought into the shop. The guy hit a piece of construction debris in the road.
Ripped a hole in the pan, engine failed.
When it came time to pay the bill, the owner insisted his insurance would take care of it.
The insurance said sure - we'll cover the pan, but the rest is on the driver who kept going even after the oil pressure warning light came on. He was pissed - but he was also an idiot. Those who keep driving after a warning comes on deserve nothing, not a thing. IMO, it's an expensive lesson in COMMON SENSE and "just what the hell do you think that light is for, anyway??"

I agree with a failure or impact like that. But if a dealer hands over a vehicle with a new filter and empty pan, I’m going with the polite version of scorched earth. No telling how long they ran in in the shop before it even got to the customer.

When I was younger, I was standing outside the bay watching my car get an oil change. On the lift to drain and replace filter. He lowered it to fill it, walked away for a second, came back and started it in front of me. I basically barreled in to pull the key out. It only ran for about two seconds. He was initially ready to fight me for running into the bay and pushing past him in the driver seat to pull the key. Then he realized what he’d done.

 

[Hootbro]

I would only push for that if the vehicle was driven without any oil.

I agree. One thing if the OP left the dealership with no oil and drove 16KM vs. leaving with a full quantity of oil that bled out over that 16KM.

@ShadowsPapa kind of alluded to it that engine oil film retention does retain and offer a minimum lubrication for quite some time before being catastrophic.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

Elevated wear metals, as well as other things showing up in a report, can also mean something going on unrelated to the one instance where it ran low on oil. There's nothing to connect the two.
In fact, engines can go a while with no oil pressure and not suffer catastrophic damage.
Running it down to 0 oil pressure and shutting it down is unlikely to cause damage - depending on the load, RPM and other factors, including the very oil that's being used at the time.

In other words, if i was a dealer service manager and you came in 10,000 miles later with an oil analysis that showed elevated wear metals - I'd probably say "so?"..

Yes, we know you would. The problem here is that if we as warranty holders step out of line from their rules, like went over on time or milage just a bit with no proof of damage, warranty is restricted, but then those that give warranty, over fill by 2x’s + and engine runs hot (248F) because of it OR engine has internal coolant leak but is said to be “normal for coolant to be in the oil” OR an oil service is done as OP posted, there’s nothing done, ‘what’s the problem, fill and go’… it’s one sided and that’s not what standing behind your product or service looks like. This isn’t best practice. If your nose is going to be held to the grinding wheel, transparency should hold theirs there as well.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Yes, we know you would. The problem here is that if we as warranty holders step out of line from their rules, like went over on time or milage just a bit with no proof of damage, warranty is restricted, but then those that give warranty, over fill by 2x’s + and engine runs hot (248F) because of it OR engine has internal coolant leak but is said to be “normal for coolant to be in the oil” OR an oil service is done as OP posted, there’s nothing done, ‘what’s the problem, fill and go’… it’s one sided and that’s not what standing behind your product or service looks like. This isn’t best practice. If your nose is going to be held to the grinding wheel, transparency should hold theirs there as well.

100

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yes, we know you would. The problem here is that if we as warranty holders step out of line from their rules, like went over on time or milage just a bit with no proof of damage, warranty is restricted, but then those that give warranty, over fill by 2x’s + and engine runs hot (248F) because of it OR engine has internal coolant leak but is said to be “normal for coolant to be in the oil” OR an oil service is done as OP posted, there’s nothing done, ‘what’s the problem, fill and go’… it’s one sided and that’s not what standing behind your product or service looks like. This isn’t best practice. If your nose is going to be held to the grinding wheel, transparency should hold theirs there as well.

The "rules" as you call it, are so very very easy to follow. I mean, really - who has trouble following some simple charts that have been in the books since before you were even driving? Change oil - heck, most do it well before the book says. Use recommended oils - extremely easy with the massive choices of oils today, most of them quite good.
You had experiences that most will never ever see, but the "rules" are simple - change the oil, check the oil, use quality oil. You can go to Walmart and buy oil that meets the specs, Amazon, whatever. No one is holding a nose to the grindstone, and it's unfair to blame someone else for issues unrelated to an actual WARRANTY - which means free from defects in materials and workmanship, not that it's going to never fail for any reason before then.
A service department should account for their own mistakes, yes, and it's just good customer service to say, we screwed up, we'll cover it - but to ask for a big extension of things. Any damage that is REALLY caused by such a mess-up will show up quickly. No need to add another 40K to a 60K engine warranty. It's unrealistic to think it's going to wait many thousands of miles to show up as a problem. That's just proof the owner doesn't know how engines work and wear.
If it doesn't show up within 10K-20K miles, it's not going to. Anything beyond that will be unrelated to "low on oil".
Their "we screwed up, will make sure it's right" shouldn't have to go out over 20K miles - that's asking them to cover things well beyond their control and likely outside of anything related to what they did wrong.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

The "rules" as you call it, are so very very easy to follow. I mean, really - who has trouble following some simple charts that have been in the books since before you were even driving? Change oil - heck, most do it well before the book says. Use recommended oils - extremely easy with the massive choices of oils today, most of them quite good.
You had experiences that most will never ever see, but the "rules" are simple - change the oil, check the oil, use quality oil. You can go to Walmart and buy oil that meets the specs, Amazon, whatever. No one is holding a nose to the grindstone, and it's unfair to blame someone else for issues unrelated to an actual WARRANTY - which means free from defects in materials and workmanship, not that it's going to never fail for any reason before then.
A service department should account for their own mistakes, yes, and it's just good customer service to say, we screwed up, we'll cover it - but to ask for a big extension of things. Any damage that is REALLY caused by such a mess-up will show up quickly. No need to add another 40K to a 60K engine warranty. It's unrealistic to think it's going to wait many thousands of miles to show up as a problem. That's just proof the owner doesn't know how engines work and wear.
If it doesn't show up within 10K-20K miles, it's not going to. Anything beyond that will be unrelated to "low on oil".
Their "we screwed up, will make sure it's right" shouldn't have to go out over 20K miles - that's asking them to cover things well beyond their control and likely outside of anything related to what they did wrong.

Leniency is one sided and favours them.

 

[Lost1wing]

The oil pressure light is not there to alert anyone that it is time to replace the engine. It is there to tell the idiot driving to shut off the engine before things get bad.

The time to seek an engine would be if the oil change tech left the engine running after the oil change and the owner approached the vehicle only to hear odd clacking and the oil pressure light on.

Don't get me wrong, I would be pissed but I wouldn't expect a new engine if it was me. Little Timmy may be in the engine bay now. How bad could an engine change go?

 

[Hootbro]

Leniency is one sided and favours them.

House always wins.

 

[Stan H]

Yes, we know you would. The problem here is that if we as warranty holders step out of line from their rules, like went over on time or milage just a bit with no proof of damage, warranty is restricted, but then those that give warranty, over fill by 2x’s + and engine runs hot (248F) because of it OR engine has internal coolant leak but is said to be “normal for coolant to be in the oil” OR an oil service is done as OP posted, there’s nothing done, ‘what’s the problem, fill and go’… it’s one sided and that’s not what standing behind your product or service looks like. This isn’t best practice. If your nose is going to be held to the grinding wheel, transparency should hold theirs there as well.

Oh yeah, I agree they should replace the motor IMHO , I know I am just a shadetree but I aint never drained the oil outta my Jeep and went for a drive. 🫢

 

[Stan H]

It’s been available for a long time. Baxter.

The Baxter scares me

 

[Stan H]

House always wins.

Uh huh your right ✅️ but what happened to keeping a loyal customer

 

[Hootbro]

but what happened to keeping a loyal customer

Sad, but we do not live in that world anymore and it is not coming back anytime soon if ever.

There is not enough churn to penalize bad actors in the business. Being "loyal" to them has not gotten me anything the last 20+ years either.

 

[Supazuk]

I guess I'm a minority but I love having the oil filter right up top easy to get to and take off with a 24mm. No mess either since you can just crack it let it drain back down. Cartridge or spin on doesn't really matter to me, they take the same amount of time so it's a wash. Metal instead of plastic would be nice for longevity though.

I completely agree, I enjoy the ease of just a large socket on top, Changing My K2500 suburban's 7.4 oil filter is like trying to squeeze a fat guy out of a McDonald's playground

 

[WILDHOBO]

I guess I'm a minority but I love having the oil filter right up top easy to get to and take off with a 24mm. No mess either since you can just crack it let it drain back down. Cartridge or spin on doesn't really matter to me, they take the same amount of time so it's a wash. Metal instead of plastic would be nice for longevity though.

I completely agree. Way easier the way it’s currently designed.

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