Author Topic: Problem with Mr Lube service (Read 17634 times)

hockeyguy08 · « **on:** February 20, 2008, 10:29:20 am »

My daughter took her Toyota Corolla to a local Mr Lube. A couple of days later she was driving and her car died. I don't know how much damage yet but the problem was the cap was not replaced after the oil change. They claim no responsibilty as "she could have removed it". My daughter is an average mid 20s female car owner so the chance of lookin under the hood after an oil change is virtually zero.....
She is going to try to claim through insurance and get them to pursue Mr Lube but it sounds like if you don't check out their work right away you are on your own.

Any realistic suggestions on how to pursue ??

safristi · « **Reply #1 on:** February 20, 2008, 10:34:42 am »

I imagine even an average 20 year old would have smelled a burning oil thru the vents..heating on exiting the car if it threw out ALL the OIL thru the open OIL CAP(

!!!) doubtful...the smell and smoke would have been terrible....I smell B/S

mrthompson · « **Reply #2 on:** February 20, 2008, 10:40:08 am »

Sorry to hear about the bad luck. A co-worker had a similar experience, but this was with his 2006 Civic that he had serviced at the local Honda dealer. The oil sprayed the engine bay, especially the hood liner. He was able to convince the dealership to replace the liner at their expense. Luckily the engine oil level didn't drop to damaging levels.

Did an idiot light illuminate signalling low oil? Did the engine seize? Perhaps you can go after Mr. Lube through small claims court?

Best of luck.

Accordingly · « **Reply #3 on:** February 20, 2008, 02:41:55 pm »

Quote from: safristi on February 20, 2008, 10:34:42 am

I imagine even an average 20 year old would have smelled a burning oil thru the vents..heating on exiting the car if it threw out ALL the OIL thru the open OIL CAP(!!!) doubtful...the smell and smoke would have been terrible....I smell B/S

They possibly neglected to fill it with new oil, hence no smell or smoke.

articsteve · « **Reply #4 on:** February 20, 2008, 02:50:45 pm »

These lube joints are adequate ONLY if you personally supervise the operation. One still runs the risk of cross threaded oil pan drain plug and over filling.

She is going to try to claim through insurance and get them to pursue Mr Lube

Her auto insurance policy will not cover this.

Accordingly · « **Reply #5 on:** February 20, 2008, 02:55:25 pm »

I would have it towed to a Toyota dealer for a complete inspection and have them prepare a comprehensive report. Document everything. Good luck.

articsteve · « **Reply #6 on:** February 20, 2008, 02:58:40 pm »

1.9% financing on remaining 2008 Corollas. I suggest she get over there pronto.

Zombie · « **Reply #7 on:** February 20, 2008, 03:05:37 pm »

Quote from: Accordingly on February 20, 2008, 02:41:55 pm

Quote from: safristi on February 20, 2008, 10:34:42 am
I imagine even an average 20 year old would have smelled a burning oil thru the vents..heating on exiting the car if it threw out ALL the OIL thru the open OIL CAP(!!!) doubtful...the smell and smoke would have been terrible....I smell B/S

They possibly neglected to fill it with new oil, hence no smell or smoke.

If so there shouldn't be any oil in it at all since even with the cap off not all of the oil would get thrown up through that little hole.

You would think that the check engine light would come on since there wouldn't be any oil pressure or is oil pressure only measured at the oil pump?

articsteve · « **Reply #8 on:** February 20, 2008, 03:10:44 pm »

barrie1 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 20, 2008, 11:50:10 pm »

If this engine ran out of oil then I do suspect there was none in it to begin with. If they left the cap off they probably neglected to put the oil back in as well. There's no way to lose that much and not smell it on a exhaust manifold sooner or later.

rrocket · « **Reply #10 on:** February 20, 2008, 11:52:29 pm »

Quote from: Zombie on February 20, 2008, 03:05:37 pm

You would think that the check engine light would come on since there wouldn't be any oil pressure or is oil pressure only measured at the oil pump?

You actually think women pay attention to check engine lights??

wing · « **Reply #11 on:** February 21, 2008, 08:35:33 am »

I agree with the "smell" guys. I had this happen at the Hyundai dealer they didn't replace the oil cap, I got a few KM down the road and smelled burning oil. No way it would ALL come out the top -- they probably didn't fill it up.

EV Dan · « **Reply #12 on:** February 21, 2008, 09:10:37 am »

Sorry to hear about such screw up. I never change oil or do any work where I cant see whats being done. Last time I attempted that walmart idiots sprayed my truck belts with rust proof oil. I should not have let it go.. Oh well, I hope your daughter kept the receipt. Try to get as much paperwork as you can, not just phone calls. Good luck.

Ranger · « **Reply #13 on:** February 21, 2008, 12:35:40 pm »

Sorry for your bad luck

)

Spheric · « **Reply #14 on:** February 21, 2008, 02:03:42 pm »

The first thing I do after getting either of my vehicles serviced at the dealers, is to open the hood in the dealership car park and check for anything unusual.

Have frequently had to properly tighten the caps for the fluid washer, coolant, oil, brake fluids etc. I even check the oil colour and level.

Haven't yet started to discreetly mark the tires to check for tire rotation....but always a first time I suppose.

marineboy · « **Reply #15 on:** February 21, 2008, 02:22:20 pm »

Last time I was at a lube-x place they had trouble threading the drain plug back in. I said well just chase the threads and try it again. The managers reply was that they could not do that because it would be "above" the drain guys skill and pay level. I would have thought damaged pan threads would be an everday occurance in that line of work.

The guys they hire are just high school students with little or no training. Anyway we managed to thread the plug in and seal.
The thread damage was not their fault, that honor goes to the idiots at the local Fountain tire who have also overfilled it and forgot to tighten the drain plug altogether on another car.
Now I only take the cars to the local Honda dealer. I always check for the oil pressure light at start up and check the oil level when I get home. Never assume anything...

articsteve · « **Reply #16 on:** February 21, 2008, 04:29:57 pm »

Now I only take the cars to the local Honda dealer.

Yup. Notwithstanding local trusted individual mechanics, dealer beats the LUBE morons every time. Cost is maybe $10. more, but you'll get a better filter and the RIGHT oil.

If a brand dealer screws up the threads on the drain plug they will almost always eat the cost of repair.

Squishy · « **Reply #17 on:** February 21, 2008, 04:36:27 pm »

That "better filter" at the Honda dealership is debatable. The A02s are Frams, and almost anything is better than that.

ktm525 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 21, 2008, 05:11:15 pm »

Quote from: articsteve on February 21, 2008, 04:29:57 pm

Now I only take the cars to the local Honda dealer.

Yup. Notwithstanding local trusted individual mechanics, dealer beats the LUBE morons every time. Cost is maybe $10. more, but you'll get a better filter and the RIGHT oil.

If a brand dealer screws up the threads on the drain plug they will almost always eat the cost of repair.

Unless you were a VW dealer filling up 1.8T's with 5W-30 dino. Oil that didn't meet VW's own specs.

The lube rack at the local Volvo dealer is supect too. The two times they have changed my oil it has been overfilled.

I shudder at that the thought of wheeling into a Mr Lube....

rrocket · « **Reply #19 on:** February 21, 2008, 05:29:02 pm »

Am I the only here that changes their own oil...or are there others?

FWIW, I do NOT look forward to changing the oil on the IS. The filter is in such a bad spot. Was the same with the Supra until I put an oil filter relocation kit on. One of the best mods I've done!