Topic: Problem with Mr Lube service

[gotak]

I still change my own oil. What's a little bit of oil on your hands. I got  a
a NAPA filter for the Fit instead of the Honda/ Fram  one available at the dealer.While it works for me to do this most people have to rely on Quik Lube or the dealer.

Actually engine oil have carcinogens in them and you should wear gloves.

[Seafoam]

I still change my own oil. What's a little bit of oil on your hands. I got  a
a NAPA filter for the Fit instead of the Honda/ Fram  one available at the dealer.While it works for me to do this most people have to rely on Quik Lube or the dealer.

Actually engine oil have carcinogens in them and you should wear gloves.

Oh really.I guess I shouldn't drink it then. Nitril gloves work great if you don't want oil on your hands.

[hockeyguy08]

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

If you smell B/S , I guess it is because you are standing in it.   

[articsteve]

I have been pondering my decision on this thread and I have now rendered my verdict and it is as follows:

[articsteve]

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

If you smell B/S , I guess it is because you are standing in it.   

Dude, you posted this occurence on February 20th and until today we haven't heard a PEEP out of you.  Certainly by this time some conclusion to this situation would have presented itself other than: "If you smell B/S , I guess it is because you are standing in it".

So how did this all play out 

[EV Dan]

"So how did this all play out  Huh"

Saf had to buy a new pair of slippers. 

[hockeyguy08]

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

If you smell B/S , I guess it is because you are standing in it.   

Dude, you posted this occurence on February 20th and until today we haven't heard a PEEP out of you.  Certainly by this time some conclusion to this situation would have presented itself other than: "If you smell B/S , I guess it is because you are standing in it".

So how did this all play out 

My daughter does not live in the same city as I do.  I usually speak to her about every other week.  My hope was to get a couple of ideas to offer her to pursue this problem to a satisfactory solution. I had not thought at the time about them not actually filling the engine after doing a service but that is the one that makes most sense.  I will speak to her this week to see if she had any success and to offer the ideas that were constructive suggestions for this problem.

[hockeyguy08]

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

If you smell B/S , I guess it is because you are standing in it.   

Dude, you posted this occurence on February 20th and until today we haven't heard a PEEP out of you.  Certainly by this time some conclusion to this situation would have presented itself other than: "If you smell B/S , I guess it is because you are standing in it".

So how did this all play out 

As a follow up , I got a hold of my daughter and the insurance company has not rendered a verdict yet as to their possible part in getting a repair done.  She has been in touch with Mr Lube H/O and so far they deny any responsibility so I have advised her to document and get a report from the mechanic where the car is now.  My reply was in response to the flippant comment made as I asked at the beginning of request that I get any realistic suggestions. I was perturbed that someone can assume something so easily.
She did not have any lights come on before the car died and did not have any smell or smoke in the cabin.

[Squishy]

It's pretty easy to tell if they filled the engine with oil before sending it out.  Are the hoses, engine cover, hood liner, etc. covered in oil?  If not, they didn't fill the engine.  There is no way for oil to spray out of the filler hole without touching anything in the engine bay, and once oil comes into contact with a surface, you're not getting it off without some solvents.

If there is still some oil in the engine, collect a sample and send it out for analysis.  For $20-$50, that will give you a good idea of what kind of work is required without having to pay someone to take the engine apart.  Based on wear metals and other contaminants, you should be able to determine what components have failed or have exceeded operational limits.

[barrie1]

I agree and I would also add if you have a digital camera now is the time to take some pics which are worth at least a 1000 words each to a judge in case you need it. I am currently helping a firnd who had a similar problem with a bolt left inside of a head which moved down into being under the valve in No.6 cylinder. Did lots of damage and the offending dealer is denying it by not answering back any letters or questions put to them. They are going to court now as they should have at least made some effort to resolve the problem. 

[Schmengie]

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.

About ten years ago the same thing happened to me at Canajun TieRod. I smelled burning oil and saw blue smoke coming from under the hood within just a few blocks. I found the filler cap wedged between the block and intake manifold - obviously they hadn't replaced it. When I checked the dipstick, it was down by about a quart, luckily no damage was done.

D'you think Canajun TieRod would admit their mistake? Not a chance. I've had my oil changes done by the dealer ever since with zero problems.

[Squishy]

Did this get resolved?  I read this post on BITOG and thought of your case.

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1103795#Post1103795

[PJungnitsch]

Did this get resolved?  I read this post on BITOG and thought of your case.

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1103795#Post1103795

Interesting link, I'm copying that down. It looks like accidents commonly happen and their insurance commonly pays.

"Here is a list of "accidents" by quick lube places I can remember off the top of my head from the last 3 years I have been employed here:
-drained old oil out, but forgot to add more oil. Gave vehicle to customer. Engine dead
-double gasket on oil filter. Oil slowly leaked out. Engine dead
-forgot to re-install drain plug. Gave to customer. Engine dead
-re-installed drain plug incorrectly. Oil slowly leaked out. Engine dead
-installed oil filter too tight. Gasket squished out the sides. Oil slowly leaked out. Engine dead"

Like that old Far Side cartoon where the Veterinary student is breezing through the chapter on horse medicine.

[bctip]

I've never returned to Mr. Lube since they insisted on changing a new, recently replaced, PVC valve on my wife's old 1990 Pontiac Sunbird.  I've always been to the dealers, ever since.

The PCV valve on my car did not need replacement when I took the car in for an oil change, but Mr Lube made sure I needed a new one by jabbing a hole in the plastic body of the existing valve with a sharp bladed screwdriver. I saw it happen. I managed to get the damaged one back and hoped to use it as proof to get a refund, but I got nowhere with the Operations Manager who wrote to say the damage was not due to their negligence.  In a sense she was right, as it was more like vandalism than negligence. Needless to say I never went to Mr Lube again.

[Cortina]

LOL. I got burn once by Mr Lube. I'm not saying they are all bad. But once bitten twice shy. I would never would go back.

[safristi]

  try KY............................. ...and stay out of those ALL U CAN DRANK!!! fer $19.99  places........... Biting is a NO NO...........

[Angry Chicken]

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.

  Last time I was getting the oil changed at Oil Changers (Hunt Club and Bank for you Ottawans) the guy started adding pressure to my already 32 lb tires.  I asked him what pressure he was putting in them and he said he was inflating them to the maximum pressure (55 lb) indicated on the sidewall of the tires.  D'oh!  I indicated that he should check the placard in the driver's door jamb instead, but the way he looked at me I might as well have been speaking Martian.