I am pretty sure that one could start a new forum specifically about oil changes gone very wrong.

The subject came up at a brunch one time,
and all ten people had three stories each.

Even a few stories about the shade tree mechanics fowling up a time or two, over 30 years.

Then there are the stories about the mechanic' s leaving their tools under the hood.

All the horror stories is why I’ll be changing my own oil until I’m physically not able to do so.

quote:

Originally posted by smlsig:
Dewhorse do yourself a favor and buy this..

http://fumotousa.com/parts.php...=F106S&partnumber=44

I have them on all our vehicles including our Porsche’s. That way the next time either you or some grease money changes your oil it will be easier...

You’re welcome.

I put them on every vehicle we have now. Make changing the oil pretty easy.


When I purchased my Camry in 2013, I did the first oil change at something less than 5K (owner's manual said 10K) and put on a the Fumoto valve. When I took it to the dealer for the 10K oil change, they actually unscrewed the valve to change the oil, took off the old crush washer and didn't put a new washer back which caused a leak )...

^^^ That’s some weapons grade stupid right there.

Thanks smlsig, will pass that along

I've seen over torquing of plugs and filters more than under. Also, they usually forget to put oil in the filter before installing, and forget to lube the o ring on the filter and to replace the washer on the drain plug. We drive so little anymore and both our cars take fully syntetic oil, so we get the cars into the dealer for an annual checkup and oil change (about 5000 miles). My tractor and push hmowers I do myself. I actually enjoy seeing that black oil being replaced with fresh!!

A neighbor changed his own oil.

Drained the old oil, installed a new filter, replaced the drain plug, and drove away.

The car has been sitting in his driveway for a couple of years now.

PT Cruiser doesn't run very long with no oil in the engine.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
A neighbor changed his own oil.

Drained the old oil, installed a new filter, replaced the drain plug, and drove away.

The car has been sitting in his driveway for a couple of years now.

PT Cruiser doesn't run very long with no oil in the engine.

No oil in a PT Cruiser is the least of the problems involving that car!!!

quote:

Originally posted by PowerSurge:
All the horror stories is why I’ll be changing my own oil until I’m physically not able to do so.

^^^^^^ This.

I always hated the first oil change after buying the car. I'd swear the factory puts the oil plug and filter on with an air wrench. Last car I bought I had the dealer complete the first oil and filter change, and replace the oil drain plug with a Stahlbus drain plug.

quote:

Originally posted by 229DAK:

I'd swear the factory puts the oil plug and filter on with an air wrench.

Agreed. The first oil change on our then new 2008 GMC Acadia was horrible. Access to the oil filter wasn't the best and I tried everything to remove it.

Finally I was compelled to drive a screw driver through it, turn it about 15 degrees, repeat, until I could loosen it by hand.

My wife could hear me swearing in the house.

I change all of the oil for my families 5 cars except the Wife's Caddy, she likes going there, getting a new loaner and shopping at the mall while it's being done. She's fancy like that

quote:

Then there are the stories about the mechanic' s leaving their tools under the hood.

I had a clutch changed at a Chevy dealer on my Blazer many years ago. A couple of days later the clutch locked up. Towed back to the dealer & a large socket was found inside the housing!

quote:

Originally posted by Anush:

quote:

Then there are the stories about the mechanic' s leaving their tools under the hood.

I had a clutch changed at a Chevy dealer on my Blazer many years ago. A couple of days later the clutch locked up. Towed back to the dealer & a large socket was found inside the housing!

I have a nice Snap-On wrench that I found after a flight, in a sort of hidden place in the engine compartment that I never used to look at during a pre-flight inspection. That hidden place is on my checklist now.

My regular maintenance guy inventories his tools before he signs off on a job but this wrench was left there by a guy at a different airport when I needed something taken care of while I was on a trip.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
A neighbor changed his own oil.

Drained the old oil, installed a new filter, replaced the drain plug, and drove away.

The car has been sitting in his driveway for a couple of years now.

PT Cruiser doesn't run very long with no oil in the engine.

Not that uncommon of an occurrence in dealerships either. Saw a lot of those over the years.

Funniest one was in my teen years. I worked in a gas station, two of the guys were double teaming a early 60's Buick (this was about 68-69) oil change. Car on the ground, gas station owner comes into the bay area and asks "Who put oil in the Buick?" Both of them answered "Me". Yep, they both did. Using the "big buck" motor oil we offered, Amoco LDO, that stuff was a dollar a quart back then. I got to drain it out and refill the car. Since it was fresh and not run, one of my friends and I measured it out and changed the oil in our cars that night for free, only paid for the filters.

Yeah, after double checking the oil plug & filter, watch those lug nuts too. I’ll take a few ‘free’ oil changes then go back to my own service.

I hear people say, ‘with a coupon it’s only $15.99 for a change, noT worth doing yourself’. First off, I’m usually done by the time you could drive to the shop. If I screw something up, it’s on me. I can also look over things myself while doing the change.

I’ve known a few that had a leak after a quick change visit. Then the two that had a wheel fall off due to loose lug nuts.

Local dealer bought me an oil pain after the "tech" stripped the threads on the plug and left an ocean of oil on my garage floor. Several days of loaner car too as they couldn't get a pan right away.

I have a long slot head screwdriver, and several Snap-On wrenches in my toolbox that I've found under the hood while working on cars over the years.

Also own a number of tools picked up off the road that likely fell out of vehicles after being left there when a job was completed or dropped where they could not be found/accessed by the dropper and eventually bounced out of the vehicle.

Policing up your tools at the end of the job is a must.

My sibling uses this
https://www.amazon.com/ValvoMa...%2Caps%2C169&sr=8-47

My Sister in law's Honda Civic's drain plug was so tight, we had to use a scissor jack to the wrench handle as no amount of leverage was possible to loosen it while laying contorted on your back.
The fact that the drain plug was sized for a 17mm wrench may have made the previous person believe it required gorilla strength to tighten it.

I changed the oil and the drain plug was fairly loose. It had been a year since I last changed it. I wasn't sure if the original gasket stuck to the pan. Didn't check. Week later, I drain it again. Plug loose. Two gaskets. Cost 4 quarts extra.
Sigforum saves again. Now if I can just find my hammer......................

When I bought my 2003 Silverado, a survey asked about my dealer treatment. I said they pressed too hard when I declined extended warranty. For this they gave me 3 free oil changes and a tank of gas. (not insignificant since it holds 36 gallons)

Since I do my own mechanical work I was reluctant, but since I didn't know yet how to check front axle and transfer case, I trusted them with it. Got home afterwards to verify they checked all sumps, they didn't. Then I noticed the engine drain plug dripping. The only bolt they touched they didn't tighten.