Posted: 11/22/2014 4:50:20 PM EDT
So I took my 2001 Chevy Prizm (toyota corolla) to the local service center for an oil change. I usually do all service type stuff, especially on this car, but I got a coupon for a $15 oil change. Figured that was better than laying on my back on the garage floor, so we took it in. This was on November 14th. I don't drive this car a whole lot, but we took it out last night and I noticed a burning smell in the cabin. Figured it was an oil or exhaust leak somewhere. This morning I pop the hood and find the engine oil cap completely loose just propped halfway in the hole with oil all over the engine cover and inside of the hood...I called the service center and they want me to bring it in to get cleaned up (oh, and a free oil change coupon  )...
Engine oil level looked fine, which was surprising. I'm pretty mechanically inclined, but fly by the seat of my pants (and youtube and the forums) when it comes to some car stuff. Any other possible damage this could have caused over the last week? What should they be inspecting, if anything, when I bring it in? Thanks! |
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When you check the oil, how low is it? You might need to add oil before it is safe to drive it. That said, it doesn't take much oil to look like a massive amount of oil spilled. Oil level looks just fine. Maybe the cap sitting in the hole deflected that oil back into the engine and prevented more from getting out? |
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Oil level looks just fine. Maybe the cap sitting in the hole deflected that oil back into the engine and prevented more from getting out? Quoted:
Quoted:
When you check the oil, how low is it? You might need to add oil before it is safe to drive it. That said, it doesn't take much oil to look like a massive amount of oil spilled. Oil level looks just fine. Maybe the cap sitting in the hole deflected that oil back into the engine and prevented more from getting out? They could have spilled some oil around the filler neck when re-filling. Probably from a bulk oil dispenser. |
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I've had this happen in a V6 Dodge. The oil coming from the crank case makes an awful mess, but usually isn't a big loss if you caught it quickly.
Document it well. Take pictures. Write down whom you spoke to, and when. It probably won't hurt the car, long-term, but you're screwed if it does and you haven't protected yourself. |
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It doesn't take much oil to make a big mess. I took my car in once, next day oil light was on, it had leaked oil all over the garage floor. Took it back to them, they said it had a plastic washer on the drain plug and it was gone, apparently it broke and came off, they took care of it. I questioned another oil change place, they told me that if a car comes in with a plastic washer they just automatically replace it with a metal washer to prevent any problems. |
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I was a line technician (mechanic but better pay) at a Mercedes dealer.
I can tell you some cheap oil change horror stories. Like the guy that had a 560SL. Oil change place didnt have the tool to loosen the drain plug so used vice grips. Tried to re-tourqe it the same way. When it came out on the highway the engine lunched. The drain plug threaded part is 27mm. If I remember the engine was around $10,000 installed. Or the guy that had a discounted tire shop drop his 420SEL with 5,000 mi on the clock on its side off a double post lift. All it needed was a tire plugged. Yes we repair tires too. |
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Had this happen on my Tacoma and only discovered it after driving about 500 miles from Houston to Sanderson, TX where I was a couple of days from getting a replacement brought in. I cut up a Coke can for a jury rig. Loss of oil was not noticeable. The oil filler tube is actually well baffled so only a small amount of fine mist can get out.
The guy that left the filler cap off was a mechanic at the small shop that has taken excellent care of my truck for the 150,000 miles since the day I brought it home from the dealership. I let the shop owner know what happened and he apologized. Shit happens, wipe it off and get over it. |
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I manage a full service shop with 2 fast lube bays. I know it sucks but the honest truth is it happens. when you work on cars all day eventually some thing will happen.
If the oil level is fine then it is unlikely that and damage occurred. I have worked with some great mechanics over the years and no one is perfect. If it seemed like the shop treated you right then I would let them take care of it and give them another try. If you where not impressed then find a new shop or do it yourself from now on. Yesterday I told a guy with a 2007 Prius he needs a new motor because he did his own oil change and left the o ring off the filter cap. Our shop had to pay for a motor last year because a fast lube tech didn't notice a double gasket on the oil filter. Try not to get too mad at the service writer because he is just the messenger. Every shop makes mistakes , it's how a shop handles their mistakes that shows their level of customer service. |
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This is why I do my own oil changes, brake service, etc. same here, plus i worked at jiffy lube during the summers during high school and the people that worked there were fucking morons. it's like fast food workers, 95% of themare borderline retarded. to answer your question, i'm sure everything is fine and i wouldnt worry about it. |
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Quoted:
I manage a full service shop with 2 fast lube bays. I know it sucks but the honest truth is it happens. when you work on cars all day eventually some thing will happen. If the oil level is fine then it is unlikely that and damage occurred. I have worked with some great mechanics over the years and no one is perfect. If it seemed like the shop treated you right then I would let them take care of it and give them another try. If you where not impressed then find a new shop or do it yourself from now on. Yesterday I told a guy with a 2007 Prius he needs a new motor because he did his own oil change and left the o ring off the filter. Our shop had to pay for a motor last year because a fast lube tech didn't notice a double gasket on the oil filter. Try not to get too mad at the service writer because he is just the messenger. Every shop makes mistakes , it's how a shop handles their mistakes that shows their level of customer service. Toyota dealer? Whats the cost on the engine for a Prius? |
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Toyota dealer? Whats the cost on the engine for a Prius? Quoted:
Quoted:
I manage a full service shop with 2 fast lube bays. I know it sucks but the honest truth is it happens. when you work on cars all day eventually some thing will happen. If the oil level is fine then it is unlikely that and damage occurred. I have worked with some great mechanics over the years and no one is perfect. If it seemed like the shop treated you right then I would let them take care of it and give them another try. If you where not impressed then find a new shop or do it yourself from now on. Yesterday I told a guy with a 2007 Prius he needs a new motor because he did his own oil change and left the o ring off the filter. Our shop had to pay for a motor last year because a fast lube tech didn't notice a double gasket on the oil filter. Try not to get too mad at the service writer because he is just the messenger. Every shop makes mistakes , it's how a shop handles their mistakes that shows their level of customer service. Toyota dealer? Whats the cost on the engine for a Prius? No, independent shop. Honestly I didn't even quote the job. We refered him to the dealer. Never done a hybrid engine replacment before. |