Oil Change Gross Overfill

[H2O]

I brought my car to factory dealership for a scheduled maintenance. I did not want them to change the oil because I do it myself using better oil. Tech forgot when refilling the fluids and added another 4.5qts to the already full 4.5qts. Car was driven 40 miles before I realized something was way wrong and discovered the problem. What would the worst case scenario be concerning damage that may have happened?

[DRAGON88]

RE: Oil Change Gross Overfill

Blown crank, cam, and rear main seals are likely, there could also be some internal damage as well.

[surroundsound64]

RE: Oil Change Gross Overfill

You're gonna need a new boat.

[DRAGON88]

Re: RE: Oil Change Gross Overfill

You're gonna need a new boat.

Why would he need a new boat? :?:

[surroundsound64]

Re: RE: Oil Change Gross Overfill

You're gonna need a new boat.

Why would he need a new boat? :?:

Sarcasm/humor. (I realize his problem has nothing to do with a boat.)

[Hollywood]

Re: Oil Change Gross Overfill

Tech forgot when refilling the fluids and added another 4.5qts to the already full 4.5qts. Car was driven 40 miles before I realized something was way wrong and discovered the problem. What would the worst case scenario be concerning damage that may have happened?

Worst case scenario, you get a new engine. 40 miles is a long way I suspect a lot of damage.

What tipped you off to the problem? Clouds of smoke?

[MNSuperAir]

RE: Re: RE: Oil Change Gross Overfill

I agree, I'm sure the tow vehicle somehow damaged the boat so I would put ordering a '07 as a top priority.

[ag4ever]

RE: Re: RE: Oil Change Gross Overfill

What kind of engine was it?

Some are more tollerant than others. The big problem with over filling is when the crank actually spins throug the oil, and causes it to foam. When the oil gets all frothy, it won't pump as weel, and then you loose oil pressure and the crank is not floating on the oil at the bearings, and then metal to metal contact. The same with the valves, the cam shaft, etc, but the biggest concern is the crank shaft and the main bearings and connecting rod bearings.

Was there any signs the oil was overfilled, or did you just check it, and find the problem.

[H2O]

RE: Re: RE: Oil Change Gross Overfill

Huge white-blue smoke plume on startup. Odor while driving. Checked oil dipstick 3 times before I believed what I was seeing. Oil was 7 inches up dipstick. Full line is 1.5 inches. Master Tech told me to expect no damage. I want dealership to give me a written warranty covering my engine since the factory warranty expired the day the service was done. What is reasonable? What would you do?

[Andrew]

RE: Re: RE: Oil Change Gross Overfill

i'd leave it full of oil, and hold the engine at about 4k rpm until it is completely shot, then let the dealerships insurance replace the engine. if they simply replaced the bearings and shafts, u'll probably never stop having problems

[ag4ever]

RE: Re: RE: Oil Change Gross Overfill

Talk to the owner of the dealer, and be sure to NOT drain the oil. Document how much oil is in ther, take pictures of the dipstick, send them pictures, and be sure to copy your attorney with them aware you are copying them.

The most important thing is to have them tell you how to get the vehicle to their dealership to remove the excess oil. I would want to be there, and request that they drain it into a seperate container so you can document exactly how much oil is in there.

They should be willing to at the very least give you some form of warranty or guarantee that if there are problems, they will fix it.

I would also point out that even if they were changing the oil, the tech should have at least verified the oil level was correct before sending the car out the door. This tells me he just dumped in the supposed correct amount slamed the hood and was done. Oil change or not, the dealer failed to follow correct procedure, and if they had there would not have been a problem.

[Mikeski]

RE: Re: RE: Oil Change Gross Overfill

Looks like you are getting lots of help here???

My guess is that legal fees will quickly surpass a replacement shortblock cost, and that's really the worst case scenario. I would drain the oil back down to the full level, change the plugs again and see what happens. Keep a good logbook, be reasonable with the dealer, and hope for the best. If you are reasonable with people they are often reasonable with you. If you come off like you want a new motor because of their honest mistake prepare for battle. I might guess they have a bigger army for battle so prepare to lose even though you are in the right. It's not worth fighting over principal.

[surroundsound64]

Re: RE: Re: RE: Oil Change Gross Overfill

Looks like you are getting lots of help here???

My guess is that legal fees will quickly surpass a replacement shortblock cost, and that's really the worst case scenario. I would drain the oil back down to the full level, change the plugs again and see what happens. Keep a good logbook, be reasonable with the dealer, and hope for the best. If you are reasonable with people they are often reasonable with you. If you come off like you want a new motor because of their honest mistake prepare for battle. I might guess they have a bigger army for battle so prepare to lose even though you are in the right. It's not worth fighting over principal.

Good advice.

[ag4ever]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Oil Change Gross Overfill

Partially good advice.

My advice was to just talk to them, document everything, and get them to stand behind it IF it becomes a problem.

In my dealings with car dealers etc, if you are reasonable with them they don't give a rat's arse and will trample you. if you are firm but fair, you might get what you want.

Also, just because they have more army members, does not mean they have a better army.

I have some experience with this since I want thru a warranty lawsuit with FORD and I was able to prevail. And I was trying to be reasonable, polite and nice untill they just flat out accused me of causing all the problems and telling me to pound sand.

This is the reason I do every thing with an eye towards litigation. Be reasonable, but document everything.

And just beacuse the legal fees are greater that the item inquestion does not mean a legal fight is a bad option, you just have to weigh the outcome against the effort required. I was able to get FORD to reimburse all of my legal fees for my lawsuit, so in the end I was in the exact same place I was before the engine problems in my car.