Oil change, needs new motor.

[goofymonkey33]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Michigan

I've read on here about a couple people getting motors ruined due to lack of oil, or what not from those quicky oil change places. I always thought it was kind of crazy not to inspect, what you expect.

However, I'm not having a similar issue with a car of mine. I bought a 2002 Pontiac Aztec for my mother a few yrs ago. She regularly changes the oil. (approx 5000-7500 miles) In the beginning of June she had it changed, and didn't tell me, she normally does. Last thursday, the motor started missing on one cylinder. I checked and changed plugs, wired, and the injector that was on the 'bad' cylinder. None of which corrected the problem. Friday it was delivered to a dealership where they told me there was no compression on said cylinder. Upon further inspection, they now are replacing the motor due to mechanical failure. There was 3.5 quarts of oil missing from the motor.

My question is kinda simple. With my mechanic stating there are no leaks and no excessive oil burning, it seems kinda obvious to me that there was no oil put back in the vehicle after the change. What recourse do I have? My mechanic is telling me that the no oil caused this problem.

Before I get a question on it, this is my mother's vehicle she drives, but is in my name.

What exactly do I have to do here? The oil change place is unaware of a problem, as of yet.

Thanks in advance

 

[BL]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Michigan

I've read on here about a couple people getting motors ruined due to lack of oil, or what not from those quicky oil change places. I always thought it was kind of crazy not to inspect, what you expect.

However, I'm not having a similar issue with a car of mine. I bought a 2002 Pontiac Aztec for my mother a few yrs ago. She regularly changes the oil. (approx 5000-7500 miles) In the beginning of June she had it changed, and didn't tell me, she normally does. Last thursday, the motor started missing on one cylinder. I checked and changed plugs, wired, and the injector that was on the 'bad' cylinder. None of which corrected the problem. Friday it was delivered to a dealership where they told me there was no compression on said cylinder. Upon further inspection, they now are replacing the motor due to mechanical failure. There was 3.5 quarts of oil missing from the motor.

My question is kinda simple. With my mechanic stating there are no leaks and no excessive oil burning, it seems kinda obvious to me that there was no oil put back in the vehicle after the change. What recourse do I have? My mechanic is telling me that the no oil caused this problem.

Before I get a question on it, this is my mother's vehicle she drives, but is in my name.

What exactly do I have to do here? The oil change place is unaware of a problem, as of yet.

Thanks in advance

Regular oil changes are about 3 months or XXX miles .

If she doesn't drive excessively , the oil change place is likely going to say " anybody could have done something in that time period " .

The proof is on the complainant .

Ask this mechanic , I'm sure he'll agree .

 

[racer72]

The vehicle would not have run for almost a month with no oil. Also, it wouldn't just quit on one cylinder, the rod and main bearings would have siezed and the engine would grind to a halt. Your mechanic said there was no excessive oil burning, it sounds like a case of sudden oil burning. You would have a very steep hill to climb trying to prove the oil change place did anything wrong.

 

[Zigner]

Regular oil changes are about 3 months or XXX miles .

Just glancing through the manual on my car, I found that oil changes are required once every 12 months or 12,000 miles. The exception would be "extreme driving conditions".
Of course, the definition of "extreme driving conditions" includes just about anybody in this country...but that's a different matter

 

[BL]

Just glancing through the manual on my car, I found that oil changes are required once every 12 months or 12,000 miles. The exception would be "extreme driving conditions".
Of course, the definition of "extreme driving conditions" includes just about anybody in this country...but that's a different matter

Ah yes , the newer models , my head is back in the 60's .

 

[goofymonkey33]

Regular oil changes are about 3 months or XXX miles .

If she doesn't drive excessively , the oil change place is likely going to say " anybody could have done something in that time period " .

The proof is on the complainant .

Ask this mechanic , I'm sure he'll agree .

So I took the advice and asked the mechanic. He says that most of the cars now, are designed to run with no, or little oil in them. Not for long granted, but they will run for some time. I also checked the miles driven since the oil change, it's only been less than 200 miles. I also asked about the one cylinder, why would just one fail? He explained that if oil fails around that one valve, or piston ring first, then that's going to be the one that goes bad. Something has to be first, he says. He seems pretty insistant that it was who ever changed the oil's fault. He also, upon inspection of the motor, found very minimal oil consumption given the miles.

So, I am kinda confused now. Mechanical experts telling me to persue it, that it's their fault. But legal ones saying otherwise. I'm hoping this new info to me, will help everyone.

Thanks again.

 

[BL]

What is the oil change facility's policy about disputes or complaints ?

Find out then contact them with your findings .

It would be really helpful however to get a second opinion from an authorized sales/repair shop of the auto manufacture .

 

[gawm]

Why didn't your oil light go on if there was no or little oil?

 

[goofymonkey33]

Why didn't your oil light go on if there was no or little oil?

There is an oil change light in the cluster, just no low oil.

The first people I took it to is a Authorized Pontiac Dealership. I've since taken it to one more independent mechanic, and back, to a seperate dealership, they all say the oil change place is at fault.

I'm going on monday to the oil change place to get info about complaints. Thanks a million guys.

 

[Zigner]

There is an oil change light in the cluster, just no low oil.

That is simply not true. Check your owner's manual.

 

[Ozark_Sophist]

Why didn't your oil light go on if there was no or little oil?

Pressure remains above lower limit = no light.