Just bought a "Nearly new" audi with an oil leak!

mrjaywarren

Wow! Ask for some advice and get branded a chav! People used to be nice here.... What happened?

WTFH

londonTiger wrote: »

Did the mechanic check oil levels when they came out? did you check it yourself?

That's the key.
If the oil hasn't been topped up again, have you checked it?

The "shirty" remarks are because your first post was about how to get compensation, at this stage there is no idea of the size of the problem - did 10ml of oil come out, 1l or 5l?

You say that there was an oil patch on the drive - how big was the patch?
How much oil was in the engine bay before you drove it away from the dealer? i.e. are you certain the engine bay was pressure washed completely clean before you left the dealership and that all the oil in it was caused by this cap?

The key to the level of diagnostics and testing that they will do is all related to how much oil was left in the car after this "leak".
If the car is out of oil, then there may well be some damage. If the dipstick is showing minimum or above then there will be no damage and no amount of demanding will change that.

motorguy

lloydyyy wrote: »

I don't understand the reason behind some of the sarcastic replies in this thread. Have you heard of forum etiquette?

The poster is requesting advice. Given that the advice may not be what he wants to hear, it can still be worded in a polite manner.

We're grown-ups. Please start acting like it.

Because their first post immediately asked about compensation - for a fill cap missing. :eek:

Yes, audi should - and have - put their hand up to cover off any costs - but thats very different from compensation.

motorguy

mrjaywarren wrote: »

Thank you to the last 2 posters, this is exactly what I was looking for.

I'm not a mechanic but I know running a car with no oil causes damage, the "good will" and assurances I was talking about are related to testing and diagnostics i.e how much can I demand they do to provide assurances that the engine hasn't suffered as a result.

I had to get a taxi to a 24hr hire care company for a replacement car, as audi couldn't supply one till tomorrow lunchtime and I have to get to work, audi are fully prepared to compensate these costs.

Not sure why so many people left shirty remarks...

"Good Will" and "Compensation" are very different from Audi covering your costs.

Hence the 'shirty' remarks.

Iceweasel

motorguy wrote: »

"Good Will" and "Compensation" are very different from Audi covering your costs.

Hence the 'shirty' remarks.

I agree - the OP made a poor choice of wording perhaps.

Often I hear the phrase - 'But you know what I mean'

I know only the meaning of the words he used - and I still don't know what he expects to be compensated for.

Re-imbursed for taxi fare - yes.

Loan car - yes.

But compensation? What for?

westwood68

I left the filler cap off my 1200 Bandit (bike) once. Rode about 10 miles before I realised (put a foot down at a red light to find my boot covered in oil).

I had lost about 0.1 litres in that 10 mile run. I little goes a long way and it's very unlikely any damage will have occurred.

Why not just ring the dealership service department and tell them the story? They probably be grateful and ask their guys to be a bit more careful in future. Stress that no damage has occurred and it was just an inconvenient and they'll probably offer a free service or something in exchange for the info.

mrjaywarren

Ok, my local audi which the car was recovered to is claiming the mistake is not covered under the warranty and I will have to pay for any diagnostics I be done!

WTFH

mrjaywarren wrote: »

Ok, my local audi which the car was recovered to is claiming the mistake is not covered under the warranty and I will have to pay for any diagnostics I be done!

Back to the question... how much oil is left in the engine at the minute?

You don't need diagnostics if it hasn't lost much oil. They won't carry any out if no damage has been done.

If I find a pool of oil under my car, the first think I do is check the dipstick. After that, I decide what to do. The first thing I do is NOT to demand compensation, want diagnosis, etc etc. If I check the oil myself then I know what's going on. That isn't a difficult job, and you'll even find in your manual it will probably tell you to check it every week.

So far, you've managed to:
1. Call out the RAC
2. Post on here several times
3. Arrange a taxi & rental car.

But it appears you haven't actually checked the oil level in the car!

espresso

mrjaywarren wrote: »

Ok, my local audi which the car was recovered to is claiming the mistake is not covered under the warranty and I will have to pay for any diagnostics I be done!

Simply buy a replacement filler cap from them, check the oil level yourself and then return the car to the original dealer, let them deal with your anger and various claims to your satisfaction.

spacey2012

The pressurisation from the breather system is part of the Oil circulation and pressure system, a leaking or worse still missing cap will reduce oil pressure and disrupt the oil circulation particularly around the camshaft and followers .
I really do hope those posting that this is not the case are not working in the trade charging people.
If you are, book a refresher course, things have moved on since the "old days" .