Dealer mistake on oil change, would like an opinion

glentoran99

interstellaflyer wrote: »

My car does all that too, doesn't mean I don't physically check it.

That's fine, but I don't and never have

neilmcl

interstellaflyer wrote: »

My car does all that too, doesn't mean I don't physically check it.

Some cars you don't, or rather can't, manually check the level.

Richard53

And electronic sensors have never been known to fail, I suppose. I am amazed at people who say they never check the oil level. Why wouldn't anyone do this? It costs absolutely nothing and takes literally one minute. If it alerts you to a problem, it might save you thousands in replacing an engine. You also get to check brake fluid, power steering fluid and coolant level - changes to any of these can alert you to a developing problem which can be fixed before it leaves you stranded somewhere. You can even top up your screenwash!


Regular visual checks for obvious problems form the most basic maintenance programme for any machine, and are completely free. If I were buying a car and the owner admitted that he never lifted the bonnet, I would walk away every time.

mr_accountant

Personally due to the time and mileage involved the OP has no chance to have anything done if the dealer deny liability, and quite frankly after all this time I don't blame them.

Unfortunately I would guess the majority of car drivers never check the oil and only worry when it says STOP in red letters on the dashboard

I know of 2 people who are getting on a bit now and neither would know how to open a bonnet let alone check the oil, one was a taxi driver and the other a driving instructor!

EdGasket

OIL - Check it or wreck it!

Mercdriver

Not all cars have a dipstick. Some like the Clio I drove as a learner have dipsticks (aside from the one at the steering wheel! ) but are inaccessible

warehouse

Well thanks for the answers. No I never check the oil between services, never had to on any modern diesel car I've owned, (petrol are a different breed I understand). If the washers stop squirting I'll lift the bonnet to fill them but that's about it. If the car isn't burning oil or dripping oil then why?

Interesting one about the Anglia oil cap, but then I expect oil caps have moved on a bit since then .

Yes, it's interesting that it took 4000 miles to come off, but then it was probably the first high speed run since the service when we went down to the coast, all other miles have been London outskirts rush hour jobbies.

warehouse

bigjl wrote: »

Hopefully you haven't damaged the engine.

The RAC guy seemed to think I hadn't lost enough oil to hurt anything. He also said most modern diesels could run almost dry for a while without much damage.

Don't shoot the messenger.

AdrianC

The oil was changed 5 months and 4,000 miles ago.
The noise has just started, and the oil slick has just started.

Sorry, but that is not the dealer's problem. If the cap had been left loose, or off, then it would have been everywhere the day after the service.

AND CHECK THE FLIPPIN' FLUIDS MORE OFTEN.

Marvel1

mr_accountant wrote: »

Personally due to the time and mileage involved the OP has no chance to have anything done if the dealer deny liability, and quite frankly after all this time I don't blame them.

Unfortunately I would guess the majority of car drivers never check the oil and only worry when it says STOP in red letters on the dashboard

I know of 2 people who are getting on a bit now and neither would know how to open a bonnet let alone check the oil, one was a taxi driver and the other a driving instructor!

1 bloke in work was very lucky he had his passenger with him, he needed water (didn't know why in the first place and never checked in years), opened the oil cap and was going to pour it in but passenger noticed and stopped him in time.