pks

I appreciate all your responses and great advice. I sure have learned a lesson the hard way. To answer some questions that was raised. I didn’t hear any knocking from the engine but the car was running rough from the minute I drove it of the lot. When sitting at idle the whole car was shaking. This continued even after they had added the 5 quarts.

The oil light did not come on. My 928 is from 1982 and I don’t know when it should come on. The oil gauge showed some pressure but much lower than it normally does. After they added the 5 quarts the oil pressure seemed to be normal. The temperature gauge showed normal.

In regards to the weight of the oil. They did not ask me before they put in 10-30. When they suggested the oil change I asked them what oil they were going to put in the car and I was told that they would put whatever was recommended for the car. We now know that this was a lie. At the time of oil change, they probably didn’t even check what kind of oil it takes. I don’t know if they actually changed the oil filter but I will check. I normally do my own oil changes and I know what filter I put in last.

On the bill it doesn’t state how many quarts they actually put in, all it says is “Add up to 5 quarts” which I guess means that according to the receipt they put at least 3 quarts too little oil in the car.

Thanks again for all your responses. Please keep them coming. Unless they decide to settle, I’m sure this will be helpful in a claim or lawsuit. I will definitely ask the guy at Big-O-Tires if I can drain 75% of the oil out of his car and drive it around for 20 minutes.

Peter

perrys4

What car takes less than 3 quarts of oil? Don't most normal cars they probably work on take 4-5? No excuse for their actions. I took my Rodeo to a JiffyLube once and they told the girl 35 pounds in the tires, she added 35 pounds. I thought it was handling a little weird. Gotta be careful.

Bill Ball

They will probably lie and say you told them to put in 10W 30. Also, you originally wrote they only put in 3 quarts of oils. Now you indicate:
Which is it? With 5 quarts of oil, the car should have not run rough as soon as it was started.

Charley B

I think he's saying when he returned 20 minutes later they put in an additional 5 quartz, bringing the dipstick to full, indicating that they had only put 3 in originally

perrys4

Why would any mechanic only add three quarts to any car after a change?

Charley B

For the same reason these places often forget to tighten the drain plug. Common scenario, 18 year old kid hears his cell phone ring while doing oil change. Talks to girlfriend for five minutes about doing really disgusting but exciting things. Hangs up phone and forgets where he was when it rang. Assumes he's done and moves on.

danglerb

What does the TB tensioner do when oil pressure drops?

Talk to somebody local that knows who the good lawyers are, then go talk to one of them for advice on how to proceed. Things you will want to know from them are;

Does the case appear to have merit, what can you expect to win?

What sort of documentation should you get now, and what should you do with the car?

Ideally you will only be paying for the consultation, and maybe a few letters from the lawyer and it will never need to go to court.

Its essential that you get your ducks in a row, be absolutely sure of what happened and write it down carefully. Don't talk to anybody, let the lawyer do his job. Don't do anything that might mess up your case, be patient.

Larry928GTS

Maybe he thought it was a Honda.
www.walnutcreekhonda.com/civic_specs.htm

danglerb

It really isn't a great mistake to put in the wrong amount of oil. Its a great mistake not to CHECK that it has the right amount before returning it to the customer. I've had my oil changed at Kmart, and even there its a two person job, one does the work, the other does the safety check.

Whats done is done, just don't let them slip out of paying for it.

Nicole

Nothing different - it's not connected to the oiling system in any way.

Bill Ball

Hi Charley:

Read what I quoted again, especially this part...

which I guess means that according to the receipt they put at least 3 quarts too little oil in the car.

Is it 3 quarts too little or 3 quarts?

SharkSkin

Nothing, it's a completely unrelated system. Might as well ask what happens to your wiper blades when oil pressure drops.

I was about to offer the same advice as bobbingham before I saw his post. You really need a reputable shop to anylize the current situation, and get everything in writing from them. Have them cut open the oil filter, document whether it's the one you originally put on, etc.

Remember, in court the guy from Big O is the automotive expert, not you -- you need a better automotive expert on your side.

Charley B

Bill - Believe it or not, it is both. When they put oil in the car they only put in 3 quarts, evidenced by the additional 5 quarts they added when he returned, in order to reach full on the dipstick. The receipt he refers to is probably a copy of the original work order on which they wrote "Add up to 5 quarts." His point being, that even if they had put in 5 quarts, instead of 3, they would have still been 3 quarts short.

danglerb

My mistake, for some reason I was thinking the tensioner increased force as the oil pressure increased. Too many stray thoughts.

Charley B

On second thought I think his point is that even the receipt (work order) indicates they were going to put too little of an amount of oil in the car. I wonder how many quarts they charged him for when he left the first time.