pks

I took my 928 to Big-O-Tires for new tires. I was also asked if I wanted an oil change and I said yes. I drove the car for about 10 minutes and the car was running uneven so I figured that I should probably check the oil. The dipstick was completely dry. I called Big-O-Tires and they told that they had put oil in the car but that I should drive it back to have it checked out. It turns out that they only put 3 quarts of oil in the car. I was watching while they had to put another 5 quarts in the car.

I have had the car for almost 7 years and have driven it without any problems during this whole time. After Big-O-Tires screw up I drove the car twice for only 215 miles before the engine froze. I my opinion, the reason the engine seized is because Big-O-Tires only put 3 quarts of oil in the car.

Big-O-Tires of course have a different opinion. They claim that since the car had some oil in it (3 quarts) and I drove for such a short time (about 20 minute) this is will not cause the engine to freeze. The also said that it was more likely that the engine froze because they used 10-30 oil which is not the oil that is recommended for the car plus that I normally use 20-50 oil. Now, that sounds ridiculous to me plus that it would only incriminate themselves since they made the decision to fill the car with 10-30 oil.

I have seen many experts make comments here and I would appreciate if I could get a few comments on how likely you think it is that that my engine seized because Big-O-Tires only put 3 quarts of oil in the car.

Thanks, Peter!

soontobered84

Surely wouldn't be very good for the engine to drive it with less than half the oil in it.

RyanPerrella

3 qts is probably not even enough to be in all the oil passageways, your sump was probably dry (relatively speaking) I dont know what the sump holds, would imagine 5 quarts as a reserve and the rest 3-4 quarts goes through the oil cooler lines and throughout the whole engine.

Sounds like you have a serious heart condition on your hands.

Please NO ONE EVER TAKE YOUR 928 TO JIFFY LUBE or other BS oil change places. Too many times you hear of oil drain bolts not being reinstalled and all kinds of problems. Shame on you but thats an unforigveable mistake. I dont know what you can do as far as reimbursment goes but please let this be a lesson to all those that even consider doing jiffylube jobs to STAY AWAY!

I also drive a $300 honda civic, and i wouldnt trust them with that car, let alone the 928.

RyanPerrella

the actual answer to your question, would it freeze or (seize) the engine up.....YES!

With no oil running between your bearings among every other component they would quickly wear through the oil, get incredibly hot as the oil also transfers heat and once you get metal to metal contact its fried. If the thing seized, i wouldnt even bother trying to add more oil, unfortunately it sounds like the damage is already done.

jon928se

I would hazard a guess that the oil cooler plus filter plus oil galleries in the block and heads plus oil draining back from the heads could account for three quarts thus leaving the pump pumping nothing but air.

10W30 isn't the correct oil but is unlikely to cause a problem in 215 miles.

I would have thougt that if the damage was done during the 20mins of 3 quarts only you would have heard noises of knocking bearings etc.

If you haven't already done so get as much of the evidence in writing - at worst write it all down yourself in a diary format stating when and who you spoke to, over the phone (keep the phone bill with the details of the call on it) or in person. Then get the repair estimates and start the legal process.

Jim bailey - 928 International

The oil filter holds about 1 quart of oil so there were only two quarts circulating for the engine. You say you drove for 10 minutes and the car was "running uneven" was the oil light coming on ?oil presure guage reading low ? In my opinion ,they owe you an engine especially when they told you to "drive it back". Take it to small claims court then ask the Jiffy lube guy if you can drain 75% of the oil out of his car and go drive it around for 20 minutes see if the judge will let you do it to HIS car Oil starvation can damage bearings rather quickly and 215 miles IS quickly. This is why they carry liability insurance you need to go after them.

Nicole

Well, as far as I know there is a "minimum" mark on the oil dipstick. I wonder, if there might be a reason to have that... Maybe the lube guys would know?

RyanPerrella

Jim,
As for the low oil light, i would guess the sensor in the oil pan was broken, Both my 90 engines have the wire disconnected for that sensor. (The wire that goes to the actual arm which is inside the oil pan.) Ive mentioned this problem to other people. That they should never rely on that oil level warning cause mine obviously dosent work. I have a 100% fail rate in my experience. Oddly I would think if the sensor is bad i should get a reading telling me its low, but for whatever reason when it fails it just dosent read anything.

JHowell37

I would get with an attorney on this issue. The standard response for most shops is to deny wrongdoing and blame the customer on the first attempt at compensation. They do this because most people will take the word of the shop and go deal with the problem on their own and the shop saves money because their liability rates don't go up. Seriously, get an attorney to talk to them. They'll change their attitude real quick. In regard to the weight of the oil, did they ask before they put in 10-30? Or did they just do it and you found out later? As far as I'm concerned, it's also their responsibility to use oil of the correct weight and grade. You should have known better, but so should they.

Daniel Dudley

Jim is correct. They have insurance for this kind of thing, and you need to get some legal counsel.

Jiffy Lube screwed up an oil change on my car. I had it towed to a mechanic who changed the oil and hooked up an oil pressure gauge. Engine seemed ok, Jiffy Lube picked up the tab and agreed to sign a paper stating that they would repair the engine if it failed within 6 months.

They told me to drive it back, and I refused. They owe you an engine.

Daniel Dudley

PS. I told my wife not to take the car to JL. It was only luck that she didn't blow the engine. LOL. Now get in action !

Jim bailey - 928 International

Low oil , I really meant low oil pressure. The low oil level I believe ONLY works when the engine is off ignition switch on and only if connected It sends the warning when ONLY six quarts remain. So that is cause for a warning ! Personally I have never run one LOW enough to find out when it sends the alarm warning ....

UKKid35

Really sorry to hear of your misfortune. If your claim is contested they may well argue that your oil pressure warning system was either inoperative or ignored and that therefore you contributed to the engine failure. Hopefully they will offer to settle before it gets that far, but if not you will probably need advice from others on exactly how the warning system works.

I've never understood why there isn't an ignition cut out if the oil pressure drops unacceptably, after all there's a rev limiter to prevent damage due to the the engine being over-reved.

blown 87

I have replaced a few engines(four maybe) that quick lube places have screwed up.
You need to get a lawyer on this, like Jim says, 3 quarts is not near enough. 6 QTS or less and the light should come on (on a 87 anyway) the owners manual says do not start with less than six QTS.
They owe you a motor and the labor to put it in.

Charley B

With 3 quarts of oil in the system you may never have had oil pressure. If you did it would have only been for a few seconds while the oil filled the filter and dispursed the other 2 quartz. It would have really helped your case if you had been observing the oil pressure and temperature gages after the change and again after they added the other 5 quartz. I'm wondering what kind of oil pressure you had after the oil was filled but before it seized.
We live in a world of idiot lights and chances are good no one will think to ask you to share responsibility because your low oil light was inoperative. I'm thinking this is a no brainer for an attorney to handle.