Never changing oil - Stories

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: wannafbody
If Toyota continues to be that stupid with warranty claims they'll be the next GM


Done judiciously, what they're actually doing is earning super-loyal customers who will never even think of buying another brand again.

 

[360kid]

Originally Posted By: occupant
I can't say I ever went THIS far without an oil change. But I did have my 1991 Aerostar 3.0L in 2004-2005. Nicknamed, "The Van Of Questionable Mechanical Integrity". I replaced EVERYTHING on that van short of the engine. And in all retrospect it should have been the first thing to go.

I bought the van for about $1100 with the odometer showing 148,000 or so and it had an oil change sticker on the windshield showing next due at 145,500. So in theory it was already 5500 into the OCI. I had the oil changed at 152,000 (about a 9500 mile OCI) at a Firestone because I had a coupin for an $11.99 oil change. I did not change the oil again, added about a quart every 2000 miles, and concentrated my money on the rest of the van.

Transmission
U-joints
Radiator
Muffler and Tailpipe
Starter Solenoid
Cap and Rotor
Plugs and Wires
Rack and Pinion
Heater Core
Power Steering Pump
Front Brakes*

At 171,000 miles I tried to buy a 2000 model Saturn from a friend by taking over her note lot payments. I left my Aerostar at her apartment complex and drove the Saturn for the next two weeks, paying her for the privilege by depositing $60 a week into her checking account, and then she was supposed to call in the payments on her debit card.

The car got repossessed and I was left without a vehicle. My wife was kind enough to drive me 45 miles away to get my van back. I fired it up and oil sprayed everywhere. I thought, oh crud, 19K miles on this still fairly clean oil, and I just blew up my motor. My wife walks over, says, listen to your voice mail, I did, and there's a message from my now former friend, "hope you don't have any car trouble on your way home". I got under the van and saw two screwdriver holes in the oil filter. The drain plug was barely finger tight. The dipstick had a clear fluid sitting on top of the regular amber oil. I'm guessing they loosened the plug, poked the filter, and then poured something in the oil filler, maybe water, or Sprite, or brake fluid.

Since I no longer cared for this person or their apartment complex, and I needed to be at work two hours prior, I drained the mixture onto the ground, rode with the wife to OReilly, bought a filter and a 5qt of their cheapest 10w30, took care of it, and babied the thing to work. I sold the van for $750 5K later, having NOT changed the oil again. Don't know what happened to it other than it got impounded and sold at auction for $200.

*the front brakes were down to 3/32 thick...and I'm not talking about the pads...I'm talking about the ROTORS...the pads were nonexistent, even the rivets were sheared off. I dropped one pad on the ground from a 4' height whilst turning around to ask my wife something, and it shattered into six pieces!


If someone did this to my vehicle I would call the police. Friend or not. Even if they didn't get arrested for vandalism, at least they would have the trouble of dealing with the police for a bit.

Oh yeah, I would have been calling the police in under a minute. Otherwise losers like that will think they can get away with these things.

 

[Dave Sherman]

My sister had a friend who ruined her hubby's Subaru because she didn't change the oil and it had a turbo. Key word being HAD.

My guess is folks who neglect oil changes just neglect as a general rule. I'm always amazed how many cars I see at night with red lights glowing on the dash. Unless it's the seatbelt warning, there aren't too many red lights you can ignore.

I had a friend whose car chronically lost oil, and I stopped changing it for him when he brought it for one oil change and only two quarts came out, even though I told him to check it and keep it full. Bear in mind he showed up for this oil change having bought the wrong oil anyway, so he asks me how he's supposed to know what oil it takes. Uh, it's printed on the filler cap where it says "engine oil", and I'm pretty sure the owner's manual says something too

. I stopped fixing this guy's car after I rode in it once, heard his CV joint making evil noises on turns, and told him he'd better get it fixed before it breaks and leaves him stranded. So a few months later he tells me how his CV joint failed and left him stranded on the highway "with no warning". I asked him if he remembered a few months prior when I told him that's what was going to happen if he didn't get it fixed. "Oh, yeah".

 

[jigen]

An ex of mine from a while back called me once saying she thinks she needed an oil change because "the oil change light" came on. I then asked what the light looked like...

"You know, the red light with the little oil can on it."

She pulled up to my place and that little engine ('96 Cavalier) sounded way too noisy. I drained the oil and only about 1/2-3/4 of a quart came out. She's lucky.


To be fair, some people just don't a single thing about cars. My mom would never notice something like her temp gauge going up, or that some cars burn oil, etc.

 

[Gillsy]

Originally Posted By: river_rat
Originally Posted By: Trajan
He had a neighbor who added oil every time the oil light went on. One day, it wouldn't start. The engine was drowning in oil...

That's awesome! Maybe he should think with his dipstick.

That's too funny! What a twist!

 

[Audi Junkie]

Originally Posted By: Dave Sherman
My sister had a friend who ruined her hubby's Subaru because she didn't change the oil and it had a turbo. Key word being HAD.

My guess is folks who neglect oil changes just neglect as a general rule. I'm always amazed how many cars I see at night with red lights glowing on the dash. Unless it's the seatbelt warning, there aren't too many red lights you can ignore.

I had a friend whose car chronically lost oil, and I stopped changing it for him when he brought it for one oil change and only two quarts came out, even though I told him to check it and keep it full. Bear in mind he showed up for this oil change having bought the wrong oil anyway, so he asks me how he's supposed to know what oil it takes. Uh, it's printed on the filler cap where it says "engine oil", and I'm pretty sure the owner's manual says something too

. I stopped fixing this guy's car after I rode in it once, heard his CV joint making evil noises on turns, and told him he'd better get it fixed before it breaks and leaves him stranded. So a few months later he tells me how his CV joint failed and left him stranded on the highway "with no warning". I asked him if he remembered a few months prior when I told him that's what was going to happen if he didn't get it fixed. "Oh, yeah".

That pretty much sums up my experiences.

 

[addyguy]

One of the worst ones I saw from years ago was, again, I was working at WM, and a guy came in for an oil change in a new Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer. Loaded to the hilt.

Only problem, no oil showing on the d/s. So I called the number he left to tell him he had to sign a waiver that we weren't responsible, etc...

He ran a mens clothing store upstairs, and was really, really angry that I called him. He said something like 'Who cares if the darn thing is low on oil, just change it!!' I tried to explain that he should check his oil to prevent engine damage, and he said 'Who the f**k has time do check engine oil? Really, who does that? Don't be an idiot!' I'm not kidding!

When he came to pick it up, he actually asked the manager of the shop why his 'idiot staff' wastes time asking customers 'stupid questions', and said he wouldn't come back.

 

[webfors]

Originally Posted By: addyguy
One of the worst ones I saw from years ago was, again, I was working at WM, and a guy came in for an oil change in a new Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer. Loaded to the hilt.

Only problem, no oil showing on the d/s. So I called the number he left to tell him he had to sign a waiver that we weren't responsible, etc...

He ran a mens clothing store upstairs, and was really, really angry that I called him. He said something like 'Who cares if the darn thing is low on oil, just change it!!' I tried to explain that he should check his oil to prevent engine damage, and he said 'Who the f**k has time do check engine oil? Really, who does that? Don't be an idiot!' I'm not kidding!

When he came to pick it up, he actually asked the manager of the shop why his 'idiot staff' wastes time asking customers 'stupid questions', and said he wouldn't come back.


The scary thing is that mental state is quite common and these people are trusted to drive a motorized vehicle!!

 

[aquariuscsm]

The Walmart automotive dept`s seem to have some really good people working in them. Anytime I need some help,have questions,or just can`t seem to find what I`m looking for (oils,filters,etc) they always take the time to help me and are always very friendly and professional.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: addyguy
One of the worst ones I saw from years ago was, again, I was working at WM, and a guy came in for an oil change in a new Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer. Loaded to the hilt.

Only problem, no oil showing on the d/s. So I called the number he left to tell him he had to sign a waiver that we weren't responsible, etc...

He ran a mens clothing store upstairs, and was really, really angry that I called him. He said something like 'Who cares if the darn thing is low on oil, just change it!!' I tried to explain that he should check his oil to prevent engine damage, and he said 'Who the f**k has time do check engine oil? Really, who does that? Don't be an idiot!' I'm not kidding!

When he came to pick it up, he actually asked the manager of the shop why his 'idiot staff' wastes time asking customers 'stupid questions', and said he wouldn't come back.


Your manager should`ve told him his "idiot staff" was trying to save his dumbf**k self about $30,000. Yeah some people are just ignorant and I honestly feel they just plain don`t know any better or don`t have the ability to think logically.

 

[CBR.worm]

My mother in law doesn't change her oil - ever.

She buys beaters and runs them until they die. She typically buys cars that have over 200K and drives the wheels off them until something catastrophic happens.

Her last vehicle was an '02 Isuzu trooper that was in decent shape, she drove it for a couple years (it had 220K on it when she got it) and gave it away when the tranny started to slip really bad. I suggested she should check the ATF before giving up on the truck, she said one of the problems when she bought it was that the hood release cable was broken, and it still was.

Now she has a late 90's Nissan V6 pickup. She bought it in north carolina after giving away the trooper. Drove it down here (south florida), then over to texas and back to Fl, over to louisiana and back. She has been driving it daily for about a year now including monthly trips to north carolina. I suggested to her in September that she just drive through quick lube to get the oil changed. She said the truck wouldn't last long enough to be worth it. At Christmas I offered to check it and top it off, she didn't want to bother. In Feb she drove over to Arizona and back. A few weeks ago I suggested again that she just get it changed once and it will be good for life (opposed to not ever getting it changed), she asked why I was so concerned with her oil. This truck she bought with 90k and now has 140K.

She is going to be staying with us for a while later this summer. I will change it for her if it is still running.

Before the trooper she had a mid 80's caprice. No oil changes, but she did have to do a water pump, fix the steering column, replace an exhaust manifold, power steering pump, etc.

Oh well.

Actually it must run in the family. my Sister in law came over one day in a new altima. It was smoking. I asked her how often she changed her oil - she said she only had 26,000 miles on it.

Shortly after that she lost compression in a cylinder. Nissan ended up replacing the engine under warranty due to damage from a butterfly screw falling into the intake due to not being staked properly and getting stuck to an intake valve keeping it from closing. They suggested she change her oil more often, obviously not related to the failure, but it apparently looked pretty bad.

 

[Challenger71]

Protozoan waste.


Originally Posted By: addyguy
One of the worst ones I saw from years ago was, again, I was working at WM, and a guy came in for an oil change in a new Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer. Loaded to the hilt.

Only problem, no oil showing on the d/s. So I called the number he left to tell him he had to sign a waiver that we weren't responsible, etc...

He ran a mens clothing store upstairs, and was really, really angry that I called him. He said something like 'Who cares if the darn thing is low on oil, just change it!!' I tried to explain that he should check his oil to prevent engine damage, and he said 'Who the f**k has time do check engine oil? Really, who does that? Don't be an idiot!' I'm not kidding!

When he came to pick it up, he actually asked the manager of the shop why his 'idiot staff' wastes time asking customers 'stupid questions', and said he wouldn't come back.

 

[RamAir5]

My uncle had a 1988 Jeep Cherokee that he never changed the oil in. I remember him adding a quart to it one afternoon and seeing about a half inch of sludge on the fill cap. He said he had never changed the oil in it, just added a quart every so often. He had a twisted philosophy when it came to that Jeep... "I have to put a quart of oil in it every month or so, eventually it gets an oil change." I guess he's about right. 1 quart a month over 5 months = 5 quarts of new oil.

 

[PT1]

Well my wife went off to college with a used Chevette and within 2 years the engine seized because she didn't know you had to check or change the oil.

As for me...there are always gallons of PP2 with 5000 miles on it sitting out on recycling day in my driveway.

 

[RWEST]

Brother-in-law had a Chevy Citation (80's??) that never had an oil change. He'd check it and add every so often, and occasionally change the filter, so it probably got a 'change' every 25-30K or so. That car had over 275K on it when it died.

 

[parmijo]

this is a funny thread.

So my brother in law, 26 yr old grad student in electrical engineering, is going to school and needs a car. We buy him a Chevy Prizm. To this day he thinks it is a Toyota Corolla. Even though it says Prizm all over it. Also, the car burns oil and I tell him to check it every 2 weeks. He never does. So he comes to me saying it sounds funny. I check the car and the oil stick is bone dry. 3 quarts later he is back on the road. I think in 30K he never did an oil change. Just topped off or who knows.

He does bother to buy nice smelly things and those pads for the seatbelts. And floormats that say "DODGE RAM" cause the lettering is red and "looks cool". And of course, an MP3 wireless transmitter for the radio.
Funny thing is that his girlfriend has a 1999 VW beetle and she never did an oil change either. It sounds like a dog coughing. Since I am now the "car" guy they asked me to look at it. ZERO oil and looking through the fill hole I saw black jelly snot. Way gross. All I could do is laugh. Real world dumb and dumberer!

 

[jigen]

Originally Posted By: parmijo
We buy him a Chevy Prizm. To this day he thinks it is a Toyota Corolla. Even though it says Prizm all over it.



Well in a way he is right, lol.

 

[addyguy]

Originally Posted By: jigen
Originally Posted By: parmijo
We buy him a Chevy Prizm. To this day he thinks it is a Toyota Corolla. Even though it says Prizm all over it.



Well in a way he is right, lol.


Not 'in a way', he IS right. A Prizm is nothing more that 100% Toyota Corolla with different badging. GM/Chev. had NOTHING to do with the engineering on that car.....

 

[John_K]

Quote:
He does bother to buy nice smelly things and those pads for the seatbelts. And floormats that say "DODGE RAM" cause the lettering is red and "looks cool". And of course, an MP3 wireless transmitter for the radio.


This is what kills me, they'll blow money on junk for the interior but maintenance is a "waste of money".

John

 

[webfors]

Reading your stories makes we wish these cars would leave them stranded on the side of the road in the middle of no where for their neglect. Big giant clueless dummies is all I can think of when I read these stories.