Oil filter wasn't changed

[hmull83]

Hey! So, for the past year my car has been having sporadic flashing of the oil light and then it stalls out. Restarts immediately. I read in a forum that (at least for Hyandai Elantra 2016) that sometimes it is an oil flow issue. I go to the same place every time for my oil changes. After I read about this issue, I got a change late March of this year even though it wasn't quite time. The problem was not solved. Anyway, now it's only been 400 miles since that oil change and my car is kept in a garage. Out of desperation, we checked the filter ourselves this week and what we found is a disaster. The filter is corroded at the top and looks very aged. It's Service Champ brand. I called the place that did the oil change and they assure me that they never skip putting on new filters. I called Service Champ and they say there is absolutely no way that this is a defective product and it must be old. I'm attaching some pics. Is this an old filter that my oil place hasn't changed for years or is this defective?? Changed the filter worked and my car is running better then it has in years.

 

[JayhawkRoy]

I would mark the date on the new filter and check next time to see if they changed it, before I draw any conclusions. In fact I would consider marking the date on every future oil filter.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

They skipped it. -
Unless you were driving on slushed/salted highways in March and April.

I bet @53' Stude here would love to cut this open for you if you mail it to him!

 

[hmull83]

They skipped it. -
Unless you were driving on slushed/salted highways in March and April.

I bet @53' Stude here would love to cut this open for you if you mail it to him!

No, I only drove 400 miles and it's kept in a garage. I'd love to mail it to anyone the date on the filter is July 2023.

 

[crashz]

It certainly looks crusty! I believe some filters may have a production code that has a date code in them. You might be able to find something by that, but even if you find this to be an old filter, that doesn't mean it wasn't changed.

I'm afraid this rabbit hole could go very deep.

 

[paulri]

Since you're trying to diagnose what (might have) happened, here's another scenario--possibly the filter was changed, but they gave you an old filter that had been sitting around for years.

As others are saying, I would look at the date code. And beyond that, if your schedule permits, I'd recommend joining the ranks of those who change their own oil. If you are using synthetic, you can save lots of cash by buying your own oil & filter. Even DIY conventional oil changes (which don't save you as much money, compared to the quick lube places) would be better for your car, than filters like that one.

Hey! So, for the past year my car has been having sporadic flashing of the oil light and then it stalls out. Restarts immediately. I read in a forum that (at least for Hyandai Elantra 2016) that sometimes it is an oil flow issue. I go to the same place every time for my oil changes. After I read about this issue, I got a change late March of this year even though it wasn't quite time. The problem was not solved. Anyway, now it's only been 400 miles since that oil change and my car is kept in a garage. Out of desperation, we checked the filter ourselves this week and what we found is a disaster. The filter is corroded at the top and looks very aged. It's Service Champ brand. I called the place that did the oil change and they assure me that they never skip putting on new filters. I called Service Champ and they say there is absolutely no way that this is a defective product and it must be old. I'm attaching some pics. Is this an old filter that my oil place hasn't changed for years or is this defective?? Changed the filter worked and my car is running better then it has in years.

 

[Braapdaddy]

Cut and inspect then post or send it to 53'Stude

consider doing it yourself that way there is only one person to blame

If they did it to you they do it to nearly everyone

 

[hmull83]

It certainly looks crusty! I believe some filters may have a production code that has a date code in them. You might be able to find something by that, but even if you find this to be an old filter, that doesn't mean it wasn't changed.

I'm afraid this rabbit hole could go very

Cut and inspect then post or send it to 53'Stude

consider doing it yourself that way there is only one person to blame

If they did it to you they do it to nearly everyone

Yeah, I'm assuming they've done it before. I had an oil change (same place) in Oct of 24 and September of 23. The date on the filter is July of 23. I started having issues with flashing and stalling in December of 24. Had a new oil change end of March 2025. My logical guess is that they haven't changed it since my 23 visit. Skipped twice. Now with a genuinely new filter it's running perfectly.

 

[JMJNet]

Who changed the oil? If not DIY, don't go back to wherever the place is.

 

[Dr_Dr3i]

That crustiness almost looks like the filter wasn't on very tight, possibly leaking oil when the engine is running. If so, you'd definitely have low oil pressure issues.

I would replace with a quality brand name filter, check oil level and top off if needed, then drive around and keep an eye on things.

Changing your own oil is a piece of cake with a vacuum extractor. No special tools needed, just suck the old oil out and swap filters; done.

 

[Lubener]

I would look at the possibility of an issue with your oil pressure switch/sender feeding the idiot light. If you really had low pressure, the engine would be very noisy. You did not mention that. Even if the filter wasn't changed, it's only been 400 miles past the oil change , hardly a strong reason to blame the filter for the oil light to come on or the way the engine runs..

I would go elsewhere for your future oil/ filter changes.

 

[hmull83]

I would look at the possibility of an issue with your oil pressure switch feeding the idiot light. If you really had low pressure, the engine would be very noisy. You did not mention that. Even if the filter wasn't changed, it's only been 400 miles past the change , hardly a reason to blame

Who changed the oil? If not DIY, don't go back to wherever the place is.

It was at my local Costa Oil.

 

[Danno]

If it were mine, only Hyundai OEM filters for it.

Yes, Hyundai engines are different and aftermarket filters are what I would call a @@@@shoot.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

They skipped the filter, plain and simple. It's the oldest story in the book. In 1968, my old man took his Ford to a local dealership for oil and filter change. My pop was no dummy, he put a long scratch in the paint on the filter, on the backside where nobody would see it. Came back, picked up his car, jacked up the car, and looked at the filter. Same scratched filter. Took it back and they installed a new one. It's all about money. Dealership figured they could save X amount of dollars by skipping filters. Champ sounds like one of those quik lube joint filters. Same concept. $$$$$$$$$

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Hey! So, for the past year my car has been having sporadic flashing of the oil light and then it stalls out. Restarts immediately. I read in a forum that (at least for Hyandai Elantra 2016) that sometimes it is an oil flow issue. I go to the same place every time for my oil changes. After I read about this issue, I got a change late March of this year even though it wasn't quite time. The problem was not solved. Anyway, now it's only been 400 miles since that oil change and my car is kept in a garage. Out of desperation, we checked the filter ourselves this week and what we found is a disaster. The filter is corroded at the top and looks very aged. It's Service Champ brand. I called the place that did the oil change and they assure me that they never skip putting on new filters. I called Service Champ and they say there is absolutely no way that this is a defective product and it must be old. I'm attaching some pics. Is this an old filter that my oil place hasn't changed for years or is this defective?? Changed the filter worked and my car is running better then it has in years.

View attachment 290134

When in doubt DIY!

 

[NormanBuntz]

Yeah, I'm assuming they've done it before. I had an oil change (same place) in Oct of 24 and September of 23. The date on the filter is July of 23. I started having issues with flashing and stalling in December of 24. Had a new oil change end of March 2025. My logical guess is that they haven't changed it since my 23 visit. Skipped twice. Now with a genuinely new filter it's running perfectly.

Time for DIY or another shop!

 

[NormanBuntz]

It was at my local Costa Oil.

For Three Stooges fans, it was Costa Plenty.

 

[JunkdrawerDog]

A quick lube place pulled this nonsense on my late father in law. Filter was ancient and rusted. Oil was so low that it didn't show on the dipstick and came out in clumps when drained. And yet...he had a stack of receipts showing an oil and filter change every six months, from the same lube shop, for the last few years. Absolutely criminal.

 

[crashz]

BTW - Welcome! Lots of knowledgeable folks and tons of info.

 

[MasterSolenoid]

If you cannot do the oil changes yourself and have to take it some place,
verify the work was done 'before' leaving the property.
1) check the oil level
2) verify the filter was change.