Quick lube joint strikes again.

[Chris142]

A guy came into the shop where I work to have the A/C repaired in his Ford Escort.

While I was screwing around under the hood he asked me where the oil pressure sending unit was. He said that the oil light had been coming on quite often since he had the oil changed last week at XXXlube.

He said that he had gone back to XXXlube and they told him to replace the sending unit.

So just for kicks I removed the oil filler cap....No sludge (thought maybe a plugged pickup screen). I then pulled the dipstick, wiped it off, stuck it back in and checked the oil.

I couldnt believe what I saw so I rechecked it.

The oil level was a good 4 inches ABOVE the "FULL" mark!

I told him that I felt that the oil was getting in the crank and foaming, that he should drain it untill it's on the normal part of the dipstick and see if it still has issues with the oil light.

He then said "thats what I get for being lazy, the one time I take it in instead of doing it myself I get screwed".

I told him that he could have more problems like a bad pump or sending unit but he needed to get all the extra oil out first.

 

[javacontour]

If he really does it himself, wouldn't he have checked his oil level by now?

Just curious.

TB

 

[andyfish]

quote:

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Originally posted by javacontour:
If he really does it himself, wouldn't he have checked his oil level by now?

Just curious.

TB

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I always check the oil myself after a change, immediately even by my trusted mechanic.

 

[cryptokid]

i never check my oil level after i change my oil. i figure it like this: if the sump holds 4.5 quarts, and i put 4.5 quarts in, and theres no leaks under the car, then i must have the proper oil level. i see no reason to check.

although i do check the level every thousand miles or so, i never check it after an oil change,

 

[T-Keith]

I don't like your reasoning here. I've done hundreds of oil changes, and have found the amount needed varies even between the same car. There are alot of factors that can affect it, time drained, filter size, filter brand drain sequence, temp of the oil, outside temp, amount of oil left in the bottles, run time, how long you wait between add and check, ect. I've seen variations of more than a half quart.

Why you wouldn't take the extra minute to start the car and check the final oil level is beyond me. :dunno: Missing that step is, IMO, the number one cause of oil change screw ups.

-T