Service Champ Filter Failure CF5830

[TFBird]

Just wanted to share an experience my Dad recently had with his Mini Cooper S. So my Dad has been taking his Mini to a reputable Goodyear shop in Gainesville Va and getting his oil changed with Mobil 1 oil. This last oil change was about 2000 miles ago and his car started running really funky like it was misfiring so he had it towed to the dealer as it only has 40,000 miles on it, the dealer proceeded to try and repair it and found that the oil/vacuum pump had a "catastrophic failure" and that it may be covered under warranty however the engine itself is now totaled as the valves/ head warped themselves under the strain of running with no oil. After taking the engine apart further they discovered pieces of the Service Champ filter clogging various parts of the engine.

A little more information about his oci, he has always used Mobil 1 in the car and never goes above 6,000 miles before changing. I know that Mobil 1 can go further than that though it was probably a good thing based on this most recent filter that he had it changed at or before 6,000.

Also this now isn't covered under Mini's warranty and now we have to deal with the shop the oil change was originally done with. The whole thing is kind of annoying especially since I work at another shop owned by the same company that just totaled my dads Mini.

Just another reason I am the only one that changes the oil on my cars. I like to know exactly what goes in/on it.

My guess is that the lube tech did not change the filter on the last oc...

What are your guys thoughts on this?

 

[PhillyJoe]

Put the Goodyear shop on notice. Certified mail to follow.
Retrieve the filter back from the dealer. Show it to Goodyear, but do not leave it with them. Keep the engine available for inspection by Goodyear.
Gather all your receipts for anyone that worked on the car.

 

[renegade_987]

So basically what your saying is that the filter blew apart inside the engine?

 

[Donald]

Sounds like a hassle. Read through the oil change receipt. Contact the manufacturer of the filter.

 

[TFBird]

Originally Posted By: renegade_987
So basically what your saying is that the filter blew apart inside the engine?


Yes

 

[NHGUY]

The filter companies will always tell you that a filter wont fail...its always an engine problem...too much pressure...etc.They have to limit their liabilities and they do.

 

[EricF]

I believe the burden of proof of failure falls to you.
So you're going to have to get all your ducks in a row before you can go after the goodyear shop.
The goodyear shop will say it isn't their fault the filter failed, they didn't make the filter. However, they sold it, they're on the hook as well. Champion Labs is on the hook.

Definetely do NOT let them keep that filter or take it out of your sight. That's evidence. If they say they need to send it out for analysis, then you tell them they can bring their engineer here to see it. There's really nothing to analyse.. the filter broke down.

If you went to jippy lube, I'm sure you'd already have a new motor coming, they're probably used to these claims.

As it was stated, keep everything, names, dates, materials, your proof!

 

[PhillyJoe]

Sounds like a media failure which blocked the oil pick-up. Might be hard to see without taking the filter apart, which you don't want to touch at the moment.
Goodyear will say it's the filter's fault.
Filter mfg. will say it was installed wrong or wrong application by Goodyear.
The filter bits inside the engine will be important also.

 

[shDK]

Maybe i will be a good idea to get a print of the cars fault memory. Low oil pressure will make a fault wich will be in the memory.

 

[KCJeep]

My co-worker had a Suzuki engine ruined by an ecore that disentegerated. Champ was very good about it and he got a new engine from them with surprisingly little hassle. The ecore was initially installed at a Firestone Auto center.

They will want the filter intact, along with any chunks that were removed from the engine by the mechanic.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Maybe yet another case of E10 in the sump gumming up a filter. But, Any coolant in the oil? A blown HG will take out the oil and filter. The dfrive should have seen an OP MIL lit if low OP was the initial failure.

 

[TFBird]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
Maybe yet another case of E10 in the sump gumming up a filter. But, Any coolant in the oil? A blown HG will take out the oil and filter. The dfrive should have seen an OP MIL lit if low OP was the initial failure.


According to what I have been told the car never showed a cel light or oil pressure light.

 

[Sayjac]

Just as a point of information, this is a cartridge filter application, not spin on correct? Be nice to see pics of the cartridge as the damage you describe should be readily apparent in the condition of the filter.

Wish you luck with your effort to get recover the financial loss.

 

[Jim Allen]

Tough problem. Best of luck getting it resolved. If remotely possible, there are some geek here that would like to see the end results of this, particularly the failed filter. Not if it would screw up your legal case, however.

I found a "Service Champ" parts catalog online. There isn't much there but pa [arts lookup deal, though there are pics, but in the "Knowledge Center" there is a Tech bulletin about the infamous Hyundai knock that reference Champion Laboratories." I don't know whether "Service Champ" is an arm of that or not.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: sayjac
Just as a point of information, this is a cartridge filter application, not spin on correct? Be nice to see pics of the cartridge as the damage you describe should be readily apparent in the condition of the filter.


Service Champ CF5830 crosses over to a Purolator L15830, which is indeed a cartridge filter.

Yes, inspection of the cartridge filter would instantly show if there was a media blow-out or not.

http://www.purolatorautofilters.net/reso...5830&page=1

http://www.purolatorautofilters.net/resources/Popup/Pages/PartDetailPopup.aspx?partnum=L15830

 

[Errtt]

wow that is totally messed up... yeah don't let that filter get away and have that dealer do a good writeup on the findings. Pics

Hope something gets done soon... best of luck.

I do my own changes, but getting older, tired (lazy) and thinking of a local indy doing OCs now & then. I'd be sure to supply my own bought filters that I'd want on the engine, & watch/check that it got used.
One of my vehicles (2010 Hyundai) has a TSB regards to aftermarket filters and recommends OEMs, although I'm sure there are plenty others that will work fine. So under warranty, I'll be sure to utilize OEM filters.
The other 2 vehicles either get Purolators or NAPA Golds. All vehicles get major name brand oils in allowable grades.

 

[JOD]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
Maybe yet another case of E10 in the sump gumming up a filter.


That's nonsensical on so many levels.

 

[RF Overlord]

Yeah, I'd like a better explanation of that comment as well.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

You're not familiar with ethanol and moisture in sump casuing oil gelation. ILSAC GF5 allows 50% filter clogging during certain bench tests at 0.6% cranckcase dilution. (FILTERABILITY: EOWTT/ ASTM D6794)

 

[JOD]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
You're not familiar with ethanol and moisture in sump casuing oil gelation. ILSAC GF5 allows 50% filter clogging during certain bench tests at 0.6% cranckcase dilution. (FILTERABILITY: EOWTT/ ASTM D6794)


I'm aware that's the maximum allowable restriction in a absolute worst-case scenario (incredibly high fuel dilution in a vehicle then left to sit). I've cut open over 100 filters in my life, many of them in service for over 10K. I've seen tons of pics on here of filters cut open. I just started a car that hadn't been turned over in 4 years... I've never seen a filter with visible restriction or "gelling", with the exception of the one I posted on here which had been in service for 57K miles--and ethanol had nothing to do with that one...

Fuel filters see a lot more moisture, and are in service an exponentially longer time. I don't see them becoming clogged at 10K intervals? If you have a single example of ethanol causing restriction in an oil filter in a gas engine, I'd love to see it.
E-core type failures have been documented on here before, and they all follow the same pattern: widely spaced media gets blown out by the large holes in the center tube.