- Joined
- Aug 22, 2020
- Messages
- 8
Hi all -
Looking for informed opinions...we bought my son his first car this week (2015 CR-V, 99k miles). Pre-purchase inspection at the shop I’ve used for years turned up only a slight oil leak from the valve cover gasket. Nothing urgent...but I thought may as well take care of it, so after we bought it and he drove it a couple days (no oil drips on driveway) we took it in on Friday.
They said it was done early afternoon but it Should sit for a couple hours to give the glue or whatever time to cure or fully set up before driving it. So we went to pick it up around 6:30 pm...well beyond a couple hours. He drove to his buddy’s house, 9-10 miles. Later in the evening they went somewhere, he didn’t know, but guesses 4-5 miles, were there for a bit then headed back to the bud’s house. So ~20 miles total, probably 25 at most if he underestimated the miles a bit.
So...then I get a phone call...Dad, the CR-V is leaking oil. WHAT? How much, what do you see? Two puddles underneath...guess I could have had him check the dipstick, but decided to go assess it in person. Brought a jug of oil thinking if it wasn’t down too much I might drive it back to the shop.
Well...yep, a good bit of oil on the pavement under it, drips tracking to where he parked, undercarriage wet.
Upper-rear part of engine compartment, including right behind the valve cover and the firewall, oily. Dipstick had NO oil on it. Started adding oil, got to a quart added and (after waiting 5 minutes) still nothing on the stick. At that point I called for a tow.
Yesterday I went to the shop (closed on Saturday) to see how much more oil it would take to bring it up to full, and see if it was losing oil sitting there. Not losing any sitting...but took another quart and a half, so 2.5 total, to reach full on the dipstick.
Obviously I expect them to fix it right. Beyond that -
Question 1: how much damage would/could that likely have done to the engine? Manual says 4.6 qt capacity (OC including filter, so by the time he parked and realized it was leaking, it was down more than 50%.
Question 2: is there any way to get an indication of damage done, without an engine tear-down? A UOA crossed my mind...but w/o a previous one for a baseline...not sure how much help that would be.
Question 3: if you think there’s significant damage...what would a reasonable expectation of the shop? If I knew it was major, I’d ask them to by it from me for what I paid 3 days earlier.
I spent a fair bit more than I started out intending on this car...wound up doing so because (a) a little newer, more safety features; (b) after looking at numerous vehicles, kid said he really liked this one; (c) pretty good price, and last but definitely not least...(d) Honda 2.4 motor, by both long-term rep and personal experience, a solid check in the “pro” column. Figured he should be good for HS sr year and 4 yrs college (at least). Really not pleased with this shop.
Sorry it’s long...anyway opinions appreciated, especially similar personal experience or mechanics’ insights.
thx,
Tulsagator
Looking for informed opinions...we bought my son his first car this week (2015 CR-V, 99k miles). Pre-purchase inspection at the shop I’ve used for years turned up only a slight oil leak from the valve cover gasket. Nothing urgent...but I thought may as well take care of it, so after we bought it and he drove it a couple days (no oil drips on driveway) we took it in on Friday.
They said it was done early afternoon but it Should sit for a couple hours to give the glue or whatever time to cure or fully set up before driving it. So we went to pick it up around 6:30 pm...well beyond a couple hours. He drove to his buddy’s house, 9-10 miles. Later in the evening they went somewhere, he didn’t know, but guesses 4-5 miles, were there for a bit then headed back to the bud’s house. So ~20 miles total, probably 25 at most if he underestimated the miles a bit.
So...then I get a phone call...Dad, the CR-V is leaking oil. WHAT? How much, what do you see? Two puddles underneath...guess I could have had him check the dipstick, but decided to go assess it in person. Brought a jug of oil thinking if it wasn’t down too much I might drive it back to the shop.
Well...yep, a good bit of oil on the pavement under it, drips tracking to where he parked, undercarriage wet.
Upper-rear part of engine compartment, including right behind the valve cover and the firewall, oily. Dipstick had NO oil on it. Started adding oil, got to a quart added and (after waiting 5 minutes) still nothing on the stick. At that point I called for a tow.
Yesterday I went to the shop (closed on Saturday) to see how much more oil it would take to bring it up to full, and see if it was losing oil sitting there. Not losing any sitting...but took another quart and a half, so 2.5 total, to reach full on the dipstick.
Obviously I expect them to fix it right. Beyond that -
Question 1: how much damage would/could that likely have done to the engine? Manual says 4.6 qt capacity (OC including filter, so by the time he parked and realized it was leaking, it was down more than 50%.
Question 2: is there any way to get an indication of damage done, without an engine tear-down? A UOA crossed my mind...but w/o a previous one for a baseline...not sure how much help that would be.
Question 3: if you think there’s significant damage...what would a reasonable expectation of the shop? If I knew it was major, I’d ask them to by it from me for what I paid 3 days earlier.
I spent a fair bit more than I started out intending on this car...wound up doing so because (a) a little newer, more safety features; (b) after looking at numerous vehicles, kid said he really liked this one; (c) pretty good price, and last but definitely not least...(d) Honda 2.4 motor, by both long-term rep and personal experience, a solid check in the “pro” column. Figured he should be good for HS sr year and 4 yrs college (at least). Really not pleased with this shop.
Sorry it’s long...anyway opinions appreciated, especially similar personal experience or mechanics’ insights.
thx,
Tulsagator
