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+1 complaining endlessly is far easier than taking responsibility.
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Volvo dealer used abrasive wheel to clean engine sump
- Thread starter Astro14
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They may not have needed to. I changed the differential fluid on my dodge and the rtv only stuck to the cover. Minimal amount on the housing itself. Same thing with the transmission pan. Doubt they touched the engine side
I'm not surprised, and another reason why I do as much of my own work as humanly possible. Heads would be rolling.
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2009
- Messages
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Reminds of the time I paid to have a fass system installed on my truck and I asked how he got the system primed. Oh I soaked the filters in the diesel fuel I took out of your tank that was in 5 gallon buckets.
First, was why was it in buckets instead of diesel cans. I wouldn't even care if you put diesel fuel in clean red gas cans and second, you defeated the purpose of filters by contaminating the clean side! That's the problem when you pay people, everyone has a different opinion.
After all the half baked electrical repair attempts I have seen I wouldn't trust anyone either.
Oh, please, read the whole thread.
I don’t want anything done for free.
But for $690 in labor, I do expect the job, which takes me three hours, to be done correctly.
I don’t take shortcuts and when I work on my cars, or others cars. I do the job right.
Are you saying that expectation; good work, for good money, is complaining? That it is not realistic?
Perhaps I should lower my standards?
Perhaps when you board my airplane, or enter my daughter’s operating room, I should let you know in advance that the job won’t be done well, that we will take some shortcuts, and you might experience some damage, but you had better not complain because I won’t take responsibility for doing a lousy job.
Go back and look at the pictures. They used abrasive on the block.
When I discussed this with them, they said, straight up, that they used maroon scotch brite on the block.
There is no “doubt” on this. They admitted it. I posted pictures of it.
It’s interesting to see how many people are jumping in to defend the dealer, which is likely part of a faceless corporation, that they have zero ties to. They never used them, don’t know anybody that works there etc. Yet, they feel compelled to defend them.
Of course, it’s until something similar happens to them. Then all hell brakes loose.
Of course, it’s until something similar happens to them. Then all hell brakes loose.
The story isn’t over, by the way, and the dealer has reached back out after being contacted by Volvo of North America, but until I finish that conversation, I don’t want to post any more about that conversation.
Let’s see what they say.
But, to be clear, I’m not one to just sit and complain. I tend to take action.
To reiterate a previous point, any action I can take, and my argument, is based on the provable facts of the situation.
The merits of the case if you will.
Let’s see what they say.
But, to be clear, I’m not one to just sit and complain. I tend to take action.
To reiterate a previous point, any action I can take, and my argument, is based on the provable facts of the situation.
The merits of the case if you will.
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I would say that this thread should be an example of the problems in our schools teaching reading comprehension, but Astro provided pictures also, so that isn't it.
This mechanic was paid well to do the job correctly. He chose to take a shortcut and performed the job in a manner proven to cause engine damage numerous times in the past. His poor decision making was backed up by the dealership, who said it was standard procedure.
As far as I can see, the only way the dealership can get out of replacing the block, or ar least warranting the current one for life is to deny they used Scotch Brite on the block, lie and say they never told Astro they did, and maintain the marks on the block were there before they did the job. I don't think that is feasible.
Somehow, I think documentation will prevail and Astro will eventually be made whole. After all, Volvo isn't Kia or Hyundai.
This mechanic was paid well to do the job correctly. He chose to take a shortcut and performed the job in a manner proven to cause engine damage numerous times in the past. His poor decision making was backed up by the dealership, who said it was standard procedure.
As far as I can see, the only way the dealership can get out of replacing the block, or ar least warranting the current one for life is to deny they used Scotch Brite on the block, lie and say they never told Astro they did, and maintain the marks on the block were there before they did the job. I don't think that is feasible.
Somehow, I think documentation will prevail and Astro will eventually be made whole. After all, Volvo isn't Kia or Hyundai.
This has been standard practice, and still is, to use powered abrasives to clean gasket surfaces, and not just scotch brite.
Even at shops that work on industrial equipment. It should have never been started, but those "FLAT RATE" mechanics are always looking for ways to go faster, oh and shops like fast as well. These two words conflict, "fast" and "quality".
There have been many very expensive parts messed up by using powered abrasives to clean "machined" gasket surfaces.
Lucky this doesn't happen in the aircraft world, nor does any of the hammer and chisel, pry bar mechanic-ing we see EVERYONE doing on youtube. The best part is when they drag a part across a concrete floor, or a metal top bench, or throw the parts around like the one highly praised transmission guy, and on and on.
Yeah. Cheap. Fast. Good.
You can have two of those.
But since I didn’t get cheap, I was at least hoping for the other two. Looks like I was getting fast, and nothing else…
Last couple of years, at work, I’ve been saying that now can have only one of those. All of our vendors seem to have had quality issues, but sure do charge, and timing… sometimes we don’t even get one of them!
That classic trifecta appears to be another pandemic casualty.
Well, your thesis is supported by my experience in this thread. Cheap? No. Fast? No. Good?
Sadly…no…
So, maybe it’s none of the above?
It really is sad that finding a good mechanic today is way harder than it used to be when you expected shade tree fixers.
Yeah but, yeah but, they have that $40K snap on tool box full of tools, that proves they are the best of the best.
Astro, have you considered doubling up on tools at your Colorado location?
I already made a similar decision to invest between my 2 family locations which are separated by 60 miles. It has been a little expensive, but after meditating a bit I didn't want to lug around 300lbs of tools back and forth, mechanics tools, lawncare, etc
I already made a similar decision to invest between my 2 family locations which are separated by 60 miles. It has been a little expensive, but after meditating a bit I didn't want to lug around 300lbs of tools back and forth, mechanics tools, lawncare, etc
I’ve made a modest investment in tools for Colorado via Christmas presents for my friend, who keeps the car for me. He’s got new Wright wrenches, new screwdrivers, a Bosch drill, a 1/2” socket set, 1/2” torque wrench, wheel bolt sockets. I don’t have a place in Colorado, so, I impose on him.
He would need a bit more, like 1/4” drive sockets, low torque torque wrench, jack and stands, for me to pull off this job. But I already have a gift in mind for him this Christmas that isn’t tools, so it might be awhile.
Also, I already have two sets of tools, one in the shop and my set at home. A third set seems a bit much…
Update. First UOA. I’m encouraged by this.
A summation of oil changes:
Dealer fill of Castrol synthetic 5W30 - 205 miles
HPL 0w40 Supercar - 200 miles
Mobil 1 0W40 - 249 miles - sample below
HPL 0W40 - current fill
I’ve cropped the pictures to remove account details.
I am pleased with the numbers. Granted, very low miles, 249, on the oil before the drain, but if the engine were eating itself, I would think the numbers would be higher.
The plan is to run the HPL for several thousand and sample it as we go.
A summation of oil changes:
Dealer fill of Castrol synthetic 5W30 - 205 miles
HPL 0w40 Supercar - 200 miles
Mobil 1 0W40 - 249 miles - sample below
HPL 0W40 - current fill
I’ve cropped the pictures to remove account details.
I am pleased with the numbers. Granted, very low miles, 249, on the oil before the drain, but if the engine were eating itself, I would think the numbers would be higher.
The plan is to run the HPL for several thousand and sample it as we go.
Close the thread. Engine will be fine.
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