Oil Plug Problem

[jake75]

My son who works three jobs to make ends meet is driving a 1998 Voyager I gave him a few years ago. He has always had his oil changed at Valvoline. Went there yesterday and they said they couldn't change it as the plug in the oil pan was "permanent". They blamed the repair shop where he had a radiator fan problem fixed a month ago. That shop said they would have had no reason to touch his oil pan (makes sense) and that what probably happened is that the Valvoline guy stripped his oil pan plug the last time he had his oil changed there and to hide his error put it a permanent plug and sent him on his way. This repair shop claims that happens all the time. I am not too bright about these things - never changed my own oil. I always thought the oil was drained out where the filter goes. I feel sorry for my son and will probably spring for the $150 to replace his oil pan but I think Valvoline should take care of it. Any thoughts?[Some yeras ago another son's engine got ruined when all of the oil leaked out after an oil change at a Jiffy Lube. For some reason the low oil pressure warning lights never lit up. I always suspected they screwed up but could not prove it.]

[joatmon]

I never heard of a permanent oil pan plug, but I guess there could be such things. I would think that the last person to change the oil was the one to put in the bogus plug. If Valvoline was the only shop to ever change the oil, then I agree that you should try to get them to fix the mistake, and also look for another place to get the oil changed from now on.Some amount of oil comes out when you replace the oil filter, but most of it is drained by removing a bolt on the bottom of the oil pan. SOme places sell these weird oil change pumps where you stick a hose down the diptick tube (sounds kinky) and basically vacuum out all the old oil, but I don't trust them myself. I like to take the plug out and hopefully the stream will wash out particles of whatever that may accumulate on the bottom of the oil pan. Not sure a little slow vacuum would do the same job, and then since you can't see, there is always the question of whether or not the hose made it to the deepest spot (ooh baby) Do you have a picture of this permanent oil pan plug thing?

[jake75]

The term "permanent oil plug" was my way to decribe it. It is something you can put in when the threads are stripped. Of course you can't then "unscrew" it again.

[northvibe]

##@$ ouch man. yea i bet valvoline messed that up last time they changed the oil, the guy cross threaded the bolt in, prolly because they use power tool to do it. when i changed oil a couple weeks ago for the first time since i got my car, the gasket onthe bold was smashed to heck, so i had to go buy a new bold/gasket. i only trust my self or my dad to change oil.i say talk to them to get them to fix it, if they blame it on the shop that redit the radiator thing, then talk to that shop making sure they didnt touch the plug. thats bs and they are just trying to get out of fixing their mistakes.

[binary]

If they're the only ones that have changed the oil - then they did it. I'd put the screws to them and lean hard!I understand these guys aren't making a mint changing oil - they just need the money. But if they screw up, be a man and admit it. Then do what it takes to fix it(See below!). The shop has insurance to cover stuff like that - and if they screw up and break a motor by leaving an oil plug out/loose... nobody is out-of-pocket the repair costs. This kind of double-talk BS really chaps my hide.What you do is give them one last chance of fessing up to the mistake and giving them a chance to pay for the repairs... Get a written estimate from your local dodge dealer with OEM parts on the list and time for a ASE certified mechanic to repair it. Take that legal and fair esstimate to the oil change place and explain your situation - and don't take no for an answer. And for god's sakes - don't let them fix it for you! Just because they may admit to breaking it - doesn't mean they automatically get first dibbs on fixing it! If they still refuse to pay the full amount - ask to talk to the store owner or regional manager. Don't be huffy or pissy... just man to man. Explain the situation again - and mention small claims court if he/she's not getting the picture. Then the manager says they'll repair it but they won't pay - you say NO. Explain they had their chance to admit to the damage - but chose to cover it up with a unsafe repair and send you on your way - then lied about it again when you came back. It now requires replacement parts and a certified mechanic - which they will be paying for. If that fails - then take them to small claims court. No lawyers involved - just you, the oil change guy, and the judge. If they're that smug about not paying to repair your son's van, they should know a judge isn't going to roll over - they don't have a chance in hell of winning.Remember - Your son didn't do anything wrong, he doesn't have to pay a single cent to fix this. They made a mistake, lied about it, and now are trying to get you to move along.If they finally grow a pair and admit they farked it up, they'll offer to submit the claim to their insurance carrier - and you'll be given contact information for them. After you get in touch with them, they'll open a case and assign it a number. Your son schedules the repair with the dealer - and informs the dealer of the insurance claim and case number. The dealer submits the final bill to the insurance carrier for payment. Your son doesn't have to deal with it any further.

[Mavrik]

Keep your insurance out of this as much as possible, why make a claim to raise your rates? Its simple, who changed the oil the last couple of times? You have documentation? Stick it to them. They were the LAST ones to touch it. I believe your car would have whats called a temporary plug. Once its put in, it can be removed but not reused. Its a plug that does not thread in. At least those are the ones I have come across.As a service advisor, I can assure you that with documentation/proof you bring in in regards to something being damaged from that service is on the one who did it. They should pay, not you, not your insurance and not anyone else who did some other work to but not related to the drain plug. Those quick lube places will try stuff like that with you, I know, I used to work for one a few years ago, I saw everything.Keep at them, go to their head office if you have to. But get them to pay, its that simple.

[jake75]

I don't think anyone was suggesting that my son file a claim on his auto insurance - the fix is only about $150, his deductibile is probably $500, and I doubt that this situation is a covered loss anyway. What was suggested is that the Valvoline shop would have insurance. Unfortunately my son doesn't save receipts, and he pays cash so there is no cc slip. He does have a Valvoline sticker that says his oil change is due at whatever time/miles he is at now. I suppose thast Valvoline aslo has him in their computer as he says he alwasy goes to the same location.

[Mavrik]

They will have his records even if he doesn't

[AKLGT]

Quote, originally posted by jake75 »I don't think anyone was suggesting that my son file a claim on his auto insurance - the fix is only about $150, his deductibile is probably $500, and I doubt that this situation is a covered loss anyway. What was suggested is that the Valvoline shop would have insurance. Unfortunately my son doesn't save receipts, and he pays cash so there is no cc slip. He does have a Valvoline sticker that says his oil change is due at whatever time/miles he is at now. I suppose thast Valvoline aslo has him in their computer as he says he alwasy goes to the same location. you are correct. the insurance company will not cover maintenance or wear and tear for vehicles. they handle collision and comprehensive coverage only. this would be something between you and the business that "provided" the service. that's like taking the car to the bank that finances your auto loan and say, can you fix the car??

[millster]

Quote, originally posted by jake75 »[Some yeras ago another son's engine got ruined when all of the oil leaked out after an oil change at a Jiffy Lube. For some reason the low oil pressure warning lights never lit up. I always suspected they screwed up but could not prove it.] Had this happen to me too. Valvoline didn't put the plug in tight enough (cross-threaded it halfway in) and when I got home and parked the car the plug fell out along with all of the oil. Luckily, it wasn't driven that way and nothing was ruined. At any rate, I would definitely think that Valvoline should do something about it and it would be a real shame if they don't. But being realistic, I'm afraid he'll be stuck with the cost of repair. That's just sad. Valvoline definitely keeps computer records though, so they should know that he was in and when it was. At least the place in Fairfield, OH that I went to did.

[ragingfish]

Get Judge Judy on their asses!