Yes Virginia, Overfilling Oil does cause problems

[Tempus]

I just got back from the dealer.

By way of background, the dealer has twice before overfilled the oil on an oil change, and I've made them fix it each time. Since those two times, I make the Service Writer put a note on the ticket "Do Not Overfill Oil".

But, this last time I was in a hurry to get on the road for work related travel, so I missed it. I can't check the oil level right after they drive the car around for me, but I had a nagging suspicion, so I checked the next day. Sure enough, it was between 1/8" and 1/4" overfilled.

I immediately sent off an email (return reciept, read reciept) to the Service Writer expressing my disappointment, and letting him know I'd be bringing it back in as soon as I could to get it fixed. I felt that after 35K of service, they should know not to overfill it, especially since I'm always a pain about it

Well, before I could get it in, the floods came, up 1-1/2 levels on my little old house down in the Huntington section of Alexandria (for those of you who know the DC area and what we've had here).

This morning on the way to work the car threw the Check Engine light. I did the usual drill (check gas cap, restart a half dozen times) and no joy. The light stayed on. I checked again after a couple of hours sitting at work, and still had the very determined little light.

I called the Dealership and told them I'd be bringing it in. I bet the Service Writer a donut that they would pull code P3191 (per EG050-04).

I was right. I also made him write on the ticked to clear the air intake runners. He's going to have my donut for me next trip.

After the oil was replaced at the correct level, and the air intakes clean, no codes.

So, sometimes you may not have a problem with slightly over-filled oil, but then again.

I think I'll continue to be a pain in the posterior about it

Hopefully they'll learn from it, but I thought they would have the first two times.

[galaxee]

yep, that P3191 is almost guaranteed if you get "the light" right after an oil change.

do they have an express lube there? seems those places screw up often... if it's a tech.. and the guy has been to prius school... he's been warned plenty of times about P3191 due to oil in the throttle body and you should be seeking someone else to do your regular service. maybe a different tech at the same dealer to start with since it seems they do take care of problems that crop up.

[theorist]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tempus @ Jun 29 2006, 07:21 PM) [snapback]278854[/snapback]</div>

Hopefully they'll learn from it, but I thought they would have the first two times.
[/b]

You're patient. You might be more successful learning to stop bringing your car to that dealer. If they can't do a correct oil change reliably, I wouldn't want to trust them with more complicated jobs. Still, I've been a slow learner with things like this.

This beats the oil change experience I had at a Pep Boys. (I know. I should have never taken it to a chain.) I was visiting my mother, who never does any maintenance. I took her Corolla in for an oil change, ordering the MaxLife oil which was on a rebate special. They did the job right next to the window, and I saw they were putting in their budget oil of a different viscosity. I immediately pointed out the error. They drained the oil again and filled it with MaxLife of the correct weight. This correction caused them to miss their 30 minute guarantee. Without me mentioning it, they didn't charge me.

Later I noticed burnt odor coming from the car, when parking it. I opened the hood and their was oil everywhere. The oil cap was nowhere to be seen. Oil apparently bubbled out of the filler hole at low engine speeds, sprayed out at high engine speeds, splashed off the hood, and dripped everywhere. I took the car back to the Pep Boys. They slapped one of their replacement oil filler caps in place and started to schedule a professional steam clean at a detailng shop. The store manager over heard this and told the service manager to have a technician use a can of spray on degreaser and a pressure sprayer at a self serve car wash instead. I asked them to refill change the oil again, as I was concerned about oil spraying out and cleaning the dirty hood before splashing back in to the filler hole. They did and I made an appointment to come back for the cleaning. (It was late on December 23.)

My mother took the car back for the cleaning on December 27, then came to pick drive us to the airport on the 28th. She complained upon arriving that the car wasn't running well. Examining it, I found that the spark plug holes were flooded with water! I was worried about Pep Boys replacing or pulling the spark plugs without somehow getting all the water out first, draining some of the water (and degreaser?) into the cylinders. She promised me that she would take it to Pep Boys so they could witness the problem but not touch anything, then take it to a reputable repair shop at their expense.

And you would think I would have learned my lesson already. This was the first time I went back to a Pep Boys after one in another state intentionally ripped both CV boots eleven years before. I shopped by price for an transmission fluid and filter change. I asked for the old transmisson filter when making the order. They quoted and charged me for both. When I asked for the old filter, they explained that they never replace a Corolla filter, they rinse it. This started a debate. I was unaware of what then happend when they took the car back up to replace the automatic transmission filter. but found out after I drove down the street to the tire shop for a free rotation. After lifting the car, the tire shop brought me under the lift to look at what they found. Clean grease had sprayed out of two torn CV boots onto surrounding parts. The grease was still clean, so both boots ripped very recently. The tire shop had only driven the car onto the lift. Apparently when Pep Boys very begrudgingly replaced the automatic transmission filter, they punctured and ripped both CV boots all the way around with something like a screwdriver. I swore I would never take a car back to any Pep Boys. Thinking an oil change is a safe foolproof job I broke that promise in another state 11 years later. I've finally learned my lesson. I guess I'm a slow learner.

[mikepaul]

I bring my own oil, and remove 12 ounces from the gallon jug before I leave home. Last week when I checked post-change, it was dead-on full.

I was hoping for room for my X-1R additive, so next time I'll aim higher...

[subarutoo]

If you guys are so worried about having oil changes, why don't you just do it yourself? I never had a "Professional" oil change in more than 40 years of driving. If you can change a light bulb, you can change oil. Seriously, folks it's no big deal. The hardest part is standing in line at Walmart or Costco to buy the oil, and lots of you already do that, it sounds.

[Godiva]

I take mine to the dealer for the oil change, etc so there is a record of scheduled maintenance.

I specify only 3 quarts of oil and 42/40 tires each time. Each time they've gotten in right. (Last time one tire was low, I took it back and they fixed it.)

I've had the two dino-oil changes now. From now on I'll be bringing in 3 bottles of my Mobil1 synthetic for them to use. And I'll specify they are not to add any of their stuff to top off.

So far, Kearny Mesa Toyota's service department has been spot on.

[mikepaul]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(subarutoo @ Jun 30 2006, 03:41 PM) [snapback]279273[/snapback]</div>

If you guys are so worried about having oil changes, why don't you just do it yourself? I never had a "Professional" oil change in more than 40 years of driving. If you can change a light bulb, you can change oil. Seriously, folks it's no big deal. The hardest part is standing in line at Walmart or Costco to buy the oil, and lots of you already do that, it sounds.
[/b]

About 1982, I was doing my own oil changes and screwed up on my 1980 Ford Fiesta by putting the filter on too tight. It was behind the engine and thin arms were important, but I ended up driving a screwdriver through the filter to pry it off. Very messy.

I never changed my own oil since then...

[NuShrike]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(theorist @ Jun 30 2006, 12:15 PM) [snapback]279253[/snapback]</div>

You're patient. You might be more successful learning to stop bringing your car to that dealer. If they can't do a correct oil change reliably, I wouldn't want to trust them with more complicated jobs. Still, I've been a slow learner with things like this.[/b]

Sounds like great material for the BBB, or at law suite to compensate your time and effort. :P

[ralphbongo]

I place 3qt. 6oz of mob1 in a 5 qt container then watch the service tech. like a hawk. He ask me why and I told him its my car. He laughed and said yea I have screwed up before. :P

[ScottY]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ralph b @ Jun 30 2006, 08:37 PM) [snapback]279410[/snapback]</div>

I place 3qt. 6oz of mob1 in a 5 qt container then watch the service tech. like a hawk. He ask me why and I told him its my car. He laughed and said yea I have screwed up before. :P
[/b]

How come you get to watch them? The service department I went to, they don't allow customers to go in the service area. They have signs saying customers not allow because of insurance issues or something to that degree.