Increased oil consumption at ~65K miles?

BettyZ

A refund? "Looks like you caught us trying to cheat you, I guess we'll refund the $15 in labor."

I like his retort; I would have brought a couple extra gallons of cheapAF oil and dumped so much their parking lot looked like Deepwater Horizon II.

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'14 MB Nismo | Boost Lab 6870 1.32 AR 553 HP / 471 ft.-lbs.
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Misnomer

Yesterday afternoon I was 10 min early to an appointment, so I hung out in my (running) car for a while. After 5-6 minutes, the idle got rough/low and the car shook a few times. Like, if I'd had a drink it would have spilled. It nearly stalled but didn't, then it smoothed out and went back to a normal idle. I've had some times in traffic when the idle would get a little low for a second or two, but never the shaking thing -- that was new.

A (different) guy from the shop called yesterday to check on things, but I wasn't able to call back before they closed. I'll be calling him today, and asking about the possible engine damage thing, mentioning the curbside shaking, and asking about the other guy's comment that this car starts needing more oil at 65,000 miles.

(Oh, and did I mention that when I picked her up there was a washer fluid hose sticking out from under the hood? I had to wait for them to put that back where it belonged. And they hadn't bothered to reset the automatic windows, so they had her parked in the rain with the windows not all the way up. *sigh*)

The shaking episode made me a little nervous; between that and the concern about possible engine damage, I'm wondering if I should scrap plans to take my nephew to Baltimore this weekend (50 miles away; I don't want to have a problem on I-95/with him in the car). I might need to take my Gray Lady back to the shop instead.

I'm also wondering if I need to start thinking about getting another car...ugh.

bunk

Is the SES (check engine light) on? Id ask them to check for any codes. Try to do the throttle body/MAF cleaning like Jar mentioned, and get that oil analysis done.

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Misnomer

Nope. I've only ever seen that light twice, and both times it was because I hadn't tightened the fuel cap enough.

BettyZ

That shaking is a badness thing. I'd do some research on here for reputable shops that can check the motor - "check for engine damage" to most shops is code for "charge 2k in labor and say we didnt find anything."

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'14 MB Nismo | Boost Lab 6870 1.32 AR 553 HP / 471 ft.-lbs.
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JARblue

A good MAF and Throttle Body cleaning might help with the rough/low idle issue. I've had mine shudder a bit when the idle dropped really low and cleaning the TBs solved the issue. But serious shaking is not a good sign.

I would put a few miles on it and do another oil change and get an oil analysis asap to determine possible internal engine damage. Trip to Baltimore might be a good opportunity to put those miles on it. But if you're really concerned or can't risk the possibility of something happening, then you may want to cancel and take it back to the shop.

Also, if you have any issues with your airbags show up in the near future, it's likely from rain getting in when the windows weren't up.

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BettyZ

Yeah.. about that rain.. I know the OP said she likes the shop but I take leaving a car outside with the windows cracked as a general sign of IDGAF.

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'14 MB Nismo | Boost Lab 6870 1.32 AR 553 HP / 471 ft.-lbs.
Betty Mods

Misnomer

If there is follow-up work to be done, I'll use the same place (for continuity and so I don't get charged anything more). But I've already started researching other shops.

BettyZ

Smart move on both counts. Sorry this is happening to you.

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'14 MB Nismo | Boost Lab 6870 1.32 AR 553 HP / 471 ft.-lbs.
Betty Mods

JARblue

Agreed.. perfect example of an incompetent shop.

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vtec to vvel

OP, as others have stated, I would do an oil analysis before jumping to conclusions. Though I don’t know the entire story/history behind your car, based on what you have said, I don’t think the engine itself is damaged, but do know there is some maintenance work to be done to it. You’d be surprised how tough Japanese engines are and can take quite a bit of abusive and still run like a champ.

Misnomer

I'm much calmer now.

I talked to the shop, didn't need to bring the car back, and did some solid driving both Friday and Saturday with no problem (including some significant idling in hot weather). I think last week I was maybe having a little PTSD from my RX-8 experience. I'll get the next oil change a little sooner than usual, and will have a used oil analysis done then -- just to know. But I'm not worried about my car at the moment, and am hoping to get many more miles out of her.

Misnomer

The idle issue returned yesterday, at a drive-thru. I was in neutral, right foot on brake, left foot not touching the clutch. Suddenly the idle got super low/rough with shaking, and she nearly stalled a couple times, and I noticed the battery voltage went from the usual 14 down to 12 (I don't know if that also happened last time). Lasted only maybe a minute or so, but she was so close to stalling that I didn't wait to see if the issue self-corrected: I goosed the gas a little, and as soon as I did the engine smoothed out and the voltage went back to 14.

I'll bring it back to the same shop next weekend; I can't get there today/sooner. Again, both for continuity and because if they didn't tighten something properly (or whatever) I won't pay for the fix.

*sigh*

bunk

Sounds like your alternator is failing. Autozone can test this for free. And have them check your battery while theyre at it.

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Misnomer

Yeah, the voltage/idle thing definitely seems to be connected. I'm paying close attention this week. Instead of driving it back to the shop (22 miles away), I'll probably just bring it to the local NTB and ask them to take a look.