Waking up to a puddle of oil under my car = bad.

khtso · 08-06-2009, 09:24 AM

I noticed a puddle of oil under my car so I checked the dipstick and it read at the "L." I also saw the oil literally dripping from the bottom of my car. This was last night, and this morning it appears to be about the same (the puddle hasn't gotten significantly worse). I got my first service free from the dealer on Saturday. I just called them and they are calling me back.

Ugh.

nogoodname · 08-06-2009, 09:26 AM

Loose oil drain plug?? No wonder it was free.....eh

fuct · 08-06-2009, 09:35 AM

tisk tisk...

kdo2milger · 08-06-2009, 09:40 AM

yup sounds like a service tech forgot to tighten the bolt down

Greg · 08-06-2009, 09:43 AM

Or maybe didnt use a new crusher...

fuct · 08-06-2009, 09:48 AM

or left the old rubber gasket on when he put on the new oil filter.

WooZ · 08-06-2009, 10:01 AM

Lucky you saw the oil instead of driving off and having your engine seize up.

zZSportZz · 08-06-2009, 12:23 PM

*PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT*

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE....do oil changes yourself or bring it to someone you trust. This is the third or fourth thread I see about dealers botching oil changes. I realize there are good dealerships out there, but I've seen this way too much on this site!!

6MT · 08-06-2009, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuct

or left the old rubber gasket on when he put on the new oil filter.

It's not "rubber". Nissan uses a brass crush washer on their drain plugs. It is NOT re-usable. They are around $1. So if someone doesn't replace it, they're either stupid or don't know that it can't be re-used.

I just did my first oil change last night. It was very easy. Just remove 16 bolts and 3 fasteners, drop the splash pan and it's so easy that I didn't spill one drop.

GMZ · 08-06-2009, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6MT

It's not "rubber". Nissan uses a brass crush washer on their drain plugs. It is NOT re-usable. They are around $1. So if someone doesn't replace it, they're either stupid or don't know that it can't be re-used.

I just did my first oil change last night. It was very easy. Just remove 16 bolts and 3 fasteners, drop the splash pan and it's so easy that I didn't spill one drop.

Maybe he means the gasket from the oil filter itself? I dont know how this could have been screwed up. Even if you dont replace the crush washer it shouldnt leak if the bolt is torqued to spec (28-30 ft lbs IIRC). Thats some pretty gross negligence IMO. Is it just me or is service getting worse? Back when I had my 350's I never had this problem when I took it in for service at different dealers in different states.

fuct · 08-06-2009, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6MT

It's not "rubber". Nissan uses a brass crush washer on their drain plugs. It is NOT re-usable. They are around $1. So if someone doesn't replace it, they're either stupid or don't know that it can't be re-used.

I just did my first oil change last night. It was very easy. Just remove 16 bolts and 3 fasteners, drop the splash pan and it's so easy that I didn't spill one drop.

i was talking about the oil filter gasket..... (i mean since that is what i said in my original post)

the oil filter uses a rubber gasket, the oil pan drain bolt uses a brass washer.....

oh and the brass washer CAN be reused... its not advisable, but its possible to reuse without leaking any oil. but yes at a $1 its silly not to buy a new one...

khtso · 08-06-2009, 02:03 PM

Dealer towed it to dealership. I just looked at it on the lift. You guys were all close. A new crush washer had been put on, but it hadn't been crushed! Drain plug had not been torqued fully (or really at all). I had been a quart low so I think I will be fine. I'm pretty lucky. Well scratch that, the dealer is lucky.

Zcott · 08-06-2009, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Is it just me or is service getting worse?

While it's probably worse at dealerships, this pretty much applies to most service centers. They don't put the certified techs in the oil change area.
That's where the "cheap" labor goes, and you are getting what you pay for.

I once took my wife's car in for her free change... one of the "techs" was changing the tranny fluid on the car beside hers and dumped it all over the passenger side of our car accidentally. Apparently he sprayed a little water at it, and then walked away.

I didn't find it until I got home. The manager got an earful, but it didn't change what happened. If I hadn't noticed it you can imagine what that paint would have looked like a few days later.

RCZ · 08-06-2009, 02:16 PM

Dealers are a nightmare, I only go there when I get free stuff.

NIZMOZ · 08-06-2009, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6MT

It's not "rubber". Nissan uses a brass crush washer on their drain plugs. It is NOT re-usable. They are around $1. So if someone doesn't replace it, they're either stupid or don't know that it can't be re-used.

I just did my first oil change last night. It was very easy. Just remove 16 bolts and 3 fasteners, drop the splash pan and it's so easy that I didn't spill one drop.

You can reuse them. I have for years on Nissans and never had a leak happen.

08-06-2009, 09:24 AM	#1 (permalink)
khtso Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 59 Drives: 2009 370Z Rep Power: 15	Waking up to a puddle of oil under my car = bad. I noticed a puddle of oil under my car so I checked the dipstick and it read at the "L." I also saw the oil literally dripping from the bottom of my car. This was last night, and this morning it appears to be about the same (the puddle hasn't gotten significantly worse). I got my first service free from the dealer on Saturday. I just called them and they are calling me back. Ugh.

08-06-2009, 09:40 AM	#4 (permalink)
kdo2milger OG Priesthood Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Fargo, ND Posts: 17,859 Drives: NISMO T Rep Power: 59	yup sounds like a service tech forgot to tighten the bolt down __________________ Project *NISMO*

08-06-2009, 09:43 AM	#5 (permalink)
Greg Track Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Francisco Age: 56 Posts: 551 Drives: 06 350 ZR CS Rep Power: 299	Or maybe didnt use a new crusher... __________________ Chef Greg At Your Service

08-06-2009, 09:26 AM	#2 (permalink)
nogoodname Lifetime Premium Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Montreal Posts: 22,357 Drives: E46 M3 Rep Power: 1764	Loose oil drain plug?? No wonder it was free.....eh

08-06-2009, 09:35 AM	#3 (permalink)
fuct A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sugar Land Posts: 3,692 Drives: 97' Ranger :) Rep Power: 23	tisk tisk...

08-06-2009, 09:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
fuct A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sugar Land Posts: 3,692 Drives: 97' Ranger :) Rep Power: 23	or left the old rubber gasket on when he put on the new oil filter.

08-06-2009, 10:01 AM	#7 (permalink)
WooZ Base Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Bay Area Posts: 116 Drives: An Auto Auto Rep Power: 16	Lucky you saw the oil instead of driving off and having your engine seize up.

08-06-2009, 12:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
zZSportZz A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,095 Drives: 370z Blk on Blk 6MT Rep Power: 18	PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE....do oil changes yourself or bring it to someone you trust. This is the third or fourth thread I see about dealers botching oil changes. I realize there are good dealerships out there, but I've seen this way too much on this site!!

08-06-2009, 02:03 PM	#12 (permalink)
khtso Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 59 Drives: 2009 370Z Rep Power: 15	Dealer towed it to dealership. I just looked at it on the lift. You guys were all close. A new crush washer had been put on, but it hadn't been crushed! Drain plug had not been torqued fully (or really at all). I had been a quart low so I think I will be fine. I'm pretty lucky. Well scratch that, the dealer is lucky.

08-06-2009, 02:16 PM	#14 (permalink)
RCZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 6,403 Drives: '09 370Z Rep Power: 1118	Dealers are a nightmare, I only go there when I get free stuff.