Jiffy Lube oil change - now my car is dead. HELP!!! :(

[thexyz]

As the title implies, I got my oil changed at Jiffy Lube on August 19th, 2009. 1/10th of a mile later my car's oil light came on, simultaneously started smoking, knocking, and then died.

I went back to Jiffy Lube (coasting into the parking lot from where I broke down) and then put oil into it telling me it was approximately 2 quarts low when it returned to the shop 5 minutes AFTER getting my oil changed. They filled it, and had it towed to a Just Tires location blaming the battery as the reason the car would (at this point) no longer start. They changed the battery, and it started fine. I drove 5 miles home, and then 20 miles out of town the next day, when alas, my car started smoking, knocking, and the oil light came on, and my car died. I had it towed to my mechanic where he said what happened was a DIRECT result of the oil change.

Jiffy Lube sent a mechanic out (from their end) and he told us that there was something wrong with the Number 3 bearing and some other things (I cannot exactly remember) that were not caused by the oil change.

What exactly caused my car to die? What are the general problems that can arise from a car with 170,000 miles that has half the amount of oil needed to run properly?

If anyone can inform me of anything that could arise, it would be most helpful. (I will post more information when I know EXACTLY what they said.)

Thanks!

[thexyz]

Originally Posted by thexyz

As the title implies, I got my oil changed at Jiffy Lube on August 19th, 2009. 1/10th of a mile later my car's oil light came on, simultaneously started smoking, knocking, and then died.

I went back to Jiffy Lube (coasting into the parking lot from where I broke down) and then put oil into it telling me it was approximately 2 quarts low when it returned to the shop 5 minutes AFTER getting my oil changed. They filled it, and had it towed to a Just Tires location blaming the battery as the reason the car would (at this point) no longer start. They changed the battery, and it started fine. I drove 5 miles home, and then 20 miles out of town the next day, when alas, my car started smoking, knocking, and the oil light came on, and my car died. I had it towed to my mechanic where he said what happened was a DIRECT result of the oil change.

Jiffy Lube sent a mechanic out (from their end) and he told us that there was something wrong with the Number 3 bearing and some other things (I cannot exactly remember) that were not caused by the oil change.

What exactly caused my car to die? What are the general problems that can arise from a car with 170,000 miles that has half the amount of oil needed to run properly?

If anyone can inform me of anything that could arise, it would be most helpful. (I will post more information when I know EXACTLY what they said.)

Thanks!

They said the #3 rod bearing came apart and fragments of it damaged the #4 rod bearing.

[MagicRat]

If it was really 2 quarts low when it left Jiffy, then you would very likely get 'oil starvation', which means there is not enough oil in the engine to provide sufficient lubrication.

I think the recommended amount of oil is 5 quarts. You only had 3 quarts.

Its easy for the oil pump to suck 2 or 3 quarts out of the pan, to fill the oil pump, all the oil passages etc. Then you would have 2 or 3 quarts in the pan. If you have only 3 quarts in the engine, then there is NO reserve, which means the oil pump pick-up tobe is exposed to the air, interrupting the flow of oil.

Engine bearings require pressurized oil to be fed to them all the time, or else they will become ruined quite quickly.
Also, it's impossible for the #3 bearing failure to affect the #4 bearing. They function completely independedntly of each other.
The oil supply to the bearings is virtually identical. If one is ruined, it means all rod and crankshaft bearings are ruined.

Imho, Jiffy lube must pay for the engine repair, including removing the engine, removing and machining the crankshaft, resizing all rods and main bearings where required, and installing all new engine bearings....both for the rods AND main bearings.

Anything less than this is unacceptable. If they give you any hassle, make it VERY clear that you will SUE them for this amount.

Do NOT let Jiffy take any parts away, including the old oil. All parts and oil can be used as evidence if necessary. Make sure your mechanic is available to be an expert witness.

Since Jiffy has admitted the oil level was 2 quarts low, they are at fault. There is no doubt that they are completely at fault, regardless of your engine's mileage.

Finally, if they do pay for the repairs, it may be reasonable for you to kick in an extra bit of money and do a full rebuild on the engine. Good luck

[exalteduser]

This happened to my old friend at a wal mart oil change(they left the drain plug out/loose)
the car made it not even a block away.
walmart tried and tried to get out of it, but eventually they ended up paying for it.

Do what above poster says, do not let them take anything and hold your ground!

[wafrederick]

I agree,do what the poster says.I have heard of an oil change place in my area doing this and they paid for a new engine.Plus most oil change places do not check fluid levels resulting in burned up rear ends and transmissions.Replaced a ring and pinion in a Durango,the oil change place at the dealership did not check the fluid level in the rear end.Same thing with a Ford F150 4x4 with the 5 speed,oil change place did not check the fluid level in the transmission which was burned up and the transmission ended up being replaced.

[WheelerXp]

Same basic story, A jiffy lube place. they dident forget to put the oil plug in, the car was just buring the oil it self. They came to the house to refill it 2 days after the oil change. But yea. They owe you alot. Or the KBB value of the car at least.

[jjayson716]

i love these stories. Same thing happen to me and #3 bearing lol. jiffy lube oil change one day later oil light and boom. lol.... they paid for it.. said it was low oil and the good thing was the bottom of the block didnt blow out so i was able to prove the oil was low at the time.

the second motor installed blew into pieces so no telling how much oild was there.
good luck and keep fighting for it

[J-Ri]

http://www.jiffylubeproblems.com

http://www.jiffylubeproblems.com/Experiences951-975.htm#[971]%20Jason%20%20A%20Symphony%20of%20Problems

I wrote #971 a while back. Anyone who reads this... not everyone is capable of changing oil. Especially mentally challanged conmen making minimum wage. Don't go to the quick lube shops! Even if they do pay for whatever problems they cause, saving $2 over taking it to a real shop just isn't worth the headache.

[manicmechanix]

And even when they do get the customers oil level filled right and everything tightened, they probably use cheap oil and filters and overtighten the drain plug and filter. I just love taking off the drain plug and filter after a place like JiffyLube changed the oil last.

[thexyz]

What kind of evidence could I use against them? Or better yet, where can I educate myself on what the #3 and #4 rob bearing have to do with each other.

That is what I think I need to figure out.

[thexyz]

Another thing, on the oil change receipt it says the chassis is sealed, does this mean there were no major leaks?

[manicmechanix]

Originally Posted by thexyz

Another thing, on the oil change receipt it says the chassis is sealed, does this mean there were no major leaks?

Just a guess but I think they meant your suspension doesn't have any grease fittings. What year is your Cavalier?

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by manicmechanix

Just a guess but I think they meant your suspension doesn't have any grease fittings. What year is your Cavalier?

Agreed. But take a look for yourself and look for grease fittings on the ball joints, tie rod ends etc. Often, aftermarket replacement pieces are not sealed, even if the factory original ones are.

Originally Posted by thexyz

What kind of evidence could I use against them? Or better yet, where can I educate myself on what the #3 and #4 rob bearing have to do with each other.

That is what I think I need to figure out.

Look here for some basic information:

http://www.essortment.com/hobbies/be...ricat_saai.htm

One would have to look at all the bearings and the crankshaft. Bearings and crankshafts often tell a story. Subtle differences in their wear and appearance can tell you a lot about the reasons and nature of the failure. So, you need the original parts AND someone who can interprit their appearance for the court. Ideally this should be the same mechanic who disassembled your engine and told you what is wrong.

[manicmechanix]

Originally Posted by MagicRat

Agreed. But take a look for yourself and look for grease fittings on the ball joints, tie rod ends etc. Often, aftermarket replacement pieces are not sealed, even if the factory original ones are.

Yeah true none of the aftermarket ones I've seen are sealed even though the originals are. I always get originals if it's my own car. They seem to last about as longer or longer, look cleaner and I don't like to bother with greasing the suspension. Those aftermarket seals don't really seal at all whereas even the greasable originals provided some seal. You ever seen GM tie rods that came factory sealed and with a grease joint? They'd get balloned way big from lube places over greasing them lol.

[orkel]

I have been to Jiffy Lube once in my life here in Canada. At the time I had a Grand Caravan which was working fine, but I went in for a transmission fluid change, as it had been over a year, and allot of cross country driving. Well Car worked fine afterwards, but when my wife went to drive it a few hours later, it would not shift into gear. I checked the fluid level, and there was nothing on the dip stick. Called them up, and yes, the supervisor did come over and filled it up. Worked fine for the rest of the day, but next morning, same thing.
I was new to this, and stupid, so I believed the story they gave me about the pin slipping out of the diff and cracking the housing, therebye causing oil to leak. Ended up trading van in, but I learned my lesson, as I since found out that the had fed me a crock of shit.

Never again