Was any permanent damage done when the oil change guys forgot to refill the oil?
Dear Car Talk | Jul 01, 1999
Dear Tom and Ray:
RAY: Probably. Most experts agree that one should not run a car without oil in it. And the fact that it died on him while he was driving indicates that it started to seize up and probably did damage the rings and the bearings.
TOM: His mistake was stopping. If he had just kept on driving until the engine was absolutely cooked, there would have been no question about the fact that they owe you
an engine. But since it's still running, they can have their buddies at the other shop give it the thumbs up and send you on your way. Then they just have to hope that by
the time the car starts burning a quart of oil every 50 miles, either: A) Your son will be living in a different state; or B) They will have been abducted by aliens or the
Better Business Bureau.
RAY: I'd tell them that you want to have the car checked out independently before you let them off the hook. Have a mechanic of YOUR choosing do an oil leak-down
test. And if necessary, have him remove the oil pan and visually inspect the bearings. He may see that the bearings are actually burned.
TOM: And if that's the case, you'll just have to press them to share the cost of fixing it. They won't pay for a new engine -- nor should they, really -- because the engine
you drove in with was nine years old. But they should pay for a portion of the rebuilding cost, or they should buy you a used engine and install it. You'll have to
negotiate with their insurance company.
RAY: All decent shops carry insurance to cover bonehead maneuvers like this. It's part of the cost of being in the auto repair business. And if they employ anyone like
my brother, I'm sure they've opted for the lowest possible deductible. So don't feel bad about pushing this, Neil. It was their mistake.
RAY: Probably. Most experts agree that one should not run a car without oil in it. And the fact that it died on him while he was driving indicates that it started to seize up and probably did damage the rings and the bearings.
TOM: His mistake was stopping. If he had just kept on driving until the engine was absolutely cooked, there would have been no question about the fact that they owe you
an engine. But since it's still running, they can have their buddies at the other shop give it the thumbs up and send you on your way. Then they just have to hope that by
the time the car starts burning a quart of oil every 50 miles, either: A) Your son will be living in a different state; or B) They will have been abducted by aliens or the
Better Business Bureau.
RAY: I'd tell them that you want to have the car checked out independently before you let them off the hook. Have a mechanic of YOUR choosing do an oil leak-down
test. And if necessary, have him remove the oil pan and visually inspect the bearings. He may see that the bearings are actually burned.
TOM: And if that's the case, you'll just have to press them to share the cost of fixing it. They won't pay for a new engine -- nor should they, really -- because the engine
you drove in with was nine years old. But they should pay for a portion of the rebuilding cost, or they should buy you a used engine and install it. You'll have to
negotiate with their insurance company.
RAY: All decent shops carry insurance to cover bonehead maneuvers like this. It's part of the cost of being in the auto repair business. And if they employ anyone like
my brother, I'm sure they've opted for the lowest possible deductible. So don't feel bad about pushing this, Neil. It was their mistake.
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