[slick]

I purchased a 2007 SC on 4-3-2010. Thursday the service engine light came on w/ oil life of 15%.... Okay, time to change the oil. I have the fumoto oil drain plug, oil filters, oil filter wrench & mobil 1 5w 30 all ready to go.

I am looking at the few tools I do own and can't find the right size wrench / socket. I get the biggest one I have and it is still too small so I reach up with my fingers, trying to estimate how much bigger a wrench I need when the dam oil drain plug turns. :? WTH? It is sooo loose that you can spin it with one finger. :shock: I don't know what kept it on, maybe dumb azz luck.

I check the oil level and lucky for me it is at the full mark but what gives?! Does the dealer I bought it from care so little that they didn't torque it down to specs? They said when I bought it they did an oil change and it is ready to drive away. I find it hard to believe that engine vibration caused it to " work loose " so much a 4 year old could remove the plug.

People complain about wally world and other places that change oil but the dealer charges double for that added peace of mind knowing the people that touch your baby KNOW what the hell they are doing. I think not. I'm calling them tomorrow and speaking to the head of the service department. If they offer me a free service I'm going to ask for just the parts and do it myself ( so I will have a 75% chance of it being right ) or take it to my Honda certified mechanic and know it will be 100% correct.

Maybe I can get a job at don carlton Honda. I know how to read and follow instructions, that is more than I can say about the dork @ the stealership that touched my BLT. 'Hope you enjoyed it cuz its the last time ya touch her again.'

On a positive note, I want to thank NC-B17A and Insane_SC for their help in answering my questions on installing the short throw shift adaptor. Did it this morning and I was sweating over it for nothing. It is soo easy, SliCk can do it. :grin:

 

[MikeQBF]

Yup. (Raises his hand.) Typical oil-change-monkey issue, although more typical of "quickie lube" establishments.

Bear in mind that at dealerships, line mechanics are NOT doing oil changes - way too costly. A minimally-trained apprentice or even a porter performs this semi-unskilled task, with the risks therein.

 

[mkh]

Yup. (Raises his hand.) Typical oil-change-monkey issue, although more typical of "quickie lube" establishments.

Bear in mind that at dealerships, line mechanics are NOT doing oil changes - way too costly. A minimally-trained apprentice or even a porter performs this semi-unskilled task, with the risks therein.

Exactly right - the min. wage guy doing your comp. car wash, or the high school kid that valet's the cars in and out of the service area are more than likely doing the oil changes, or an apprentice-in-training, straight out of a six week vocational program.

 

[Rick92040]

Wrong oil.. It uses 5-20.

 

[bigsmokes]

the oil plug socket is a 16mm,,,and dont use 5w-30 your car takes 5w-20..please use the right oil..and about your story,,,so true,,thats why no one touches my e but me..

 

[sloweddie]

Quick lube horror stories abound online and with my friends, as well as dealership screwups. Mike's right, you really have to check every nut, bolt, plug, filter etc when someone unknown to you does maintenance on your car.
se

 

[1fastvx]

It is a 17mm, not 16mm for the oil drain plug.

John

the oil plug socket is a 16mm,,,and dont use 5w-30 your car takes 5w-20..please use the right oil..and about your story,,,so true,,thats why no one touches my e but me..

 

[slick]

the oil plug socket is a 16mm,,,and dont use 5w-30 your car takes 5w-20..please use the right oil..and about your story,,,so true,,thats why no one touches my e but me..

ya, after I opened up the hood I saw the 5w-20... had my oldest drive me and exchange it with the right one even though I have read about people using the 5w-30. Better safe than sorry.

 

[Kigotai]

I had a Nissan Pickup I took care of meticulously. Took it to the dealer for a basic oil change, drove home and about an hour later noiced a big puddle of oil on my driveway. I took the truck back to the dealership and made them come out and cleanup the oil on my driveway. Had the oil plug come completely off I'm sure I'd been fighting with them over replaceing the engine too. All because someone who gets paid to do a job didn't care enough to tighten a bolt.

 

[ElementFanatic]

one of my friends works in the toyota plant so he buys toyota cars at discount..... he bought a brand new matrix and took it in for its FIRST EVER oil change at 5K miles.....

The DEALER did the oil change and then forgot to tighten down the drain plug. The car wet itself all over their garage and burned out his new engine.... At that point the dealer bought the car back and sold him a tundra at matrix price.

Kinda sad that they can even destroy new cars!

 

[psschmied]

Yes, I've seen it, and variations of the problem, where the monkey who installed the bolt either "forgot" the crush washer, installed a second crush washer, cross threaded the bolt or used an impact wrench instead of a torque wrench. I've also seen gasket sealant used on the stripped threads to make the bolt stay in place so the problem doesn't surface right away.

If the drain hole has stripped threads, the Fumoto plug may not stay in place. Take a new crush washer and see if you can torque down the original bolt to specs.