This is a good place to pause because, well, holy f---

[Klackamas]

   

http://jalopnik.com/lazy-idiots-at-lube-shop-cut-hole-in-audi-s4s-aero-pan-1748394648

[MX793]

Holy hell.  That place is like maliciously incompetent.

I had a dealership hack a hole in my aero pan on my Mazda to get at the oil filter.  Not sure when they did it.  Noticed it when I had what appeared to be an oil leak and I climbed under the car and saw a 5-6" square hacked into the tray just behind a circular cutout that Mazda designed into the pan to permit oil filter access.  In their defense, though, the fasteners were so rusted that they were impossible to remove without doing more damage than cutting a hole in the pan (I ended up destroying the pan and snapping several fasteners trying to remove it).

[Eye of the Tiger]

This is amazing.

[Byteme]

This is why I do all the maintenance I am capable of doing myself.

[Speed_Racer]

Yikes that is scary!

[VTEC_Inside]

I know the article says to go easy on the guy, but how can you? This is pretty much exactly what I would expect.

Even a Civic has an under tray that has to be removed now. Its thin metal though so I guess tin snips would do the trick.

[shp4man]

These lube places hire people off the street to do minor automotive maintenance and attempt to sell other maintenance services.
Cars are getting to the point where it takes someone with a functioning brain to do even minor stuff. Very few people with that asset stay at minimum wage jobs long.

[Raza]

 

[Soup DeVille]

Why wouldn't a dude just go "hey man, this looks unfamiliar and Im not sure how to access the filter?"

I mean fuck;'why would you even let a grease monkey in an oil change pit have a hacksaw or whatever?

[MX793]

Why wouldn't a dude just go "hey man, this looks unfamiliar and Im not sure how to access the filter?"

I mean fuck;'why would you even let a grease monkey in an oil change pit have a hacksaw or whatever?

I think in this case, they did it to get at the drain plug.  And he probably hacked the tray with a pocket knife.  Also wouldn't surprise me if he didn't have the right tools to remove the 1/4 turns to remove the tray.  The buy in the pit probably just had a couple of wrenches/sockets for the most common drain plug sizes and, obviously, some kind of cutting tool, down there with him.  Why he didn't shout up that he needed more tools, though...  Of course, this same guy then lied with a straight face when asked if he'd cut the tray, so that speaks volumes about how responsible he is as a person.

[Soup DeVille]

I think in this case, they did it to get at the drain plug.  And he probably hacked the tray with a pocket knife.  Also wouldn't surprise me if he didn't have the right tools to remove the 1/4 turns to remove the tray.  The buy in the pit probably just had a couple of wrenches/sockets for the most common drain plug sizes and, obviously, some kind of cutting tool, down there with him.  Why he didn't shout up that he needed more tools, though...  Of course, this same guy then lied with a straight face when asked if he'd cut the tray, so that speaks volumes about how responsible he is as a person.

Do shops like this generally not have an account with AllData or something so they can actually look this shit up when they see something they don't recognize?

I mean,  I can imagine an oil change place gets a wide variety of cars daily; probably wider than your average real shop.

[shp4man]

Do shops like this generally not have an account with AllData or something so they can actually look this shit up when they see something they don't recognize?

I mean,  I can imagine an oil change place gets a wide variety of cars daily; probably wider than your average real shop.

Maybe, but only the manager, who is likely a flake, too, has access.  When I was still driving the old '66 Beetle, I thought it might be amusing to take it in to one of those places just to see how long it would take before they figured it out.

[Soup DeVille]

Maybe, but only the manager, who is likely a flake, too, has access.  When I was still driving the old '66 Beetle, I thought it might be amusing to take it in to one of those places just to see how long it would take before they figured it out.

What do you mean you can't find the oil filter? It's a tiny little car, it has to be somewhere.

While you're at it, check the coolant level, OK?

[Pancor]

Do shops like this generally not have an account with AllData or something so they can actually look this shit up when they see something they don't recognize?

I mean,  I can imagine an oil change place gets a wide variety of cars daily; probably wider than your average real shop.

I worked at a couple places like this when I was in my late teens, and no, there is no Alldata or similar.   Thats ok, assuming you aren't an idiot.    Heck, we did coolant flushes, tranny flushes, and fuel injection services by the seat of our pants and never once fucked a single thing up!

[Rupert]

On the other hand, these places do many many oil changes every day, and only a handful fuck em up. It's not like some guarantee that they'll ruin your car. The worst they'll do is overtighten stuff (unless your car needs special coolant or something).

[mzziaz]

On the other hand, these places do many many oil changes every day, and only a handful fuck em up. It's not like some guarantee that they'll ruin your car. The worst they'll do is overtighten stuff (unless your car needs special coolant or something).

Well, at worst they will apparently hack themselves through the underside of the car, then drain the gearbox and overfill the engine with oil.

[GoCougs]

This is why I almost always go to the dealer for oil changes or any service. The likelihood of problems is greatly diminished, and in the event of a problem, they will be more willing and far more capable of making amends (read: that is why service and repairs typically cost more at dealers, and it is worth it).

[CaminoRacer]

Mazda dealership broke the drain plug on my mom's car and had to order an entire new oil pan.

[Eye of the Tiger]

This is why I almost always go to the dealer for oil changes or any service. The likelihood of problems is greatly diminished, and in the event of a problem, they will be more willing and far more capable of making amends (read: that is why service and repairs typically cost more at dealers, and it is worth it).

LOL

[Rupert]

Well, at worst they will apparently hack themselves through the underside of the car, then drain the gearbox and overfill the engine with oil.

Extremely unlikely.

[Payman]

Extremely unlikely.

Did you see the link? That's exactly what the "tech" did!

[Payman]

Imagine if the guy didn't notice the fastener. How far would he have gotten with an overfull engine and fully drained gearbox?

I expect he'll send the dealership bill for the new under tray, gearbox service, new engine oil/filter, and the towing charges to the Valvoline place.

[Cookie Monster]

Imagine if the guy didn't notice the fastener. How far would he have gotten with an overfull engine and fully drained gearbox?

I expect he'll send the dealership bill for the new under tray, gearbox service, new engine oil/filter, and the towing charges to the Valvoline place.

Valvoline already paid him for the damages.

[Payman]

Valvoline already paid him for the damages.

Well, the check is in the mail. Holy crap... $1442 oil change.

[Rupert]

Did you see the link? That's exactly what the "tech" did!

I did see that, and it's extremely unlikely. Do you not understand the concept of tiny numbers (1) compared to big numbers (1000s)?

[Payman]

I did see that, and it's extremely unlikely. Do you not understand the concept of tiny numbers (1) compared to big numbers (1000s)?

Shit similar to this happens all the time. Guys hired off the street with little experience making minimum wage generally don't give a fuck about what they're doing to your car. I generally do my own oil changes and minor shit, but personal experience off the top of my head...
1. paid $9 labor to have wipers replaced, tech didn't replace the old cracked clips, wipers fell off when I tested them at the garage
2. tech was gabbing to his friend, put over 100 psi into one of my new tires (got a new tire)
3. several times caught tech using grease to mount tires
4. asked to see old filter from oil change on son's Pontiac G5, tech produced a conventional filter, which I promptly brought to the manager. G5 has an element type filter. Tech lied about changing it.
5. swapping out winter tires/rims, no use of torque wrench. One tech didn't even know what a torque wrench was.
6. oil cap lost from my VW Golf, tech forgot to install it.
7. tech forgets to reset oil service message, or has no clue how to do it.
8. tech can't find battery in son's G5, asks a buddy, he can't find it either. I get paged to the service department so they can ask me where the battery is located.
9. used wiper wash, window instantly becomes greasy and can't see out of it. Tech put antifreeze in the washer bottle.
10. grease stains on my seat.
11. McDonald's wrapper and cup left in the car by a tech.
12. Tim Horton's cup left in upholder by a tech.

All the above and more happened to me over the past 25 years or so. I'd say my good/bad experience ratio is 50/50.

Do you understand those numbers?

[Rupert]

None of that is similar to what happened in the OP.

I don't know where you go, but the Jiffy Lubes I've been to (many) are all fine. They try to sell you shit, but I've never had a single problem in the roughly 30 or so oil changes I've had done on my cars and work cars, and my experience is not unique among anyone I know (including people who have been driving and getting their oil changed at that kind of place for 50 years). I understand those numbers, yes.

[shp4man]

The problems arise when somebody brings in an unusual vehicle that requires a different procedure. The lube lizards are generally incapable of reasoning through that situation.
Pep Boys is another example of this kind of thing. I've seen and had to repair some of their mistakes.

[Rupert]

That's true. I don't take the 944 to a place like that. A lot of that is that I'm afraid they won't realize it's aluminum.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Whats aluminum?