I posted on too, but this seems to be a more active forum, so sorry for the double post. Recent Acura transplant here from a Benz.

I could really use some feedback from the forum:

Bought my 06' TL certified from an Acura dealership in Illinois. They noted an oil change during inspection and I just had my 3rd one done since I bought the car in December 09'. So technically it has had 4 oil changes done at the same Acura dealership. This time they tell me that the bolt is not Acura OEM and that the previous owner must have brought it to a Jiffy Lube and they installed an oversized bolt. They are telling me that the bolt has started to strip the oil pan hole of the thread and that I now need a new oil pan at a cost of $600. They called me saying "You must have brought this car to a 3rd party oil change place" which is when I reminded them that they are the only ones who have touched this car since it was bought 6 months ago.

So I'm really curious as to why this has not been brought up before and why the service person reinstalled this "oversized" non OEM bolt 3 times prior to it becoming an issue. The dealership says its not their fault because it was not an "issue" when they changed the oil before. I believe they should have addressed it during the certification oil change if it was so "oversized". What's different this oil change, did the bolt swell up (joking) and decide to start doing damage now?

Anyways, am I liable for this? Or should the dealership just accept responsibility?

 

No. Yes.

 

+1

OP, if the threads have indeed stripped. A new pan is $88 on acuraoemparts or you can helicoil it, use a locking coil though.. Fairly easy DIY for both.

 

^^^ What they said

 

If you have records of the oil changes, a quick call to Acura Client Relations will solve this problem pretty quickly.....

 

Dealers must be extra hard up lately with all of the ripoff threads. Everything from suggesting maintenence that the cars don't need like with my brand new rear brake pads to asking the customer to pay for their screwups.

 

they seem to be doing more damage than good lately

 

They called and said they'd take care of it, well repair the thread somehow on the existing pan and make it "good as new".

On the plus side they gave me a brand new TSX V-6 to use while they swapped my tires, aligned it, and do the oil change. The TSX was uncomfortable but had a great sound system and a smooth drivetrain. The dealer also gave me lifetime rotations on the tires even though I supplied them. The installation and the past 3 oil changes were negotiated during the original purchase so all free. So the dealer has been accomodating and pretty good but just put up a fight sometimes when I don't think there needs to be one.

 

I hate dealers always trying to rob someone...

 

whoah, come down on the dealer bashing... glad to hear they're taking care of you. this shows you are valued.
as for the oil bolt. if in deed it was there prior purchase, the dealer violated the acura certified requirements. but then again im sure you wouldnt have prove this was there or not prior purchase.
either way, glad this is worked out.

 

Glad they're fixing it for you. However, if I were you, I'd insist on a new pan. Here's why: You bought a CPO Acura.

1. It should have never been sold without the pan being replaced. (Which appears to be true).
2. You've documented that the only oil changes since you bought the car have been done by the dealer. Therefore the dealer stripped the original threads and replaced the OEM bolt with an oversized bolt (a very shoddy repair). And they didn't bother to tell you, which is being totally dishonest.

I think they owe you a new pan, not a heli-coiled pan. I'd call ACS and get a case started, then call the dealer back and tell them you won't be satisfied until you have a new pan.

 

I understand what you're saying but a helicoiled pan is an improvement over a brand new pan. IMO, any aluminum thread that sees regular use like the drain plug should have been helicoiled from the factory.

 

i like the way you think

 

So it is part of the CPO agreement that the bolt be Acura OEM? I called multiple Acura dealerships to gain input on the repair (not the CPO inspection), saying that I was thinking of changing loyalty and they all kind of said the same thing. That the technician would not be able to tell if the bolt is OEM or not and that aftermarket distributors even make the bolts the same original size but the threads larger so that it then becomes really hard to tell. I wasn't sure if to believe this or not. He then said the larger bolt can seem ok for a few oil changes because it eat's a little more into the aluminum each time until finally there is nothing more to tighten into. I have good general car knowledge, but I've never ever had to deal with such a mundane service item as an drain pluh and I'm on my 12th car in 10 years.

I could fight for a new pan, but is it worth it? Seems like there are some different view points. I plan on always having the oil changes done at the dealership, so I'd think from here on out they are liable for anything that happens with this "repair", or is that wishful thinking? I keep having this underlying feeling that as soon as my car is not covered under the warranty anymore that they are going to be a lot less accomodating.

 

No. Used Heli-Coil many times on various applications, even for head bolts, and if done properly you'll not have any problems.

 

Yes like everything in life there are good and bad dealers but that goes for customers also. The dealer I use is excellent-they do not try to sell unneeded service and go out of their way to be helpful.

 

That's the only thing I'd be concerned about.. I definitely agree though.

 

I have the same problem but have been to a few different places so how should I address this problem without getting a new oil pan? can I get a drain plug for the stripped plug in the oil pan?

 

You can re-thread the hole but you run the risk of introducing metal shavings into the pan. The other thing you can do is use a heli-coil insert. But the absolute best thing you can do is to do your own oil changes. That way you know what was done and how it was done.

 

Heli-coil is the better repair, you end up with a steel thread in your aluminum oil pan. Do your own oil changes after it's fixed & use a box-end wrench not an impact tool/wrench.

 

It's been a while but thought I'd update. I brought the car in for the next oil change, and even brought in doughnuts for the staff as a "thank you" for accepting some responsibility in this matter. My usual service person was on the phone so I tell the other service guy that the car is here for the heli-coil for the oil pan. I go to the waiting room as the guy said it'd be a hour and a half so I was gonna wait. Then a hour later a service guy comes back and say "your oil pan has a stripped drain plug, you need a new oil pan". Needless to say I went right back to my service person who we discussed the original heli-coil with and was pretty much like "WTF". She kind of remembered telling me that and luckily the service manager did too. The service tech was not willing to heli-coil as he said they always fail eventually and its not the standard Acura should be doing as a repair.

They have me leave and said they'd call with an update because they don't even have the pan there, they'd have to order. A couple of hours later they called and let me know they'd be taking care of the entire labor and asked that I only split the pre-tax cost of the oil pan with them, which was like $50. I was fine with this, so I brought it in and they gave me a new awd TL for a couple of days. I'm glad to know it was done right and I won't have to worry about a heli-coil failure (seems like the opinions are mixed on this)

 

Well at least you didn't end up paying much in the end. Glad you got it resolved OP.

 

In the future do your own oil changes. It's cheaper and you know it's done right. And I can't believe someone would strip the oil pan plug. That would take some serious force. It's easy to determine when you are tightening it, when it's tight enough, just by the feel.

 

Bingo! Glad it's fixed (and in what I consider the only acceptable manner given their culpability). And kudos to that tech!!

If you're going to continue to have someone else change your oil, I'd recommend you ask to speak to the tech before he/she gets started. Ask the tech what torque spec is for the drain bolt (29 ft-lbs) and if he'll be using a torque wrench to tighten the drain bolt. I've done this for 14 oil changes and have never had a problem.

Another option is to purchase a quick-drain valve (fumoto). Negates the chance of stripping and simplifies DIY changes. Several AZine members have this installed on their TLs. I'm about to join them since my local oil joint jacked their labor rate up to $20 for the change.

 

I'm happy for you that they will replace the pan, but the tech is wrong when he indicated that all Helicoils will eventually fail. Sometimes they just don't know what they're talking about.

 

I use this on my CR-V and 350Z. No worry about stripping the oil pan.

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/ez-drain-704203/

 

How slow does this drain? I am looking for something like this as I am tired of getting my hands dirty with oil leaking on me and bolt sometimes falling into the dirty oil and having to fish for it.

 

only thing i dont like about this is you cant use a magnetic bolt to collect the metal

 

I don't use a magnetic bolt now. Don't even know where to buy one for honda.

 

Thanks SouthernBoy where can I get this heli-coil insert! Yea I was so mad because I don't know who to blame when this happened but last time I got my oil changed the guy brought back some stripped metal and put it in my hand and told me upon my next oil change I will need a new pan!

 

I would have made him eat that metal he put in your hand!!! I honestly don't know how someone can just fuck that up to the point of destroying an oil pan. When I tighten the plug I never came close to stripping it, and my oil never leaks. What do they use, air gun?

 

Most good auto parts stores should have a kit. You may also want to use a torque wrench is you are going to start doing you own oil changes.

 

I honestly don't know who did it so I couldn't just bomb on the dude I wanted to but I had taken it to 3 different places Midas, Jiffy Lube, and wal-mart since I had the car going on 3 yrs. for an oil change. I think it was the walmart ppl but I can't be for sure so I will neva let them touch it again. Who knows what they used but it is costing me a few extra bucks!

 

Thanks again for your info Bra it's very helpful I love this site!

 

As Southernboy said, available in most autoparts stores. This is an upgrade over a new pan. Threads will be stronger and wear slower from repeated oil changes. The first thing I do when I get a brand new set of aluminum heads is helicoil them.

 

It's not too slow. Much easier and not at messy. I'm happy with it. While it's draining I'm normally inspecting other things under the car, getting oil/filter ready, getting a drink/snack, etc. I take my time anyway.

 

I bought one for my TL and will install the next oil change. I think the design is better than fumoto (which I bought and didn't install) because the fumoto requires and extension, extra washer, and costs more. I got my Dorman at AdvancedAutoParts.com and I think it cost 9.95 so I could buy two (which I did for our other honda too) for less than the price of one Fumoto.

These type of valves are great if you're going to have your oil analyzed by Blackstone labs some time because it's easy to do a sample.

 

Yeah, that was a common practice back in the day. I wasn't sure it was still as common today because of the quality and maybe the alloys used in modern heads.

Hey IHC... did you see my PM from last week?