Edmonton man's engine destroyed after oil change
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Edmonton man's engine destroyed after oil change
People need to learn how to do it themselves, or even check the engine oil to avoid such cases. It sounds a bit fishy since it took 8 days for the engine to go. If the oil filter was not on correctly, I believe it would take less than 3 days.
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/edmonton-m...491.html?nhp=1
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/edmonton-m...491.html?nhp=1
An Edmonton man is trying to find someone to take responsibility after his vehicle's engine seized.
Tim Slocombe needed an oil change on his 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander before heading to Lethbridge for Christmas.
He wasn't able to book an appointment at his dealership. So he went to Mr. Lube near the corner of Parsons and Ellerslie roads in Edmonton.
"I've been there before with other vehicles and never had a problem," he said.
According to Slocombe, everything was fine for about a week after he got the oil change, until a couple of warning indicators suddenly lit up on his dash and the vehicle ground to a halt.
The Outlander was towed to Lethbridge Mitsubishi, where service adviser Jessica MacQuarrie said her technician noticed a problem right away.
Oil filter 'improperly' installed?
"After we realized that the oil filter was improperly installed, we also came to the conclusion that it was altogether the wrong filter for that particular vehicle," MacQuarrie said.
The CBC cannot independently verify that diagnosis.
Mr. Lube said it has investigated and stands by its claim that it did use the correct filter.
The CBC also contacted two different parts stores in Edmonton to ask for the correct part number for the oil filter on Slocombe's Mitsubishi. Both gave the same part number that Mr. Lube used.
Mr. Lube spokesperson David Waterfall said the company also verified the part number with the supplier and confirmed it's an original equipment manufacturer part.
"That means this is not a copy of the part that Mitsubishi would have in their cars," said Waterfall. "This is the actual part that Mitsubishi themselves would install."
Waterfall said he isn't sure what caused the engine to fail.
"But I can tell you with a great deal of certainty that the part we installed was not the problem," he said.
He could not say if improper installation may have been to blame, adding "anything is possible but I think that's unlikely."
Still, the dealership wrote a letter to Mr. Lube on Slocombe's behalf outlining the problem. It pointed out that the Mr. Lube technician could have obtained what it said is the correct part number from the filter that was removed rather than looking it up.
But the damage is done, and it's extensive.
An independent mechanic who is not connected to the story confirmed to CBC that it is possible for a vehicle's warning indicators to start flashing just before the engine seizes. Kent Asselstine with Legend Auto also confirmed that an incorrect oil filter can cause a catastrophic engine failure, but believes most filter problems are caused by installation errors.
The dealership said the engine will have to be replaced, at a cost of about $15,000. MacQuarrie thinks Mr. Lube should foot the bill.
"I believe they should absolutely be responsible for the damage."
Mr. Lube disagrees.
Mr. Lube says it used correct filter
A Mr. Lube representative responded to Slocombe with a letter indicating the dealership was wrong and that Mr. Lube did use the correct filter.
Mr. Lube even provided a link to a Mitsubishi website indicating technicians did in fact use the manufacturer's suggested part.
MacQuarrie thinks it may be an American Mitsubishi website.
"We base everything that we service here in Canada off of the Mitsubishi Canada website," MacQuarrie said. "By the looks of this information that I've been sent, that is not the website that he visited. It seems to me that that looks like an American site."
Meanwhile, Slocombe has returned to Edmonton without his vehicle; it's still sitting at the dealership's lot in Lethbridge, and he's still making payments on it.
Engine 'totally seized'
"So my engine is now totally seized, I've approached Mr. Lube and they've basically written two letters telling me to go away and that it's not their fault," said Slocombe. "That they're right, that their recommendations that they use told them to use the filter that they did, and not the filter that was already on the car.
"Whether it's the wrong filter or the right filter, their technicians touched my vehicle and eight days later it suffered catastrophic engine failure."
Tim Slocombe needed an oil change on his 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander before heading to Lethbridge for Christmas.
He wasn't able to book an appointment at his dealership. So he went to Mr. Lube near the corner of Parsons and Ellerslie roads in Edmonton.
"I've been there before with other vehicles and never had a problem," he said.
According to Slocombe, everything was fine for about a week after he got the oil change, until a couple of warning indicators suddenly lit up on his dash and the vehicle ground to a halt.
The Outlander was towed to Lethbridge Mitsubishi, where service adviser Jessica MacQuarrie said her technician noticed a problem right away.
Oil filter 'improperly' installed?
"After we realized that the oil filter was improperly installed, we also came to the conclusion that it was altogether the wrong filter for that particular vehicle," MacQuarrie said.
The CBC cannot independently verify that diagnosis.
Mr. Lube said it has investigated and stands by its claim that it did use the correct filter.
The CBC also contacted two different parts stores in Edmonton to ask for the correct part number for the oil filter on Slocombe's Mitsubishi. Both gave the same part number that Mr. Lube used.
Mr. Lube spokesperson David Waterfall said the company also verified the part number with the supplier and confirmed it's an original equipment manufacturer part.
"That means this is not a copy of the part that Mitsubishi would have in their cars," said Waterfall. "This is the actual part that Mitsubishi themselves would install."
Waterfall said he isn't sure what caused the engine to fail.
"But I can tell you with a great deal of certainty that the part we installed was not the problem," he said.
He could not say if improper installation may have been to blame, adding "anything is possible but I think that's unlikely."
Still, the dealership wrote a letter to Mr. Lube on Slocombe's behalf outlining the problem. It pointed out that the Mr. Lube technician could have obtained what it said is the correct part number from the filter that was removed rather than looking it up.
But the damage is done, and it's extensive.
An independent mechanic who is not connected to the story confirmed to CBC that it is possible for a vehicle's warning indicators to start flashing just before the engine seizes. Kent Asselstine with Legend Auto also confirmed that an incorrect oil filter can cause a catastrophic engine failure, but believes most filter problems are caused by installation errors.
The dealership said the engine will have to be replaced, at a cost of about $15,000. MacQuarrie thinks Mr. Lube should foot the bill.
"I believe they should absolutely be responsible for the damage."
Mr. Lube disagrees.
Mr. Lube says it used correct filter
A Mr. Lube representative responded to Slocombe with a letter indicating the dealership was wrong and that Mr. Lube did use the correct filter.
Mr. Lube even provided a link to a Mitsubishi website indicating technicians did in fact use the manufacturer's suggested part.
MacQuarrie thinks it may be an American Mitsubishi website.
"We base everything that we service here in Canada off of the Mitsubishi Canada website," MacQuarrie said. "By the looks of this information that I've been sent, that is not the website that he visited. It seems to me that that looks like an American site."
Meanwhile, Slocombe has returned to Edmonton without his vehicle; it's still sitting at the dealership's lot in Lethbridge, and he's still making payments on it.
Engine 'totally seized'
"So my engine is now totally seized, I've approached Mr. Lube and they've basically written two letters telling me to go away and that it's not their fault," said Slocombe. "That they're right, that their recommendations that they use told them to use the filter that they did, and not the filter that was already on the car.
"Whether it's the wrong filter or the right filter, their technicians touched my vehicle and eight days later it suffered catastrophic engine failure."
If the place installed the correct part and verified it was the correct part, it's going to be near impossible to prove the oil filter itself was the cause. With that said the owner could have done anything to the car over those 8 days which may have caused a loss of oil... none of which would be Mr Lube's fault. If Mr Lube can prove they used the right filter (sound like they did that) and they filled the oil properly and tightened all drains before it left their shop, the customer may be screwed...
Team Owner
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The other thing is, how do you install a filter incorrectly? It's not even possible, unless you purposely rethread the threaded part that the filter sits on. Then there would be obvious damage that someone fucked something up. By the end of the day, it would be a he said, she said scenario.
The dealership says the filter was improperly installed, but how? I just don't get it. And Mr.Lube isn't denying that happened either.
The dealership says the filter was improperly installed, but how? I just don't get it. And Mr.Lube isn't denying that happened either.
The other thing is, how do you install a filter incorrectly? It's not even possible, unless you purposely rethread the threaded part that the filter sits on. Then there would be obvious damage that someone fucked something up. By the end of the day, it would be a he said, she said scenario.
The dealership says the filter was improperly installed, but how? I just don't get it. And Mr.Lube isn't denying that happened either.
The dealership says the filter was improperly installed, but how? I just don't get it. And Mr.Lube isn't denying that happened either.
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Team Owner
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From: In an igloo
So wouldn't that indicate that Mr.Lube fucked up? I mean, I know they're gonna argue that the car owner replaced the filter on his own in that 1 week time span, but c'mon, why the hell would he do that?
"Oh, I've got brand new oil and a brand new filter on here, that I just overpaid to have installed on my car. Better go take it off and do my own oil change, 1 week later!"
"Oh, I've got brand new oil and a brand new filter on here, that I just overpaid to have installed on my car. Better go take it off and do my own oil change, 1 week later!"
Your Friendly Canadian
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Toronto, Ontario
It's actually quite common for the gasket on the old filter to stick to the block, then when the new filter is spun on they double stack and don't steal properly gradually spilling all the oil from the engine. Lots of mechanics forget to double check that the old gasket came off with the filter.
Team Owner
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From: In an igloo
This guy was driving an average Joe Mitsubishi and had his oil changes done at Mr. Lube. Highly doubt he knows or cares much about cars and leaves it to the "professionals".
Being sloppy weathered around here at this time, there's always dirt snow and ice on the ground. It's no different if you park in your garage. My garage is insulated, but not heated, and there's been plenty of days where the ice and snow build up just melts on to the ground. It's always a pain to clean it off. I can easily see how he would have missed such a leak.
Team Owner
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From: In an igloo
Also, he didn't lose 5 quarts of oil, or whatever, for that to happen. It would suffice to be a half quart under the "minimum" fill line for that to happen. So he lost, what, 1-1.5 quarts in 8 days before it seized?
You guys would be highly surprised at how many people would never notice such a thing. Just get in the car, turn the key and go.
This guy was driving an average Joe Mitsubishi and had his oil changes done at Mr. Lube. Highly doubt he knows or cares much about cars and leaves it to the "professionals".
Being sloppy weathered around here at this time, there's always dirt snow and ice on the ground. It's no different if you park in your garage. My garage is insulated, but not heated, and there's been plenty of days where the ice and snow build up just melts on to the ground. It's always a pain to clean it off. I can easily see how he would have missed such a leak.
This guy was driving an average Joe Mitsubishi and had his oil changes done at Mr. Lube. Highly doubt he knows or cares much about cars and leaves it to the "professionals".
Being sloppy weathered around here at this time, there's always dirt snow and ice on the ground. It's no different if you park in your garage. My garage is insulated, but not heated, and there's been plenty of days where the ice and snow build up just melts on to the ground. It's always a pain to clean it off. I can easily see how he would have missed such a leak.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Northeast
It's actually quite common for the gasket on the old filter to stick to the block, then when the new filter is spun on they double stack and don't steal properly gradually spilling all the oil from the engine. Lots of mechanics forget to double check that the old gasket came off with the filter.
Senior Moderator
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Appleton WI
You guys would be highly surprised at how many people would never notice such a thing. Just get in the car, turn the key and go.
This guy was driving an average Joe Mitsubishi and had his oil changes done at Mr. Lube. Highly doubt he knows or cares much about cars and leaves it to the "professionals".
Being sloppy weathered around here at this time, there's always dirt snow and ice on the ground. It's no different if you park in your garage. My garage is insulated, but not heated, and there's been plenty of days where the ice and snow build up just melts on to the ground. It's always a pain to clean it off. I can easily see how he would have missed such a leak.
This guy was driving an average Joe Mitsubishi and had his oil changes done at Mr. Lube. Highly doubt he knows or cares much about cars and leaves it to the "professionals".
Being sloppy weathered around here at this time, there's always dirt snow and ice on the ground. It's no different if you park in your garage. My garage is insulated, but not heated, and there's been plenty of days where the ice and snow build up just melts on to the ground. It's always a pain to clean it off. I can easily see how he would have missed such a leak.
Senior Moderator
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From: SoCal, CA
Wouldn't his car have had at least an oil light come on when it was getting low due to low oil pressure.. 
Surely his car at least had THAT... that's not a very new invention...
Agreed with fatty (
) This is definitely a case of "not being held accountable for your own actions" and just want to lay the blame on someone else.
Surely his car at least had THAT... that's not a very new invention...
Agreed with fatty (
) This is definitely a case of "not being held accountable for your own actions" and just want to lay the blame on someone else.
Team Owner
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From: In an igloo
Wouldn't his car have had at least an oil light come on when it was getting low due to low oil pressure..
Surely his car at least had THAT... that's not a very new invention...
Agreed with fatty () This is definitely a case of "not being held accountable for your own actions" and just want to lay the blame on someone else.
Surely his car at least had THAT... that's not a very new invention...
Agreed with fatty (
) This is definitely a case of "not being held accountable for your own actions" and just want to lay the blame on someone else.I mean, it's a Mitsubishi... I'm surprised it even has such a sensor. Then again, I'm questioning whether there was even an engine in the car to begin with... those Mitsubishi cost cutting measures...
The Third Ball
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Los Angeles, Ca
In college, a good friend of mine had a Ford Explorer. He took it to a Jiffy Lube or something like that for an oil change. They installed a faulty filter and it took about a week or a little more before it completely failed and left us stranded on the side of the highway with a seized engine.
Moral of the story. Black Tire is an idiot.
Moral of the story. Black Tire is an idiot.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Kansas City
Maybe they didn't check to see if the old oil filter gasket was still stuck on there and put on the new filter anyway...double gasket-ing and causing leak that way....I've heard of that happening.
But yeah cheap quick lube places are big no no for me. My first car ever I got in high school I took it one time to a quick lube place (before I got into cars/knowledge about cars) and I noticed oil started leaking after the oil change. Took it to a friend who was a peon at a local shop and we hoisted it up and saw the oil filter was quite loose along with several oil pan bolts seemed to have been loosened and oil seeping out of the oil pan gasket all around....yeah needless to say ever since i've only done oil change at known friend's, occasional dealer, and myself as well as learning lot more about cars so I don't get screwed like that again. People who intentionally or are so negligent in doing this need to be held almost criminally liable for attempted murder....
This is similar to that jiffy lube story about a dude who took his brand new Audi to them and the kid who worked on the car drained the DSG fluid instead of the motor oil (while cutting out a whole in the underpan) and then overfilling the motor oil.....
But yeah cheap quick lube places are big no no for me. My first car ever I got in high school I took it one time to a quick lube place (before I got into cars/knowledge about cars) and I noticed oil started leaking after the oil change. Took it to a friend who was a peon at a local shop and we hoisted it up and saw the oil filter was quite loose along with several oil pan bolts seemed to have been loosened and oil seeping out of the oil pan gasket all around....yeah needless to say ever since i've only done oil change at known friend's, occasional dealer, and myself as well as learning lot more about cars so I don't get screwed like that again. People who intentionally or are so negligent in doing this need to be held almost criminally liable for attempted murder....
This is similar to that jiffy lube story about a dude who took his brand new Audi to them and the kid who worked on the car drained the DSG fluid instead of the motor oil (while cutting out a whole in the underpan) and then overfilling the motor oil.....
Team Owner
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From: In an igloo
about 12 years ago, a friend of mine was working at one of these tire and oil shops. He said some guy brought in his GMC Typhoon for an oil change... the guy doing the oil change (not my buddy, lol) filled the engine with oil RIGHT TO THE TOP.
I believe he even then started it up. Needless to say, he was fired and the shop had an expensive engine to replace. That's what happens when someone gets paid $10/hr to do this stuff. Experience? None necessary!!
I believe he even then started it up. Needless to say, he was fired and the shop had an expensive engine to replace. That's what happens when someone gets paid $10/hr to do this stuff. Experience? None necessary!!
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Kansas City
about 12 years ago, a friend of mine was working at one of these tire and oil shops. He said some guy brought in his GMC Typhoon for an oil change... the guy doing the oil change (not my buddy, lol) filled the engine with oil RIGHT TO THE TOP.
I believe he even then started it up. Needless to say, he was fired and the shop had an expensive engine to replace. That's what happens when someone gets paid $10/hr to do this stuff. Experience? None necessary!!
I believe he even then started it up. Needless to say, he was fired and the shop had an expensive engine to replace. That's what happens when someone gets paid $10/hr to do this stuff. Experience? None necessary!!
Now while the kid does deserve consequences....when things like that happen it points to a higher level problem...management not putting in proper training policies. Of course they'll just blame the low level peon/grease monkey. Not saying that was the problem but I suspect that may have been a possibility. Too many times we blame the peons who have been woefully under-trained/supervised and the culture/management may be the real cause of the problem
Senior Moderator
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From: SoCal, CA
Dang.
Now while the kid does deserve consequences....when things like that happen it points to a higher level problem...management not putting in proper training policies. Of course they'll just blame the low level peon/grease monkey. Not saying that was the problem but I suspect that may have been a possibility. Too many times we blame the peons who have been woefully under-trained/supervised and the culture/management may be the real cause of the problem
Now while the kid does deserve consequences....when things like that happen it points to a higher level problem...management not putting in proper training policies. Of course they'll just blame the low level peon/grease monkey. Not saying that was the problem but I suspect that may have been a possibility. Too many times we blame the peons who have been woefully under-trained/supervised and the culture/management may be the real cause of the problem
The real blame here is the guy for taking it to a quick lube shop
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2014
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From: In an igloo
If I remember correctly, I believe he was hired because he claimed to have extensive experience on changing oil. You're right though- management should have verified it and even still make him do the basic training. In the end, I believe he was fired for lying about his experience, not necessarily because of what he did.
Still though, I agree, management does play a role in all of this.
Still though, I agree, management does play a role in all of this.
09 TL SH AWD /w TECH
Joined: Jan 2014
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From: Mississauga, Ontario
People need to learn how to do it themselves, or even check the engine oil to avoid such cases. It sounds a bit fishy since it took 8 days for the engine to go. If the oil filter was not on correctly, I believe it would take less than 3 days.
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/edmonton-m...491.html?nhp=1
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/edmonton-m...491.html?nhp=1
09 TL SH AWD /w TECH
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 343
Likes: 37
From: Mississauga, Ontario
about 12 years ago, a friend of mine was working at one of these tire and oil shops. He said some guy brought in his GMC Typhoon for an oil change... the guy doing the oil change (not my buddy, lol) filled the engine with oil RIGHT TO THE TOP.
I believe he even then started it up. Needless to say, he was fired and the shop had an expensive engine to replace. That's what happens when someone gets paid $10/hr to do this stuff. Experience? None necessary!!
I believe he even then started it up. Needless to say, he was fired and the shop had an expensive engine to replace. That's what happens when someone gets paid $10/hr to do this stuff. Experience? None necessary!!
Team Owner
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From: In an igloo
It's easy, man. Very little you can screw up. You just have to invest in some tools, but luckily, you don't need all that much.
Get a floor jack, 2 jack stands, a socket set (17mm socket to remove drain plug), a filter wrench (personally I like the 3 armed ones, that you attach a ratchet wrench to), some shop rags, a couple funnels, a drain pan and I think that's about it.
Collect your used oil and filter and take them to the recycle center. I always pour my used oil back into an empty oil jug and take that for recycling.
For what it costs for a synthetic oil change at one of these quick lube shops, I change my oil for about 60% less cost. Plus you learn a bit about your car and you get the satisfaction that you did it yourself. Also, you know it's been done right, which is likely one of the best things.
Get a floor jack, 2 jack stands, a socket set (17mm socket to remove drain plug), a filter wrench (personally I like the 3 armed ones, that you attach a ratchet wrench to), some shop rags, a couple funnels, a drain pan and I think that's about it.
Collect your used oil and filter and take them to the recycle center. I always pour my used oil back into an empty oil jug and take that for recycling.
For what it costs for a synthetic oil change at one of these quick lube shops, I change my oil for about 60% less cost. Plus you learn a bit about your car and you get the satisfaction that you did it yourself. Also, you know it's been done right, which is likely one of the best things.
Moderator
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From: Spring, TX
^ Pretty much, except I'm lazy & have about 6-7 jugs of used oil in my garage. Need to get with my brother in law next time he's down to use his truck to haul them all to the disposal. Don't really want them dripping/spilling/tipping in the Civic or Flex.
I put mine in old gallon milk jugs and seal them up.
Senior Moderator
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From: Appleton WI
I put just shy of 30 gallons in my TL once
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2015
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From: Jacksonville, FL
I had a da9 integra that had a bad oil leak after installing a turbo(I was stupid and used a brake line instead of an oil feed line for the turbo) needless to say I was putting in 2 QTS of oil a day on a 1.8l engine... At one point I actually was driving it with the oil light on because I was trying to get to a auto store... Got to the store and there was NOTHING on the dipstick. Was driven like that for at least an hour. Filled up with oil then learned what could have happened... Same day bought a proper oil feed line and all was good after.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: May 2017
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From: Right Here
That's all fine if the owner knows what they are doing. I've seen my share of DIYs where the person had absolutely no business under the hood of their vehicle.
I'd never let anyone touch any of my vehicles, not even during the warranty period except for a recall.
I'd never let anyone touch any of my vehicles, not even during the warranty period except for a recall.
Moderator
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Phoenix, AZ
You're responding to something that is nearly a year old.
Dang it!