So...

I go to pick up my IS250 at Firestone for a 10k oil change. My car is being worked on alongside a SLS AMG (for tire repair). I jokingly go to the salesman, and say, "Oh, sorry. I am here to pick up the SLS, not the Lexus." He goes, "I am so so sorry, Mr. ____. Here are the keys. Thank you for paying up front. Have a pleasant evening, and do not forget to fill out the survey when you get home."

....clearly, I tell him I am joking, and that he almost gave away the keys to a complete "stranger" for all he knew.

To top things off, i get home, and my lexus is violent shaking at idle and reverse. I check the dip stick and the oil is about two full inches above the "Full" mark. Now I need to go back there in the morning.

What is the best remedy to fix the oil? Should I ask for a reimbursement? Should they completely drain the new oil and refill from scratch? How much damage could this have done? (Drove about 15 miles on an overfill).

Thanks.

 

@ the SLS give-a-way.

Your rough idle, not so much. First ask to speak to a manager and explain what you found. There is no telling if their negligence caused any damage to your vehicle. Have them flush the fluid (it may be contaminated with metal shavings at this point) and replace it with fresh oil. After that have the manager go for a test ride with you.

 

Potential worse case scenario of overfilling your oil that much: blown head gasket

 

^^^ Thanks. i will use the "metal shavings" line to see if they will drain entirely and refill.

Hopefully, they will listen to me and actually drain all of the oil and refill, rather than just slightly drain the existing oil. at this point, i have no faith in them whatsoever.

i have a road trip on friday, so tomorrow is crucial.

 

you think it would make a difference if i drove the 15 miles to the shop at a very low RPM?

(sorry, paranoid)

 

Be careful with flushing, though. If it's a similar process to the quick-lube's engine flushes, that's asking for trouble. Aside from the various horror stories online, a friend of mine had that done on his Mustang GT about 8 months ago.

4 3 months ago, his variable timing goes haywire, and he essentially had to have the entire top end of his engine rebuilt, and he's still having problems with the starter and throttle body.

I would call Firestone from home and tell them they overfilled the oil, and describe the symptoms. Maybe take a photo of your dipstick? Ask to have the car towed back to the shop because you're afraid of damage to your seals if you drive any farther.

If the shop refuses to work with you, drain and refill your oil in your garage and cut your losses.

 

so maybe it is a better idea to have them simply drain some oil themselves (if willing to do for free), rather than a full flush?

(i have a four hour drive that needs to be done first thing on friday, so i just want to take care of this as best as possible in person tomorrow)

 

Call them tomorrow, if they don't work with you I'd do a full drain and refill on my own.

 

Overfilled oil could blow out seals and gaskets. In a worse case scenario, the oil can became aerated, and since air isn't a very good lubricant, there is more friction on the engine parts.

 

Just get under your car and drain a little oil...

 

It will get everywhere. Pull the dipstick and show them, tell them you want a drain and refill and will accept nothing else.

 

It's like taking a piss. Hard to stop once the flow gets going.

 

This is why I always take my car to Acura, nothing ever goes wrong...

 

I dunno how much oil they put in and if it would be safe to go 15 miles even at a low RPM, maybe someone else can chime in.

Back out the drain plug just enough so that it starts dribbling out, but so that the threads are still hanging on... should drain enough oil that way. Though I assume if he took it to a shop, he doesn't have the tools to do it himself.

 

DONE. thanks

 

Have it towed, make them pick up the bill for it. they will do it. it happens all the time

 

If he wanted to/could do this he would have changed his oil himself the first time.

 

Another reason why I am compelled to change my oil- it's hard finding a decent mechanic.

When shops are not giving keys away to strangers they also use customer cars to shuttle customers under the guise of a test drive- not cool either. At least dealers have vans so that won't happen- however the sandwich run/test drive is certainly in the realm of possibilities at a dealer.

 

This is insanity. Did you feel compelled to wait for the owner of the SLS and say "Bro.../Sis... you need to hear this." (I could see a model driving it...)

If I were the owner of that car I would be so thankful I'd ask you if you wanted to drive it after all.

(I could also see a really old guy driving it...)

 

BTW, its negligence.

 

Should've left in the SLS LOL.

 

Aman, Knight Rider was the only one to mention "flush", and I am sure he meant fully drain and refill. Although, I completely agree with your advice, especially if you drive a Honda.

OP, do you have an oil pan and wrench set? I would go the route of calling the place to have them tow it. Then have them fix it. Then have them pay for a Lexus dealer to fully inspect it and pay for repairs. Happened here recently with a member's friend's Subaru when they drained the tranny instead of the engine. Shop took care of their negligence like they should. Never underestimate the power of a pissed off customer who knows how to bitch and where to push if needed.

 

Nah. He'd just have to bring it back the next day to get the tires fixed right.

 

Don't drive the car. Have it towed to the dealership. Overfilling the crankcase can be more dangerous than being a little low on oil. I'm not sure how much two inches equates to overfilling, but you can bet it's a substantial amount. Remember that shops don't add oil by the individual container, but by a bulk system instead. An incorrect setting and you can easily have too much oil.

If the oil level is too high, the rotating assembly (crank, connecting rods), are splashing the oil. This isn't supposed to happen. Splashing the oil causes foaming, and this foam can often find it's way around the oil pick up. In this instance the foam is comprised of oil and air, and bearing surfaces need an oil film to perform as they're designed to. With foam you're going to have a limited amount of oil actually making contact with these surfaces. This is why I build my performance engines with windage trays to prevent the crank from making contact with the oil in the crankcase.

Your car may be running rough from damaged bearing surfaces, the crank making contact with the oil, or even oily spark plugs. Have the car towed, demand the entire crankcase be drained, and the filter and oil sent to be analyzed for comtanints or particles. Also demand a full diagnostic and have the airbox and spark plugs inspected.

 

most of the firestones are like this, that's why i stay away.

 

Ok...I checked this morning...the car hasnt been running since last night

What the dipstick looks like:
1 inch up, dot for empty
2.5 inch up, dot for full
3 inch up, there's a "twist in dip stick" about one inch long

My level is at about .5 inches above the top of the twist. It almost looks like I have twice as much oil as I should? Is this possible? Should my car even be running right now!?

Perhaps they never drained????

 

It is definitely possible. I have heard of shops forgetting to drain your oil and just filling it up like they drained it. Also think I read on hear before about a linked article of some place draining the transmission fluid and then filling up the oil instead as well.

 

^
Jiffy Lube completely drained the tranny instead of the engine. Who knows if they filled the engine again.
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ght=jiffy+lube

 

thanks for the advice guys. i bitched them out and had them redrain it and refill, while checking the level for every quart they filled. i stood by the "mechanic" the entire time.

30 minutes later, no charge, no shudders (as of now).

BTW - the SLS AMG guy was back this morning. HA! ...im never going there again.

 

they said when they initially drained my oil, it was filthy. funny, i was at 10,100 miles, and the dealership changed my oil at 5,000. (80/20 city/highway). not like i really "pushed" the car beyond the suggested measures.

How is your ISF on oil?

 

glad they fixed it..

sorry to say but ur first mistake was going to Firestone for an oil change... do you go to an eye dr to check out a skin rash? why not just take it to lexus? if you get any coupons or promotions sometimes their prices aren't that more...

i don't have much confidence in those places after my own horror experiences with them...

 

this is my first car. live and ya learn, i guess.

 

Was going to laugh, but then...

 

Glad they fixed it free of charge, like they should have. Now let's just hope it drives smoothly and no issues come up.

 

Change your oil yourself, or in a worst case scenario, get it done at the dealer.

These tire shops and "jiffy lubes" are the worst possible place you can go to get an oil change.

Monkeys would do a better job changing your oil than these places.

If the dealer screws up you have a much better chance of getting it fixed by contacting the manufacturer and letting them know that one of their dealerships screwed up.

Outside of the manufacturer dealership.....good luck....you are on your own.

 

change your own oil

 

I hate these aftermarket shops.

 

If I had a SLS I would not go to Firestone. I'd take it to the dealer and let them figure out how to get a new tire on it.

 

Start changing the oil yourself, completing tasks like that even though small give a very self rewarding feeling.

After that you'll soon have a tool box full of tools and find yourself ordering this and that to install. lol

 

Hope the overfill won't come back later and haunt you! I only go to Firestone for my lifetime wheel alignment! Nothing else.