Well, not too funny actually.

Started summer vacation yesterday, flying the family from LAX to Chicago. Like a good trooper, got the Excursion oil changed at the quick lube before leaving....

Family loaded up last night, way early so no issues with TSA, etc. On the 101, I noticed the 6.8l is smokin' like crazy about 1/2 way to LAX. It's dark, so I pullover at a well lit gas station. Yep, oil is streaming out between the new filter and the engine. Wrong filter? Doubled up gasket? I added another quart and made a bee line back home. Called the airline to see what my options were - mostly $$$ options.

Go back to the quick lube and explain the issue. They give me the run around - no one is sure why it was leaking. But it's all OK, now - bye bye.

I talk with the manager and get the number of the Owner and ask lots of questions - is my Engine OK? Who pays for my new plane tickets? Owner wasn't available , but I'll keep calling.

Appreciate anyone's experience with this type of issue.

Sean

 

I feel for you Sean.
I've now erased a paragraph twice, railing on the airlines and the business climate.
Try to get some satisfaction, but I'm afraid all you can do is try to keep your own sanity and realize that there is gravity because the world sucks.
Guess I should've erased this one too.

 

I had a similar situation recently, minus the airline tickets. Dealer left the oil drain plug loose on our Camry. They cleaned the undercarriage of the car, we've got a free oil change coming (in which they promised to tighten the plug) and they sent a guy over to clean the oil off of our driveway. You ought to be able to get a little something out of them. Good luck on the tickets.

Oh...and enjoy your vacation

 

My stepdad had an issue like this. He took his explorer to the Brake Masters in downtown Ventura. During a "fluid check" they left the radiator cap off... It then proceed to boil over and kill the motor. At first they flat out denied touching the radiator cap, then eventually said they did but it got put back on. After relentless finger pointing by us, and when threatened by a law suit, they caved. They said we could go pick a vehicle worth the same value plus dollar amount ($1000 I think) for inconvenience and they would pay for it. Ended up going from a 99 Explorer to a 02 Expedition EB edition.

 

Was this a local place or a chain? (if the latter you should have better luck)
Contact their regional/national office.

Outline in straight terms in a well written letter the situation as it occurred, the inconvenience (with evidence of photocopies of plane tickets and oil change receipt). Mentioning you are a loyal customer might not go astray either. Stipulate the financial loss to you/your family based on their poor workmanship and that you are looking to be made whole.

Follow-up with a call if their response isn't positive, keep pushing... the squeaky wheel gets the grease in these instances.
Local managers often have their hands tied with things like this... their corporate customer service team should have a budget to address items like this however.

 

I was going to use the squeaky wheel analogy also. The least you should do is have it documented in case of a related problem in the future. I doubt any harm was done to the motor since you caught it so quickly.

Enjoy your vacation.

 

My buddy had a shop put the wrong filter on too tall. It was on a focus so he went over speed bump filter got ripped off. They paid for a new engine to be put in. It was a chain type shop.

 

Sure would be good to know why it was leaking. I think I would have insisted on inspecting the old filter. Maybe even confiscating it.

For purposes of discussion, what if it was a defective filter? Who is responsible? Probably not the case, just wondering out loud.

 

Have to be who manufactured the filter no?
Lot of finger pointing though.

 

Even if its a faulty filter its the responsibility of the quick lube place - as thats the party that Sean had the relationship with.

The quick lube place could then get restitution from the filter company if it was the filter at fault.

 

So if there was a problem, there would be a string of lawsuits from level to level.
Lawyers make out again.