Low oil light a month after having oil changed....

[Johnmed]

Have had my oil changed by National Tyres many times now over the years (it's cheaper than I can buy the oil and filter). So the 8 had its second oil and filter change there last time about a month and 1000 miles ago. In switched the service interval to fixed when I bought it and have it changed with fully synthetic every 10k miles. After the change I checked the oil level after a day and then a week, no change.

Then today on the M6 near Charnock Richard in lane 3 the low oil light comes on. I pulled into the services and found the oil barely on the dipstick!!!! I had a look all around the engine from above. Clean and dry, like the proverbial whistle. I prised open the under tray to see what I expected,.. Oil dripping slowly from the sump plug, and a soaked undergrad underneath!

Rang the garage that changed the oil and explained calmly the above. The chap tried to say cos it's been over a month it can't be their doing. I asked to speak to the manager, Chris, who I remembered had changed the oil. I'd had a nice chat to him about the 8 litres of oil the car had taken, for my £42 outlay...

He doubted that it was their fault, but suggested the car was ok to drive. I told him I wouldn't be without adding oil. (I had about a litre in the boot I'd bought years ago for my old A2 when in France). He said buy a litre, it'll then be above the minimum, don't go ragging the engine and call in tomorrow. If it's the sump washer or something else their fault they'll sort it and reimburse me the oil £21 for a litre!!).

So I put oil the oil I had in and drove home.

Anyway, excuse the long post.

And here's a rubbish pic of the sump plug I tried to take.

John.

[tc4332]

Good luck John, nail the lazy so6s!!
I came past there at 4:30 this morning so I was to early to help you.

[47p2]

Not sure how a sump washer could fail, it's not like it's a complicated piece of engineering.

Did you try to tighten the sump plug? My guess is it's finger tight at best

[Johnmed]

Originally Posted by 47p2

Not sure how a sump washer could fail, it's not like it's a complicated piece of engineering.

Did you try to tighten the sump plug? My guess is it's finger tight at best

I reckon it's prob' loose too. I couldn't turn it with my finger tips, and it was dark and chucking it down when I got home. I'll have a good look tomorrow, I wouldn't be surprised if it is quite loose.

[lebesset]

reminds me of an oil change I had done by a ford main agent but not done properly

they tightened the sump plug and filter properly , but I still got an early low oil light ....they neglected to put any in !

[Johnmed]

Sump plug was a bit loose the fella said. I'll have to take his word for that, as I didn't see him do it. Obviously was leaking from there. They've nipped it up and it isn't leaking. They've reimbursed me for the oil and are fitting a new sump plug and washer when it gets here. So no real harm done.

[Johnmed]

Originally Posted by lebesset

reminds me of an oil change I had done by a ford main agent but not done properly

they tightened the sump plug and filter properly , but I still got an early low oil light ....they neglected to put any in !

Feck!!!

[Dezzy]

You have it right there "they're going to fit a new washer" meaning they haven already and used the old one. The plug washers on these are oval in section and hollow, they crush when tightened up.

It is also the reason you can't buy the kit for the price they do it, they are using the cheapest of the cheap and reusing where possible.

Genuine filter kit has 2 of those one for the sump and the other for the filter housing drain, also a new rubber O ring for the filter lid.

[Johnmed]

I think you've hit the nail on the head there Dezzy. In future I'll be doing the oil change myself again like the good old days or at least supplying them with a new washer and plug.

[Dezzy]

Also been burnt too mate in the past with unreliable garages.