Third dealer service today => Oil leak from drain plug!!!

My father's Nissan Murano blew head gaskets twice. Warranty covered it but if it were my car that POS would have been gone the next day after the first incident.

Me... I once traded in a car because I didn't want to put money into a new set of tires and a brake job. :) I'd rather put money into new car smell!

I'm OK with doing some routine maintenance myself but I cant be bother dealing with a fucked up car. I'd rather get rid of it and eliminate future headaches.
 
I use the dealer because it's free.

But I do need to get under the Jeep after it's been in sand and/or brackish water. I use salt neutralizer in a pressure washer and after that spray it with Waxoil. Crazy expensive but it is the best undercarriage treatment I've ever found. Absolutely eliminates corrosion and isnt sticky, so sand and dirt dont collect.

The vehicles are lifted and I can get under them on a creeper but I use plastic ramps anyway. It's just easier. Once I'm on the ramps just as a precaution I put up two jack stands. The ramps and plenty safe but I have the jackstands so why not use them. An ounce of prevention.
You can never be too safe.
I have the steell ramps and do the same thing.
Thinking about getting a couple jackstand/bottle jack combinations.

I put the fumotl valves on all my stuff.
Attach a hose to it and drain into your covered pan.
The wind will make a mess here.
Sure the filter will still drip but it is one less thing.
Come to think of it, I need to order another valve for a van I just bought.
 
yep... especially on the turbo cars. i've been told of people throwing a set of ARP headstuds in there with a new OEM gasket and never having that issue again
 
I never heard of those Fumoto oil valves but I like the idea.
 
I never heard of those Fumoto oil valves but I like the idea.
Lots of fakes out there. Be careful where you buy. Haven't bought one in years so no idea where to get the real deal.

I guess I like hot oil down my arm and don't like things too easy. Also, I use an oil extractor all the time. One car was seviced by extraction for 75,000 miles. The belly pan has some 30 screws in it and has to come off to get to the drain. I had the pan off for other repairs the last change. Nothing scary came out of the pan when I drained the oil the old fasion way. I had an inboard boat and the only way to get the oil out was with an extractor.

I had a Ram 3.0 Ecodiesel. These had an issue with oil changes. Basically, it takes at least 30 minutes to drain all the oil once you pull the drain plug. I read it in a service bulletin from FCA. If you don't let it drain completely then add the specified amount, it ends up with 1qt too much in the sump. That leads to blown seals and too much oil blow by into the intake. Unmetered fuel, which the oil mist is, is not good for a diesel engine, it causes engine runaways which they had a rash of. The dealer offered a discounted oil change when it was in for semi annual recall campaign. He claimed it would only take 15 minutes. I started asking questions like "are you aware of the service bulletin that says to let it drain for 30 minutes?" He said he never heard of that. I asked him what oil they use because the spec had been updated to a heavier grade. He had no idea what oil they put in it. I politely declined the offer. They wanted something like $250 for the oil change. He also offered to change the fuel filter but that was a complicated procedure and cost $485. Fuck that. I bought a case of fuel and oil filters plus fancy tools to do the job for less than one oil change. I know both services where done correctly. The complicated fuel filter procedure was to turn the key on an off a few times until the electric pump filled the lines and purged the air. It was easy to know when the air was purged by sound.

My wife gets free oil changes on her VW. They are 10 for 10 doing it correctly so far. Every technician I have asked knows the exact oil spec that is supposed to be used. If they can answer the bonus question "what oil goes in the PD TDI" I leave them alone and sip my free espresso in the waiting area lounge. Not many keep their cars for more than 2 or 3 oil changes so we are winning an that perk. Oddly, when she brings it in, they give her a long list of things that need urgent attention. When I bring it in, the service manager tosses me the keys and says everthing looks great.
 
Lots of fakes out there. Be careful where you buy. Haven't bought one in years so no idea where to get the real deal.

I guess I like hot oil down my arm and don't like things too easy. Also, I use an oil extractor all the time. One car was seviced by extraction for 75,000 miles. The belly pan has some 30 screws in it and has to come off to get to the drain. I had the pan off for other repairs the last change. Nothing scary came out of the pan when I drained the oil the old fasion way. I had an inboard boat and the only way to get the oil out was with an extractor.

I had a Ram 3.0 Ecodiesel. These had an issue with oil changes. Basically, it takes at least 30 minutes to drain all the oil once you pull the drain plug. I read it in a service bulletin from FCA. If you don't let it drain completely then add the specified amount, it ends up with 1qt too much in the sump. That leads to blown seals and too much oil blow by into the intake. Unmetered fuel, which the oil mist is, is not good for a diesel engine, it causes engine runaways which they had a rash of. The dealer offered a discounted oil change when it was in for semi annual recall campaign. He claimed it would only take 15 minutes. I started asking questions like "are you aware of the service bulletin that says to let it drain for 30 minutes?" He said he never heard of that. I asked him what oil they use because the spec had been updated to a heavier grade. He had no idea what oil they put in it. I politely declined the offer. They wanted something like $250 for the oil change. He also offered to change the fuel filter but that was a complicated procedure and cost $485. Fuck that. I bought a case of fuel and oil filters plus fancy tools to do the job for less than one oil change. I know both services where done correctly. The complicated fuel filter procedure was to turn the key on an off a few times until the electric pump filled the lines and purged the air. It was easy to know when the air was purged by sound.

My wife gets free oil changes on her VW. They are 10 for 10 doing it correctly so far. Every technician I have asked knows the exact oil spec that is supposed to be used. If they can answer the bonus question "what oil goes in the PD TDI" I leave them alone and sip my free espresso in the waiting area lounge. Not many keep their cars for more than 2 or 3 oil changes so we are winning an that perk. Oddly, when she brings it in, they give her a long list of things that need urgent attention. When I bring it in, the service manager tosses me the keys and says everthing looks great.
I've noticed working at Audi, ( working here has allowed me to visit the local BMW and Porsche dealerships as well ), that German automotive technicians do the "Multipoint Inspection" and if something doesn't look new as if its fresh off the delivery truck, they recommend it. You didn't get this from me, but the general consensus among these techs is, "If they can afford the car, they shouldn't have a problem paying for maintenance/repairs"
 
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On that last point NavyVette83, that in itself is why there are so many reports with BMW’s notorious cooling system ‘issues’. People want to make the strokes on monthly payment but can’t afford the proper upkeep, so they ride ‘em like a beaten mule until it’s lathered under the saddle….imo what BMW has done is brilliant with said coolant system service…it forces the owner to replace those component and in so doing, keeps fresh coolant in the system by osmosis if regular SVC intervals are changed. So much neglect in the area of cars (cooling systems in general), and the engines suffer as a result. Yes it’s a pita on the one hand (thermostat housing/assembly replacement, WP, etc) and the other doo-dads, but you end up with a freshly drained and charged cooling system with fresh coolant that hasn’t broken-down over time. Our former 530i E39 had it done and the peace of mind is priceless.

So many horror stories of the bimmers’ coolant systems stem back to pure neglect bc the cash strapped driver/owner/lessee couldn’t afford the proper maintenance. And I’m not exactly a BMW fanboy of the company, FWIW…
 
So I'm finishing up a ticket on a Audi A3 ( 2.0 Turbo ) right now. Did oil change, scheduled 40K transmission service, and scheduled 40K spark plugs. I noticed the thermostat is leaking bad enough that the entire bottom of the engine is covered in coolant. I was told that since the car is under warranty, I can't record my findings or report it because the client didn't make it a concern on their ticket so Audi will not cover it. However, if the client would have stated, they noticed a coolant leak on the ground, smelled coolant, etc... when they dropped the car off, then warranty would cover it. It makes absolutely no sense to me, but hey, come Friday, it won't be my issue anyway.
 
So I'm finishing up a ticket on a Audi A3 ( 2.0 Turbo ) right now. Did oil change, scheduled 40K transmission service, and scheduled 40K spark plugs. I noticed the thermostat is leaking bad enough that the entire bottom of the engine is covered in coolant. I was told that since the car is under warranty, I can't record my findings or report it because the client didn't make it a concern on their ticket so Audi will not cover it. However, if the client would have stated, they noticed a coolant leak on the ground, smelled coolant, etc... when they dropped the car off, then warranty would cover it. It makes absolutely no sense to me, but hey, come Friday, it won't be my issue anyway.
It doesn't make sense that a warranty fix is limited to what the client complains about. That doesn't sound right (or legal) to me. Furthermore, it could put the dealership at legal risk if something bad happens because of an issue they SHOULD have told the customer about.
 
It doesn't make sense that a warranty fix is limited to what the client complains about. That doesn't sound right (or legal) to me. Furthermore, it could put the dealership at legal risk if something bad happens because of an issue they SHOULD have told the customer about.
that's exactly how I see it. I've brought up concerns similar to this on multiple occasions, and have been told the same thing multiple times. "let it go until the owner brings it in for that concern". One of the many things I don't like, and one of many reasons I'm going back to CDJR come next week.
 
At CDJR, if I as the technician notice any issue whatsoever, and its covered under warranty, the only OK or permission I need from the customer is to keep the car long enough to get the parts and/or handle it. ALOT of times a CDJR customer will actually make a point to introduce themselves and thank the technician for noticing and handling it.
 
that's exactly how I see it. I've brought up concerns similar to this on multiple occasions, and have been told the same thing multiple times. "let it go until the owner brings it in for that concern". One of the many things I don't like, and one of many reasons I'm going back to CDJR come next week.
I thought you were staying at Audi?

Good on you, wherever you end up!
I know it's hard to make a change, even when the change is made for you!
 
I thought you were staying at Audi?

Good on you, wherever you end up!
I know it's hard to make a change, even when the change is made for you!
Yeah I thought I was as well. Last week I got a phone from the Service Manager at Dodge/Jeep telling me his “SRT Guy” and a second tech quit without notice and asked what it would take to get me back. We worked out a deal that is fair for both sides, albeit slightly in my favor, and he agreed. By the time I got there to shake a hand & seal the deal the next morning he already had my paperwork printed up and was ready for me to go do the standard drug test/background check stuff.
 
The VW/Audi spark plug change at 40k is excessive. I conclusively demonstrated they can go 80k. Sure, the gap was huge but they were firing. No change in mileage or power after the change.
 
Why does Chrysler get to go first? JDRC sounds better. Say it ten times. You'll see.
 
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