Worst oil change ever

[tkrotchko]

It always happen with home oil changes. I keep an old vinyl shower curtain around and I put that under the car or tractor when I change oil. It can be wiped off when the spill occurs, and it folds up nicely. Even if you don't have an old shower curtain, you can buy one for a few bucks.

 

[WinterDeere]

All these are really impediments and annoying. But to meet the criteria for bad would be for something to go wrong on the oil pan side, like forgetting to tighten the oil plug and ruin an engine. That would be really bad. And sad

Saw that happen, once. Local company with a large fleet of trucks, I knew the owner and was good friends with one of the mechanics. Owner had his mechanics do a quick service on his nice new Cadillac CTS-V at the end of a Saturday morning shift, when everyone just wanted to get out of there and go home, so about 6 of them all hopped on the job at once.

Somehow in all of the mayhem and confusion, no one put oil back into the crankcase, after draining, plugging, and changing the filter. Owner made it about a block down the street before the thing seized.

Obviously a mistake on the mechanics part, if not also the owner's for asking them to rush through it at the end of their shift. But I still can't figure out how he got that far without seeing the oil light, as it's the first thing I check after every single oil change. Heck, you'd think the dash cluster would've been chiming or buzzing, or... something!

 

[JimR]

Saw that happen, once. Local company with a large fleet of trucks, I knew the owner and was good friends with one of the mechanics. Owner had his mechanics do a quick service on his nice new Cadillac CTS-V at the end of a Saturday morning shift, when everyone just wanted to get out of there and go home, so about 6 of them all hopped on the job at once.

Somehow in all of the mayhem and confusion, no one put oil back into the crankcase, after draining, plugging, and changing the filter. Owner made it about a block down the street before the thing seized.

Obviously a mistake on the mechanics part, if not also the owner's for asking them to rush through it at the end of their shift. But I still can't figure out how he got that far without seeing the oil light, as it's the first thing I check after every single oil change. Heck, you'd think the dash cluster would've been chiming or buzzing, or... something!

My ex-neighbor who is a doctor lost his VW Jetta motor that same way after going to Jiffy Lube. It was first thing in the morning and he was running late for work. He never saw the oil light either. He did get a brand new motor out of the fiasco.

 

[QRTRHRS]

All these are really impediments and annoying. But to meet the criteria for bad would be for something to go wrong on the oil pan side, like forgetting to tighten the oil plug and ruin an engine. That would be really bad. And sad

Thirty years ago, I took my Toyota Camry to the dealer for some maintenance that included draining the transmission. When I got home, I pulled the car into my garage. A short time later, I noticed oil on the floor. The mechanic had forgotten to tighten the drain plug. I had not lost enough oil to ruin the transmission, just make a mess. I made a fuss so the dealer came with a rollback, took the car back, topped off the oil and then returned my car along with an apology.

Continuing on the drain plug issue, when I bought my current vehicle, a used E350 van, they dealer included a free oil change which I took advantage of. Next change, I did myself. When I took out the plug, the threads were "boogered". I had to go get one of those replacement plugs for stripped threads, Still good after putting on 135k or so.

 

[Page2]

Well your first problem is you have a Genisis.

 

[dodge man]

The best way to keep oil off the floor is to wear a watch with one of those flexible metal bands. That way when oil runs down your hand it doesn’t run down your arm and drip on the floor. The watch band catch’s the oil instead and stores it for you.

 

[Fields_mj]

I hate dealing with used motor oil! I used to burn it for fuel in an old diesel engine, and I normally handled it in 55 gal drums. I'd transfer it using a motorized gear pump that would drain a barrel in about 15 min (ie 200 gal per min). While filling my very first barrel in the bed of the truck to (to haul it home) I learned that the latches on Banjo fittings will come undone under vibration. When you're pumping waste oil through a 3/4" hose at 200 gpm all over your truck bed, and the back of the cab, seconds count! And then there's all the crap that people drop into the waste oil bin because its closer than the trash can. Stuff that a gear pump has no problem sucking up... cellophane, cordage, electrical terminals, all kinds of stuff you get to disassemble the pump and pull out. Didn't take long to give up on that idea. The mess just wasn't worth it.

At this point, I deal with all of my used motor oil in 2.5 gal or 5 gal containers SPECIFICALLY because they have rather large openings compared to quarts and 1 gal jugs.

 

[sunandsand]

Unqualified mechanics . . .

At least when I screw something up it doesn't come as a surprise later.

Had the local FBO (airport mechanic) remove the top and bottom cowlings on my airplane. Quarter turn fasteners, they used an air drill to "unscrew" them, ruined all the rubber cowl mounts. Brand name is "Lord", as in "Lord! This little piece of (bleep) costs HOW much?"

I knew the mounts were good "before" and a curt note from Dear Bride (Attorney at Law) convinced them to buy me new ones, which I installed myself, thank you very much.

She's good to me. I get 10% off the first $500 of my legal bills every year (friends and family discount). We are still negotiating - after 30 years - if it is use it or lose it or it can roll over to the next year.

 

[vallefarm]

I googled genesis, not a huge car, not a huge engine. My Duramax takes ten but I expect that from a diesel especially with how much accumulates in diesel waste oil. Any suggestions as to why so much for a relatively small engine? My om617 Merc only takes five as does my VW tdi just four, my JDs take three and a half? Is this to justify a ten thousand mile service interval? Does it drink a quart or two per change like BMWs do?

 

[eco88]

Feel your pain been there bunch of times myself

 

[sunandsand]

I googled genesis, not a huge car, not a huge engine. My Duramax takes ten but I expect that from a diesel especially with how much accumulates in diesel waste oil. Any suggestions as to why so much for a relatively small engine? My om617 Merc only takes five as does my VW tdi just four, my JDs take three and a half? Is this to justify a ten thousand mile service interval? Does it drink a quart or two per change like BMWs do?

2008 MB M272 (3.5 liter gasoline v-6), 9 quarts, had a 1990 Audi V8Q, 3.6 liters, which took ten. I guess they figured if you were going to be doing 120 mph on the autobahn all day long you needed lots of oil. Neither one used oil but the Audi leaked like a sieve.

 

[Walter L]

Well if it makes you feel any better, when I had my brand new VW for the wife, took it to the dealer I bought from for an oil change and they put the hoist through the floor. Went through plastic belly pan and the metal floor. Only the carpet never ripped through.
They then blamed my wife saying she ran something over. They nor VW did ever come good for it. Cost me $1100 at a body shop.

Wow i hate to say this but you got screwed twice no way the oil pan should cost that much including labor.

 

[dh206]

I went to change the oil on my wife’s Genesis. It holds 9 quarts so I got my large plastic pan which holds 15+ quarts. Got the car up on the ramps, put the pan under and pulled the plug. All is well so far.

I crawl back under to put the plug back in after10 minutes or so and see about a quart of oil under the pan. Oh crap! THERE IS A CRACK IN THE BOTTOM OF THE PAN.

I go and get a piece of cardboard to slip under the pan so I don’t spread the oil out more than already done. Slide the pan out on the cardboard and realize there is no way to carry the pan with 8 quarts of oil plus hold the cardboard under it outside to the waste can.

OK, I’ll bring the waste can in, put it on the cardboard and pour the oil in.

Put the funnel in the can and start pouring. I get about half the oil in the can and THE FUNNEL FALLS OUT with about a half a quart of oil in it. Hits the floor and splashes oil 10’ in every direction. Oh crap 2!

I go to get the oil dry and find that I don’t have any, just have floor sweeping compound. I spread that around and it helps a little but not like oil dry.

Of course anything within 10’ is splashed with oil and will need to be cleaned separately.

Shoulda stood in bed this morning.

View attachment 3850069

"Mamma said there'd be days like this"

 

[OzarkChris]

I posted a thread ~ 2 years ago when my tractor blew a hydraulic line on a freshly paved asphalt driveway (figures). It left a 150’ long x 1’ wide stain.
I put kitty litter on the stream of hydraulic fluid, removed the KL that soaked up oil, and kept adding more fresh KL every few weeks. I also pulverized the KL into a finer dust with a stiff broom with each application.
2 years later and the stain has completely disappeared.

Seems to me the easier thing to do is have another leak, and another until all the asphalt is the same color!

 

[Ceckert64]

Hopefully no more future spills, but in the event you ever do need a great way to clean up oil on the floor, try sawdust. I've been using it for years and found it is actually more absorbent than Oil-Dri.

Toss a couple scoops on the oil then grind it around on the spill with your shoe. it absorbs immediately and is super easy to clean up.

 

[dannyojudd]

I went to change the oil on my wife’s Genesis. It holds 9 quarts so I got my large plastic pan which holds 15+ quarts. Got the car up on the ramps, put the pan under and pulled the plug. All is well so far.

I crawl back under to put the plug back in after10 minutes or so and see about a quart of oil under the pan. Oh crap! THERE IS A CRACK IN THE BOTTOM OF THE PAN.

I go and get a piece of cardboard to slip under the pan so I don’t spread the oil out more than already done. Slide the pan out on the cardboard and realize there is no way to carry the pan with 8 quarts of oil plus hold the cardboard under it outside to the waste can.

OK, I’ll bring the waste can in, put it on the cardboard and pour the oil in.

Put the funnel in the can and start pouring. I get about half the oil in the can and THE FUNNEL FALLS OUT with about a half a quart of oil in it. Hits the floor and splashes oil 10’ in every direction. Oh crap 2!

I go to get the oil dry and find that I don’t have any, just have floor sweeping compound. I spread that around and it helps a little but not like oil dry.

Of course anything within 10’ is splashed with oil and will need to be cleaned separately.

Shoulda stood in bed this morning.

View attachment 3850069

One bag cheap kitty litter or oil dry minimum. Cover, stir 3 or 4 times and let set for 24 hours minimum for oil to soak out. After a couple of days sweep up and put down plenty of dial dish soap and work suds with water wetted broom. Stir with broom till arms are ready to fall off..... Use mop to get soap/oil mixture off floor. Allow to dry and repeat if necessary. Hopefully the floor had a good sealer on it.. Carbon from the oil may remain lifelong reminder of unseen crack in drain pan..... I keep a gallon of Dial Dish Soap from Sam's with pump dispenser for hand soap, cleaning oil spills and surfactant with weed killer.....

 

[Bob Gibson]

I went to change the oil on my wife’s Genesis. It holds 9 quarts so I got my large plastic pan which holds 15+ quarts. Got the car up on the ramps, put the pan under and pulled the plug. All is well so far.

I crawl back under to put the plug back in after10 minutes or so and see about a quart of oil under the pan. Oh crap! THERE IS A CRACK IN THE BOTTOM OF THE PAN.

I go and get a piece of cardboard to slip under the pan so I don’t spread the oil out more than already done. Slide the pan out on the cardboard and realize there is no way to carry the pan with 8 quarts of oil plus hold the cardboard under it outside to the waste can.

OK, I’ll bring the waste can in, put it on the cardboard and pour the oil in.

Put the funnel in the can and start pouring. I get about half the oil in the can and THE FUNNEL FALLS OUT with about a half a quart of oil in it. Hits the floor and splashes oil 10’ in every direction. Oh crap 2!

I go to get the oil dry and find that I don’t have any, just have floor sweeping compound. I spread that around and it helps a little but not like oil dry.

Of course anything within 10’ is splashed with oil and will need to be cleaned separately.

Shoulda stood in bed this morning.

View attachment 3850069

If you have a fireplace or barbecue that you have ash in, it is the best for a mess like this. The ash is almost the same color as concrete and it is so dry that it sucks up the oil, just cover all the stains with 1/8-1/4" layer of ash and let it sit for a couple of hours, then sweep it up. I don't use anything other than ash for oil spills!

 

[RaydaKub]

My worst was before we got married, I was going to change her Century's oil. I drained it and changed the after. The filter was accessed behind the passenger side wheel well. I got it on and tightened it, then filled up and had her back down off the ramps. Fresh oil all over the driveway. When the filter felt tight, there was a 1/4" gap yet that I couldn't see until the steering was cranked over to one side.

My second worst was I had drained my 6.2 diesel and was putting the plug back in. Our months-old puppy decided to romp through the pan and even lap up a bit.

Excrement happens....

 

[sixdogs]

Good excuse to epoxy coat it, now?

My barn had a huge oil stain like that in the middle of the floor when I bought the place, so that was my method of solving the problem. Still looks great after 15 years of regularly parking the FEL and pallet forks on the thing, as well as all sorts of welding and other chores.

I was changing the rear gear oil in the hubs of a high crop tractor and the book said they held 5 gallons each. I figured to drain part of one and leave my drain pan underneath to catch the rest while I had lunch while it fully drained. It sure did.

Anyway, lunch turned into a nap and when I got out later there was maybe 10 gallons of nasty, rotten smelling gear oil all over my concrete floor. I cleaned and degreased and then degreased and cleaned but nothing got rid of that smell till I epoxied the floor. Yes, it was a good excuse to epoxy and that fixed the stank. It led to a semi-happy moment despite the disaster.

Turns out the final drive did indeed hold 5 gallons but was connected to the other one and those connected to something else.

 

[orezok]

Well your first problem is you have a Genisis.

I googled genesis, not a huge car, not a huge engine. My Duramax takes ten but I expect that from a diesel especially with how much accumulates in diesel waste oil. Any suggestions as to why so much for a relatively small engine? My om617 Merc only takes five as does my VW tdi just four, my JDs take three and a half? Is this to justify a ten thousand mile service interval? Does it drink a quart or two per change like BMWs do?

First off, Google G90 Ultimate. $88,000.00. Full size luxury car similar to Lexus. Motor is 5.0 liter. Uses no oil between changes.