APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

Glad to help here if I can. However, unless you drop the oil in front of them you'll never be able to prove what was in it when it left there. To be perfectly straight about it - you cannot prove how much oil was in when it left them the first time, they could allege that you added extra oil after their service to drop them in it so to speak.

You do need to drain and measure the amount in their presence.

The other problem can be that when a piston crown fails the fuel being pumped in by the injector goes straight into the oil pan and can substantially increase the 'liquid ' level. If the 'oil' stinks of fuel when drained that is the most likely explanation for the excess.

Do we know what viscosity oil they filled it with?

Lots of issues here to get this sorted.

Call me for a chat if you like so that you can keep on top of them.

David API Engines 01926 614522 Good Luck!

Mark A

iTrader: (1)

Nice offer David, and I hope it gets sorted Stephen

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Seems a bit odd, I've never seen an engine "cut out" when a big end fails...unless a rod fly's out the block

Oil pressure light flicker could be just "as" the engine stalled, which isn't abnormal. Although if a big end has gone there will be a drop in oil pressure due increased bearing clearances, but you'd only properly tell from a gauge...the light only needs 1 or 2psi of pressure to turn it off.

Perhaps just coincidence, or the cause of the stalling engine may also be the cause of the big end failure (MAF dying??). Still, it is so close to it being serviced, you can't ignore that they may have not bothered priming the engine.

As said, get a 2nd independent opinion.

Stephen Pope

Thanks for all your assistance guys. I only have the internet at work so could not respond last night. I typed up a letter to them asking them what their intentions are. I will hand deliver this today. Woo Hoo!

greasemonkey

Be a bit careful there Stephen. David's point about insisting on being there when they drop the oil is a very pertinent one, as was mine about regaining possession of the car before you ask them about their intentions.

As things stand you want to take every step you can to make sure they have as little room to manoeuvre as possible, so try no to gift them any!

Stephen Pope

Cheers, I will be taking a digital camera for oil levels mileage etc today. I will provide an update.

ZIPPY

Stephen dont presume the dealer knows what he is doing.In my experiance there is only ever 1 senior technitian at a Subaru dealers who is fully trained, the rest are just general mechanics.

When you tell them to pre-fill the filter they look at you like you are mad.

I have seen a 2 week old Isuzu Trooper in for its 1000 mile oil change driven away by the owner and stop 500 yds away, on checking the mechanic had put NO oil in it at all (He forgot) exactly the same happened to a friends Impreza sport and when he kicked off about it they did him a deal on
a new 01 WRX so long as he didnt open his mouth to IM about the warranty claim they put in for his big end failure on the sport model.

When my downpipe was fitted at the main dealers they forgot to fit 2 of the nuts, it was only when i complained about the blowing and checked it myself that i found the problem.

All the problems where down to an un approved Subaru mechanic doing the work,check the certificates on the wall next time you are in and i bet 1 persons name is on all of them.

Zippy

Chrisgr31

My car is still in the garage waiting for them to start work on fixing it. Oddly the big end has apparently gone a mere 2 weeks after it had the 10,000 mile service. Fortunately it is still under warranty, but makes me glad I changed the old one when the warranty expired!

nom

Stephen - I have no idea if you'll read this in time - but frequently digital photos are not accepted as evidence - it is assumed that they have been edited (although obviously a digital image could be transferred to a negative & no-one would know any better, lawyers/the courts aren't exactly up on the 'real world' & technology...) so take a crappy disposable if needs be - it's apparently more believeable!

Stephen Pope

Just back from the garage. I took a couple of digital photos (did not see the above response in time.) One of the mileage and one of the dipstick - not that it will do me any good - the level appears normal which could mean three things - 1. I was misreading the dipstick in the first place (my readings were all when the engine was warm) 2. The excess oil has burned as a results of the engine damage/ alleged leaking rocker gasket or 3. The garage have taken some oil out. What ever the case, I handed them a letter of complaint and let them know I am not happy. I have requested that they do not do anything to my car and that they formally respond to me in writing with their intentions. Let's wait and see what happens.

Stephen Pope

As above, I hand delivered a letter to the dealer on Tuesday asking them to formally respond with their intentions. There was a letter at the door last night. 'Sorry to hear about the problem, confirmation that they completed the work, confirmation that the oil level was fine when I took the digital picture on Tuesday, confimation that they could not ascertain what caused the problem without the strip down, confirmation that I may wish to have an independent inspection carried out and finally confirmation that they could do this, taking into account that I was a regular customer and also the circumstances.'
I have formally responded today highlighting that the oil level was marginally over the maximum level, following a leak from the gasket (oil burning all afternoon), that the car was most likely therefore overfilled, the gasket was not replaced properly by them and therefore, this hardly inspired confidence etc.
I have also asked them to define exactly what they meant in their last sentence i.e. what they are prepared to offer.
I have both letters and the digital photographs if anyone wants a swatch and I can e-mail them.

StickyMicky

this is the reason why i will never let dealers work on my car, i just dont trust them, seen to many cowboy tricks being pulled off in various dealerships

i chane my oil every 3k miles and every time i do it im always a bit worried about it blowing up. its coasted about for a day or 2 after the change before its opend up (few miles on by then)

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

Hope we don't class as ' dealers'

David API

StickyMicky

talking about main dealers, but for what its worth a local scoob specialist did my first ever service when i got it, as i wanted all the belts and such done, and i didnt have a clue about working on scoobs

and they overfilled my oil

Stephen Pope

StickyMicky - I take it nothing detrimental happened to your engine following the overfilling - and how much was it overfilled by. BTW, everyone, I forget, is the maximum a kink or a small hole - I consider it to be the latter.

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

Correct

It is dangerous to overfill a Subaru by any great amount, the oil gets in the capillaries for the Turbo boost duty valve or whatever it's called and the boost valve won't work properly, the engine goes pop, then you ring me.

It's been said on here many times before.

David API

Stephen Pope

The dealer has confirmed that they will offer me a reduced labour rate only for the remedial works, the extent of which cannot be established until the engine has been stripped down. They also confirmed that they did not put any oil in the new filter during the service. The mechanic then showed me a servicing manual and to be fair, there was no mention of filling this up. What is the score?

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

As I'm aware I though that the dealers were issued a TSB (technical service bulletin) over pre-filling oil filters, so they should know.

Stephen Pope

As far as I am aware, they showed me something like that and there was no mention off pre-filling oil filters - what I want to know is, in others opinions, should the oil filter be filled first to avoid starving the engine of oil?

P20SPD

iTrader: (1)

Ring International Motors and ask for the oil change guide.

The service manual (i assume the one from your car) wont say, "fill the new filter with oil" as its only the manual for the customer, suggesting intervals and what work should be done.

Their subaru service procedures should tell you.

Stephen Pope

Thanks Steve. Does anyone have the number for International Motors?

greasemonkey

The filter definitely should be filled first.

IM's main number is 0121 557 2112, ask to speak to technical dept. As Ali says, the dealer should have received a service bulletin from Subaru telling them to fill the filter prior to fitting it, so if you ask IM to confirm that they've sent such a bulletin, your position is strengthened somewhat.

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

Filling the filter is not a new fangled idea, it is just common sense, good garage practice, And if they need telling to do it or refer to a leaflet that 'doesn't mention it ' thank them very much AND TAKE YOUR CAR ELSEWHERE !!

David API

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

I read a recent post on here where the instructions on how to change the oil and filter the Subaru recommended way were printed, it was perfect............ except it didn't tell you to put any oil in the sump.

David API

KaraK

not wanting to hijack this thread but it has got me a little worried here...

the last time my car was serviced at a main dealer it seemed to run slightly sluggishly for a couple of days (service was on a friday) and also apppeared to consume rather alot of fuel (relative to the type of driving I was doing which was mostly m-way cruising).

Come monday night the car wouldn't start at all. I had subaru assist. come out and he got it started (by burying the throttle pedal) and the car seemed to idle quite high and ran extremely rich as confirmed by the SA mechanic who was there. The reek of petrol from under the bonnet was very noticable.

I drove the car the 40 miles home and then had the car checked out at the dealer (different branch to the one that had serviced the car but same company) who said that there were no fault codes and nothing obviously wrong, the smell of fuel had largely disapated also. The tech at the dealer said the only thing he could think of was that the oil filter hadn't been pre-filled, he phoned the other branch and asked to talk to the tech who claimed he had pre-filled it. Since I couldnt prove anything and the car did appear to be running ok I had to leave it there. Seeing this thread tho has got me worried that there may be some underlying damage, can anyone set my mind at rest?

P20SPD

iTrader: (1)

David your right re the workshop manual, eg http://206.13.93.15/STi_Stuff/STi_Manual/sti_dir.htm section 9, engine oil.

However, if a technical bulletin has been released it would be interesting to see that.

Think the filter takes about 0.5litres or there abouts, its amazing how much it can hold and absorb.

Stephen Pope

I contacted International Motors this morning. They confirmed that there was no specific requirement for pre-filling then oil filter, although it would be good practice. End of thread probably. Car is ****ed, dealer told me to **** off. I have posted a new thread on where to get a second hand engine. Wish I had my old Fiesta Holiday - at least that way, I could get a new engine for £100 - the amount we can spend on fuel in a week if we want....thanks for all the help anyway troops!

P20SPD

iTrader: (1)

Speak to API David

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

I'm listening !!

David