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  #1  
Old 02-04-2007, 01:02 PM
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Please Help. Fast Oil Change Place Strikes Again???

Fortunately, it's my father-in-law's 98 Ford Windstar (122K) and not an SVX. He took it to Oil Can Henrys two days ago and they changed the oil and added fuel cleaner and oil cleaner as well for a total of $75. They talked him into a "high mileage" oil for a $19 premium. Yesterday, the car was fine. This morning he starts it up and it immediately tosses a rod and dumps the oil out through an unseen hole in the block. I know it's a stretch, but any chance this is an effect of OCH's cause? It wasn't short on oil when it broke. Is it worth an oil analysis, ya think? Anyone with the bad luck of having any experience in this matter? Thanks.

Stephen
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Old 02-04-2007, 01:13 PM
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Another note: The car was running fine before the oil change and had exactly three months and 1500 miles since the last change. Also, yesterday(the day after the change) the car was driving OK but puking out thick black smoke.
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Old 02-04-2007, 01:16 PM
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Personally I don't like the smell of the oil cleaner. That said you should first asses the cost of legal action and the chances of success. Meantime sit tight on all evidence and retain any paper warfare.
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Old 02-04-2007, 01:21 PM
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thats a hard one... do you have any oil left to examine? because if you can get another repair shop or a dealership to confirm the fact that it was the oil that caused this then you have some good leverage aginst the oil change place...
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Old 02-04-2007, 01:36 PM
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Just curious...Who would ever trust a buisness named OIL CAN HARRY'S in the first place? a 75$ oil change is bad enough, let alone if it happened to blow up a motor.
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Old 02-04-2007, 01:52 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Suby Fan
thats a hard one... do you have any oil left to examine? because if you can get another repair shop or a dealership to confirm the fact that it was the oil that caused this then you have some good leverage aginst the oil change place...
Yes....I'll call the dealer Monday and see if they can help.
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  #7  
Old 02-04-2007, 01:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Trevor
Personally I don't like the smell of the oil cleaner. That said you should first asses the cost of legal action and the chances of success. Meantime sit tight on all evidence and retain any paper warfare.
That's funny, that was my advice to him for the interim. Wouldn't the result of the FUEL additive in the oil likely be just what happened?
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Old 02-04-2007, 01:56 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by It's Just Eric
Just curious...Who would ever trust a buisness named OIL CAN HARRY'S in the first place? a 75$ oil change is bad enough, let alone if it happened to blow up a motor.
I certainly never would. In fact, I accept blame for not being there to change his oil for him. They've actually been around for a long time. In fact, I believe they were the first "quickie" place in this area.
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Old 02-04-2007, 02:58 PM
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ASAP collect an oil sample for testing. Search the net for a reputable lab (easy) to determine if there is any residual 'oil cleaner' remaining in the engine. Engine oil flushes have very specific instructions, including 'Do not operate engine above an idle', 'do not drive vehicle with cleaner in crankcase', etc. Procure a sample container of the product(s) that were used/introduced.

Seems to me I recall a long ago post here that addressed a similar circumstance - you might try searching to see how it turned out.
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Old 02-04-2007, 04:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Beav
ASAP collect an oil sample for testing. Search the net for a reputable lab (easy) to determine if there is any residual 'oil cleaner' remaining in the engine. Engine oil flushes have very specific instructions, including 'Do not operate engine above an idle', 'do not drive vehicle with cleaner in crankcase', etc. Procure a sample container of the product(s) that were used/introduced.

Seems to me I recall a long ago post here that addressed a similar circumstance - you might try searching to see how it turned out.
Here, here Beav.

It was this bit that got at me --- " and ADDED fuel cleaner and oil cleaner as well "

Bloody hell.
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  #11  
Old 02-04-2007, 06:06 PM
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[QUOTE=Beav]ASAP collect an oil sample for testing. Search the net for a reputable lab (easy) to determine if there is any residual 'oil cleaner' remaining in the engine. Engine oil flushes have very specific instructions, including 'Do not operate engine above an idle', 'do not drive vehicle with cleaner in crankcase', etc. Procure a sample container of the product(s) that were used/introduced.QUOTE]

But how would that be binding since the oil sample could have come from anywhere?

BTW- thanks for all the help everyone
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  #12  
Old 02-04-2007, 06:33 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by elninoalex
But how would that be binding since the oil sample could have come from anywhere?

BTW- thanks for all the help everyone
Surely within normal aspects of law, reliable witnesses statements constitute evidence, particularly if co-oborated.

In this tiny democracy we have a small claims court, whereby a matter such as this, can be sorted without the need for lawyers and excessive expense.
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  #13  
Old 02-04-2007, 11:17 PM
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Yes, try to obtain a bottle of this "oil cleaner" and read the directions. There are usually two types. THe kind you can leave in untill the next oil change that slowly removes varnish and oil deposits, and then there is the other kind that your only supposed to leave in for 5mins of idling and then imediately drain out.
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  #14  
Old 02-21-2007, 08:58 AM
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UPDATE:

I called the place and they said they use the type of oil cleaner that gets flushed out before the new oil gets put in. In theory! I pulled some oil for a sample and it barely resembles motor oil. It's kind of thick and gooey, almost gritty. Blackstone labs should have the sample tommorrow and then I guess we'll probably be getting a lawyer.
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  #15  
Old 02-21-2007, 10:44 AM
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