Mechanic overfilled our car with engine oil...

The Big Lebowsky

I recently dropped my partners 02 golf Tdi off at a local mechanic for a service. We supplied a 5 ltr jug of motor oil and filter. When we collected the car he mentioned that the 5 litres of oil we supplied wasn't enough, and he had to add another 1.5 litres of oil himself.

When I checked the dipstick, as expected the oil level was way above the maximum level..I had to drain off over 1.5 litres...

Now Its a well known fact in the motor trade that the ubiquitous VAG 1.9 lump only requires 4.5 litres of oil...

I could expect an apprentice mechanic to make such a mistake, but this guy has over twenty years experiance in the motor trade...

My question is, am I being cynical.. Is this guy trying to create more work for himself??? Was he hoping we would have returned in a few weeks with a blown oil seal, clogged pvc valve, blown turbo...???

Ronnie Beck

The Big Lebowsky wrote: »

I recently dropped my partners 02 golf Tdi off at a local mechanic for a service. We supplied a 5 ltr jug of motor oil and filter. When we collected the car he mentioned that the 5 litres of oil we supplied wasn't enough, and he had to add another 1.5 litres of oil himself.

When I checked the dipstick, as expected the oil level was way above the maximum level..I had to drain off over 1.5 litres...

Now Its a well known fact in the motor trade that the ubiquitous VAG 1.9 lump only requires 4.5 litres of oil...

I could expect an apprentice mechanic to make such a mistake, but this guy has over twenty years experiance in the motor trade...

My question is, am I being cynical.. Is this guy trying to create more work for himself??? Was he hoping we would have returned in a few weeks with a blown oil seal, clogged pvc valve, blown turbo...???

That's fairly dodgy alright, particularly as he had to out of his way to get more oil. It's not as do he just poured to much in by accident. My vw 2.5 TDI only takes 5.5 including the filter. Don't know where he got 6 / 6.5 from. I'd usually give the benefit of the doubt but not here. I'd at least want my money back for the extra oil he used an be taking my business elsewhere. Either he's highly incompetent or he was looking for a christmas bonus.

Buffman

The Big Lebowsky wrote: »

I could expect an apprentice mechanic to make such a mistake, but this guy has over twenty years experiance in the motor trade...

I wouldn't even expect an apprentice to make a mistake like that. Maybe putting in the full 5L you gave him, but going off and getting another 1.5L is ridiculous.

What did he say when you said it to him? Whatever he said, I wouldn't be going back to him anyway. Also, did you get your used oil filter back?

Nissan doctor

IMO there is no reason where by a competent mechanic could do that.

Filling oil is one of the most basic aspecs of the job so either he doesn't know his ar5e from his elbo or he was banking that you wouldn't know how much oil your engine takes so he could charge you the extra for the oil.

biko

If he was trying to be sly he wouldn't have mentioned the extra oil and you would have been none the wiser.
I think he just made a very stupid mistake.

Plug

biko wrote: »

If he was trying to be sly he wouldn't have mentioned the extra oil and you would have been none the wiser.
I think he just made a very stupid mistake.

Or he didn't click down the dip stick fully to get a correct reading. These dip sticks require that extra little click down. Either way he is a dip stick.

Esel

biko wrote: »

If he was trying to be sly he wouldn't have mentioned the extra oil and you would have been none the wiser.
I think he just made a very stupid mistake.

A more worldly-wise person might suppose that he mentioned the extra oil so that he could charge the (generally gullible) customer for it.

Either way, over-filling with oil is a major no-no, and a good enough reason to find a new mechanic, imo.