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Car Forum / GMC Cars / February 2006

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Can someone tell me the potential damage?

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Wayne - 11 Feb 2006 17:53 GMT
Brand new 2006 Cavalier ... in for first oil change at the dealer.  After
the oil change I head out on the highway.  After about and hour, the car
started to slow down on it's own, even with foot on the gas, oil light is
on, engine light comes on ... as I pull off the highway the steering is hard
to move.

What happened, and what is the potential long term damage?  I really don't
know anything about cars, so my guess would be, the dealer that just did the
oil change did not tighten the oil filter on enough and the engine lost all
it's oil?  What I don't know is what the long term damage to the engine
would be if any?  And how would I go about finding out the real damage here.
Of course the dealer that just did the oil change is going to try and cover
their butt .. so what should I do?

Thanks
Jonathan - 11 Feb 2006 18:17 GMT
Greetings,

Do not start the car.  Have it towed to an independent shop that you trust
and have them give you a written report on what happened and what damage was
caused.  Contact the dealer AND the district office for GM and let them know
what happened.  You most likely will have to have the car taken back to the
dealer for them to verify what happened.  Let them know you already have an
independent report on the damages so you're already ahead of them if they
try to cover it up and blame you.

Depending on if the dealer is forthcoming and willing to make good or not
will be the deciding factor if you need to contact an attorney.  I'm not
sure if you will also have to contact your insurance company, but it
couldn't hurt to call your agent and ask some advice.

More than likely even if the dealer pays for any repairs or replacement it
is still going to be a major inconvenience for you, so make sure you specify
that you insist they give you a rental for the duration of the repairs.

Good luck - Jonathan

> Brand new 2006 Cavalier ... in for first oil change at the dealer.  After
> the oil change I head out on the highway.  After about and hour, the car
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Thanks
Wayne - 11 Feb 2006 18:37 GMT
What is the potential damage long term ?

> Greetings,
>
[quoted text clipped - 33 lines]
>>
>> Thanks
Merlin - 11 Feb 2006 19:18 GMT
If it ran as you describe without oil, I'd insist on a new GM motor..
scoring of cylinders, overheating, all kinds of things.. if it's that
new maybe as good will they'd just give you another vehicle.

As the other poster said, have it towed, independent shop verify with
happened . Sounds like plug left out or filter not tightened. THEN
start dealing with GM. Document IN WRITING all communications.

If they try to do anything via email (not likely), instead, have them
fax things to you (or you to them). Email does not stand up in court.
Faxes do. You can use your nearby Kinkos as a fax to send or get if
you do not have one at home.

>Brand new 2006 Cavalier ... in for first oil change at the dealer.  After
>the oil change I head out on the highway.  After about and hour, the car
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
>Thanks
Tim or Linda - 11 Feb 2006 20:02 GMT
Be prepared for a long battle.

> If it ran as you describe without oil, I'd insist on a new GM motor..
> scoring of cylinders, overheating, all kinds of things.. if it's that
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
>>
>>Thanks
Wayne - 11 Feb 2006 19:34 GMT
When the tow truck arrived and checked the oil ... it is still full.  So now
I have no idea what happened?

> Brand new 2006 Cavalier ... in for first oil change at the dealer.  After
> the oil change I head out on the highway.  After about and hour, the car
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Thanks
Steve Mackie - 11 Feb 2006 22:03 GMT
> When the tow truck arrived and checked the oil ... it is still full.  So
> now I have no idea what happened?

I some how missed this UPDATE. Check gas gauge, restart car and drive home.
Mike Marlow - 12 Feb 2006 00:54 GMT
> > When the tow truck arrived and checked the oil ... it is still full.  So
> > now I have no idea what happened?
>
> I some how missed this UPDATE. Check gas gauge, restart car and drive home.

Oh man - I hope for the OP's sake this isn't the case.  Can you imagine the
embarrassment?

Signature

-Mike-
mmarlowREMOVE@alltel.net

=AB Paul =BB - 11 Feb 2006 21:19 GMT
> Brand new 2006 Cavalier ... in for first oil change at the dealer.  After
> the oil change I head out on the highway.  After about and hour, the car
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Thanks

The oil light comes on when the engine is off.
The steering gets hard when the engine is off.
The car slows down when the engine is off.
It sounds like it ran out of gas.
Shep - 11 Feb 2006 21:54 GMT
Maybe he should have " googled" for help with this!!
"« Paul »" <" =?x-user-defined?Q?=AB?= Paul
=?x-user-defined?Q?=BB?="@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:43EE5557.2A8CE51A@houston.rr.com...

>> Brand new 2006 Cavalier ... in for first oil change at the dealer.  After
>> the oil change I head out on the highway.  After about and hour, the car
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
> The car slows down when the engine is off.
> It sounds like it ran out of gas.
Jonathan - 11 Feb 2006 21:59 GMT
HOLY COW!  In the most common terms "You Da Man!", because frankly I was
stuck hearing hoofbeats and looking for zebras!  I think you just pulled the
most obvious answer right out from in front of me.  I will give you full
credit and cudos for your answer.

Very well done - Jonathan

"« Paul »" <"=?x-user-defined?Q?=AB?= Paul
=?x-user-defined?Q?=BB?="@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:43EE5557.2A8CE51A@houston.rr.com...

>> Brand new 2006 Cavalier ... in for first oil change at the dealer.  After
>> the oil change I head out on the highway.  After about and hour, the car
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
> The car slows down when the engine is off.
> It sounds like it ran out of gas.
Steve Mackie - 11 Feb 2006 22:02 GMT
> It sounds like it ran out of gas.

I was thinking it just stalled.

But to be safe, read the gas gauge and check the oil. If all is okay,
restart car and drive home.

Steve
Mike Marlow - 12 Feb 2006 00:49 GMT
> Brand new 2006 Cavalier ... in for first oil change at the dealer.  After
> the oil change I head out on the highway.  After about and hour, the car
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> Of course the dealer that just did the oil change is going to try and cover
> their butt .. so what should I do?

Well of course - you should come to a usenet newsgroup and ask what you
should do.  Come on Wayne - what do you think you should do?  How about
contacting the dealer?  What makes you so sure they're going to "try and
cover their butt"?  My  bet is the tell you to get the car towed to them and
when they look at it and find what is likely your suspicion, they'll be
giving you a new engine.

Of course I have to ask - did the oil light come on before the car started
to slow down?  If it dumped it's oil out then it's almost a guarantee that
the light came on earlier than the slowing down.  Might have been a clue...

Long term damage?  If the  motor seized then the long term damage is long
term.  New motor.  But - like I said if it's because the dealer screwed up,
they'll probably give you a new motor.

Signature

-Mike-
mmarlowREMOVE@alltel.net

--

-Mike-
mmarlowREMOVE@alltel.net

Wayne - 14 Feb 2006 09:23 GMT
Here is what the problem was .... and I think someone ( only one ) guessed
it correctly.

Car get towed back to dealer ... dealer says oil pump failed and replaces
pump.  That's it.  Fixed, and here is your car back.

Question:  Should I be concerned about the long term damage to the engine?
With a failed oil pump, is it the same as running out of oil and grinding
metal on metal?

THANKS

> Brand new 2006 Cavalier ... in for first oil change at the dealer.  After
> the oil change I head out on the highway.  After about and hour, the car
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Thanks
Rodan - 14 Feb 2006 12:05 GMT
New 2006 Cavalier ...   An hour after first dealer oil change
the car started to slow on the highway, even with foot on
the gas, oil light is on, engine light comes on  ... as I pull
off the highway the steering is hard to move.   Car gets
towed back to dealer ... dealer says oil pump failed and
replaces pump.  That's it.

1.)   What happened; did the dealer fail to tighten the oil
filter enough so the engine lost its oil?

2.)   With a failed oil pump, is it the same as running out
of oil and grinding metal on metal?   What is the potential
long term damage?

_____________________________________________________

From your description, the engine was stopped immediately, so
there was probably no damage.    If it were run a very short time
with no oil pressure, here are some long-term effects possible:

a.   Engine power falls as worn rings lower cylinder pressure.
b.   Oil consumption rises and exhaust smokes from worn rings.
c.   Oil pump picks up metal flakes from pan.
d.   Loose rods rattle at startup until oil pressure rises.

The dealer may have failed to tighten the oil filter, but not want
to admit the error.    Also, the dealer was able to charge the
manufacturer for warranty replacement of a "failed oil pump"
instead of having to admit its incompetence and to eat the cost
of fixing its own stupid mistake.

Yes, either a failed oil pump or a loose filter will cause loss of oil
pressure.   In the old days, if you saw the oil pressure warning
light go on and you kept driving, engine bearings would begin to
wear immediately, shedding metal flakes down into the crankcase.
You would hear knocking as the rod bearings got looser, and one of
the bearings would seize within a few minutes, followed by broken
pieces of rods trying to fly through the side of the block.

But if you shut off the engine as soon as you saw the oil pressure
warning light go on, there would be no damage.

Many modern cars have an oil pressure interlock that shots off the
fuel pump if oil pressure fails.    If your car has that interlock, the
engine shut itself off automatically when the oil pressure failed
and damage was prevented.

Good luck.

Rodan.
Hairy - 14 Feb 2006 16:24 GMT
> Here is what the problem was .... and I think someone ( only one ) guessed
> it correctly.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> THANKS

Be prepared for greatly reduced engine life. From your description, the
engine ran dry until it died or almost died, even with throttle applied. I
would have settled for no less than a new engine. Be sure to save any
documentation of this episode as you will likely need it in the not too
distant future.

Dave
cars - 15 Feb 2006 02:39 GMT
Wayne are you sure you get your story straight?  Are you the owner of the
car?

9:53 am you send out a message said a problem with your car that you had to
pull the car over off the highway after only driven for 1 hr.
10:37am (37 minutes later) you're asking what is the potential damage when
we 're still don't know what and thinking there is no oil in engine

11:34 am (almost and hr later) you said tow truck checked engine oil and it
is okay

3 days later at 1:23am you said the pump has failed.  Dealer repaired and
you really don't trust them and you want people here to guess the extent of
the damage to the engine.  What you really want to hear is.. how can I
return this car for  a new car?

So the point is.. you were stuck on the highway without a car but with the
computer and  log on internet to seek for help but for information about
potential damage to the engine not how I can get the car going...or talking
to dealer..

60 minutes later, you're still online saying there is oil according to the
tow truck operator.

Sorry!! maybe it is just me but I can't see how this is possible and where
you are going with this.

good luck!!!

> > Here is what the problem was .... and I think someone ( only one ) guessed
> > it correctly.
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> Dave
 
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