[Closed] Oil covered engine due to garage not refitting oil filler cap - advice pls!

At the very least they should be replacing the engine oil and filter again and cleaning the engine bay thoroughly. Anything over and above that is a goodwill gesture.
It doesn't take a lot of oil to make a royal mess.

Is it simply a case of them topping up the oil and cleaning the engine bay

That's all I'd be thinking. If you get a chance have a quick look at the air filter yourself to see if it needs changing, would be surprised though

[tannoy] Simonlovesrocks to the forum [/tannoy]
Not that he's ever been so stupid :-p

I'd drain and re-fill the oil, give the engine bay a good clean and drive it. If something was damaged by low oil pressure (which is what the sensor/light is looking at, not level) then it'll beocme apparent fairly quickly, the turbo bearings would disintegrate in no time at all.

Get it in writing that the poor service led to a loss of oil and the tell-tale coming on. Sod's law says it falls apart after you've agreed to just have a clean/top up.

Having made the same 'hilarious' mistake myself (still have a dent in the bonnet where it closed on the cap still sitting on top of the engine cover) I would say that beyond cleaning it up and doing another fill there isn't much that would need doing. If it hasn't been running long with a low level I can't see any damage being done. If there is damage then you'll find out quickly enough and you'll have total comeback.

Just one of those things, stupid mistake to make but everyone does something similar at one point or another. It's not one you tend to repeat!

It depends how long it's been driven for really. If it chucked out 4 litres of oil (doubtful) driving home on Friday, and then was driven all weekend, then there could be serious damage. Have you checked the oil level to see how much you've lost?

Thanks for the advice everyone.

To be clear, I'm not looking to go at the garage with pitchforks, I'm just seeking advice, as a mechanical incompetent, whether they's anything in particular I should be paying attention to.

So far the garage have behaved impeccably, they are recovering the car as I write, have offered to cover travel costs incurred by my wife, 'will sort everything' and have offered the next service free of charge. Not that it's any of my business, but they also said the mechanic would be getting a written warning (we're getting the impression it was a new guy who did the work).

It depends how long it's been driven for really.

About 120 miles since she picked it up from the service, so quite a way. She swears the oil pressure light only 'flickered a couple of times' though.

No pudding for the mechanic today then!

Glad they are recovering it, hopefully they won't start it to get it on the low loader.

Fresh oil change, steam clean engine bay, if the driveway is bad possibly arrange for someone to jet wash the drive (or get at it yourself with a stiff brush and some detergent) and cover and supply a courtesy car. Get a record of the incident in writing but I doubt you will need it. Doesnt take much oil to make a mess or set off the low pressure warning so there should still be plenty in there.

If you are worried then ask them to check the air filter and measure the oil that they drain out and get this on record.

Or if they just top up the oil then get them to record how much it needs to fill.

Check oil level yourself using the dipstick before they take it away.

No pudding for the mechanic today then!

😆

No [s]pudding[/s] dessert for the mechanic today then!

FTFY

😀

If the oil light has come on; that means there's been insufficient pressure/flow to keep the light off. The effects of this can be serious depending on the engine load & conditions at the time. Personally I'd let them rectify this to your own satisfaction but make sure you get everything down in writing just in case two months down the line the engine goes belly up.

Check oil level yourself using the dipstick before they take it away.

I've been nowhere near the car unfortunately. I'm trying to establish if my wife (or any of her colleagues who were helping her out) checked the dipstick last night.

The auxillary belt is likely to need replacing as a liberal coating of oil will result in it slipping, meaning the water pump and alternator won't be turning.

Update from the garage via the wife re. the oil level;
"...they’ve replenished the oil, it had lost about half, they got 2.5L of oil in to it..."

EDIT: Googling suggests oil capacity is 5.2-5.5L, so it does seem to be about half that it lost.

ouch! That is a lot to lose.

Or the mechanical hadn't finished filling it and hence didn't replace the cap.

Being that low it would not even touch the dip stick. Ask em for a 6 month complementary warranty on the engine?

edit: contact BMW and ask for their advice on the consequences?

Have done the same thing myself, check under car as the oil will have run under the chasis and covered it it in slimy oil which will attract mud and crap and be horrible for mechanics to change anything later in life

Or the mechanical hadn't finished filling it and hence didn't replace the cap

Slightly odd thing is that the 'service' it had was just a lame 'inspection service' as requested by the stupid variable service indicator, so the oil wasn't actually changed. I can only guess the mechanic was checking under the filler cap for coolant leak or something.

I went down a different road and once over filled my car with oil and that did indeed flood the air filter with oil, not tried the cap off approach yet.

Yes, that's right I am an idiot, I also once distractedly realised the reason the petrol filler kept cutting out was that I was paying to pour it onto the concrete below as the car was overfull and once again, yes, I am an idiot!

An honest mistake, no need to go postal on them.

Get it in writing that this happened and it was their mistake. Go back to them if you get problems further down the line. I doubt it is lunched and it does not mean they are incompetent.

My experience is that by the time the oil light has come on, there is very little oil left in the system. The sump will have drained quite low, and something will have got very hot indeed. That will accelerate wear.

If you are lucky the turbo has a direct pump feed off the sump, so won't have lunched itself. BWM crankcase bearings have pretty good tolerances, so they'll probably be OK. Only time will tell, but in all likelyhood unless something is about to fail now, you will have sold the car on before problems materialize.

Slightly odd thing is that the 'service' it had was just a lame 'inspection service' as requested by the stupid variable service indicator, so the oil wasn't actually changed.

Get them to drain all the oil out before putting fresh in. Chance filter. Something will have got hot, and whatever oil was left will be burnt. Diluting it is not best practice, especially in a Diesel.

Get the next oil and filter change at half the recommended interval.

Use decent oil, not garage standard bulk buy stuff.

On the plus side, rustproof engine bay

Get the engine thoroughly cleaned or it will stink for weeks.

Not that I've ever done this exact same thing.

Ok if it was my car I wouldn't want it jet washing at the local petrol station.

I'd want it to be done by someone who really knows what he/she is doing. All parts covered that need to be (electrics etc) thoroughly before gunk is spread and cleaning commences.

I'd want all visible moving parts within the vicinity of the filler replaced and the associated pullies etc cleaned/degreased or also replaced.

I've no idea how much oil would be forced out due to heat expansion/pressure but I'd be worried about future wear issues.

Its a 2004 car yes. However it could EASILY last another 4yrs good service.

The garage WILL have insurance if its not a temporary backsteet-job. So don't feel bad about wanting it done properly or feeling like they are doing you a favour beyond top-up/wipe. They'll automatically recommend this as only thing needed as it'll be a case of 'give it a go it might work/be cheaper'.

I once had oil spill onto the manifold/exhaust area from a failing drive shaft. It STANK oily inside the car etc when the car had been running for a longish run for a longtime after.

i.e. everytime the exhaust warmed up.

Ok if it was my car I wouldn't want it jet washing at the local petrol station.

😐

I'd want it to be done by someone who really knows what he/she is doing. All parts covered that need to be (electrics etc) thoroughly before gunk is spread and cleaning commences.

🙄

I'd want all visible moving parts within the vicinity of the filler replaced and the associated pullies etc cleaned/degreased or also replaced.

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I've no idea how much oil would be forced out due to heat expansion/pressure but I'd be worried about future wear issues.

[img] [/img]

Its a 2004 car yes. However it could EASILY last another 4yrs good service.

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I once had oil spill onto the manifold/exhaust area from a failing drive shaft. It STANK oily inside the car etc when the car had been running for a longish run for a longtime after.

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This isn't your wife is it? 🙂

i.e. everytime the exhaust warmed up.

you spill your coffee on your desk and the keyboard gets a bit wet

you demand everything is replaced including the desk and the computer and the chair just to be safe well the chair might rust and the desk rot ?

Oily smell, either is was spraying new oil around due to the "failing driveshaft" ( 🙄 I had a driveshaft fail at the weekend, *big* bang, and time to dig out the warm coat for a long wait) or there was oil pooled somewhere which you hadn't bothered to mop up.

Coffee in a keyboard. My God. The Humanity!

[img] [/img]

anotherdeadhero you need to get out a bit more.

timmys - Member
Slightly odd thing is that the 'service' it had was just a lame 'inspection service' as requested by the stupid variable service indicator, so the oil wasn't actually changed. I can only guess the mechanic was checking under the filler cap for coolant leak or something.

???

All services on BMW's that are called due to the service indicator require an oil change, be it an Oil service, Inspection 1 or Inspection 2.

If they didn't change the oil they were doing it wrong anyway!

Hey, it is 10 years since I've allowed myself to be baited by you, there is something a bit 2005 about all this.

I mean you don't have to take it as a joke if you don't want to, I'm not the boss of you.

Some people hold blood-grudges but then forgive.

Someone, somewhere is holding a grudge for a decade because of a forum poster on a bicycle forum..

One day hora, I will hunt you down and hack you limb from limb with an axe.

Or, one day you'll chill out and join in with the joke.

You're comedy gold mate. I wouldn't miss your input for the world.

One day I will track you down and kiss you on both cheeks (face).

My boss's wife had a One series that had the oil cap left off (or left loose) after a BMW main dealer service, ruined the recently-laid tarmac at her parking space at work. Fact.

One day I will track you down and kiss you on both cheeks (face).

Just the face? Oh well. I didn't know you did dharlink.

Greetings from mleh BTW.

Greetings from mleh BTW.

I assumed that died when STW replaced the hamsters.

thisisnotaspoon - Member

Greetings from mleh BTW.

I assumed that died when STW replaced the hamsters.

Posted 1 minute ago #Report-Post

It did,you know the zombie maggots chewk is always going on about...Or is it JHJ's lizard masters...Not sure

I thought I'd flushed them all out of their foxholes during the battle for Saigon.

hora - Member

I'd want all visible moving parts within the vicinity of the filler replaced and the associated pullies etc cleaned/degreased or also replaced.

I'd want an apology from the pope written on a sheet of diamond but you won't always get every daft thing you ask for

I thought I'd flushed them all out of their foxholes during the battle for Saigon.

That day when you all got banned off here and applied for asylum was hilarious.

mleh is alive and kicking, albeit with no discernible trace of brain wave activity. 'twas ever thus.

Slightly odd thing is that the 'service' it had was just a lame 'inspection service' as requested by the stupid variable service indicator, so the oil wasn't actually changed. I can only guess the mechanic was checking under the filler cap for coolant leak or something.

I think this garage is a bunch of cowboys who shouldn't be allowed near a car

BMWs website detailing an 'inspection service': http://www.bmw.com/com/en/owners/service/care/checkup_and_maintenance/maintenance/inspection.html

Admittedly I would want to see the service book for the car which will state what is needed but do they think an inspection service is just have a quick look around the car? Most basic part of a service is change engine oil and filter. Then everything else is dependant on interval.

Also good point about the risk of burning the oil in there if it has got too hot.

Tell em you want them to foot the bill for cleaning it and a full refund and then take your car to another garage.

another 'inspection service' description:

http://www.bimmerzone.com/category/Tip_and_Tricks_Inspection.html

The problem is the Germans call it an inspection. To the Germans this means actually change the basics and inspect things that need inspecting.

To a lazy British mechanic (seen quite a few) it means get it up on the ramps (probably damaging something in the process), have a gander round, wiggle something in the hope to find something expensive to fix and then put it back on the ground and rag it out to the car park.

Sorry, bit of a thread revival from last week.

Regarding the inspection service not having an oil change. The service indicator requested an oil change about three months ago and it had an oil/filter change and full service then. The service light then came on last month requesting an 'inspection' only, nothing else - estimated mileage to next oil change was more than 10,000 miles. Should they really have changed the oil then? Maybe the definition of an inspection service is different now to what it is in the 2004 service manual?

For what it's worth we are very happy with how the garage dealt with it. After recovering the car they cleaned the engine bay and and underside extremely thoroughly (all plastic covers/undertrays etc. were removed and he was happy to show me that all the belts which looked crystal clean), changed the oil and filter (the top up they mentioned previously was apparently just to move the car, then the oil was drained/filled completely). Wife's travel expenses reimbursed. Written report of what happened. At next MOT (June) it will be given an extra oil/filter change free of charge.

While not up to Hora standards we're happy enough with the outcome.

Its a 2004 car yes. However it could EASILY last another 4yrs good service.

LOL! I should bloody well hope so! My previous car (1997 Pug 306 D Turbo), which we sold to a friend, has just managed a drive to Spain and back.

Personally I'd be a bit worried about the turbo. Ask them to reassure you in whatever way their conscience allows....

Good result.

I would like it to be known that, as another representative of mleh, I do not extend my greetings to hora. It's a big problem when the website of idiots thinks you're an idiot.

hmmm. ponders mlehworld password.