Ok so last week I went to the dealer to have my rear wheel bearing replaced. While they were at it I told them to change the oil as well.

I get the car back and the service tech says that my oil pan is bad, the drain plug is not sealing properly. And that I need to replace the pan ($399.99). He said this just was normal wear from so many oil changes. (my car has 75k miles). And that I should replace it as soon as possible.

Is this normal? I have never had a oil pan "wear out"

Now i get little oil spots in my driveway.... If I do need a replacement the Mugen baffled oil pan is cheaper than oem one, I guess I'll be going with that one.

 

Somewhere along the way, someone over torqued the drain bolt and partially stripped the threads on the oilpan hole. Did he check the crush washer to see if it is in need of replacement? Once stripped, the hole can be drilled out and re-tapped and a slightly larger drain bolt and washer installed.

 

Thats what i figured... I have always done the oil changes at the dealer though, I thought they torqued them down properly

Well the cost of the Mugen oil pan isn't too bad, I guess I could change that myself. I wouldn't know where to take my car to have the drain re-tapped.

Next time I will change the oil myself and I'll change the crush washer. (before I order a new oil pan) Is there any risks that I am taking in driving the car the way it is for another couple thousand miles?

 

[QUOTE=ahbongkadah,Jan 13 2005, 12:21 PM] I thought they torqued them down properly

 

Thanks for all the advice

I'll get it taken care of as soon as possible

 

just take the old pan to a machine shop and get it retapped. I guess someone will do the job for less than $20, be sure to tell them whether you want metric size or std size.

 

Well i just got off the phone with my local Honda dealer, here in Long Beach CA. Here's how the conversation went:

me: "My oil pan is stripped, the drain plug is not sealing properly. Do you know what caused this to happen?

 

Um ... and then they hung up?

 

Ahh computer froze...

me: "My oil pan is stripped, the drain plug is not sealing properly. Do you know what caused this to happen?"

Service tech: "YOU over tightened the drain plug, or didn't replace the crush washer which caused you to over tighten the drain plug. Which stripped the oil pan"

Me: "Well for the past 30,000 miles I have been going to your dealership to change my oil, so only your mechanics have touched that drain plug."

Tech: "Oh, well... let me pull up your service records to verify that. OK yes it does show here you've been servicing your car here for the past 25,000 miles."

-I've changed my oil every 3k at that dealership for the past year.

Tech: "You seem like an intelegent guy, what exactly do you want out of this?"

Me: "well I'm pretty sure you're not going to replace it completely for free, But i will be willing to split the cost with you. You last quoted me at $400 to replace the oil pan, I would be willing to split the cost."

Tech: "Well I'll have to check with the service manager on that, I'll give you a call back tomarrow"

So basically he explained what was done wrong... Its obvious that it was that dealership that made the mistake, and it is still so hard to get any compensation!

 

Ummm...why are you offering to split the cost? Tell them they will replace it at their expense. Why should you pay when they screwed up? Me personally would have stopped when he said

Service tech: "YOU over tightened the drain plug, or didn't replace the crush washer which caused you to over tighten the drain plug. Which stripped the oil pan"

I would have asked for the above in writting. Once I had it in writting, then I would have asked the service manager to replace my oil pan for free. If they balked, I would show them the letter and remind them that they had changed my oil for the past 25K. If they still balked I'd call american honda until they made it right.

There is a reason that no one touches my car but me......