I could kick myself - trusted a dealer service to set the oil level correct - didn't check the oil level before I drove home - lots of VTEC later (only 50 miles though)and I got home and checked the oil level and it was on the low mark

Question is do you think this will have done any damage? I am waiting for a call back from the dealer's service manager tomorrow to "discuss" the fact that they left my oil level low after a sevice and I would value any opinions from here.

PS: What a price to pay for a stamp in the service book and a Honda invoice (it really pisses me off that I could have done a better job myself some

 

Did you wait a few minutes after stopping before checking the level?

Should be OK as you say the level is low as opposed to empty!. If it is low, then 1st thing to do before driving it again is to top the level up. If it is low, then a quick polite call to the dealer would be a good idea, if nothing else to register your concern and to cover yourself if something goes wrong.

 

I waited one hour before checking and I've checked the oil on this car many times before (at least weekly and I don't normally let the level drop more than about 2-3mm).

The "interesting" thing is that I supplied my own oil (synthetic) - 1 x4 litre container & 1 x 1 litre container. When I had to top it up (according to the book a change takes 4.8 litres) it took .8 litres. Conclusion....

 

I think you deserve a damn good explaination on this one, and in future vote with your feet and take it else where.

 

I thought hard cornering was more of an issue than VTEC, and the lower the oil..it's more likely to happen that the oil pump is starved as the oil is flung about the pan. I had an audi..oil pressure light flashed when in a hard corner..I stopped and found low oil level.

 

I plan to do both but the really niggling thing is that this is a dealer I hadn't used before and that I decided to try because I had seen some good comments about them on this board!

Why didn't I use my usual dealer? Because I started to lose confidence in them (admittedly due to their parts department) when I asked to buy a replacement pollen filter and they said (more or less their exact words): "the S2000 is a convertible it doesn't have a pollen filter." After some discussion they 'condescended' to check it out and ordered the filter. I thought at the time that if they had that level of knowledge about the car I was going to take it elsewhere in future.

Which dealer to try next? I really don't know but I'm sorely tempted to start servicing it myself and think stuff it to the dealer stamped service history. After all, what I may lose on resale value I will make up for on the service cost savings, and the extended warranty runs out next year. Besides, I really would like to keep this car well into the future so resale may not be an issue anyway.

Thanks for your reply (at times I start to wonder if I'm paranoid and have too high expectations - both probably ).

 

From what I've read in the FAQ's and UTH, VTEC has a problem engaging when the oil level is too low, so the fact that VTEC worked okay would imply that the engine was still happy with the oil level.

Add to that the fact that the car is running on a synthetic oil, should have ensured that no consequential damage should have occurred.

In hindsight what you should have done is called out the dealer manager to come top up your oil (shocking ).


-- Paul

 

Since it was only 50 miles, there is less chance of overheating the oil than on a long run. This is a danger of too little oil.

The other danger is oil surge in hard cornering causing starvation. If the oil level is at min. or above, this should not be a major problem, since you spotted it quick.

I would recommend some form of written evidence, just in the very unlikely off chance that you get a related problem.

 

Thanks Nick - that's exactly what I have agreed with the service manager. He has apologised profusely verbally, assured me that no damage will have been done, and he is going to put all this in writing to me. I will then keep this letter with my service history.

The reason given for the problem was that, sometimes I am told, more than 4.8 litres drains out on an oil change. The SM has checked the old containers I supplied and they were both used (the 4 litre and the 1 litre). He has also read the riot act to the technician whose failing was to tell the receptionist that the owner did not supply enough oil (I will supply 6 litres next time - please note if you are reading this and are thinking of supplying your own oil for a service!).

My run back was around the M25/M3 (so no hard corners but the variable speed limit wasn't on in the afternoon and VTEC was used a lot!). From the thread I have also posted in "under the hood" the consensus seems to be that no damage will have been done, also the letter will give me some documented proof if I do get a problem, and so I am going to let the matter rest now.

The question is should I use the dealer again (they have a good reputation from a lot of you guys - I won't name them publicly though - and the service manager and receptionist at least were very professional in dealing with my query)?

What would you do?

 

My question was answered today by the arrival of the service manager's letter, and as well as the expected content it included the offer of free labour for my next service if I use them again. Although this won't be until next summer I will take them up on the offer (but I may give my car a full check-over before I drive it away next time!).

Anyway, well done to their management for resolving my complaint in a professional, timely and fair manner.

My jury will be out on their workshop's attention to detail until next Summer, although I am assured that the problem has been addressed to ensure this sort of thing doesn't happen again to anyone else.


All in all on Monday is now on Thursday