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Last Thursday, took my Escape for oil change. Took car on 450 mile trip to Niagra Falls for the weekend. Today, I went out to go somewhere. Started up the car, noticed it sounded funny. Then notice oil light was on. Sound got worse, car died.
I got out, saw oil coming out underneath. Noticed the oil cap was gone. Also saw a small trail of oil into my drive way.
I called the oil change place, they will be bringing me a cap tomorrow and oil. Some how, they didnt tighten it enough. So it has been loosening for a week and mustve completely fell out yesterday when I was running errands. And perhaps I made it home just in time. Whatever oil came out today, mustve been just residual stuff from the engine. Because its not close to the amount of oil from full tank.
Obviously, if the car sounds awful or doesnt start, Ill know there is damage. But what if it starts and seems okay. Is there anything else I should check for? Maybe just take a drive on the parkway and see how it goes?
I imagine this place has insurance, and in the event there is a major problem, hopefully they wouldnt fight taking care of it.
If the oil light didn't come on during your 450 mile road trip, then I wouldn't worry about that. What matters is how long the oil light was on, and how long it ran with it on.
You need to get under there and drain the oil so you can measure just how much oil you still have in the car. Do not add oil or start the car again until this is done, in case you have to fight the shop over possible repairs.
Are you writing about the oil cap or the oil plug? How much oil can escape if the cap comes off? If the plug comes off, yes, all the oil drains out. Just want to understand this.
If I am reading this correct, meaning that your engine started sounding funny, oil light came on and then it died, I think your engine is done. Usually when the oil light comes on, it is already too late.
No, I don't buy the loose part, I think they just forgot to put the cap on and you gradually lost oil. The question about the cap vs drain plug is a valid one.
Let me guess, this is a quicky lube place....
I won't let them off the hook with a cap and oil. They need to replace your engine, well actually pay for it; I wouldn't let them touch the car. Document everything, call the store manager and request at least a used engine with a one year warranty.
That's what I thought. Once they forgot to put the nylon washer on with my plug and a bunch of oil leaked in my garage. So, you got to double check these guys.
If it's the drain plug, then you lost ALL the oil. Serious damage may have resulted. Take pictures of the plug missing. Also make sure they do TWO oil changes. The first is to run clean oil through the engine, then drain after a few minutes, and check for metal shavings from bearings and such in the clean oil, easier to see. Then, take the filter that is on there now, and cut it open. Take pictures of what you find, because if there is shiny slivers in the oil filter, that means your engine experienced excessive wear and those are tiny bits of metal in there.
That's what I thought. Once they forgot to put the nylon washer on with my plug and a bunch of oil leaked in my garage. So, you got to double check these guys.
Everyone makes mistakes. The important thing is this oil place learned their lesson.
Probabilities are high it came off on your street. You won't drive far with zero oil in the engine-half mile or less. There should be a trail down the street from your driveway to the exact place it came out. Damage may be absolutely none, then again it depends on how far you drove it. The good news, Ford uses low tension rings so I would doubt damage to the rings or block. The lower end, if it has any kinda miles on it probably is okay. If you are mechanically inclined and can change the oil yourself, I'd run whatever oil they put in it about 500 miles. Pull the oil out of it and at mid stream take a sample of it. Send it to any lab, like a CAT lab or Blackstone with a letter explaining the issue. You need a Ferrography test and a particle count. That will tell what damage, if any, and how much damage. I'd chat with the oil change place about them paying for the tests. Yer talking about $150.00 worth of tests.
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