2.7 overfilled with oil, what damage would be caused

I own a 99 Intrepid 2.7 with about 82K on it. The timing chain was making
noise so I had it towed to Elmwood Dodge in East Providence RI. A new timing
chain, water pump, belts were installed for 1300 dollars. I picked up the
car and after about 300 miles started to get a noise in the motor, the oil
light would come on at an idle and the car started running rough at an idle.
I checked the oil and it appears to have been "Double filled" being 5 quarts
over. I had it towed back to the dealer and was told the noise is a piston
noise. They assumed responsibility for the overfill of oil and are stating
that would not lead to piston damage. Is this true?

 

No matter what you read here get a receipt from the dealer acknowledging the
screw up.

 

Probably won't damage the pistons, but might well have damaged the main
and rod bearings and possibly the cam(s) as well. Aerated oil doesn't
pump very well and doesn't lubricate very well.


Matt

 

And ask for an extended warranty on the engine.


Matt

 

Normally the crank shaft is above the oil line in the sump. When the
engine is this overfilled the crankshaft becomes partially submerged
in the oil and whips it in to a froth as the engine spins. Kind of
like beating egg whites to get meringue if you have ever done that or
seen your wife do it.

When the oil gets in to a froth like this the oil pump can't pump it
and you get the low oil light and engine damage. There could be other
things going on here, but from the information we have I would
definitely be telling the dealer to fix this engine.

Not checking the oil before it left the shop is pure negligence on
their part.

Steve B.

 

I can't believe the things I read in here sometimes. The idiots that they
let work on cars boggles the mind. This is the reason I change my own oil!
And do most of the maintenance on my vehicles myself. A few posts up I was
reading about a dealership that striped the threads on someone's aluminum
oil pan and wants him to pay to replace it.

Yes, it can cause piston damage. Aerated oil is NOT a sufficient lubricant
in an internal combustion engine.

 

It is good that you realize this. Anybody can type anything and some people
will take it as gosple.

Denny

 

Such as your post. He wasn't referring to the quality (or lack therof)
of posts here, but of what gets inflicted on car owners by dealers.

Bill Putney
(to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with "x")

 

And that is what I was referring to. If dealers were really as bad as most
everybody here lets on, I'm sure most of them wouldn't be in business long.
I'm not saying that a share of stupid mistakes haven't been made, and not
made right after, but dealers can't be as bad as this group collectively
lets on.

There was a post somewhere recently about a service manager "finally"
telling the truth about something. Does this make sense?? Do you really
think a manager wants to lie to customers, piss them all off so they go
somewhere else to spend their money? Most managers that I have dealt with
will do most anything to satisfy the customer so they will come back the
next time. Maybe I just live in a small town where things are different. We
all buy groceries in the same store, kids mostly goes to the same schools
and talk together at the Friday night ball games.

Denny

 

It's always amusing in a sad sort of way when some schlemiel like Denny
here attempts to use what theoretically should/must/mustn't be the case as
an argument against what actually, really *is* the case.

To anyone who's ever experienced a dealer service department? You betchya.

Perhaps you do.

Or maybe you live in 1963 and just aren't telling us.

-Stern

 

No more amusing than a consumer that has a bad experience with a product or
service and suddenly the vendor is a crook.
I personally have never had a problem with my Chrysler dealers here in
Virginia or in New York. Now of corse your statements are not your biased
theory and are strictly based on mounds of data and statistical analysis.
You know...like how Chrysler sells millions of vehicles, 71% of American
housholds own a computer and 93% of them use the internet (from U.S. census)
yet there is only a handful of complaints (comparitively speaking) about
there product.

While I do much of my own work, due to time constraints I also have occasion
to visit the Service Center at my local dealer. I have yet to have what I
would consider a problem. The one time I did mention an issue to the service
manager (greasy hand prints on fender after have under-hood repair done) I
was offered a certificate for a free detailing. I by the way declined as it
was only my intent to have him perhaps mention to a (possibly new hire) that
they should be more careful.

Or perhaps some just don't pop the cork on the "whine" as easily others.

 

Thanks Dan. I thought I could get a conversation but I see that I'm already
a "schlemiel", whatever the **** that is. How do you like being exposed for
what you really are?

I'm guessing that maybe 99% of Americans that own cars/trucks have visited
a service dept at least once in their lives. I'm betting that you're wrong
that all of them think the service manager lies.

No perhaps, I do.

Nope, I live in the present just like all of us do.

Denny

 

In another car newsgroup (premium German car) I follow the dealership is
constantly subjected to criticism, just about all of which I cannot share.
This is mainly from the US participants, though they do seem to make up more
than half the correspondents.

I don't doubt that the criticisms voiced are real and usually well-founded,
but it is also likely, I believe, that these newsgroups don't represent the
'average'. Many participants are very vocal (ready to express criticism)
and many do their own maintenance.

DAS

 

What's the trouble? Your dictionary in the shop with a persistent
stalls-and-won't-restart problem or something?

-Stern

 

You're fortunate. The point is that bad dealer service experiences ought
to be the exception, rather than the rule. It's reasonable to expect a
consistently-good experience, but unfortunately the reality is too often
otherwise.

-Stern

 

Not at all, I just didn't feel like using any of my time on your drivel.
Everyone has an opinion. When opinions can be discussed in a somewhat civil
manner ideas can be shared and someone may learn something. That just don't
happen when the name calling begins. I'm sure that in your profession,
whatever that may be, is 100% full of competent professionals that never
make a mistake and when they do they charge someone else to cover it up.
Right??

Denny

 

I don't know. I just barely existed in '63..... <VBG>

Denny

 

I've had excellent experience at Herb Gordon Dodge in Silver Spring, Maryland.
They've done 99% of my service work since 1987 and I can't remember a single
time where I've had a problem or even had to take a vehicle back for a poor
repair job. No grease tracked in on the carpets, etc. either...the vehicles
are always clean. They are "5-star" certified...if that makes a difference or
not.

 

Well you should be happy to "learn" then that bad dealer service experiences
ARE the exception, NOT the rule.
The fact (and reality) is that the a GOOD experience is the norm. It is also
a reality that statistically, folks will tell friends about bad consumer
experiences 12-15 times more often than they will a good experience. Add to
that the many "whiners" out there that have nothing better to do in life
than bitch about how their day went and you can see where most of the
'negative' posts in these groups come from.

 

|
| > Or maybe you live in 1963 and just aren't telling us.
|
| Nope, I live in the present just like all of us do.
|
| Denny
|

Did Usenet exist in 1963? Sort of reminds me of the movie "Frequency"
with Dennis Quaid.