low/no oil from Jiffy Lube and what next?

[IWtahoe602]

First- new guy and thanks ahead of time for any assistance!

Okay, kind of a weird one here. Some of this doesn't add up, but I know what the end result is, so my main question is what can I do about this now, and is there any legal recourse with Jiffy Lube?

2022 Tahoe 6.2 belonging to my girlfriend. currently about 15k miles.

-she had the oil changed last week on the 31st.
-About 6-700 miles on the car since the oil change.
-She called this morning frantic that her oil light came on. Instructed her to pull over immediately and check it, but she proceeded about a mile or two down the road back to the jiffy lube since it happened to be so close.
-JL informed her it was actually empty and that it took all 8 quarts to fill it up- she has pics of this happening and they admitted it was 8qts "low".
-They sent her on her way with hardly even an apology, and refused to document the incident on paper or in their system- although she took some pics of it happening.
-They claim it was a loose oil filter... but after I crawled all under the car this afternoon, there is not evidence of any sort of an oil leak, especially 8 qts worth. Its immaculate underneath. In addition, there has not been a drop of oil on the concrete driveway.
-I don't believe the car could go 600 miles with no oil in it, but... I have no other explanation as it was certainly not a normal leak. Again the truck is spotless underneath... So I am presuming it was never filled up (but 600 miles empty?)

So now what??
-IF the car could go that long with no oil, how much long term damage is there?
-I don't understand why the oil light just now came on? again, zero signs of a leak, but was certainly empty when got there. If it was a catastrophic oil dump that triggered the light, why no signs of leak? bad sensor? maybe guys lying and drain plug fell out- even so, I would think there would be some splatter underneath?
-Is there any recourse with JL for the damage done, even though its not manifested yet?
- I am considering a dealer trip to see if they can document anything with a computer scan. Although, I doubt they would be willing to state anything about damages.

Again, I know this sounds off, but I've checked and double checked for leaks and they dumped 8 qts in it today, and its topped off just right when I checked it after.

thanks yall. And I know... stay away from the fast lube places...

 

[Chad G 1979]

Still would have dealer do a once over on it just to have them look into it and also to have it in your records if something happens to the engine down the road.

 

[Doubeleive]

nonsense, it wasn't empty, could have been just low enough to trigger a low oil light down the road, they probably put 6 quarts in not realizing it took 8 and typically 2 quarts low is what triggers the low oil light. If was empty it would have ruined the engine way before 600 miles

 

[IWtahoe602]

or does the dealer trip disclosing this possibly void warranty coverage should it implode??

 

[IWtahoe602]

Doubeleive... I would tend to agree if I hadn't seen the pic of the container of oil going in it, and have since checked the level myself. It looked like a 5-gal jerry can of oil went in- I wasn't there to verify, but no way it was only 2 qts. Again, I understand this doesn't appear to add up... I'm puzzled myself. Again, no leaks and told it was empty and pics of a crap load going in...??

I really wish I had been there in person to handle this.

 

[DougAMiller]

No way is that engine going to run 600 miles with no oil. But even so, there is a low oil level sensor that would cause a warning as well as low oil pressure. There should have been warnings on the DIC about both pressure and level. On a brand new engine the oil would still be quite clean and might not be too noticeable where it was leaking from, but still I would think it would be there. A loose oil filter still seems like a likely scenario.

Could also be something I had happen to me once. I had just changed oil and filter and I hadn't noticed that the o-ring seal on the old filter had stuck to the block, so when I screwed on the new one there were two seals stacked up and the old one, since it didn't have the groove in the filter to hold it in place, deformed and created a gap. I was half a block down the street from my house when I notice the oil pressure was nearly zero. Now I always check to see that the o-ring comes off with the old filter.

 

[Doubeleive]

Doubeleive... I would tend to agree if I hadn't seen the pic of the container of oil going in it, and have since checked the level myself. It looked like a 5-gal jerry can of oil went in- I wasn't there to verify, but no way it was only 2 qts. Again, I understand this doesn't appear to add up... I'm puzzled myself. Again, no leaks and told it was empty and pics of a crap load going in...??

I really wish I had been there in person to handle this.

ok, so how did they determine it was a jerry can low on oil then? nobody in there right mind just adds 8 quarts of oil to a engine without knowing the existing oil level first, which to me indicates that they drained it and replaced the filter previous to adding the oil.
you know what I mean you don't pull into a shop and say hey my oil is low ummm ok lets just add 8 quarts of oil that should fix you right up sir....or mamm rather, that just doesn't happen.

 

[Quark]

I have had so many bad experiences with oil changes from wrecks to dents in the hood, oil all down the side of the vehicle, scrapes running half the width of the hood. In fact tomorrow I have an appointment with a dent guy at the dealership that last changed my oil. I really should start changing my own oil.

 

[gooffeyguy]

Jiffy Lube could've wiped up any mess that there may have been underneath.

I kinda agree with @Doubeleive, it was probably just low. Maybe due to a loose filter or drain bolt. Could have been a small seepage over those miles or could've been snug but just recently loosened more due to temps or potholes, etc.

 

[swathdiver]

First- new guy and thanks ahead of time for any assistance!

Okay, kind of a weird one here. Some of this doesn't add up, but I know what the end result is, so my main question is what can I do about this now, and is there any legal recourse with Jiffy Lube?

2022 Tahoe 6.2 belonging to my girlfriend. currently about 15k miles.

-she had the oil changed last week on the 31st.
-About 6-700 miles on the car since the oil change.
-She called this morning frantic that her oil light came on. Instructed her to pull over immediately and check it, but she proceeded about a mile or two down the road back to the jiffy lube since it happened to be so close.
-JL informed her it was actually empty and that it took all 8 quarts to fill it up- she has pics of this happening and they admitted it was 8qts "low".
-They sent her on her way with hardly even an apology, and refused to document the incident on paper or in their system- although she took some pics of it happening.
-They claim it was a loose oil filter... but after I crawled all under the car this afternoon, there is not evidence of any sort of an oil leak, especially 8 qts worth. Its immaculate underneath. In addition, there has not been a drop of oil on the concrete driveway.
-I don't believe the car could go 600 miles with no oil in it, but... I have no other explanation as it was certainly not a normal leak. Again the truck is spotless underneath... So I am presuming it was never filled up (but 600 miles empty?)

So now what??
-IF the car could go that long with no oil, how much long term damage is there?
-I don't understand why the oil light just now came on? again, zero signs of a leak, but was certainly empty when got there. If it was a catastrophic oil dump that triggered the light, why no signs of leak? bad sensor? maybe guys lying and drain plug fell out- even so, I would think there would be some splatter underneath?
-Is there any recourse with JL for the damage done, even though its not manifested yet?
- I am considering a dealer trip to see if they can document anything with a computer scan. Although, I doubt they would be willing to state anything about damages.

Again, I know this sounds off, but I've checked and double checked for leaks and they dumped 8 qts in it today, and its topped off just right when I checked it after.

thanks yall. And I know... stay away from the fast lube places...

She ought to register a complaint with the area manager for Jiffy Lube. The motor runs fine now right? Ask Blackstone Labs for a couple of their free analysis bottles. When the next oil change is due, send them a sample and they will analyze the oil and let you know if any damage was done.

Until about 2010, synthetic oil was of much higher quality and Mobil 1 even ran commercials in the 1980s of them running engines with no oil in them. I have even drag raced all evening long with no oil in a motor before with no ill effects.

On another note, I had a car that three times in its life it consumed all of its oil within days. No leaks, no smoke, just all gone. Best I could figure was that all the ring gaps on the pistons lined up and it quickly went bye bye.

 

[Stbentoak]

I’m saying they did a complete change including filter as fast as they could. With no record…


oh, and one more thing… DON’T EVER GO TO THESE PLACES….
that is all….

 

[iamdub]

First- new guy and thanks ahead of time for any assistance!

Okay, kind of a weird one here. Some of this doesn't add up, but I know what the end result is, so my main question is what can I do about this now, and is there any legal recourse with Jiffy Lube?

2022 Tahoe 6.2 belonging to my girlfriend. currently about 15k miles.

-she had the oil changed last week on the 31st.
-About 6-700 miles on the car since the oil change.
-She called this morning frantic that her oil light came on. Instructed her to pull over immediately and check it, but she proceeded about a mile or two down the road back to the jiffy lube since it happened to be so close.
-JL informed her it was actually empty and that it took all 8 quarts to fill it up- she has pics of this happening and they admitted it was 8qts "low".
-They sent her on her way with hardly even an apology, and refused to document the incident on paper or in their system- although she took some pics of it happening.
-They claim it was a loose oil filter... but after I crawled all under the car this afternoon, there is not evidence of any sort of an oil leak, especially 8 qts worth. Its immaculate underneath. In addition, there has not been a drop of oil on the concrete driveway.
-I don't believe the car could go 600 miles with no oil in it, but... I have no other explanation as it was certainly not a normal leak. Again the truck is spotless underneath... So I am presuming it was never filled up (but 600 miles empty?)

So now what??
-IF the car could go that long with no oil, how much long term damage is there?
-I don't understand why the oil light just now came on? again, zero signs of a leak, but was certainly empty when got there. If it was a catastrophic oil dump that triggered the light, why no signs of leak? bad sensor? maybe guys lying and drain plug fell out- even so, I would think there would be some splatter underneath?
-Is there any recourse with JL for the damage done, even though its not manifested yet?
- I am considering a dealer trip to see if they can document anything with a computer scan. Although, I doubt they would be willing to state anything about damages.

Again, I know this sounds off, but I've checked and double checked for leaks and they dumped 8 qts in it today, and its topped off just right when I checked it after.

thanks yall. And I know... stay away from the fast lube places...

I’m saying they did a complete change including filter as fast as they could. With no record…


oh, and one more thing… DON’T EVER GO TO THESE PLACES….
that is all….

^^^This. I think it was low and they just did a full drain and fill. Either they only used six quarts for the previous oil change (does she have a receipt?) and a little burned off over that ~600 miles or, more likely, the plug was loose and it leaked until the low level light was on. They would've cleaned off any stray oil when it was over their pit.

There's too much that can go wrong when there's low or no oil in these engines. Older/racing engines with solid lifters only use oil for lubrication so they'd have a better chance at survival if there's still enough oil hanging out between the moving parts. These modern engines with AFM and DFM have hydraulic lifters that require oil pressure to pump up and drain hundreds of times during every drive. It never would've left their service bay without noises, lights and likely damage had it been started and ran for more than a second or three with no oil.

 

[IWtahoe602]

Thanks guys- replies make sense. Again, really wish I had been there in person. getting an oil analysis does make sense for piece of mind.

 

[Doubeleive]

Thanks guys- replies make sense. Again, really wish I had been there in person. getting an oil analysis does make sense for piece of mind.

word of advice, STAY FAR AWAY from jiffylube, pepboys. or any other shady type quicklube.
take from us with experience, either visit a locally owned & operated clean & tidy shop or take it to the dealer

 

[Baja_Bob]

As a kid I worked at an oil change place and back then we would set the dial on the gun to 4 quarts. After an engine start we'd check the oil level once the filter was filled and then top off, most cars and trucks at the time only took 5 quarts. Maybe the tech was doing multiple jobs that day like checking tire pressure and washing windows and only put in 6 quarts or so like @Doubeleive said and never got back to check oil level and top off. These places go through employees every week and they don't get much training either and they are turned loose on a $70k truck.

 

[genestoy]

Whenever I have my dealer change my oil the first thing I do when I get home is check the oil level and make sure the oil fill cap is on tight and inspect other items like the windshield washer fill and cap etc. Never trust ANY service place 100% whether it be the dealer or a fast lube place (which I myself would never use).

 

[IWtahoe602]

ha, oh, I know!! I worked in one of those places when I was 15.. the stories... I service my own stuff as much as I can, but this one isn't mine- and between her construction projects for me, keeping a couple boat and a few bikes running, I jus let her do what she does with her own car!!

After thinking about it, the situation doesn't make sense and you guys are probably right- they drained what was left, then re-filled. That part was just lost in translation to me.

 

[Blackcar]

or does the dealer trip disclosing this possibly void warranty coverage should it implode??

Yes

 

[swathdiver]

When I managed a Jiffy Lube a 100 years ago, we reset the oil guns to zero after each use. The tech in one bay checked the work of the tech in the other bay and the same thing down in the pit before a car was declared finished by the manager running the bays who also put his hands on everything topside and down below if only 1 person was in the pit. Only by ignoring those procedures and not having a culture of excellence, even among felons, resulted in negligent damage to customer's autos.

 

[Quark]

I've always taken mine to a dealership for oil changes. Last time I asked that the spare tire be checked and it was extremely low. Evidently that 70 point check list isn't followed.

Yesterday at the Cad dealer the dent guys fixed two dents in the hood. One I hadn't seen and they spotted it right away. On the way out I asked for a free oil change which might have been a waste of time.