low/no oil from Jiffy Lube and what next?

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IWtahoe602

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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

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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

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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
 
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IWtahoe602

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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

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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

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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.
 
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Quark

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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.
 
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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

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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.
 

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