Sigh. Wasn't sure how to title this post.
Long story short, Chevy dealer changed oil & filter in my 2013 Sonic (LT Turbo with AT and 43k miles) but forgot to tighten the oil drain plug. Plug fell out on my drive home (13 miles from dealer). I noticed a modest amount of smoke in my rear view mirror and a muffled single "pop" sound (couldn't tell if it came from under my hood or had nothing to do with my car). No lights on dashboard and engine was still running great.
I immediately pulled off the highway and, with engine idling smoothly, I popped the hood and looked around. It smelled like burning oil. Looking at my feet I saw fluid running out from under my car the way blood does from under a murder victim in a CSI episode.
I peered underneath my car and that is when I saw oil pouring out from the hole where the oil drain plug should be. I quickly turned off my ignition, but not before I checked for any lights on in the dash. There were none. No check engine light, no low oil pressure light. Nothing. Engine was just purring along nicely at idle.
After having my Sonic towed back to dealer, and dealer being very apologetic, he installed new drain plug and refilled with oil and restarted engine. It started right up and sounded like normal to me. He scanned for codes, but there were none. He checked compression and it was fine.
He still has the car as he is having my Sonic detailed to remove all the oil that is coating the underside of the vehicle.
My questions to you all are:
#1: Do you think any actual engine/turbo damage was done, since no idiot lights came on, and no trouble codes were set, and my engine was idling smoothly when I shut it off, which I did before all the oil drained out?
#2: Any thoughts on any kinds of tests I should request the dealer run to prove to me that no damage was done? Besides the compression check and scanning for codes, I wasn't sure if an oil pressure check would show anything?
#3: Any way to verify the turbo was unaffected?
#4: Dealer's Service Manager said these engines will sense if the oil pressure or level gets too low then the CPU will throw a code and either switch to reduced power limp home mode or shut the engine off entirely. Is this true? Does the Sonic have such a monitoring system? Any history of this system NOT working? I'm hoping since the system didn't activate, my engine is fine.
#5: What would be best way for dealer to make it up to me? He has already paid for the tow and provided a loaner car at no charge. He offered to give me several years' worth of free oil change coupons. My main concern is to push for dealer to purchase an extended warranty beyond the remainder of my 5yr / 100K mile powertrain warranty, in case some issue occurs in the future that turns out to have been caused by this oil change snafu. Dealer has agreed and he is submitting request to Chevy. Anything I'm forgetting that I should ask for?
Let me know you thoughts. Thanks!
Sorry for writing a book.
Cuz.
Long story short, Chevy dealer changed oil & filter in my 2013 Sonic (LT Turbo with AT and 43k miles) but forgot to tighten the oil drain plug. Plug fell out on my drive home (13 miles from dealer). I noticed a modest amount of smoke in my rear view mirror and a muffled single "pop" sound (couldn't tell if it came from under my hood or had nothing to do with my car). No lights on dashboard and engine was still running great.
I immediately pulled off the highway and, with engine idling smoothly, I popped the hood and looked around. It smelled like burning oil. Looking at my feet I saw fluid running out from under my car the way blood does from under a murder victim in a CSI episode.
I peered underneath my car and that is when I saw oil pouring out from the hole where the oil drain plug should be. I quickly turned off my ignition, but not before I checked for any lights on in the dash. There were none. No check engine light, no low oil pressure light. Nothing. Engine was just purring along nicely at idle.
After having my Sonic towed back to dealer, and dealer being very apologetic, he installed new drain plug and refilled with oil and restarted engine. It started right up and sounded like normal to me. He scanned for codes, but there were none. He checked compression and it was fine.
He still has the car as he is having my Sonic detailed to remove all the oil that is coating the underside of the vehicle.
My questions to you all are:
#1: Do you think any actual engine/turbo damage was done, since no idiot lights came on, and no trouble codes were set, and my engine was idling smoothly when I shut it off, which I did before all the oil drained out?
#2: Any thoughts on any kinds of tests I should request the dealer run to prove to me that no damage was done? Besides the compression check and scanning for codes, I wasn't sure if an oil pressure check would show anything?
#3: Any way to verify the turbo was unaffected?
#4: Dealer's Service Manager said these engines will sense if the oil pressure or level gets too low then the CPU will throw a code and either switch to reduced power limp home mode or shut the engine off entirely. Is this true? Does the Sonic have such a monitoring system? Any history of this system NOT working? I'm hoping since the system didn't activate, my engine is fine.
#5: What would be best way for dealer to make it up to me? He has already paid for the tow and provided a loaner car at no charge. He offered to give me several years' worth of free oil change coupons. My main concern is to push for dealer to purchase an extended warranty beyond the remainder of my 5yr / 100K mile powertrain warranty, in case some issue occurs in the future that turns out to have been caused by this oil change snafu. Dealer has agreed and he is submitting request to Chevy. Anything I'm forgetting that I should ask for?
Let me know you thoughts. Thanks!
Sorry for writing a book.
Cuz.
