Turbo damage from bad oil change ?!

[Overspent]

Hi folks - I'm a longtime reader but first-time poster to the forum (sorry for leeching). I need some opinions.

I just drove my '09 MS-3 60 miles (highway) after a Walmart oil change to discover burning oil smell in the passenger compartment as I neared home. I figured maybe they spilled a little that was burning off (I've done it), but no, I open the hood to find the plastic funnel still sticking out of the engine opening (my oil cap missing) !! I checked the level but couldn't get any oil anywhere on the stick. Instead, it's pooling in all the low areas of the engine.

So I'm a fool for trusting WM, but the big question is what kind of damage might have occurred? No CEL or oil light showed during my drive, so I'm guesing the engine itself was not damaged. The turbo, though, I have no idea about. I've got 18K miles running nothing but Mobil-1 5W-30 after the break-in period.

Any thoughts on the likelihood of engine or turbo damage? And how would I know? My nightmare would be that nothing shows until 60K when my turbo explodes. Thanks for your ideas -

 

[bgibb68]

take lots of pics and ream wally world....they will pay....i know....they paid me for an oil pan replacement the last time they did an oil change on my old truck in '99

 

[Overspent]

A little more info to consider: I always pay attention to the engine temp when I'm on the highway, and it never read high during this trip. Also, I replaced the oil remainig in the engine today and got just about 4 quarts out. Capacity is 5.7. This seems encouraging to me, but I don't really know. If the engine block itself never lost oil pressure (I never got a light), can I assume the same for the turbocharger? If so I could rest a little easier.

Thanks to anyone who can shed some light on this.

 

[_Chris]

If after you got everything "right" again and the oil on the outside of the engine is burnt or cleaned off. and you don't have any blue smoke or anything out of the exhaust then i would say the turbo is fine. only real way to tell would be to take the turbo inlet pipe off and see if there is oil in the intake side of it or if there is a lot of play in the turbo.

And did you go back and get your oil cap!?

 

[Overspent]

I DID go back to WM for a dramatic return of their funnel lol. They had my cap, refunded the $ for the oil change and gave me $50 cash "to get it cleaned-up" they said. None of which would matter alot if my turbo was fried, but I drove to Indiana today with no issues. I babied it more than usual but also let it out a few times. It seems fine. Thanks for the comments.

 

[StealthWyvern]

Damn that sucks! That just gots to show you they dont check the oil after they drail and fill it!. I'm glad to hear that your car appears fine!

 

[bgibb68]

i'll tell ya right now....invest in a set of ramps or a jack and stands and a oil catcher and do it yourself.....no one on this planet will be able to change the oil on your own car as good as you.

no one touches my cars cept for alignments or mount and balance of tires.

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

This is not the first time something like this has happend at Walmart. I have a friend that had the same issue, except she didn't notice for a lot longer and her engine bay was covered in oil. DIY oil changes FTW.

 

[StealthWyvern]

This is not the first time something like this has happend at Walmart. I have a friend that had the same issue, except she didn't notice for a lot longer and her engine bay was covered in oil. DIY oil changes FTW.

or any other place that changes out your fluids... yes even dealers have done this before.

With that said I still dont change my own oil. I have to have that little peice of paper for my warrenty. However im generally in the bay with the tech shooting the s*** when the fluid is getting changed so I see everything.

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

What warranty doesn't allow you to change your own oil and just keep receipts for records? I thought that was pretty standard.

 

[StealthWyvern]

What warranty doesn't allow you to change your own oil and just keep receipts for records? I thought that was pretty standard.

Just because you purchased the oil filter and oil doesn't mean you changed it and they will use that argument when filling out a claim. Not to mention you have no proof of mileage when you change your own oil other then your word.

 

[destineal]

Just because you purchased the oil filter and oil doesn't mean you changed it and they will use that argument when filling out a claim. Not to mention you have no proof of mileage when you change your own oil other then your word.

if thats the case record the oil change if you're worried about it. The price of an oil change is outrageous these days. I can buy great oil for my car and out it in for less than or equal to the price of their "bargain" oil change. Also, why does a synthetic oil change cost sooooooo much more? they're doing the same amount of work and the oil doesn't run that much. i've been quoted from the $60-high 80s...... I'll do it myself.....

 

[bradboyd80]

This is precisely why DIY oil changes are best. I've only gotten 3 oil changes since I bought my MS3 and 2 out of 3 of those changes were jacked up by the shops (both used the wrong weight....10w30 versus 5w30 or 5w40). The car runs fine, but it goes to show that it pays to DIY if you want it done right.......which is what I'll be doing from here on out.

 

[StealthWyvern]

if thats the case record the oil change if you're worried about it. The price of an oil change is outrageous these days. I can buy great oil for my car and out it in for less than or equal to the price of their "bargain" oil change. Also, why does a synthetic oil change cost sooooooo much more? they're doing the same amount of work and the oil doesn't run that much. i've been quoted from the $60-high 80s...... I'll do it myself.....

43 bucks for full syn oil change with 15 bucks off coupon... Well its actually like 42.87 or something like that I pay for full syn oil change and they do it. Not to bad if you ask me.

 

[bazooka joe]

if your concerned about the warranty, then suck it up and have the dealer do it! but for pete's sake, don't ever, ever go to WM or any other quick serve oil change place...the horror stories abound! sounds like you make out ok, goog thing your trip wasn't that far!

 

[MZ3SPORTRUE]

ive bought my oil from walmart and filter but def wood not trust them to change it! they do have great prices tho lol, ill give them that!

 

[Tungsten6]

wtf i bet they used some of that high tech super tech oil..

 

[bgibb68]

43 bucks for full syn oil change with 15 bucks off coupon... Well its actually like 42.87 or something like that I pay for full syn oil change and they do it. Not to bad if you ask me.

the last time i went to the dealership for an oil change which was years ago, i paid for full syn($80) and then they didn't even use full syn. they left a partial quart of dino penzoil in the car(uhm)

 

[destineal]

now why does it cost $80

 

[StealthWyvern]

the last time i went to the dealership for an oil change which was years ago, i paid for full syn($80) and then they didn't even use full syn. they left a partial quart of dino penzoil in the car(uhm)

They put full syn in my car. I get the half quart left over and I am literally in the bay talking to them when they are doing the oil change. I wouldnt have it any other way.(thumb)

now why does it cost $80

simple mark up and labor... Example: The complete AC kit for my truck I can pick up from Napa for 280ish but a garage will mark that up to 480 and charge about 1.5 times more labor then really needed. Why incase they run into problems on the install. Also to compensate for over head.

Edit:
And before anyone ask YES that is actual markup for the kit and a garage only pays like 180 for the same damn thing from Napa. I know this due to knowing several garage owner and managers