PSA: Firestone

[number9]

They pulled out the drain bolt and it didn't lose any oil? That's a cool trick.

Must be a dry sump

[Mr. Kurtz]

My wife brought it back to them. I call them up while she's in the waiting room, and the manager says "it wasn't cross threaded, it just wasnt snugged up against the crush washer, we pulled it out and put it back in by hand and it snugged up fine." So I said if it wasnt cross threaded why did you have to pull the bolt out to snug it up. And now basically hes saying "its fixed, didnt even lose any oil, we ran it for 15 minutes and theres no drips, bring it back in if theres a problem."

What the fuck? I think the only thing I can do now is call back and try and get him to document as much as possible on paper for me, then if I have a problem I can bring it to the local Firestone in SC and show them the paper trail. Thoughts?

Definitely ask them to create a repair order and specify what they did, and to give you a copy of it. Explain you're moving, and need the documentation in case you need to visit a local Firestone.

They pulled out the drain bolt and it didn't lose any oil? That's a cool trick.

They could have checked the oil on arrival, verified the level, then pulled the plug and drained it. Since Peter says he saw oil in the driveway, they are 100% incorrect that it "didn't even lose any oil," and odds are they said that to try and make him feel better(they may very well have checked it and made sure it was in the acceptable range initially).

[RandyO]

They pulled out the drain bolt and it didn't lose any oil? That's a cool trick.

easy peasy, put a catch pan under it, after reinstalling the drain plug, pour the oil back into the engine

[Mr. Kurtz]

easy peasy, put a catch pan under it, after reinstalling the drain plug, pour the oil back into the engine

I'd actually be blown away if they did this. They almost certainly use a bulk oil container with a gun, and I've never been in a shop that had a "clean" oil catch pan.

[csmutty]

They sent that shit home with an impact.

[capitalcrew]

They flipped the car upside down before they pulled the plug, nbd

[aldend123]

I think the only thing I can do now is call back and try and get him to document as much as possible on paper for me, then if I have a problem I can bring it to the local Firestone in SC and show them the paper trail. Thoughts?

Ask them to remove the plug in front of you. Then you put it back in yourself. I might volunteer that I'd pay for a full oil change if the threads are still fine, since you're asking for more time in their shop calling their bluff.

So I said if it wasnt cross threaded why did you have to pull the bolt out to snug it up.

Probably figured there isn't anything to be gained by trying to tighten a crossed bolt further if some remaining threads are still salvageable. Pull it back out and start fresh.

When you first noticed it, did you think you were seeing the bolt at a bit of an angle? Sometimes tough to tell if the drain hole is slightly offset. Did you try tightening it yourself?

[Stromper]

Things

Worked a Renault dealer (yes old) they had Andorran Sheep Herders as mechanics. These men had not seen a car
before they came down from the mountains. This way NO ONE would be able to speak to them to find out how little they knew

Worked a gas station where EVERY woman needed a qt of oil. The other boys made a show of pouring from a
previously empty oil can

Back when there was real synthetic they would refill the Mobil1 cans from the hose, then show the customer the now empty
synthetic bottles, then do it all over.

My friend Roger got a $700 tune up from a Mercedes dealer , there was still road dust and dirty oil on the engine

Basically I have 2 fleet maintenance days a year where all 4 cars/trucks get new oil and filters. When I was commuting a lot that car
got oil changes based on mileage. I did pay for an oil change one winter where it was cold and wet so crawling
on the ground seemed unappealing.

[Petorius]

When you first noticed it, did you think you were seeing the bolt at a bit of an angle? Sometimes tough to tell if the drain hole is slightly offset. Did you try tightening it yourself?

Yes to both. It was definitely cross threaded

[Stoneman]

Not to play devil's advocate here, but I've used the Manchester, NH Firestone a couple times for some last-minute minor things and even got a set of tires from them (mounted & balanced too) twice. I've never had an issue, but they've never changed my oil. In fact, the only thing I've ever used them for is tire-related stuff. They DO hit you hard with the sales pitch though. You know how it goes: "...while we have the wheels off..."