- Report: #82640
Complaint Review: JIFFY LUBE - Columbia Maryland
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JIFFY LUBE
Jiffy Lube 152 Columbia MD Columbia, 21045 Maryland, U.S.A.
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JIFFY LUBE #152 Oil does not belong in the Radiator over flow! ripoff idiots poor excuse for machanics Columbia Maryland
Jiffy Lube Center #152 really messed up my car. On December 21, 2003, I had my oil changed. It had been about 3100 miles, about 6 months, and I was going to be driving a 600 mile roundtrip visit to my family for Christmas. I checked the oil prior to my departure on December 25, 2003, and noticed it was a quarter quart low and filled. Strange since the oil was just changed and I had only driven about 50 miles.
The car drove fine but I did notice that the car did not blow heat as warm (heater) as usual. I first thought the thermostat might be acting up. Upon arriving at my Mom's about (through the mountains) 300 miles away, the car's temperature light went to hot for the first time ever! I immediately got out and looked under the hood. Upon inspection, I noticed that the overflow was full, but it looked too dark and had a creamy brown look. I went inside to allow the car to cool. When I returned, I noticed that the overflow had oil residue on the top and the radiator antifreeze looked brown-green. According to my uncle and ex mechanic, they said I likely had a blown head gasket.
The next morning I took it to the local Subaru Dealer, and they inspected. Supposedly, after diagnosis, they determined that it was a blown head gasket, but stated that the engine compression seemed great, so I probably did not have a warped head, or any other engine related issues. The estimate to repair was around $1600.00, and they would not be able to have the car done until the following Tuesday or Wednesday. I nearly fell over from the price. I shopped around and got a better price and timeframe.
Upon tearing the engine down, curiously, the mechanic noticed that neither head gasket was blown and could not find anything else wrong! Obviously, the Subaru Dealer misdiagnosed the problem. Upon finishing the job on Sunday morning, I drove home with no immediate problems.
Upon returning, and after talking with several mechanics, I am extremely baffled as to how oil gets into a car's cooling system without a blown head gasket. My only explanation is that in a rush, one of the technicians mistakenly placed oil in my cars overflow refill when topping off the fluids. Jiffy Lube's Manager has fully denied any wrong doing. I e-mailed the customer service twice... and they have yet to get back to me. However, I am now having many seal leakage problems and surely blame Jiffy Lube. So far, final estimates will be near $2000.00+ when all is said and done! I have religiously taken good care of my car... Had Jiffy Lube not made this drastic error, I would not be considering a new car just yet! Thanks for nothing Juffy Lube!
Dean
Washington, District of Columbia
U.S.A.
The car drove fine but I did notice that the car did not blow heat as warm (heater) as usual. I first thought the thermostat might be acting up. Upon arriving at my Mom's about (through the mountains) 300 miles away, the car's temperature light went to hot for the first time ever! I immediately got out and looked under the hood. Upon inspection, I noticed that the overflow was full, but it looked too dark and had a creamy brown look. I went inside to allow the car to cool. When I returned, I noticed that the overflow had oil residue on the top and the radiator antifreeze looked brown-green. According to my uncle and ex mechanic, they said I likely had a blown head gasket.
The next morning I took it to the local Subaru Dealer, and they inspected. Supposedly, after diagnosis, they determined that it was a blown head gasket, but stated that the engine compression seemed great, so I probably did not have a warped head, or any other engine related issues. The estimate to repair was around $1600.00, and they would not be able to have the car done until the following Tuesday or Wednesday. I nearly fell over from the price. I shopped around and got a better price and timeframe.
Upon tearing the engine down, curiously, the mechanic noticed that neither head gasket was blown and could not find anything else wrong! Obviously, the Subaru Dealer misdiagnosed the problem. Upon finishing the job on Sunday morning, I drove home with no immediate problems.
Upon returning, and after talking with several mechanics, I am extremely baffled as to how oil gets into a car's cooling system without a blown head gasket. My only explanation is that in a rush, one of the technicians mistakenly placed oil in my cars overflow refill when topping off the fluids. Jiffy Lube's Manager has fully denied any wrong doing. I e-mailed the customer service twice... and they have yet to get back to me. However, I am now having many seal leakage problems and surely blame Jiffy Lube. So far, final estimates will be near $2000.00+ when all is said and done! I have religiously taken good care of my car... Had Jiffy Lube not made this drastic error, I would not be considering a new car just yet! Thanks for nothing Juffy Lube!
Dean
Washington, District of Columbia
U.S.A.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Dean
Washington,District of Columbia,
U.S.A.
Thx
#2Author of original report
Fri, March 05, 2004
Thanks for the added input about the added thoughts about what may have happened. First of all, if I had been near home, I would have had Jiffy Lube examine the issue... but since it is a independent franchise... that would have not done any good since I was visting in WV. I was 300 miles from home over a long holiday weekend! Secondly, why has Jiffy Lube refused to contact me after two emails???? Regarding the manifold gasket- this is the first I have heard of that... but I will surely investigate. I will say one last fact. According to other reports listed here, Jiffy Lube has place incorrect fluids when topping off fluids. The oil and the radiator overflow are with in about 6 inces of each other under the hood of my car. It could have been accidently done. Thanks
Greg
Middletown,Ohio,
U.S.A.
Because they let some one else fix the car?
#3Consumer Suggestion
Thu, March 04, 2004
Bob what are you suggesting the owner of the car allow Jiffy Lube to tear it down?
Christopher
Stow,Ohio,
U.S.A.
Oil Could Have Gone Into The Coolant Via Intake Manifold Gasket
#4Consumer Comment
Thu, March 04, 2004
My daughter had oil in her coolant (95 Chevy Corsica) last year and I diagnosed the problem to oil leaking into the coolant via a bad intake maifold gasket. It is almost always assumed the problem is a bad head or head gasket but it can be a different cause. Your Subaru mechanic should have checked this as well but I'd highly suggest asking this specific question to be absolutely sure. Accidently placing oil in the coolant (which is highly unlikely) will obviously contaminate the coolant but should not cause a failure like you experienced. However if there was any doubt Jiffy Lube should offer to perform a flush and refill of the cooling system gratias as a goodwill measure.
Bob
Oklahoma City,Oklahoma,
U.S.A.
I don't believe they added Oil to your cooling system!
#5Consumer Comment
Thu, March 04, 2004
I don't believe they added Oil to your cooling system! In fact, even if they had which, I Doubt, Once you had claimed " once they tore my engine down" well to be quite honest, you just gave them every reason in the world to get out of this claim. There is no way you can hold JiffyLube responsible, for the so called leakage since you had someone else tear into your engine.
