A week ago I took my car to Jiffy Lube to get my car inspected and oil changed. Would my car overheat and create smoke from something that went wrong when they changed my oil or is it just a normal wear and tear of my car?
2007-03-22 06:22:35 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
I don't drive much, just to work which is like 5 minutes away and to school. But the car dealership just called me and told me they were trying to run a pressure check to see if there was any cracks or leaks but my resovoir and cap (for my coolant im guessing?) are crappy and aren't holding the pressure so they have to be replaced before they can run the pressure check...cars are such a rip off :(
2007-03-22 06:37:52 · update #1
white smoke is actually steam from the car boiling over (aka overheating). I don't think that jiffy lube did anything wrong with the oil/filter change but as part of their "signature service" they usually check all of the fluids, including coolant. So, if there was a slow leak of collant then the level should have been down when they checked and they should have added some or asked you to add some.
However, it is possible that in the time sinec they looked at it you could have hit something or had a bump etc that caused coolant to leak and then the remaining collant boiled over.
If they had not added any oil or accidentally left the oil plug off then the smoke from the grinding parts would have been blue (burning oil from friction) or gray (burning the sludge of gummy used oil). Check your oil now and check your coolant now. Talk to jiffy lube regardless and see if they will try to help you even if it isn't their fault-sometimes they will.
2007-03-22 06:33:42 · answer #1 · answered by Matt M 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, it doesn't sound good. White smoke from under the hood could be an indication of a blown head gasket or a radiator leak due to cracked radiator or a bad hose. A head gasket blowing is something that just happens - although your car isn't that old I don't know what the normal lifetime on the Saturn heads are. It is a pretty major repair.
If it is a cracked radiator it could be due to something they did wrong at Jiffy Lube - perhaps they drained your radiator fluid and didn't properly refill, or disconnected a hose. Or it could be just something that was waiting to happen and they aren't to blame. A cracked radiator isn't as bad to fix but it is definitely something you need to take care of right away or the engine can sieze.
How long did you drive it after they had performed the maintenence? If you have been driving it alot in the past week and it suddenly happened it's probably not their fault.
Good luck!
2007-03-22 06:30:08 · answer #2 · answered by regrunion 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There was a show on 20/20 about Jiffy Lube, which I'm sure applies to some other places, but 20/20 brought in a car for an oil change, and they marked the filter - car got "done" and it was the same filter!You might have been a victim of this, but go back with your receipt and have them prove it in front of you - or go get it checked elsewhere. I'd go back and complain.
2007-03-22 06:27:35 · answer #3 · answered by HappilyEverAfter 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like the coolant leaked out via a broken hose or hole in the radiator. When it hit the hot engine and manifold, it boiled, creating the steam. With the coolant gone, the engine would soon overheat. Don't drive when the engine is overheated! If it is only a hose, then it will be a relatively minor repair. Good luck.
2007-03-22 06:36:36 · answer #4 · answered by fg 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used jiffy lube once, the guy ahead of me made it about 2 miles before he found they forgot to put any in his car. He had called back on the phone and they said they would bring him some oil, if it were me it would be a new motor. I decided to check on my van and noticed service man leaning against oil pump handle while checking power steering fluid. When I told him about it then he checked my oil and it had four quarts to much, I made them drain and refill left and never went back. I have my oil changed because of bad back but I always check it before I leave.
2007-03-22 06:38:33 · answer #5 · answered by James B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did you check the oil after the oil change? Some shady places will not add oil, or simply forget to put the oil plug in tight enough. If it's not the oil, check your coolant.
2007-03-22 06:25:56 · answer #6 · answered by Tamug01 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a week later?? dont blame the oil change...you did check the oil when u got it back right!??..and you had plenty of coolant 50/50 naturally.
2007-03-22 06:41:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋