A few weeks ago, I went to a Jiffy Lube to get an oil change and after I drove away thinking everything was okay, I began hearing all this clicking from the engine which got progressively louder. A few miles later, the noise became very loud and constant and my engine kept conking out.

To make a long story short, it turns out one of the jiffy lube employees put in the wrong oil filter which subsequently fell out somehow and drained all the oil.

I drove around about 4 miles or so like this. My question is: How much permanent damage could driving w/o oil cause?

After I told the manager at Jiffy Lube, they quickly put in the correct oil filter and replaced all the lost oil. My car is running normally now (i think) but there is a clicking noise there now. What is causing clicking noise? Any help is appreciated.

 

Don't let them get away with just replacing the oil filter. They screwed up big time. If your engine is clicking still, there was internal damage done to the bearings. The oil acts as a tiny barrier between two pieces of metal moving quite fast next to each other. The clearance between these metals can be .01". No oil = too much heat build up = metal grinding against metal. Your crank and rod bearings probably got a lot of damage without any oil.

Take your car back to the Jiffy Lube and let them know the problem and that you'll get a lawyer if they don't fix it. You are probably entitled to an engine rebuild at the least or a new engine at the most. Take it to another mechanic and have them diagnose the sound.

 

Did you document this in any way, or were there any witnesses? It sounds like they're liable for damaging your engine, and should buy you a new one. I'm not the letigious sort, so I wouldn't sue them per se, but you maybe should get a lawyer and go after them for a new motor.

 

Dude, my ex-gf had the EXACT SAME problem with her 240SX and a Jiffy Lube in Seattle. As a result of her drama, Jiffy Lube bought her a new (well, rebuilt...) engine. $$Cha-Ching$$!!

I'm thinking maybe a lifter got stuck somehow. Or (and I don't know if you've got an SE or GXE) the lack of oil caused a premature failure of the VTC's. There's a couple of scenarios there, and none are good. You might wanna get that checked by a reliable mechanic in your area.

 

Rosenken and Nubiannupe are right - there are no good scenarios for such a situation. I wouldn't even let them get away with a rebuild - they are supposed to be professional oil changers, and if they screwed up, they should buy you a new engine right from the factory.

 

ok that's it. no jiffy lube ever again.

 

I know doing it yourself is a pain, but I'd much rather spend 14 bucks on a good filter and good oil and do it on a Sunday than throw 30 bucks at Jiffy Lube only to have them, at very least, put the wrong grade of oil in, or at worst, destroy my engine. Every time I've gone there I've ended up a quart high or a quart low, and they probably only drain half of the old oil out anyway.

 

SAME exact problem with a friend of mine went to Jiffy Lube in Brandford Connecticut with her Toyota Camry for an oil change. They forgot to put the oil plug back in and drained all out. She drove the car not knowing this until the engine was toasted I mean gone. She got a new engine out of the deal though.

 

I've been trying to get the manager to do something but he's just giving me the run around...so I asked him to talk to his supervisor..who did even less. He hasn't even tried to contact me or even apologize!

I've been taking my car to Jiffy Lube for the past 4 years w/o any incident. This was the first time it happened. I think it's an isolated incident. In hindsight, i'm not all that surprised. The typical 2-bay Jiffy Lube had about 20 people working there! and the oldest guy there looked like he was 24 years old. The rest were a bunch of high school kids. ugh...never again.

Thanks for all the helpful info guys.

 

Well...all I have is the original receipt and a few witnesses including another mechanic who works right next door to the Jiffy Lube. I hope that's enough. If they give me a hard time and start putting the burden of proof on me...then I'll go find a lawyer.

 

If the guy at jiffy lube is not giving you a call back and not taking your problem serious, then act fast. The faster you act the better it is for you, if this has to end up in court. There is something I think like, you have to claim a law suit in a reasonable time. Also Jiffy Lube sucks they have workers that don't have any automotive experience. I mean changing oil isn't the hardest thing but some people will do and agree to do anything just to have a job. I do my oil changes myself and it's not that difficult, I actually do all the oil changes for my friends and it only takes minutes.

 

Also, something is defintely messed up and you should be given a re-build or a new engine, maybe a JDM with 30-40k miles

 

JDM? Is that a direct OEM replacement for my car? same VE30DE engine?

 

yeah same thing, the only thing good about these engines is that they usually only have about 40,000 miles and it is the same thing as the Ve30DE. You should talk to N34JZ he's in the market for one and has done a lot of research on this matter.

 

You need to find a lawyer NOW, not later. call one tomorrow morning and talk to them about the situation. stop waiting for the manager to give you the call back, as they are hoping you'll just go away if they stop calling you back. it's YOU that needs to take action at this point, not them.

 

exactly act FAST!!!!!

 

Not to scare you but when I accidently ran my motor too low on oil.
1) Motor sounded like a lifter ran out of oil. Clicking noise.
2) Put oil in, clicking still there.
3) About 4 days later, clicking still there and getting louder. Decide to use an engine flush to try to get oil back in there.
4) Leave house, drive 2 miles. Clicking becomes CLACKING and severe loss of power. Turn around, get 1 mile and hear "clunk" and the engine freezes. Walk home and tow the car back w/ the RX300.

Moral of the story. Even though your car drives okay NOW, if the clicking persists, you may have already done damage to your connecting rod or main bearings.

Keep your cell phone with you at all times!

 

Just a follow up on this situation...

I got the Jiffy Lube people to pay for new VTCs. costed $2000.00!
But they paid for it.

 

I've had some bad experiences at Jiffy Lubes at Long Island NY and also in Ames, Iowa. They werent as serious as this but stopped me from going to a Jiffy Lube ever again.

Just tell the manager straight away that you are getting a lawyer and they should find one too....it will give him the message. If he's still not bothered, have a lawyer serve him a notice.

Most laywers would be glad to take your case since its heavily weighted on your side. Just make sure you have the witnesses.

and try NOT to drive your car too much in case the clicking gets worse and if Jiffy claims the damage was caused by you After the oil was changed.

 

oops...too late

Glad it worked out nicely. was it just the VTCs then?

 

similar situatiuon too. might bee too late now. my mom borught her truck to the dealership a month b4 i go visit her. i heard ticking/clicking sound from the engine, so i check the oil, none on the stick, but no oil light there was a check engine light a week after she brought it to them. threw some oil in there the tick went away (check engine light went away soon after but then came back) but not sure how bad the internals got ruined if any. now its prolly 2 months ago. oh yeah we did call them they said if no oil light no problem, and the check engine light had to do with emission and stuff. my mom should of said something to me but i live like a hour and half away, could of least called me. any suggestion?

 

Sounds like Jiffy Lube owes you a new engine. Try to shoot for a VG30ET...

 

Your engine is severely damaged!!! Driving that far without oil only shows how excellent an engine the 3 litre is. Most engine would have seized long before that. Start playing hardball soon, and try for new but I would be happy with a rebuild. Good Luck!!

 

I don't know. The clicking did go away for a little while but now it's back. I don't know how much damage my engine sustained...but my engine is still strong so I'm content with the outcome. The Jiffy lube people were fairly good about it, in that they didn't ask me to prove anything or put up a fight, they simply paid for the new VTC replacement without any questions. so as long as my car is running like it used to (minus the light clicking) I'm not complaining.

 

well if the ticking is still there then something else is damaged and it wasnt the VTCs. I'd guess its downhill for your engine from here and only a matter of time till the engine goes....you could have charged them for the whole engine rebuild. anyhow...I hope nothing bad happens to your engine.