JoshCSI

After weeks of wondering if I was retarded or my dipstick was broken...I found out what the problem was: My dealership.

Heres my story...

Sooo after a few weeks of wondering why the hell my oil was reading so low right after an oil change, and thinking it may possibly be my dipstick`s fault. (Oil not sticking, maybe?) or possibly the car being so new and the oil being so clear. I could read it near the end of the stick, not above it... It would only be little splashes. I checked my oil hot, cold, overnight, 15 mins letting sit, everywhich way you can imagine. So after deciding to go check my oil again and letting my car sit for 15 mins after some driving, I decided to read some stuff in my car manual. After getting to the spec`s pages, I noticed that the oil amount needed in the Si is different than the oil requirement for the regular civics. An oil change, with filter, for a Civic Si is 4.4 Liters (4.6 quarts) and the amount for a regular civic is 3.5 Liters. So I thought to myself... (When I got the oil change) How many bottles of synthetic did the dealership charge me for? So I quickly went home to find my papers and looked at the bill. Four. Four bottles of synthetic and I received half a bottle back in return. So that made 3 and half liters. Hey, wait a second... I`m missing a god damn liter of oil in my car. ******* idiots! I add half a liter of oil to my car to be sure... and surely enough, the oil level was registering properly on the dipstick. Added the other half and bingo! Perfect oil level... Right up to the full.

Bastards...

SYTFU Tommy.

you should of brought it back just incase if there was something to happen like engine failure in the future.

Galaxy Si

a new K20Z3 sounds pretty good right now. but if anything ever goes wrong-just think-you could blame it on the dealership

noob with an RS

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Galaxy Si &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">a new K20Z3 sounds pretty good right now. but if anything ever goes wrong-just think-you could blame it on the dealership</TD></TR></TABLE>im confused which engine does the new SI have.. the Z3 or A3? ive read it was both.. ppl refer to it as A3 then another person will refer to it as Z3.. isnt it A#??

K20Z3Si

The Si's engine is theK20Z3

nyblksi

i just picked up my car from the dealership for an oil change and they also charged me for 4 bottles but i didnt get a half a bottle back o.O

Galaxy Si

K20Z3=06 Civic Si
K20A3=RSX type-s

vactor

i'm just confused why you drove the car when you saw it had too little oil, or why you didn't just add oil?? seems ... rather obvious.

PnX-R

Sorry dude. But some of the new and old guys who don't pay attention will usually add the same amount of oil all the time. Older 96-2000 non Vtec Civics take 3.5 qts, vtec takes 3.7 qts. All the 01-05 Civics seem to take 3.7 qts. And the new ones, I've noticed that they take around 4.2 - 4.5 qts, depending on how you're measuring. As for most of the new k series, they seem to take 4.7 qts..

But yeah, most of the techs are so used to the old ways they just don't take the time to double check.. Speaking of double checking, I know of a lot of techs that don't even check the oil level after filling it and starting it. They just finish it and send it out..

Jamez

That's the quality of work you get with the flat-rate or bonus pay system. Lot's of techs also don't bother to drain all the oil or change the drain plug gasket either.

If possible, change your own oil. That way you can take your time and drain almost all of it out and make sure the right amount goes back in. You will also have peace of mind that the filter seating area was clean and that your drain plug won't leak.

Ding

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Galaxy Si &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">K20Z3=06 Civic Si
K20A3=RSX type-s</TD></TR></TABLE>

Sorry sir, you are incorrect.

K20Z3=06 Civic Si
K20A3=02-05 Civic Si/Base Rsx
K20A2=02-04 Rsx-S
K20Z1=05-06 Rsx-S

coryb8199

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tngay &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you should of brought it back just incase if there was something to happen like engine failure in the future.</TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah, I just threw a rod in my engine b/c it was running an insufficient amount of oil after my first oil change (without me knowing). Now I need an engine replacement, and Honda was originally telling me that I was negligent and therefore responsible for the cost. Luckily, I kept my receipt (to prove that I wasn't negligent) and now Honda is replacing my engine

Gotta be careful with these things or else you'll end up with a blown engine on your NEW 06 Si...lol

vactor

is it really THAT hard to check your oil after an oil change, and if it's low, to add a quart? i mean, does everyone need to be spoon fed here? i thought H-T was for enthusiasts and poeple that had at least a minimal inclination to work on cars. how times change

JoshCSI

The problem is, I did check it. When I went back a few days later, the service guy told me it was because it was a newer car and the oil was clear it would be harder to read. Now, having the proper amount of oil in the car, I realise how full of **** he was.

Miracle

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JoshCSI &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> The service guy told me it was because it was a newer car and the oil was clear it would be harder to read.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Well, youre right, he was full of **** for telling you that. And even if it was clear, it wouldn't be thin enough to NOT see it on the dipstick.

And it seems you dont know anything about cars if you believed him.

I have never seen an engine oil that was CLEAR in my life.

Ross 2.0

#1 you saying "dealerships are idiots" just throws some idiocy back on yourself.
#2 I would imagine your service writer told you that your oil was going to be clear. You need to know that Service writers are not Technicians. All they (think) know is what they have heard. They are not trained as technicians. Next time you have a problem you need to talk directly to the Technician that worked on your car. The SA should have also checked the oil himself before spewing that Verbal Diarrhea from his mouth.
#3 Any intelligent person should be able to tell if they have oil on their dipstick. If you only saw the drop at the bottom you should have added oil in the beginning.
#4 Don't even get the thought of a free engine because your car was a quart low on oil. It's your responsibility to check the oil and make sure it's topped off. People make mistakes and the technician that worked on your car made one but it's still your car and your responsibility to make sure everything was done correctly. 3.7 Qts (what was added to your car to begin with) is plenty of oil to safely run your car.

JoshCSI

1) Yeah, it's also partically my fault but had the dealership done their job right the first time... I would've never had to go through this ****.

2) I realise this now

3) I wish I had pictures of what the dipstick looked like, and you would eat your words. Honestly, I've checked oil before and this being my first real car (and new) I could see how what the service guy said would be somewhat possible.

4) When did I say I wanted a free engine?

Thanks.

JoshCSI

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Red7thGen_ex &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well, youre right, he was full of **** for telling you that. And even if it was clear, it wouldn't be thin enough to NOT see it on the dipstick.
And it seems you dont know anything about cars if you believed him.

I have never seen an engine oil that was CLEAR in my life.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

I never claimed to know anything about cars either. I am just beginning to get into cars and I wish I could've at least depended on the mechanic at my own dealership to put the right amount of oil in my god damn car. At the very least, it's not that much to ask is it?

Ross 2.0

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JoshCSI &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
3) I wish I had pictures of what the dipstick looked like, and you would eat your words. Honestly, I've checked oil before and this being my first real car (and new) I could see how what the service guy said would be somewhat possible.

4) When did I say I wanted a free engine?

Thanks.</TD></TR></TABLE>
3. I work on them every day at a dealership. I know exactally what it looks like. I have no trouble reading it ever.

4. you didn't but someone else did I was ending that part before it even got started.
Sorry you had a bad experience. I would just say next time you don't want the same tech working on your car. Just because one tech is behind the times does not mean all of them are.

jdmitr

Being a Honda tech I can tell you that it is probably from the lube tech not starting the engine to circulate the oil. Most lube techs I have seen over the years just top it off once, and send it out the door. I however always start it for about 15 - 20 sec and turn it off and check.

SoEvoL

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jdmitr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Being a Honda tech I can tell you that it is probably from the lube tech not starting the engine to circulate the oil. Most lube techs I have seen over the years just top it off once, and send it out the door. I however always start it for about 15 - 20 sec and turn it off and check. </TD></TR></TABLE>

a lot of ppl make that mistake, gotta run it for a few then check again

phateless

i think it's understandable that people don't check. we're paying for peace of mind here. that's the point of going to a dealer. the techs should take the time to check, after all, they don't want a comeback. i work for a dealer, and if i have them work on my car, i assume it was done right. if i was worried about it being done right, i would do it myself. that being said, our old oil change guy used to use wd40 to lube up the gaskets on new oil filters before install....shudder.