Ever come home from an oil change at the dealer or local garage, just to find oil drip spots all over your driveway? This is probably the result of a mechanic over or under torquing an oil plug gasket (washer) at some point in the vehicles life cycle.
I will try to communicate with you my recent experience with my real life situation. Keep in mind that for the last 25 years now I have been performing all my oil changes on all my vehicles past and present. I only use high quality oil filters and fully synthetic oil, in this vehicle's case 5W20.
The second vehicle in my household is a Hyundai Elantra Touring Wagon (i30 for those in Europe). The vehicle was purchased not too long ago from a local Quebec Hyundai dealer, it was sold as a "certified vehicle". While performing the oil change two weeks ago I had a rather difficult time unscrewing the oil pan bolt (did not inspect the gasket). Shortly after the change I started noticing drips of oil all over my recently sealed driveway. To my astonishment this has not happened to me since my early oil changing days, bad gasket then as well. So last week I loosened the oil pan bolt and re-tightened it again applying a sufficient amount of torque. Same problem drips, that is when I knew that the oil plug gasket was no good. Most dealers and mechanics will recommend the aluminum gasket be changed on a regular basis. During my life experience I have found the aluminum gaskets to last between 3-5 oil changes when properly torqued with no leaks. Here is a picture of my over torqued oil plug gasket.
As you can see from the above picture both the bolt and washer were in really bad shape. The washer was in such bad shape that the originally once flat surface has produced a lip on the inner circle. The bolt you can clearly see is almost stripped from too much torque. Both items should have been replaced under Hyundai's certification program. Cost for my new bolt ($4.45) and gasket ($1.94) tax in total $7.34 Canadian. Pissing me off having to scrub the oil stains off my driveway priceless.
I cannot place the blame for the actual over-torque on the dealer because I am not sure where the maintenance on the vehicle was done prior to my purchase. Although under the "certified vehicle program" these items should have been changed since an oil change would have been done under the "certified vehicle program".
It's amazing how we see the ads on TV describing how "nobody knows your car like your bla-bla dealer" or "don't open your hood to strangers". I don't exactly know which brand uses those types of slogans nor do I care.
For whatever maintenance I am not capable of performing I take my cars to an independent garage. Over the last 28 years I have developed a trusting relationship with my independent mechanics Nick and Lazo at Outremont Garage here in Montreal. Knowing full well that whatever maintenance is requested on my cars it will be done to my satisfaction.
I am not saying that all dealers are "bad" I just prefer a more personal relationship. Hanging out at the shop, good explanations, being offered a choice of products in all repair situations. Most times after market or rebuilt products are cheaper and are not offered at the dealer level. For those who have been reading my previous blogs you know I am all about "choice of products"
The final decision is yours.
