Piston Cleaning for Oil Consumption...My Engine Compartment is sprayed

[roegs]

I'm on the second phase of steps for oil consumption on my '09 Silverado 5.3. First was the valve cover, and this time was piston cleaning with installation of a deflector in the oil pan. Opened my hood this evening after picking up my truck, and there is oil spray all over the drivers side of the engine compartment. The tech had wiped down some of it, but I still spent a good amount of time cleaning. My truck is not a show vehicle, but I do like to keep it clean. My understanding is that the cleaning solution is put down the cylinder through the spark plug hole and they turn the engine over to remove it again. I'd imagine that it comes spraying out, but I'd also think that there would be some kind of protection for the engine compartment. This along with greasy shoe marks on the sill plate and floor mat makes me want to call the service manager. Before doing so, am I out of line? I understand that its got to be a messy job, and I don't expect perfection. On the other hand, is it asking too much to get the truck back in the same way that I gave it to them?

[dlewis1111]

You are not out of line. I would take the truck back and show them how you received it and kindly ask them to clean it for you.

[Stevens03]

You are not out of line. I would take the truck back and show them how you received it and kindly ask them to clean it for you.

 

 

x2 If it was their vehicle, they'd expect nothing less than you would.

[00Silverado4x4]

Out of line? I'm surprised you came here to ask first. I'd already had them on the phone giving them a few choice phrases. I don't drive a show truck either but for a tech to leave a mess...I think not.

 

NO ONE is allowed to make a mess out of my truck but ME!

[foghorn23]

Dealers should be expected to do better; don't let them get away with it.

[roegs]

Thanks for the replies. I knew tht the decarbonizing process would be messy since the cleaner exits out the spark plug holes, but on the other hand the dealer should be aware of that and plan accordingly. I called the service manager this am, and he was great about the problem. Their detailing shop will clean my engine compartment at my next oil change.

[=v8-only=]

wow any time my truck comes back from the dealer its washed and engine cleaned

[AlaskanSilverado07]

I took my 2009 in for an oil change and when I got it back there was oil dripped on the radiator cowling and elsewhere. I always inspect the work before I pay to ensure I receive the proper value for the funds paid. I've rarely had a problem as I trust but verify. This time when I voiced my compliant to the service manager and showed him the work, he said it would a little bit. After he took it around back, he came inside and offered to buy me a Diet Coke as it would be 30 minutes. I asked why and he said they would clean it properly...they steam cleaned it and the engine compartment looked like brand new which was much better than when I took it to them. I had just arrived from a 5300 mile trip to Anchorage to south Texas and the truck already had 20,000 miles on it so the engine was rather dirty anyway...all I wanted was the oil drips wiped up but they went the extra mile to make it right.

 

THAT is customer service.

[cracked_up]

A good dealer would give you back your vehicle as clean or cleaner then when you dropped it off.

 

I don't want them washing my truck, but at least keep it clean.

[RockySierra]

I would be thrilled if they washed my truck at the dealership when I take it in for an oil change. Though I did not buy the truck there so I guess I can see why they would not do it. Also, all dealers and auto shops generally loose money on oil changes. It's just a chance for them to get you in the door so that they can hopefully find something else wrong with the vehicle and maybe make money off of repairs on that item.

 

I am glad that the service manager was willing to help you out. Sometimes the mechanics get distracted and forget about something, someone else comes and closes the hood and pulls the truck out, I don't know. I don't think a good mechanic would knowingly leave something dirty.

[Garrett Street]

I wouldn't expect a small town mechanic to leave a mess. Let alone a dealership.

[pm26]

Sometimes washing and cleaning your vehicle by the servicing dealer may not be the best idea. Years ago, I had my Mazda Protege washed by the dealer after completion of some minor warranty work. They sprayed my alloy wheels with some wheel cleaning acidic solution and they forgot to rinse the wheels with water. This damaged the paint on the wheels. Fortunately they were just silver painted and not clearcoated, so I was able to polish the damaged paint so the wheels looked good. This is just one example how dealerships can screw things up even if they mean well.

 

BTW, I never had any pitting or corrosion issues with rough cast surface alloy wheels which are just silver painted. I always had problems with polished clearcoated wheels though. Why do manufacturers even make these dumb wheels? They look good only when the vehicle is new.

[wavery]

This is not a "Dealership" issue. This is a human being issue. That tech should have made sure that he properly protected your vehicle (inside & out).

 

This stuff happens and most repair shops will make it right and take measures to be sure that the "people problem" is taken care of too. Dealerships usually have more capacity to take care of these issues than independents.

 

We use to put floor, seat and steering wheel protection on every vehicle right in the service drive. You are correct about the tech being responsible to cover the engine compartment. My gut feeling is that the tech was working for Pep Boys or something the week before and won't be leaving that kind of mess again.

 

Having said that, if the tech's shoes were that dirty, the floor in his stall was probably filthy. I never tolerated that. Every tech was required to scrub his own stall before going home. After awhile, the tech learned to keep his stall clean all day.