Questionable dealership service

[billwot]

If the "low oil light" comes on, your already in trouble. It usually means the oil level is is too low for the pump to pick it up, and the engine is being starved for lubrication.

[Eighty 6]

Originally Posted by billwot

If the "low oil light" comes on, your already in trouble. It usually means the oil level is is too low for the pimp to pick it up, and the engine is being starved for lubrication.

Light coming on means serious trouble, its like the fuel light coming on only much faster. Your first action is to park car immediately, switch off engine and then see whats going on. But you will not damage or burn out your engine, thats why its there.

[Eighty 6]

Originally Posted by FRSBRZGT86FAN

That's not how it works, the "oh the car will warn you mentality" doesn't work on any car long run. And you don't start by sending an email to headquarters, that's one too many hoops to go up to wait for them to contact the dealer, speak directly to the service department manager, if nothing comes of it then you move to the top.

From what op is saying they are useless so talking to them wont do anything, thats why he needs to ( if hes that pissed off ) document how sloppy their management is. And youre saying that if the oil light comes on thats it, he has a blown engine? What is it there for? Might as well not have it. Thats like saying that when the fuel light comes on its too late.

[Cole]

Originally Posted by Eighty 6

Light coming on means serious trouble, its like the fuel light coming on only much faster. Your first action is to park car immediately, switch off engine and then see whats going on. But you will not damage or burn out your engine, thats why its there.

I would disagree with this one.

I was booting along at 50mph on my Yamaha R6 once and out of the blue, the rear tire locked up. No oil light. Guess what happened? Engine was starved and the engine decided it would rather weld itself together than warn me at all.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by billwot

It usually means the oil level is is too low for the pimp to pick it up, and the engine is being starved for lubrication.

You must always ensure that the pimp has been monitoring the lubrication!

[Eighty 6]

Originally Posted by Cole

I would disagree with this one.

I was booting along at 50mph on my Yamaha R6 once and out of the blue, the rear tire locked up. No oil light. Guess what happened? Engine was starved and the engine decided it would rather weld itself together than warn me at all.

You need to always check your oil levels sure, but in an emergency its supposed to switch on.

[Cole]

Originally Posted by Eighty 6

You need to always check your oil levels sure, but in an emergency its supposed to switch on.

Funny thing is that I topped up on oil that very morning. Fact of the matter is, don't trust the light. Simple as that. By the time that light comes on, it's probably much too late.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Cole

Funny thing is that I topped up on oil that very morning. Fact of the matter is, don't trust the light. Simple as that. By the time that light comes on, it's probably much too late.

Or the complete opposite. Like any sensor they can fail and tell you there is low pressure when all is actually fine. I spent days and a pile of cash once chasing oil pressure issues just to discover it was a loose connection on the bloody sensor.
They are called "idiot lights" for a reason and should never be trusted one way or the other.
Nothing beats a good gauge for such things.

[FRSBRZGT86FAN]

Originally Posted by Eighty 6

From what op is saying they are useless so talking to them wont do anything, thats why he needs to ( if hes that pissed off ) document how sloppy their management is. And youre saying that if the oil light comes on thats it, he has a blown engine? What is it there for? Might as well not have it. Thats like saying that when the fuel light comes on its too late.

Originally Posted by Eighty 6

You need to always check your oil levels sure, but in an emergency its supposed to switch on.

I have a weird feeling you haven't been involved with very many cars later in their life, the oil light probably won't come on in oil starvation situations when the leak is too fast. Some cars do have oil level sensors (e.g. some German marques) but for most vehicles like ours I'm pretty sure the oil warning light means the oil pressure has dropped to zero at the sensor or switch. The oil pressure switch is a normally-closed 12 volt switch plumbed into the oil galley, usually near the pump. when the oil pump builds pressure, the switch opens and the light turns off. if the oil level is low enough, the pump may "suck air" when the oil in the sump sloshes away from the pickup, and the pressure switch will close and the light will come on. In fact ours I believe may be wired right below the oil filter. Honestly, we can get into an existential argument as to why they didn't design it better and such but it doesn't work.

In this case we are referring to OP but it stands for Teseo's issue as well. You speak to the manager directly explaining your concerns and if something isn't fixed you will go higher, you don't come in at a threatening manner. In OPs case this is his first time dealing with this service department so he needs to go directly to the manager, and possibly get some sort of compensation as well for his time and the mistreatment of his car. This isn't a total manager issue, this is some flat rate tech in the garage in a hurry to get to the next car who needs to be reprimanded and be a little more careful.

[Eighty 6]

Since were on the subject, whats the best way to check your cars engine oil. Ive actually forgotten.

[Cole]

Originally Posted by Eighty 6

Since were on the subject, whats the best way to check your cars engine oil. Ive actually forgotten.

this is how

[Eighty 6]

Ive had my fair share of shit cars believe me, my first car was a mini with a blown engine, every now and then id have to put a litre of oil in it just to keep it going. Till the engine blew out for real.My youth was all about shit racecars that were good cars 10 years earlier. But as you say here "because racecar"

[86geek]

Originally Posted by FRSBRZGT86FAN

That's not how it works, the "oh the car will warn you mentality" doesn't work on any car long run. And you don't start by sending an email to headquarters, that's one too many hoops to go up to wait for them to contact the dealer, speak directly to the service department manager, if nothing comes of it then you move to the top.

Yups gotta go through the proper chain of command.....

[stugray]

I am fairly sure that you will throw a CEL for AVCS not responding before you get a low oil pressure light. (but not certain)

And I have ONLY had the Suby dealer change my oil in my car.
That way it is on record that it has been done, and they cannot try to pull any crap if I have an engine problem later under warranty.

I have seen way too many "Sorry sir, your engine failure is not covered under warranty because you have no evidence that the oil changes were done when required".

Maybe this is yet another case of the quality of care you get at Scion vs Subaru.