Sounds like the shop is going well beyond what they are required or expected to do. You are largely responsible for the damage by continuing to drive the vehicle after symptoms started to appear. The oil pressure warning light or gauge would tell you there was a problem long before internal damage occurred. The engine is always supposed to be stopped immediately when there's an indication of low oil pressure. If that is done, you simply add oil after correcting the cause of the leak, and no further repairs or worries are needed. There can be instances where the oil pressure drops so quickly that you don't catch it in time. That results in bearing damage before anything happens to other parts. (To be fair to you and anyone else this has happened to, I've destroyed two engines years ago from lack of oil. One happened suddenly but one gave me a few hundred miles of warning. Whose fault was it that I kept on driving it like that?)!
The oil takes a long time to leak out from a loose drain plug too. You would have seen spots or puddles where you parked. Since the shop owner has stepped up to take care of the repairs, let them decide what is needed to return the engine to its previous condition. Crankshaft and connecting rod bearings are the first suspects, and they will check for damage to the hardened crankshaft journals. If there's no damage to them, the crankshaft will not have to be replaced.
For your first question, there's no reason to expect a change in performance from your engine. You'll be worried so you're going to hear every little sound and feel every little vibration that may be normal but you never noticed before.
Not sure what you're looking for in question 2. You could look over the mechanic's shoulder to scrutinize his work, but that would be really rude. You might as well just say "I don't trust you" to his face. You could also do future oil changes yourself, (many people do), then you'll see what it feels like when you accidentally do something wrong.
Don't know what you're asking in question 3. The quality of service performed on your car should not be judged by one visit or one problem. Mistakes can happen at the most reputable shops so you don't want to run to some other shop just because of one problem. In this case the dealer has accepted responsibility for the mistake. They want the engine to perform properly and they want to do their best to make you happy. Just sit back and give them the chance to do that. If they come up short, THEN we can discuss what further action you might take.
In question 4, demanding an entirely new engine is out of line and unwarranted. You DO have the expectation that your current engine will run and last as long as before, but replacing it opens up a whole new list of possible problems. Think of demanding an entire new suit because your shoelace broke. You might get it, but what if the pants legs are too short, or the shirt sleeves are too tight? There are so many things that can happen accidentally when replacing an engine, and some of them, like rubbing wires, may not show up for weeks or months. You'll never know if a future problem is a result of the engine replacement or just a normal breakdown. Our natural tendency is to blame the mechanic for everything that goes wrong in the future. That is unfair to him and most of the time it's incorrect.
At this point you haven't given any indication you have anything to be worried about, and it sounds like the dealer is going to take care of you. Give them the chance to live up to their reputation. If I am wrong, we can discuss what to do next. If I am right, drive the car for a week or two to insure it's performing properly, then take them a box of donuts or cookies to show that you appreciate what they did for you. Chocolate is always preferred!
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Saturday, November 9th, 2013 AT 12:33 PM
