Possible car drag

ROBERTPONTIAC421

MEMBER
2006 HONDA CRV
2.4L
4 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
170,000 MILES

I took my car for an oil change at a Valvoline oil change business. Now my car seems to use extra power to drive my vehicle. I checked my gas mileage on a freeway trip and I am getting 22.4 miles to the gallon. It used to get about 26.5 miles to the gallon. I did a visual check under the hood. The clips around air filter are in place. I saw no obvious connector issues, and the engine light stays off.

Could they have "did something" during the service?

5 Replies

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Hi Robert,

There are a number of things that can cause a lower power issue. Here is a guide that walks through some of them:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-has-low-power-output

I am not sure this is related to the oil change. It also doesn't explain the loss in fuel mileage. This could be a coincidence. Did you notice this lack of power the same day you got the oil change?

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Monday, July 22nd, 2019 AT 5:05 PM

ROBERTPONTIAC421

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Thank you for the causes of low engine power. As far as I know none of the scenarios relate to my problem.

To answer your question: Yes, I felt the drag as soon as I left the oil change bay. I thought the brake was on, checked, and determined it was off, I thought strange but kept on driving. I can't image how an oil change service could have caused this, but stranger things have happened. I am without explanation.

Your thoughts?

Robert

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Monday, July 22nd, 2019 AT 5:40 PM

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

All they did was an oil change? I assume they inspected the air filter and did they show it to you to see if you wanted to replace it? I would remove the air box and make sure they put it in correctly. Also, make sure there isn't a rag sucked up into the intake or in the throttle body. I have seen this done and it would cause the issues you are describing.

If you do not feel comfortable doing this, then either take it to someone you trust and ask they look through the intake system with you there so you can see what they find. Or take it back and do the same thing with the people that did this. Clearly telling them you are thinking they left a rag in there is not going to go over well but just ask that they inspect it with you watching so you can see what they find in the event they try to hide it.

It you noticed it that quickly then it is hard to think it is not something they did but just the oil change does not explain this. Even if they used the wrong oil, I wouldn't expect something like this.

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Monday, July 22nd, 2019 AT 6:50 PM

ROBERTPONTIAC421

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Okay, Thanks for your input. The tech. Asked me if I would like the air filter examined, and I told him no. (I had recently changed the air filter so I knew it was clean). Anyway, just in case and for my own piece of mind, I removed the air filter box, and examined the interior of the housing and the throttle body hose; and found nothing out of the ordinary. I agree with you. Must be coincidental.

Robert

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Tuesday, July 23rd, 2019 AT 12:47 PM

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Yeah. Unfortunately, with not much more to go on we will just be guessing. I would keep an eye on the fuel mileage and see if it gets better. If not, we can dig deeper.