Car engine damaged - oil drain plug missing

[compnovice]

I own a 2011 Hyundai Sonata with ~40,000 miles. I was driving on a highway and suddenly there was no response from the engine (i could feel the car decelerating). Then the engine started responding again. A couple minutes later, again there was reduced response but this time I got a bunch of lights (oil pressure, abs and a few others). I pulled over and tuned off the car. by this time only the oil pressure light was on.

I checked the oil which was near empty. I walked to a nearby gas station and bought oil and tried filled 2 quarts. Then I noticed that all oil drained right through.

I had the car towed to a nearby Hyundai dealer. The dealer diagnosis was that there is no drain plug which is probably because the last place the oil was changed (around 2-3 months back) did not install the plug properly. He also said that the engine is ruined and will have to be replace and asked me to contact my insurance company.

The last oil change was also done at a Hyundai dealer (a different one than the one that provided diagnosis).

What are my options. I don't have the the thousands required for a new engine.

 

[SearchMaster]

2-3 MONTHS later it fell out? Wow.

You're going to have a lot of trouble convincing the dealer that did the maintenance that they improperly installed the drain plug so that it fell out months later. Where was it parked before the last trip? Can you check the parking spot and see if there's a big puddle there? I've not heard of a plug falling out so long after the fact - if it's installed improperly it usually either stays in and leaks slowly (as in being cross-threaded) or falls out very soon after leaving the service center (as in not being tightened at all).

 

[compnovice]

There are some oil stains but no puddle. I haven't driven the car a lot recently so it has been parked on the same spot. A few minutes before the engine losing power, i did notice a pop sound (metallic). There was nothing on the road and I did check my rearview mirror to be sure (road was clear). No lights came on at that time.

 

[Raizinman]

Your claim will be difficult to prove. How do you prove that the last dealer improperly tightened the drain plug or someone didn't just crawl under the car and loosen the drain plug. Do you not have any enemies that could have done it? Perhaps an ex-wife, neighbor or unhappy worker? Most everyone does. The 2 to 3 months later is what kills it. If it had happened a day or two later, that would be different. Perhaps this would be a good time for you to start changing the oil yourself.

 

[compnovice]

Your claim will be difficult to prove. How do you prove that the last dealer improperly tightened the drain plug or someone didn't just crawl under the car and loosen the drain plug. Do you not have any enemies that could have done it? Perhaps an ex-wife, neighbor or unhappy worker? Most everyone does. The 2 to 3 months later is what kills it. If it had happened a day or two later, that would be different. Perhaps this would be a good time for you to start changing the oil yourself.

lol..nope no enemies.. happy family and good neighbors..

I noticed hyundai recalled my car model for catastrophic engine failure due to metal debris in the engine when manufacturing, the engine may stall. Which kind of happened with me. However, in my case as per the dealer there is a drain plug missing.. I am thinking of following options:

Option 1 - Contact the dealer that did oil change. Tell them it's their fault per the current diagnosis or it may be an engine failure related to the recall

Option 2 - Contact Hyundai corporate about the recall and warranty

Option 3 - Contact my auto insurance

Option 4 - If nothing works, pay out of pocket and never ever buy a Hyundai again.

 

[jlee]

Regarding option 4, this isn't the fault of Hyundai as a brand - any car without a properly torqued drain plug would have the same end result. I do understand your frustration, though.

I would start by talking to the dealer who did the oil change, and perhaps next Hyundai USA (if the dealer won't help). The long delay between service and failure will likely be problematic, though.

 

[Raizinman]

Since you cannot directly prove that Hyundai caused this problem and since you cannot 100% rule out that someone did not crawl under your car and did this while it was parked somewhere (perhaps someone with an identical car with a mad ex spouse), you therefore can't hold the dealership liable. The first thing the dealership, corporate or your auto insurance is going to ask you is: What proof do you have? Bottom-line is: you don't have any proof.

Sorry, I deal with these types of claims all the time being on retainer for both Jiffy Lube and Valvoline.

 

[leper84]

I'd give the dealer that did the change last one shot to make it right, if it sounds like you're getting any push-back, you wouldn't want them fixing it anyways.

After that I'd go with option 3. Tell your insurance exactly what happened and let them go after the dealer to recoup any loss.

 

[master_shake_]

http://www.carcomplaints.com/Hyundai/Sonata/2011/engine/engine_seized.shtml

maybe the engine committed suicide.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2015/09/25/hyundai-recalls-sonata-engine-problem/72797502/

shame you didn't make the recall.

 

[Banana]

There are some oil stains but no puddle. I haven't driven the car a lot recently so it has been parked on the same spot. A few minutes before the engine losing power, i did notice a pop sound (metallic). There was nothing on the road and I did check my rearview mirror to be sure (road was clear). No lights came on at that time.

Could you have driven over something that catastrophically damaged the oil pan/plug, causing loss of oil? Did you go look at the oil pan and missing plug at the current dealership? I'm wondering if the oil pan's threading shows any stripping or other signs of damage.

A general question for everyone - After "all" motor oil has been lost, how long can a car be driven before irreversible damage? 10 sec, 1 min, 10 min, or ???

Nothing you posted indicate any relationship to the metal debris recall. Ideally you should get a second opinion and quote for cost of repair/replace.

 

[Kelvrick]

That sucks. Personally, I don't use oil drain plugs anymore. I get a fumuto valve (or similar), and throw some RTV sealant material around it to make sure it stays put.

I'm unsure how your insurance company would handle it. Would it be under comprehensive? Maybe if you can claim that you indeed had enemies or some punk local kids went and loosened your drain bolts. Collision would be if you hit something on the road that somehow destroyed your drain plug.

 

[compnovice]

Could you have driven over something that catastrophically damaged the oil pan/plug, causing loss of oil? Did you go look at the oil pan and missing plug at the current dealership? I'm wondering if the oil pan's threading shows any stripping or other signs of damage.

A general question for everyone - After "all" motor oil has been lost, how long can a car be driven before irreversible damage? 10 sec, 1 min, 10 min, or ???

Nothing you posted indicate any relationship to the metal debris recall. Ideally you should get a second opinion and quote for cost of repair/replace.

i got pictures from the dealer and cannot tell from it if the pan threads are stripped. He also says there is some animal carcass splatter on the underside but it should not have caused the damage as it is just splatter. We did run over a dead raccoon carcass that was projected by a car in front of us a couple of months back and have not gone to a car wash ever since. The pictures don't indicate any damage to the underside except some dried up splatter.

After the lights came on, i probably drove a mile and half as there was no safe location to stop before that.

 

[jlee]

Could you have driven over something that catastrophically damaged the oil pan/plug, causing loss of oil? Did you go look at the oil pan and missing plug at the current dealership? I'm wondering if the oil pan's threading shows any stripping or other signs of damage.

A general question for everyone - After "all" motor oil has been lost, how long can a car be driven before irreversible damage? 10 sec, 1 min, 10 min, or ???

Nothing you posted indicate any relationship to the metal debris recall. Ideally you should get a second opinion and quote for cost of repair/replace.

I have no scientific proof, but I would guess you have a matter of seconds once you've lost oil pressure.

 

[Zivic]

After the lights came on, i probably drove a mile and half as there was no safe location to stop before that.

I don't buy that you couldn't find a place to pull over in a mile and a half. those lights come on and it's basically oh sh.t and you veer to the right ASAP, probably turning the engine off as you move right... you don't drive for a mile and a half LOL

 

[RLGL]

I don't buy that you couldn't find a place to pull over in a mile and a half. those lights come on and it's basically oh sh.t and you veer to the right ASAP, probably turning the engine off as you move right... you don't drive for a mile and a half LOL

You may be surprised what an engine can do without oil pressure. I deliberately tried to blow one. When I started it up, it had a very loud rap to it with no pressure on the gauge. I ran it up to 4K in neutral. 5 minutes later the number 3 rod came thru the block and split the starter in half. The particular engine was built in 1983, an in line 4.

 

[Fenixgoon]

I have no scientific proof, but I would guess you have a matter of seconds once you've lost oil pressure.

i'm inclined to agree. unless you catch it right as you see the low pressure sign, my guess is you're boned.

 

[compnovice]

I don't buy that you couldn't find a place to pull over in a mile and a half. those lights come on and it's basically oh sh.t and you veer to the right ASAP, probably turning the engine off as you move right... you don't drive for a mile and a half LOL

no shoulders in a construction zone which lasts for almost a mile. I don't know about you but I wouldn't risk anyone rear ending me at high speeds.

 

[Zivic]

no shoulders in a construction zone which lasts for almost a mile. I don't know about you but I wouldn't risk anyone rear ending me at high speeds.

you do what you have to do. I guess what you had to do was drive for a few minutes without oil.

 

[Fenixgoon]

you do what you have to do. I guess what you had to do was drive for a few minutes without oil.

a car accident at high speeds is much more expensive than a car. OP made the right call.

 

[MongGrel]

NM, just passing on this one.

 

[LTC8K6]

I think the plug was installed by hand, finger tight, and then never tightened properly.
Over time, it gradually backed out.

 

[Spicedaddy]

I think the plug was installed by hand, finger tight, and then never tightened properly.
Over time, it gradually backed out.

Makes sense to me. Engine/road vibration causing it to slowly unscrew if it wasn't torqued properly.

Good luck getting a dealer to admit fault months after the oil change.

 

[JEDIYoda]

After that I'd go with option 3. Tell your insurance exactly what happened and let them go after the dealer to recoup any loss.

The insurance will not do anything!! The insurance will ask him the same questions before going to bat for him!!

They nwill also need proof in order to act! The insurance company is not your attorney!

 

[Jimzz]

Did the dealer you took it to write up what happened? Did they say "Last oil change place...". If not then as said you can ask the last place but chances are they will push back and rightly so. If the current dealer said it was the last place that did it then take that written diagnosis to them and ask them to pay.

 

[Elganja]

That sucks. Personally, I don't use oil drain plugs anymore. I get a fumuto valve (or similar), and throw some RTV sealant material around it to make sure it stays put.

I'm unsure how your insurance company would handle it. Would it be under comprehensive? Maybe if you can claim that you indeed had enemies or some punk local kids went and loosened your drain bolts. Collision would be if you hit something on the road that somehow destroyed your drain plug.

how do you like them? I've considered getting one for my truck, but the whole spring system scares me a little bit (spring pressure to keep it shut)