Oil change place forgot to put my coolant cap back on...

[East Bay Mike]

I’ve always changed my own oil because my dad taught me that you can’t trust shops.

Since I got my new car I’ve had the dealer change the oil so far. Once the free oil changes ran out I had jiffy lube do it a couple weeks ago.

All seems well so far until yesterday I noticed my fan stayed on for about 10 minutes after I parked. This stands out because I’ve never heard this noise after owning the car for 1.5 years. Coolant temp was 232 which seemed high. I kept an eye on coolant temps on the way home and it didn’t go over 212 so I figured maybe it’s ok?

It happened again today so I opened the hood and see the coolant cap is OFF and sitting off to the side of the spout.

I’ve been known to overreact or underreact but I’m just curious what is the best route to take on this? Surely the shop should know about this.

I don’t want my blood pressure to raise more than neccesarry.

 

[East Bay Mike]

What disturbs me is that they were messing with my coolant. I just wanted an oil change.

Heck, the dealer even overfilled my oil on the previous change. I checked the oil when I got home and it was way too full.

Maybe I just have bad luck? 3 flat tires in the last 4 months.

 

[East Bay Mike]

After thinking about it I wonder what to do legally.

I doubt any engine damage was done but can I document this somehow?

 

[Blankpage]

Not sure if its any better but I bring my car to the dealer for oil changes, warranty or no warranty. Is there a business out there with a worse reputation than Jiffy Lube?

 

[msethhunter]

Coolant cap can be a few things. Is this the cap on the cooling system that holds pressure, or on the overflow tank? If it's the pressurized cap, document, let them know ASAP and have them come pick it up with a wrecker. It'll need to be topped off. After they do that, take it to a shop, have them test it for hydrocarbs in the cooling system.

If it's just the overflow tank, refill the tank to the proper level, call it a day. 232° is getting warm, but not excessive, as long as the system was still pressurized.

 

[TheRobSJ]

Not sure if its any better but I bring my car to the dealer for oil changes, warranty or no warranty. Is there a business out there with a worse reputation than Jiffy Lube?

Jiffy Lube is just the “Coke” of that world. But whether it’s Jiffy, or Speedee, or Oil Changers, or Oil Stop, or any of those really, it’s about the same story. You’ve got a group of minimum wage kids being supervised by someone who’s really just one of them, they’ve just been there longer and make a couple bucks more an hour.

At a dealership’s quick service situation, you’ve got kids who are fresh out of some kind of automotive school making a little more than minimum. So a little higher standards. But they are supervised by real technicians.

That’s not to say that even a seasoned dealer tech can leave a cap off or forget to tighten a drain plug...sometimes brain farts happen.

 

[TheRobSJ]

What disturbs me is that they were messing with my coolant. I just wanted an oil change.

Jiffy Lube (as are all the others) protocol is to top off all fluids. They may also have taken the cap off to get a drop or two of coolant to sample. Although it’s not so much of a worry anymore with modern coolants, they lose their corrosion protection after awhile. So there’s a test that can be quickly done to it to measure that protection...which of course can be used to upsell you a coolant flush. Which would be silly the coolant was shot or even low on a 1 1/2 year old car, but like I said it’s their protocol.

As was said, if it was just a cap to an overflow tank (which means there’s still a radiator pressure cap still in there)? Not a big deal, no real risk of damage done. But if was a cap to a pressure/surge tank? Then some coolant may have leaked out and may have introduced an air pocket in the system which will cause some erratic coolant temperature readings.

What kind of car we talking about here?

 

[Blankpage]

Jiffy Lube is just the “Coke” of that world. But whether it’s Jiffy, or Speedee, or Oil Changers, or Oil Stop, or any of those really, it’s about the same story. You’ve got a group of minimum wage kids being supervised by someone who’s really just one of them, they’ve just been there longer and make a couple bucks more an hour.

At a dealership’s quick service situation, you’ve got kids who are fresh out of some kind of automotive school making a little more than minimum. So a little higher standards. But they are supervised by real technicians.

That’s not to say that even a seasoned dealer tech can leave a cap off or forget to tighten a drain plug...sometimes brain farts happen.

The dealer techs see the same car everyday and can probably change the oil with their eyes closed. Probably in there best interest also to ensure its done right else the customer will be checking out other manufactures next time.
Plus they have any special tools needed for whatever comes up.

Although I've had the Toyota dealer recommend maintenance that I knew wasn't necessary. Like all things the more informed you are the better.

The few times I've been to the quick lube place with my old truck I'd dent the oil filter with the lug wrench just before dropping it off, just to make sure it was changed :teeth

 

[East Bay Mike]

2018 GMC Terrain Denali. 2.0 turbo.

It’s the overflow tank.

I’ll have more time to respond later.

Thanks for the help so far!

 

[msethhunter]

2018 GMC Terrain Denali. 2.0 turbo.

It’s the overflow tank.

I’ll have more time to respond later.

Thanks for the help so far!

Set the level of the tank and move on with life.

 

[afm199]

Why I never go to Jiffy Lube. Or a dealer.

 

[Butch]

Why I never go to Jiffy Lube. Or a dealer.

Yup. I am fortunate to have always had a mechanic in that I can trust. I have had a few experiences with dealers and they have sometimes been bad. Like, incompetence.

Roselli’s in San Jose, Checkers in East San Ho.

I might have gone to a Jiffy Lube kinda place once.

 

[afm199]

I hate changing oil on my trucks, but I do all my oil changes. Among other things, it forces me to examine the vehicles and look for possible problems.

 

[RS250 Chester]

I never use a dealer to change oil, I usually change my own. But when there's a deal at any of those chains, I will use it. $24 for an oil change is cheaper than what I can buy all the supplies for.

BUT, I always check all the work they've done when they're finished to make sure nothing is overtightened and everything is in place.

As for the cap, I've actually had my cap on the overflow blow off and it landed on the side of the reservoir.

 

[Kestrel]

Overflow tank is still under pressure.... and pressure is required to keep the coolant from boiling.

I’d be pisssed either way, but I’m not sure what sort of recourse you might have. More free oil changes! But would you want to go back there? I think not.

 

[Blankpage]

But when there's a deal at any of those chains, I will use it. $24 for an oil change is cheaper than what I can buy all the supplies for.

I use synthetic in car and bike. I'd be concerned if I'm actually getting the oil I'm paying for.

 

[RS250 Chester]

I use synthetic in car and bike. I'd be concerned if I'm actually getting the oil I'm paying for.

My rotary only uses dino oil, so those chains can be good for me. For synthetic, never seen a deal at those chains, maybe around $45, but you can buy a large jug of Mobil 1 full synth at Walmart for $24....and yes, I would be concerned about getting the real stuff at a chain.

 

[TheRobSJ]

2018 GMC Terrain Denali. 2.0 turbo.

It’s the overflow tank.

I’ll have more time to respond later.

Thanks for the help so far!

GM usually uses a pressure/surge tank. Is there a separate radiator cap somewhere?

 

[TheRobSJ]

Rosellas in San Jose

Do you mean Rosellis off of Lincoln Ave? Lot of high dollar rides always parked in the lot there. Rolls Royce, Ferrari, Lamborghini, etc. Like a lot a lot of them. Place must be pretty good to have the reputation to draw that many high rollers.

 

[Bay Arean]

Toyota Walnut Creek left my radiator cap off, too, after a service. I felt so stupid driving around, slightly smelling coolant but now knowing WTF.