Re: after oil change, the dipstick says the oil is past "max"
It is so cool to get all this validation and support from so many of you. I could go into what else happened at the dealer but that would take all day...
So, VALKRYDERGUY, I guess there is no other less messy way than to just unplugg carefully and let it slowly pour into a marked container, right?
Oh, dang it. I'll tell you what happened. I call in last Friday to Bellevue Chrysler (in Washington State) to schedule an oil change and have them take a look at my engine because I've been having strong oil burning smell coming from it for a few months. Thanks to you all, I know that that is a common issue with XFs. The guy on the phone says I can bring it in and they'll have someone look at the engine for oil discharge when they do the oil change. I take it on Saturday morning and tell the guy the conversation I had with the rep the previous day and tell him what I need done. 2 hrs later, he comes over and tell me that the oil change is complete but they did NOT find any evidence of oil leak anywhere.
At this point, I'm standing there incredulous. I tell him that I'm repeating what I told him before -- that I've been smelling "very strong" oil burning smell on at least 2 dozen occasions over the last several months, adding that there is no way that they won't be any oil residue on the engine. He sticks to his story and says it may have been some oil residue from manufacturing. I repeat the story -- and comes close to calling him an idiot but keep myself cool and composed. I then give him a "warning" disguised as my "plan" -- that I'm going to go home and take a look under the engine cover (not knowing at this point how easy it is to take that off or even see the oil on the engine) with my "untrained eyes." If I find oil residue there, I tell him that I'll be taking some serious action. The whole point of brining my XF this time was to do two things at the same time so I don't waste time making any more trips here than necessary. Now, he's suggesting that I be some defenseless old lady and just eat it all up. He sees that I'm serious and I'm nowhere near getting out of there.
At that point, he suggests we go out to my car and take a look. He take off the engine cover and, there it is -- the whole top of the driver's side engine is covered in oil. At this point, I'm getting an urge to go find the guy who supposedly looked at it and drag him to the Octogon. There is no Octogon nearby. Oh, well. The guy with me -- a customer service guy -- puts his finger to the oil and nods him head confirming that there is oil. But he tries to stick to his trained response -- "oh, well, actually the guy was not a certified technician." I tell him in the shortest possible sentence that it does not take a "certified technician" to see oil residue on this brand new engine. I say that whoever looked at it was either blind or was extremely irresponsible.
He brings over another customer service person and I had to explain the whole darn thing to him, patience running out. The guy tests me by suggesting like the other guy that may be the oil leak was from a minor spill during manufacturing. I put him in his spot telling him by repeating the fact that this intense oil burning smell has occurred more than 2 dozen times in the past several months. Do these guys any logical mechanisms in their minds? I really wonder. Brain damage from too much drug abuse in the past? I don't know. The guys suggests that I bring it again for their technician to take a look at it. I say no I'm not making that extra trip. Finally, the guy says he'll go ahead and order the gasket first thing Monday and I can bring my XF in once the gasket arrives...
I don't know what's going on with people. I really don't. Mediocrity and irresponsibility has become a national pasttime? We're in trouble.