Oil filter fell off!!

wvfarrier · Apr 24, 2023

Here is a scary event. I had my oil changed/tires rotated a few weeks ago. (The location is closed now, the owner died suddenly from a cardiac event)

Anyway, I went through one of those drive through car washes that does the under carriage. As I hit the highway, I heard an awful crashing sounds and immediately pulled over. The oil pressure light came on as well. I looked under the truck and oil was pouring out....at first I could not tell where from due to the mess.

I had it towed home and got to looking. The only thing I can figure is the filter was loosened or loosening and the car wash made it worse. I went ahead and did a complete change on my own and all seems ok but it sure spooked me. A little google-fu shows several events with RAM trucks having loosened filters.

JHoward · Apr 24, 2023

This is why I do my own oil changes.

barr0208 · Apr 24, 2023

i do mine at the dealer if it falls off i get a new engine.

wvfarrier · Apr 24, 2023

JHoward said:
This is why I do my own oil changes.

I normally do but was feeling lazy

dhay13 · Apr 24, 2023

Must have went to my local dealer. Had 4 in a row that were loose. Got to the point I always crawled under them to tighten before I left. I mean, our local dealer did hire a 10th grader to work there as a tech. I know this cause he was one of my wifes students and went on co-op

wvfarrier · Apr 24, 2023

Good grief!!!

WoodGuy · Apr 25, 2023

With very few exceptions, I have always done my own. Not necessarily because I dont trust them but that I can do it cheaper and when it fits my schedule. I also know when I do it the filter will be good and snug too

Ranhood · May 1, 2023

I’ve seen my come loose twice after Dealership changed oil/filter - noticed drips in driveway. The head service man suggests another 1/4 turn with oil wrench. I do it every time now. There are a few posts in here about that. Glad you caught it quickly!!

chri5k · May 1, 2023

Ranhood said:
I’ve seen my come loose twice after Dealership changed oil/filter - noticed drips in driveway. The head service man suggests another 1/4 turn with oil wrench. I do it every time now. There are a few posts in here about that. Glad you caught it quickly!!

Did you ask for .25 hours at their hourly rate to finish their job? Seriously, how about the head man go tell his boys to do the extra 1/4 turn when they do the job. Can't believe the state of "service" these days.

farout75 · May 1, 2023

When I way a younger man and vehicles were much cheaper (below 14K) I changed my own oil. For the last 25 years I have let the dealer do it. Mo mess with what to do with the used oil. and for $65 to $75, it's worth it to me.

Scott0700 · May 1, 2023

Always remember that people don’t do what you expect, only what you inspect.

TestPilot57 · May 1, 2023

JHoward said:
This is why I do my own oil changes.

This is why I don't.

If it falls off when I did it, I pay for it

If it falls off when someone else does it, they pay for it.

(actually, that's not why I don't do it - I have someone else do it because my time is worth more to me to be doing something else*. BUT if there was no other reason, the above would do it).

*this is not to belittle the mechanics that do oil changes. They (by and large) do a great job, efficiently, and probably make as much as I do. The point is that they are set up for it and buy stuff in bulk. So they can mark it up (as they should) and are still able to do it cheaper than I can (based on my valuation of my time).

TestPilot57 · May 1, 2023

Scott0700 said:
Always remember that people don’t do what you expect, only what you inspect.

That's a sad commentary, and while that does happen here and there I'm very happy to say that our customers don't feel that way about us or we'd be out of business.

TestPilot57 · May 1, 2023

dhay13 said:
Must have went to my local dealer. Had 4 in a row that were loose. Got to the point I always crawled under them to tighten before I left. I mean, our local dealer did hire a 10th grader to work there as a tech. I know this cause he was one of my wifes students and went on co-op

I was doing my Dad's and my own oil changes when I was in 10th grade and never had an oil filter fall off.

It's nothing to do with age, it's 100% training.

Related: you go to a restaurant and see a young family with kids acting out. Who do you blame? The kids or the parents? I sure hope it's the parents.

tron67j · May 1, 2023

I would say good luck getting the oil change place to accept liability unless the event occurs just out of the garage door. Responsibility for proper usage and inspection of the vehicle galls in the owner. I am sure there are stories of getting up to a new engine for free, but I personally know of two instances over the years (one loose oil pan plug, one loose filter) where the dealer wouldn't even touch the vehicle until the owners agreed to indemnify them in writing. The time between service and issues was a fair amount, so no way they would do anything that might require them to accept any liability.

One of many possibilities dealers face, a less than scrupulous owner gets oil changed, then loosens nut to blame dealer and try to fix an existing problem by getting a new engine.

I always look at the spot I pull out of, looking for any fluids. Good habit to get into and I would think something is generally going to leak before it just lets go.

TestPilot57 · May 1, 2023

tron67j said:
One of many possibilities dealers face, a less than scrupulous owner gets oil changed, then loosens nut to blame dealer and try to fix an existing problem by getting a new engine.

A sad but (possibly) true situation that further clouds potential liability, especially if it ends up in court.

Tunaman · May 1, 2023

JHoward said:
This is why I do my own oil changes.

This is why the dealer does EVERY oil change on my truck. # 1 thats about the only service a dealer does thats comparable to what the oil, filter and disposal costs me by the time I figure my time, gas to parts store and oil disposal etc. And like someone else said, if the plug falls out of filter falls off they pay. AND CARFAX has a record of every service ever done....the free wash isn't bad either.

REDinAZ · May 1, 2023

Meh, just consider doing it yourself. Not buying all this kerfuffle about wasted, valuable, "time". At worst from first driving it up on ramps to rolling it back down it's an hour. Appointment calls, back and forth to dealership, and waiting around for pickup, you'll spend that time, or more...and you'll have to arrange for all this at THEIR schedule. I wake up one morning and feel like going in my garage, I do it! And you think you're gonna find a "dealership" that's pouring your choice of Redline, Amsoil, PUP into your crankcase? Spinning on a full synthetic filter?? Not a chance. And it's also an excellent time to complete other checks under the hood & inspect underside of what is YOUR TRUCK btw, ain't no "dealership" giving 2 real craps about it the way you will.

...all work on vehicles done before summer. I also jot down on every cardboard box from the filter I used (and I'll have the filter # needed again) little reminders of that oil service and what else has been done in recent years. Out here in Arizona the age a battery has gotten is a VERY important consideration.

crash68 · May 1, 2023

Something sounds off about an oil filter falling off. Unless something broke, all of the oil would have been pumped out long before the filter fell off.

16MaxSteelOutdoorsman · May 1, 2023

I've had the dealer not tighten the oil filter THREE TIMES!!! pulled out the next morning to oil on the garage floor. Let them know, the service manager shrugged his shoulders. That's ok, Ram is still under warranty and the dealer does all the maintenance, so any problems, it's their issue.

Oil filter fell off!!

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