how could my om617 be compromised so quickly?
 

Some of you may be familiar with my early landcruiser conversion, which I have enjoyed for just about a year.

My 1st mistake was bringing her over to one of those quick oil-change places for an oil change.

My conversion utilizes a remote dual-filter head unit, which had two HP1 fram filters.
They didn't carry these filters, so I mentioned that the fram PH8A filters were compatible.

They replaced the filters, I started the truck for a moment to circulate the oil and verify adequate oil-level.
They checked, and added another 1/2 quart of 15-40w which was verified again after another start/idle/stop step.

I left the shop, only to wait for a few mins. (signal-light) to make a U-turn and head back home.
I noticed power felt sluggish, followed by my motor shutting down in less then an average city block.
I don't believe I reached 40MPH, as I found myself coasting to the shoulder.

I was able to start her for a moment, only to have it shutdown again.
I started her once more, this time slowly accelerating the throttle manually and watched how the motor shutdown again once I let off the accelerator.

I towed the truck back to the shop, and informed them that they had made some sort of mistake.
They indicated that they had only changed the oil, and felt they were not to blame for the current condition of my truck.

After I towed her back home, I realized they had installed much SMALLER oil-filters...nothing like what was previously installed.

I have since replaced the filters with PH8As, but the truck feels like most if not all power has been lost.
She doesn't seem to appreciate anything other then Idling.

The amount of blow-by is now severe, which was not the case prior to the oil-change.
It seems like the motor was about to seize, and now avoided as a result of replacing the SMALLER oil-filters.

I would appreciate some assistance in understanding how my om617 was quickly compromised, as a result of an oil-change.

I don't believe I should perform any trouble-shooting steps, as I will be filing a claim w/the shop.

thanks,
manny

Did you have oil pressure while the motor was running?

check oil pressure, check to see if the throttle linkages may have been bumped,bent etc. Smaller filters should not have hurt anything. Maybe they started it dry then noticed no oil pressure, shut it down then added oil? This would of course cause some trouble.

Your Quickie lube place is responsible for the damage unless you failed to inform them to the extent of your conversion... pardon if I misread. I skimmed..

Wouldn't be the first time i've heard of a quick oil change place doing this.....

These places are all very good to watch while they work.

These places are all very good to watch while they work.

$0.02
 

You run the risk of screwing up something every time you take a car to a mechanic, be it an oil change, dealer, indy or shady mechanic. You introduce a risk once you delegate. This is the fact of life as you cannot do everything in life yourself.

I would not expect an oil change like this will mess up the engine but your car is not stock so who knows. Hope you get some redress from the oil change company but I would not bet on it.

I hope you took pictures and kept the filters they installed. I'm thinking that the wrong filters could have stopped oil circulation. Is there a bypass valve in the system which permits oil to circulate if it wont go thru the filters.

The signifigant factor was the introduction of the wrong oil filters I suspect. About the only way this could be proved would be to reinstall them again and see if oil pressure is there with them installed.

If not you have a legitamate claim against them. Do you remember if oil pressure was present after you left the place?

Because it is a Conversion and the Conversion does not use Oil Filters made for that specific Engine; and the OP made the suggestion that the PH8A Filter would interchange with the ones He was using I do not see how the OP could win His Claim. ("They didn't carry these filters, so I mentioned that the fram PH8A filters were compatible.")

The OP would have to find that they did something else wrong or that there was something wrong with the Filters they used that made them not work like the PH8As would have.

I think the OP would have better luck just stating the Facts on a sign on top of his Vheicle and park the Vheicle near where it can be seen by potential customers. As long as the Sign sticks to the facts like; I brought my Car here, they changed the Filters and after that my Engine was damaged due to loss of Oil Pressure; they would have trouble if they sued you for deformation.

X2
This is good advice !! Worth more than $0.02 !!!!!

The amount of blow-by is depressing :(
No doubt about it, Damage has definitely been done.

Now it's all about documenting everything and file a claim with shop.
I've never done small-claims, but imagine that will be plan-B.

Thank you ALL for your replies

HP1 or PH8A filters ,hmm ,what filter did they install? If its neither one of the above mentioned I would varify that the shop does not in fact carry these filters on hand ,this will make your case if this is true.They substitutied a filter without your knowledge resulting in your destroyed engine,open and shut case.

From the information you've written here I have a gut feeling you're wasting your time trying to make a claim. You've got a modified car - I guess the opposition would say you did not do the conversion properly - that the engine was already shot - you'll end up in a circle of finger pointing and BS...

...I can't see it being a healthy experience.

I don't want to drag you down - it is a ****ty thing to happen.


I encourage you to look for a practical solution like doing a leak down test and work out where the trouble (in the engine) is.

What I can't get my head around is "Why"? Why would you take a "modified" 617 Diesel to a Quik Change Store. Those guys invariably screw things up and for odd ball stuff won't carry the right filters. Secondly, if you must use their service, bring your own filters. If they won't do it, move on. No car that is running, no matter how badly or overdue it is for an oil change, is not going to be damage more by an additional few hundred miles. Drive it until it is convenient to do it yourself or take it to a knowledgeable shop.