Joined
·
3 Posts
Hi,
I recently purchased a 2015 Spark 3UP on June 6th. Unfortunately, I have yet to take it out due to work and weather conditions in my area. It looks like this coming weekend will shape up to be my first outing. With that said, I decided to get ahead and start prepping everything. However, upon checking the oil level I found that there is none. The engine was level when I checked it, and I tilted it back and forth to see if maybe the level is just really low. Alas, not a drop appeared.
I contacted the dealer who sold me the Spark and they have asked me to bring it in. Naturally, I will be taking it back since I just bought it and it's under warranty, but I have great concern regarding the potential damage done to the engine. I recall them starting the engine twice for me when I bought it. First, when they prepped it, and second when I picked it up and I did my walk-around.
I use to work in the automotive field and am very aware of the number of people who drive around with low oil levels. For the ones who didn't destroy their engine we topped them off and they continued to run. With that said, I have no idea how long that may have been. There is no telling how much damage may have been done to the engines for the time in which they were low on oil (aside from disassembling the engine). However, I have no doubt they severally diminished the longevity of the engine.
My dilemma is in how to approach the situation with my dealer.
Option 1: The dealer tops off the oil and leaves it at that.
Considering the engine has about an hour of run-time on it, this could be a big problem. For all I know the engine ran the entire time like this. I won't know the extent of the damage until the engine dies on me one day due to premature engine wear, the result of the low oil at purchase. If I chose this option then the only way for me to CYA myself is to have the dealer acknowledge the potential premature wear due to not properly prepping the engine. I know that will never happen.
Option 2: I approach the potential for premature engine failure head-on with the dealer or manufacturer as an issue I will not accept and request a replacement. Basically, this is the "coming out with guns blazing" option. This option could involve the potential for a lawsuit in small claims court based on the gray area associated with the potential for premature engine failure.
I am not a fan of Option 2, but at the end of the day I have to cover my own ass. Ultimately, this posting is about determining what you all think about the potential damage with not having any oil in the engine will be. Please bare in mind the short amount of run-time at idle speed. For all I know everything is fine and nothing got hot enough to do any real damage.
Thanks,
AC
I recently purchased a 2015 Spark 3UP on June 6th. Unfortunately, I have yet to take it out due to work and weather conditions in my area. It looks like this coming weekend will shape up to be my first outing. With that said, I decided to get ahead and start prepping everything. However, upon checking the oil level I found that there is none. The engine was level when I checked it, and I tilted it back and forth to see if maybe the level is just really low. Alas, not a drop appeared.
I contacted the dealer who sold me the Spark and they have asked me to bring it in. Naturally, I will be taking it back since I just bought it and it's under warranty, but I have great concern regarding the potential damage done to the engine. I recall them starting the engine twice for me when I bought it. First, when they prepped it, and second when I picked it up and I did my walk-around.
I use to work in the automotive field and am very aware of the number of people who drive around with low oil levels. For the ones who didn't destroy their engine we topped them off and they continued to run. With that said, I have no idea how long that may have been. There is no telling how much damage may have been done to the engines for the time in which they were low on oil (aside from disassembling the engine). However, I have no doubt they severally diminished the longevity of the engine.
My dilemma is in how to approach the situation with my dealer.
Option 1: The dealer tops off the oil and leaves it at that.
Considering the engine has about an hour of run-time on it, this could be a big problem. For all I know the engine ran the entire time like this. I won't know the extent of the damage until the engine dies on me one day due to premature engine wear, the result of the low oil at purchase. If I chose this option then the only way for me to CYA myself is to have the dealer acknowledge the potential premature wear due to not properly prepping the engine. I know that will never happen.
Option 2: I approach the potential for premature engine failure head-on with the dealer or manufacturer as an issue I will not accept and request a replacement. Basically, this is the "coming out with guns blazing" option. This option could involve the potential for a lawsuit in small claims court based on the gray area associated with the potential for premature engine failure.
I am not a fan of Option 2, but at the end of the day I have to cover my own ass. Ultimately, this posting is about determining what you all think about the potential damage with not having any oil in the engine will be. Please bare in mind the short amount of run-time at idle speed. For all I know everything is fine and nothing got hot enough to do any real damage.
Thanks,
AC
Attachments
-
268.6 KB Views: 1,203