Should the garage be responsible for the oil pan leak and engine damage?

Question

Two months ago I had the oil of my 2003 Renault Clio changed at the local Renault dealership. I noticed oil leaking from the pan plug, so went back. The mechanic insisted on wrapping the oil pan plug many, many rounds with white teflon tape. I tried to explain to him that white teflon tape does not fill voids, but rather lubricates the threads, so one wrap is all that should be used. But he insisted, he says that he is a plumber on the side, and this is how to do it.

Now, two months later, I noticed that the motor is very loud. My daughter even asked why is it so loud. I check the dipstick: no oil! I immediately filled the motor with the proper quantity of the proper oil, but I suspect engine damage as there is a large hill that with two 200-meter elevation changes, and the vehicle now has very much difficulty getting up that hill.

Is the dealer responsible for engine damage due to an incorrectly installed oil pan plug? Was the oil plug in fact incorrectly installed if it was so wrapped with teflon?

Vehicle info: The vehicle had about 98,000 KM at the time of the oil change, now 100,700 KM. Until ~85,000 the vehicle had only ever been driven by the woman who bought it new, she was past retirement age at purchase and I doubt that the motor had ever seen 2500 RPM during the 13 years that she owned it, mostly city driving. She wouldn't even put it in gear until the engine was at operating temp! I acquired the vehicle at ~85,000 KM and I'm a bit rougher with it, using it mostly on the highway. 1300 cc motor, automatic transmission.

Answer 1

As previously advised here.. you may have a chance of some repair cost assistance, but it will be a struggle I expect.

I certainly would approach the delearship though and explain the situation, and any intentions you have. As you already needed to return the vehicle once after service due to this issue.

This job, assuming it was carried out by a trained technician was not completed to good standard really. A dealership technician should NOT be wrapping something as important as a sump plug in layers of teflon tape, especially if this was due to poor threads on the sump or plug.

You should have been advised of a possible issue here, and at least advised to keep a good check on the oil level. If it were me, you would have been left a note on the service sheet that informing you that excessive thread wear on the sump/plug threads was noticed whilst carrying out the procedure, with a suitable 'permenant' repair recommended.

Answer 2

You can always take the dealership to small claims court and let the judge decide.

Answer 3

The mechanic did something with your full knowledge. Not only were you aware of this but you'd actually disputed the method of repair used. Two months later after over 2,500km you find that your oil has disappeared.

Irrespective of whether the oil leaked out past the teflon tape or not, I think you'd struggle to prove to a court that the fault lay solely with the mechanic and that you did not have any responsibility to regularly check that the oil was not escaping from a 15 year old vehicle which by your own admission above likely has washed bores and blocked breather filters (85,000km not exceeding 2500rpm and allowing an engine to come up to operating temperature at idle could equally be your cause for the loss of oil and without an engineers report you'll struggle under cross examination).

One final point on detail, you declare that the car is a 1300cc Clio. In 2003 there was only a 1.2 and a 1.4 petrol model plus a 1.5 diesel Clio. This is the kind of detail that, if you include it in court papers, may get your case thrown out on a technicality.

With regards to the repair costs, I'd anticipate sourcing a second hand engine or even buying another complete 2003 Clio would cost less than the price of a meal for two in a reasonable restaurant and that would be, assuming you feel affectionately towards the car, the route I'd go down to repair it.