[s-cars] Oil Line?

[CyberPoet]

JC Wrote:

I allowed a "chain" oil change joint to change oil on my
S4.  During the next 24 hours I added 12 quarts of oil just
to get it back to the service station.  Oil indicator came
on, oil pressure dropped.  Figured they used incorrect
filter or didn't tighten it or the drain plug.  Once back
they diagnosed that I "blew an oil line".  Haven't seen it
yet.  What the hell are they talkin' about?  Last time a
try to save time and use a non-audi familiar service
station!

Marc Replies:

   I'd get under there myself and make the mechanic show me
the part that is supposedly failing/has failed. I agree
with the list's general diagnosis that it's far more likely
that a well-meaning but unfamiliar-with-Audi's wrench
caused damages during the oil & filter change.
Specifically, it would be quite reasonable to imagine them
having improperly seated the oil drain plug (either having
failed to seat it properly, mis-threaded it, or most
seemingly likely, over-torqued it and either stripped the
receiver threads in the oil pan or cracked the oil pan
itself). A poor filter fitting seems less likely, and a
burst oil line seems even less reasonable, although all
things are possible in this world.
   Two things to do while you're at this stage of the game,
aside from all the other issues: (1) time to install that
fumoto oil drain plug (order it), so in the future there
will be no heavy-handed monkeying with the oil drain plug
by anyone, and there will be some safety margin in using
such "cheaper" establishments, and (2) order three or
four of the Mann brand oil filters for your car (there
really is a difference, not just in possible fitment, but
also in the oil-clog relief valve within the filter
itself over the competition's).
   And one question: why did you go back to the place that
changed it in the first place, especially under your own
power? You should have stopped, called a tow-truck (or at
least a friend with a long tow-strap), and moved the car
to an Audi-specific shop to take a close look at. That
way, you'd have an outside expert opinion on whether
there really was a fault induced by something unrelated,
or if it was some oil-change-place's unwitting mechanic's
incompetency (which in this case might translate into
piece of mind), while not doing more damage to the engine.

PS - As a motorcycle driver, the concept of you leaving 12
liters of oil on the road on Wednesday, July 16th (National
Ride Your Motorcycle To Work Day), or the day before, is
horrendous, deplorable and border-lining on possible
manslaughter.

=-= Marc Glasgow
Tampa Mac OS X Training, Upgrades & Strategic Planning
www.cyberpoet.net