Don't think I'll Ever See It All

[alreadygone]

Had an occasional cutomer come in yesterday (July 12) for oil change and other services. Pulled vehicle on rack personally, noticed Walmart sticker mileage was 5k past due. When up in air changed filter first. Was Fram so probably had 8k miles. As normal glanced at base of removed filter, gasket in place,,no problem. Started to install new Champ filter (I like them, and if customer changes at recommended interval I don't expect to ever have any problems) noticed it started feeling tight way too soon and continued to tighten long after it should have bottomed out. Been screwing 'em on every day for over 30 years so I think my "feel" is sufficiently knowlegable. So before it felt properly tight I removed it and looked----THERE WAS A GASKET STUCK TO FILTER MOUNT BASE!!!! Old filter still had gasket, new filter still had gasket, obviously this vehicle ('99 Explorer, 5.0) had run for over 8 thousand miles with double gaskets!!

No pics didn't even bother telling customer. But I did lecture 2 employees that they had better pay attention to their own aquired "feel" in this occupation.

Bob

 

[Mr Nice]

Maybe the filter was on soooo tight that it didn't leak.

I had a double gasket happen to me and I had to clean up a BIG mess in my garage.

 

[AstroVic]

I wonder how much make-up oil that guy added to his vehicle?

Probably none, since it sounds like he doesn't really give a rat's A$$ about his car anyhow.

 

[alreadygone]

Didn't notice filter being unusually tight. Entire area around filter was DRY, no leaks.

Bob

 

[Gary Allan]

Amazing.

 

[Vuser]

EEEK!!!!

 

[UncleS2]

If that had been my car, the double-gasket would have leaked like crazy. Sometimes, there's nothing like being lucky!

 

[chewbacca]

The "Oil Gods" were smiling that day!

 

[Filter guy]

And to think people give Walmart oil change guys a hard time...

Why they can double gasket a car with no leaks..lol

 

[01rangerxl]

Wow...that guy is lucky.

The one and only time I double gasketed a filter was on a 5.4L Expedition...I knew right away what had happened and had quite a mess to clean up.

 

[webfors]

lol.. I hate anyone touching my cars but me. This is a perfect justification for this OCD traight of mine.

Anytime I go to a garage/dealer and they drive my car into the garage, I get this sinking feeling in my stomach and I feel ill, all the meanwhile sticking my head thru little windows trying to monitor what's going on

No way any employee, certified mechanic or not, cares about my car like I do!

 

[RF Overlord]

quote:

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Originally posted by webfors:
Anytime I go to a garage/dealer and they drive my car into the garage, I get this sinking feeling in my stomach and I feel ill, all the meanwhile sticking my head thru little windows trying to monitor what's going on

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Heh...me, too...but now that I've found not one but TWO shops I trust, that sinking feeling goes away a lot quicker!

 

[carock]

You know I like to think of myself as a good mechanic, but I have made that same mistake at least twice....

 

[Lazy JW]

quote:

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Originally posted by alreadygone:
Didn't notice filter being unusually tight. Entire area around filter was DRY, no leaks.

Bob

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Just ponderizin' on this here incident... seems likely that if the double gaskets were installed DRY that it just might not ever leak... Ain't gonna try it just to see though

Joe