Oil Change Mess

[spazzyfry123]

Took one of the vehicles in for its very first oil change (brand new). Heard them drop the bottom pan clear on the ground with a big racket and laughing about it. Heard some arguing back and forth on the quantity of oil. Just an overall disaster of an oil change.

Drive it straight home and park it for a couple hours to head out into the property for a bit. Come back and find about a dozen oil stains on my brand new concrete pad. Look underneath and find effectively the entire underside of the front of the vehicle covered in oil. Dripping from skid plates, control arms look like they’ve been dipped. Skid plates are pooled up with puddles. Looks like a quart’s worth was just sprayed on the underside.

What’s the best way to get the underside back to looking like it did just hours prior? Which was brand new with hardly any dust. I plan to have my detailer do it, but would be interested from the larger group what’s typically done in these situations so I’ve got a point of reference to decide. Thinking I shouldn’t drive it until it’s cleaned up to avoid more spray down the underside.

Bonus points if anyone has direction for the concrete as well.

[John in VA]

Wherever you took it for the oil change should be on the hook for the clean-up - I hope you let the service manager or general manager know about the mess. I wouldn't let them touch it again but have them reimburse you for the detailer.

Maybe your concrete guy has a solution for that clean-up.

[RockCrusher]

Clean up is the least of your worries. I'd be very concerned about the oil level. And even after topping up the oil level I'd worry about the engine losing too much oil on the way back to the shop.

For smaller clean ups brake cleaner from an aerosol can works well. The brake cleaner dissolves oil but leaves no residue. I put down a good multi sheet layer of newspaper to catch/hold the cleaner run off.

For clean up of a huge mess I used Gunk in an aerosol can (cans) followed by a hosing down with water.

Professional techs that I have known like Simple Green. I have no experience using Simple Green. It has been decades since I had a mess that required Gunk and the smaller messes I manage to create are small enough that brake cleaner suffices.

For oil stains on concrete brake cleaner again and lots of paper towels.

Finish with a good coating of oil dry -- the kitty litter like stuff -- and work it in to the surface of the concrete.

There may be off the shelf concrete liquid cleaners but I never needed any as the few times I made a mess on the concrete I had brake cleaner cans handy.

[E36 wire harness]

I've seen this stuff called "pour and restore", it looks like it's really good but I've never been able to find it on a shelf. I've had half decent results with the zep purple and the deck scrubbing brush / power washer.

[dcstep]

I don't know the 8-series, but you probably can't check the oil level without running the engine, which wouldn't be safe with all the leakage. I'd talk to the GM, have him send a flatbed and ream them good on both the BMW review and Yelp and Google. Never go back to that dealer.

[Emm2Upstart]

As someone mentioned, an aerosol can of brake cleaner dissolves oil on contact. Look closely around the oil cap. I wouldn't be surprised if they left a mess there too, and then it dripped down to everything, to the undertray areas.

Edit: Use the brake cleaner under the car. I wouldn't personally use it much in the engine bay because all of the plastics -- unnecessarily harsh cleaner for that area.

BMW service made a huge mess at my last oil change -- it even sprayed on my windshield as I was driving home. They offered to pay for a detailer but that was more of a hassle for me. I carefully sprayed down the engine bay with a solution of dish soap and then gently rinsed with water. Took about 5 minutes.

I don't know how they could so badly mess up an oil change. Good luck!

[ppointer]

Try muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid (HCl)). I would normally use it to clean water spots from a boat, but have also used it on oil stains on a garage floor. Most times it is effective.

If you give it a try, wear thick rubber gloves and real eye protection. Stuff can be nasty.

[FrankL]

Where did you go? A BMW dealership or Jiffy Lube? What a clown show.

[Code Monkey]

Please name the shop/dealer.

[fiveightandten]

The whole underside of the car needs to be cleaned. A good detailer with a lift will need to remove all the under panels and have at it with a degreaser and a pressure washer. Either the dealer should pay for this, or provide the service themselves. The fabric under panels may need to be replaced, depending on how much oil they’ve soaked up.

But as mentioned above, the bigger concern is whether or not the engine was oil starved or otherwise compromised.

I have an asphalt driveway, not concrete. But can vouch for regular old laundry detergent being effective at removing fairly fresh oil stains. Though there may be better methods for a new concrete surface.

[dcstep]

OP, what the hell is going on? Don't start it. Have another dealer come pick it up with a flatbed and fix everything.

[philth]

Originally Posted by dcstep

OP, what the hell is going on? Don't start it. Have another dealer come pick it up with a flatbed and fix everything.

This has to be a troll post right?
No one in their right mind would just act like everything is fine and the bottom of the car just needs a clean…. Right?

Reminds me of a famous old troll post that exploded a mustang forum; long post short; guy said he wanted to clean his engine after buying the car so he attached his hose, drained the oil, turned on the tap and ran the engine with the water running. The forum exploded and was unreachable for hours after that.

FOUND THE POST!
https://mustangforums.com/forum/5-0l...-this-car.html

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by philth

This has to be a troll post right?
No one in their right mind would just act like everything is fine and the bottom of the car just needs a clean…. Right?

Reminds me of a famous old troll post that exploded a mustang forum; long post short; guy said he wanted to clean his engine after buying the car so he attached his hose, drained the oil, turned on the tap and ran the engine with the water running. The forum exploded and was unreachable for hours after that.

FOUND THE POST!
https://mustangforums.com/forum/5-0l...-this-car.html

He has thousands of posts here, BUT his Garage shows no NEW CARS.

Have to wonder how a troll makes it so far into a forum.

[learntocode]

Originally Posted by dcstep

He has thousands of posts here, BUT his Garage shows no NEW CARS.

Have to wonder how a troll makes it so far into a forum.

I wonder which brand new car this OP took his vehicle for its very first oil change.

Doubt it's a BMW Service Center. They don't allow anyone in the service bay or close enough to hear car underside pan drop on the ground... etc.

[Emm2Upstart]

Maybe this is a troll post or maybe OP got a little carried away with the story; maybe OP went to an indy shop, but my oil change experience at BMW Annapolis for my '26 M2 was shockingly similar with the mess they made.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Emm2Upstart

Maybe this is a troll post or maybe OP got a little carried away with the story; maybe OP went to an indy shop, but my oil change experience at BMW Annapolis for my '26 M2 was shockingly similar with the mess they made.

Sorry to read that, BUT you didn't take it to an independent for its very first change and I'll bet that the dealer made it right.

I'll chime in with my own story: In 2009, on my very first change for my 2009 E92 M3 6MT, the dealer overfilled the engine. I noticed it on my drive home, made a U-turn and they fixed it quickly while I waited 15-minutes. I've never gone back to that dealer and still drive an hour each way to BMW of Loveland for exceptional service, 17-years later. There was no spillage in my case.

Give a dealer a 1 rating and they beg and grovel like crazy, but I didn't change my rating. For those in the Denver area, the guilty dealer's name starts with S.

Where's a dip stick when you need it?????

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by philth

FOUND THE POST!
https://mustangforums.com/forum/5-0l...-this-car.html

Now THAT was funny.

Makes our troll look like a brain surgeon.

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by dcstep

Now THAT was funny.

Makes our troll look like a brain surgeon.

That was art. The second post is almost as funny – nothing says you really mean it like all caps and a huge font. Reminds me of old people who send emails in all caps, lol.

PLEASE CANCEL ME FROM THIS EMAIL ACCOUNT I DON'T KNOW HOW I GOT ON IT BUT I SHOULDN'T BE ON IT AND WILL CALL MY LAYWER IF I DON'T GET OFF IT THANK YOU VERY MUCH MILTON J HURLBUTT JR.

[spazzyfry123]

Yeesh. Didn’t think this thread would turn this way. Been chasing three little ones through life, so haven’t been on here. Thought I’d ask the question in the general sense of advice to clean erratically drained oil from the bottom of a brand new vehicle. Didn’t think it would be considered a “troll post.” Vehicle has been parked since the incident and is scheduled to be cleaned today. Thanks all.

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by spazzyfry123

Yeesh. Didn’t think this thread would turn this way. Been chasing three little ones through life, so haven’t been on here. Thought I’d ask the question in the general sense of advice to clean erratically drained oil from the bottom of a brand new vehicle. Didn’t think it would be considered a “troll post.” Vehicle has been parked since the incident and is scheduled to be cleaned today. Thanks all.

As much as anything in this world, people love to jump to conclusions.

Good luck with the cleaning – hope it works to your satisfaction.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

As much as anything in this world, people love to jump to conclusions.

Good luck with the cleaning – hope it works to your satisfaction.

He's still trolling. Don't take the bait.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by spazzyfry123

Yeesh. Didn’t think this thread would turn this way. Been chasing three little ones through life, so haven’t been on here. Thought I’d ask the question in the general sense of advice to clean erratically drained oil from the bottom of a brand new vehicle. Didn’t think it would be considered a “troll post.” Vehicle has been parked since the incident and is scheduled to be cleaned today. Thanks all.

Some pix might get you off the hook.