Advice....why remove Oil Sump?

**shanef** · 24-05-2013,12:53 PM

Hi All

First post!

I am having a minor dispute with my local garage, Im trying to understand why they would remove the sump and drain the oil out when troubleshooting a cutting out issue.

My Golf MK5 was idling fine, but when accelerating it wont go above 1500 revs and just wont move.

I also asked them to replace the oil cooler and oil filter housing, which they have done. But have emptied all of the oil back out (I am informed) to run diagnostics on what could be causing the acceleration issue.

People I have spoken to cant understand why they'd have to do this and I wanted to see if anyone could think of a good reason?

Thanks in advance!

**Doctle Odd** · 24-05-2013,12:59 PM

What engine do you have? Garages remove the sump to clear sludge..

**shanef** · 24-05-2013,01:06 PM

Hi Doctle Odd...its a 2.0L FSi.

**Sam** · 24-05-2013,01:13 PM

Presumably a fault code scan was carried out - what codes, if any, were present?

**shanef** · 24-05-2013,01:25 PM

This is what raised my concern...Ive since recovered the car and brought it back home and asked 3 times for a copy of the fault codes...Im still waiting for them!!

When I spoke to the garage over the phone he said they had an issue with the machine but would write them down for me, which hasnt happened.

Im due to go back down there Tuesday but wanted to try and educate myself a little before hand on why the sump would have to be removed.

**shanef** · 24-05-2013,01:27 PM

What would they need to check under the sump if anything?

**Doctle Odd** · 24-05-2013,01:34 PM

I assume they had a good reason for removing the sump? Can you get the fault codes off them? was the correct oil in the car? Only reason I can think of for removing the sump is to check for wear on the crank as I don't think these engines have the sludge problem of the 1.8's (open to correction)

**shanef** · 24-05-2013,01:51 PM

I wasnt going to mention the full details but your advice is only going to be as good as the info I provide, so.......

When the oil cooler and oil filter housing were replaced I spoke to the garage who said the car was idling fine but we still had the issue with the acceleration.

He said to leave it with him and he will see if he can find out what the issue is.

2 days later I call the garage to be told that the car isnt starting at all now, it seems dead...he suggested it may be the timing thats got an issue.

Anyway another few days pass and I decided to get the car home, when it arrives the Green Flag recovery driver checked and theres no water or oil in the car...its bone dry!! He checked the crank and confirmed the engine had seized. We just looked at each other...he didnt have to say a word! It all seems like the new oil I provided wasnt put back into the car post cooler change.

My suspision is they forgot and continued starting and revving the car with no oil or water...hence the engine seizure. The guy who is looking after the garage (as the owner is away) was gobsmacked there was no oil/water but insisted it was removed to troubleshoot the acceleration issue. I doubt this very much but wanted to see if there was good reason to remove the sump and oil to check this.

**Doctle Odd** · 24-05-2013,02:00 PM

Return it to the garage. I think you're right re oil and water. If your oil cooler is being replaced it's good practice to change the oil and coolant so they would be drained as part of the job. A quick check will confirm if the sump was off (new sealant). You don't see many retards working in garages they're usually busy driving transits and micras

**shanef** · 24-05-2013,02:21 PM

Yeah he is trying to justify the removing of the sump after the oil cooler was changed.

I am due to go down to the garage on Tuesday when the owner is back. If I was to hazard a wild guess I know the garage have been busy and that the guys 16yr old son has been working there. I would guess that he may have been involved with the work and as they have been fitting in my car in and around other jobs they may have completely forgot to fill the car back up and just carried on with the diagnostics assuming the cooler work had been finished. Its an honest mistake in my eyes...but not one Im prepared to pay for!

He has an explaination for the oil not being there but doesnt know why theres no water...the two would go hand in hand imo...if he forgot to fill the water up (which he needed to do to check the oil cooler replacement was successful) then its very likely he also forgot to fill the oil up.