So... hypothetically... let's say I took my truck into the dealer to get an oil change. And let's say, hypothetically, a few days later I notice the engine compartment has a liquidy look to it when it hasn't rained in a few days (let's say, primary on the radiator and on the top of the wheel wells). And let's say hypothetically I took a rag, soaked up some of it and realized it was oil or some other engine fluid (brake, oil, whatever)....

And let's say I looked around and noticed the oil dip stick was not fully seated in it's spot... let's say it was, hypothetically speaking now, sticking out 12-16".

Do you think the dip stick not being fully seated would result in the residue of oil in my engine compartment? And do you think that would explain why I was down about 1qt of oil 1 week after an oil change?

I'm just wondering... ya know, in case this situation would happen to me (or someone else) in the future.

 

You'd see spray marks all over that area of the engine bay, hypothetically speaking.

 

hypothetically speaking your dealer is full of dumbasses.

 

You would see engine oil on the radiator, among other places. I had a 93 f150 and the dipstick holder was rusted out of the engine, had a similar experience. A dips**t leaving a dipstck out 12-16" would probably do the same thing.

You can go back and complain but I doubt they would do anything. Just know never to go there again. Sucks, Id be mad too.

 

Interesting. Just as you described, my radiator is wet and it's all dripping down in front of the radiator onto the rubber/plastic catch behind the front bumper.

 

If you ran the engine without a dipstick, there should be zero oil come out of the tube. The PCV system and the airbox breather are suppose to keep negative air pressure inside the engine as in air flow will be going into the tube and considering the length of the tube, oil can't be pushed out. If this is the scenario you have, you have other issues.

 

I had a chev pick up, the dipstick broke and it took about a week to get a new one on order. Lost no oil, and none on the underside of the hood or the engine compartment.

 

So.. the next question would be.... could a bad PCV valve cause a "positive" pressure in the engine resulting in the dipstick being forced out?

 

Noting that you have a 2006 and I assume average mileage on the clock, I'd say no. Generally, these engines will go LOTS of miles before they build much internal blowby. Unless you have LOTS of miles, I would not expect the PCV to be the cause but it's something worth looking at. You might just want to check compression on the engine. If you have any broken rings, that could cause the issue but I would expect a choppy or uneven idle.

 

Chevy's use oil so fast none got a chance to get out the DS hole.

 

Just a quick update...

Yesterday I drove over to the dealer to complain. The service adviser apologized and offered to clean up my engine compartment and topped me up with oil (I was about 1qt shy 9 days after the change).

He acknowledged that if the dipstick was not properly seated that it could cause oil splatter in the engine compartment, which is why he offered to clean it up. I explained that I wasn't too concerned about the cleanup (I could take some rags to it myself), but he insisted and I had that done today.

 

Honda left the oil cap off an old Accord we had and they cleaned the engine compartment for us (and all I did was drive home and back to the dealership.

KaufKauf left the oil cap off my Excursion and two months later it was still in the guys tool box. They offered to put the oil cap back on... I offered that they change the oil again... You could see shading on the black stuff above the engine compartment above the oil fill spout, but surprisingly there was not oil all over the place.