Hello,
First time posting in this group. I recently took my '98 Outback Sport into the dealer for a regular maintenance (oil change and rotate tires). When it was there, they recommeded repairing the oil pump which was leaking and while they had things taken apart, replacing some belts. I had noticed a little bit of leaking oil and burnt oil smell lately, so I said to go ahead.
(Searching through this newsgroups, I see that replacing the oil pump seal and camshaft seal after a while (about 52000 miles for me, much of it bad roads and bad weather) is something that happens, so I have no problem with this repair being needed. After I got it back I still smelled a little burnt oil once or twice, but less than before, so I figured it was oil that had leaked previously still burning off somewhere.)
About a week and a half later, I took the car on the highway and had it up to about 80 for the first time; after reaching my destination and then coming back to the car to go home, I noticed a puddle of oil on the ground. As I started to drive, the oil leak was bad enough to cause smoke. I made it home, and had the car towed to the dealer the next day.
After the dealer looked at it, he said it was just a bad oil filter put in during the oil change, and they replaced it, topped off the oil, and washed the engine, all at no charge, although they didn't offer to pay the $40 I spend on towing. He said that it had nothing particularly to do with the oil pump work or the highway driving. He would not really commit to saying whether it was a bad filter seal or a badly installed filter seal (as if that was something they'd have to take up themselves with the manufacturer).
Here's my conundrum: I've had a good experience with this dealer, and have been taking the car 15 miles out to the suburbs, past another dealer and myriad independent shops to get my car serviced. It's an especially inconvenient location to get towed to, which has now happened twice (under similar circumstances). I realize mistakes and faulty parts happen, but if the dealer can screw up an oil change, could I be better off finding a closer shop where I can take the car for repairs?
Thanks in advance, Marc
p.s. If anyone has specific experiences with dealers near Boston or independent shops near Brookline/Allston, would be interested to hear of them privately!