hey guys, serious opinions needed about this issue, although I guess nothing can be done. I was taking the intake manifold off for a heads/cam install, and I noticed something that the last shop I had fix my intake manifold oil leak left in my lifer valley. TWO RAGS! YES! TWO RAGS were in my lifter valley for over a year/10,000 miles! I need to know two things: First, what should I do about the place I know that did it? and Second, what is the worst thing that may have been affected by this gross neglegence? It is so stupid, you wonder if they did it on purpose. This was supposed to be one of the most reputable shops in town. Either way, it is a mistake that never shouls have happened. I have pics (not digital) of the disaster and a receipt for the work. Please help.

 

Worst that could happen:
particles from the rags could have gotten impacted in the bearings, leading to premature failure... or, the rags could impede the flow of oil to vital parts (get stuck in the lifters, for example), leading to premature failure. the only way to be sure is to tear the motor down.

 

I think I would be having words with that shop and make them do something about it!!!

That sucks man!

 

Glad they aren't surgeons.

 

My buddy bought an RX7 twin turbo that wasn't running, so one night we started tearing it down to see what was going on. When we pulled the intercooler off there were two shop rags stuffed into the core That wasn't the cause of the cars problems but it sure did make us stand there for a few minutes and say "what the ****??"

If your car is still running fine I wouldn't worry too much about it.

 

Thanks for the input guys. Hey Red96Lt1, I was thinking about doing that, but it has been a little over a year and how could I prove to them that they left the rags in there and I didn't plant them in there? That's the biggest issue. The car runs fine otherwise, I hope to God I don't have bad bearings, cause I'm taking the heads off today for a heads/cam swap and I didn't plan on ripping the motor out.

 

just goes to show you how tough an LT1 really is. Probably didn't hurt anything. I wouldn't lose any sleep, can't do much now.

 

You'll just probably have to ride it out man. You could try and get something out of the shop for it if you could pin them as the ones who did it. If youve got the time though giving your engine a once over wouldnt hurt anything.


Good Luck,
-JOhn

 

Your filter would most likely catch anything from the rags since thats the first place the oil goes after it drains into the oil pan from the lifter valley. The worst things that could have happened is either getting tangled up with a pushrod and lifter and causing a bind limiting their motion *or* somehow the rag(s) makinging it into the oil pan and getting sucked up against the pick-up tube.
It depends how you feel about the shop, you could talk to them about it or just stick the rags in their mail box.

 

I definitely like your idea, Quicksilver. I should go and put the dirty rags in their mailbox. It couldn't do 1/1000th of the harm it may have done to my motor.

 

just make sure to put stamps on the rags, or else it will be a federal crime

but seriously, other than letting them know, probably not a lot you can do.

 

Well, I just went to the shop for the first time since they screwed up my car and the owner (who was present when I took the car in originally) was the one I talked to. He was a TOTAL A$$ to me and told me he would do nothing about it even though he KNOWS he's guilty. So why did he waste my time and tell me to bring the rags up to see him?? I decided to take him to small claims court. Not for the money, but just to **** him off cause that's worth it I have pictures of the incident and the rags as evidence, a witness to the whole thing (actually, two) and I have the parts that the little bits of rag got stuck in. I know I'm going to get badgered for wanting to do this, but if the guy was nice to me and didn't try to make the DUMBEST excuses I've ever heard, I wouldn't be doing this.

Let the comments roll......

 

Vote with your feet. Go elsewhere for engine work and take your friends who need engine work with you.

Proving negligence will be tough, and loss of future business will hurt them more than any judgement you might get.

I would not post the shop's name online, but if anyone asked, I'd relate my experiences with the shop rags. It's too bad they didn't have the shop's logo on them.

My $.02

 

I think you did the right thing, it isn't the money it's the principle.
They were wrong they should've at least appologized. Some people don't know how far an appology can go.