had oil changed about a month ago.. last 2 weeks noticed small oil spots on driveway (concrete) . best i could see it was oil leak. finally got the cx5 away from my wife yesterday early morning.
took it back to the oil change place... drain plug. 1/2 loose. he said next time he would recommend a new washer. so i just order a new plug and a couple of washers. i am just glad that was all it was. 160,000 and you never know whats going to go wrong.
BTW at 8:40 am the cold front hit here. wind is blowing like stupid hard and temp is falling already. heater in well house and crawl space already in place.
Edited by - 1935tb-11 on 12/14/2025 05:44:16
My Rockland Maine Prompto has replaced my 2018 Hyundai crankcase plug twice in since 2020.
I only take my vehicles to the places that dot all their "I"s and cross all their "T"s.
I get my windshield wipers at Prompto,too.
My Accent hasn't produced a single drop of leaked fluids of any kind since new and I've only ever taken it to Rockland Prompto for it's oil changes and it just turned 80k last week.
this was a first for us too... we trade with this place on a regular bases and never had a problem. the guy that did the oil change is no longer employed there. it wasn't the only one they had a problem with.
Wow you dodged a bullet. 1/2 loose means not tightened and 1/2 way to spinning itself off. Coulda been catastrophic.
I pull out of those oil change joints, stop and look underneath for a leak. You’d think they’d double or triple check that, esp. if there’s a new kid underneath
The oil pan plug washer is a pretty big deal. Theoretically should be replaced [theoretically] at each oil change. The washer, typically soft copper, serve as a 'crush gasket' that is [theoretically] intended to be crushed once then at next oily change - replaced.
I thought for many years that the washer was purdy much reusable indefinately; but when I queried my specialty-family-owned lube shop (been a customer for 35 years), the foreman said no.....they replace the crush washer down in the pit at each change. Good to know.
And FWIW, once about every year I ask the pit tech whether or not they see any 'weeping' at the oil plug or at any other rotating and gasketed places.
In a pinch you can heat the copper washer with a propane torch or lighter and the copper will swell a bit
If you aren't getting satisfactory results from your car shop don't go there anymore.
When you find a shop that does good,dependable work don't ever leave.
The beauty of a good shop is often lost because you come away with no issues of complications.
Good shops are easily taken for granted.Find the best one for your vehicle and don't look back.
Edited by - steve davis on 12/16/2025 16:25:32
It's worth traveling extra miles and paying more for good,dependable work.
