midas refused to do oil change

sk8wagon · Post by **sk8wagon** » 13 May 2012, 20:10

Hello and thanks in advance for your info. So my 245 has been me and my dog's home for a bit over a year and so upkeep is extremely important, (actually the 940 was the house and the 245 the ride,) not to mention avoiding SF parking nazis. Recently I went to a midas and they refused to do the oil change citing a "custom" drain plug which is hand turned with a rubber gasket saying that it has an internal retainer that separates if unscrewed too far and requires removing pan to replace. I havent changed the oil since i bought it in 7/'11 (only drive a cpl miles a day sometimes none at all) and ive only had to add a total of one quart in very small increments and still looks somewhat clear but im worried that it has degraded and will cause damage to the car which is in overall great shape. I'm down to just one wagon and CANNOT afford any problems. Any suggestions? I appreciate any info, Ive searched online but havent come across anything yet. Ive also got a driveline issue (recently replaced support donut and bearing) but thats for another day. Thanks again. -Frank

Post by **jimmy57** » 13 May 2012, 22:30

Look for a thru the dipstick pump. They are used to change the oil in boats. I haven't looked in a while but I wouldn't be surprised if Harbor Freight had one. It has a thin-walled plastic tube that goes down dipstick and it takes a while to pump it out but it works.

sk8wagon · Post by **sk8wagon** » 13 May 2012, 22:59

Thank You Jimmy!! For a second I thought they just didnt want to do it since I had one of those grocery store check out coupons for $20. This is my 4th Volvo wagon and its too nice to not keep up. I just left TX in 09, say hi to everyone for me

Post by **jimmy57** » 13 May 2012, 23:24

Service shops see all kind of things and some of them get gun shy.
A lot of chains do have strict rules. I have to take tires of my tandem axle hay/tractor trailer for some of the chain tire stores as they are not allowed to remove and install tandem trailer wheels from the trailer. ......... they do handle tires on dually pickups. They have their rules.
I do see their point. If the drain plug looked to them to be a disaster waiting to happen then They would have a good basis for saying no. They probably don't do oil pan removal type repairs at a Midas shop.

Post by **JDS60R** » 13 May 2012, 23:49

Take a look at the liquivac or topsider. They seem to be the favorites.

sk8wagon · Post by **sk8wagon** » 14 May 2012, 17:42

Does sound reasonable not to take the risk, makes sense to me. I will check these options out.

Just read the "proper English" thread and hope that run-on and off-topic babbling weren't too unbearable, I now see the error in my way. Bad first post, thanks for approving it Moderator.

The miles, which I failed to post are 240,000, model year 84. Her photo coming soon.

Post by **dcarlson12** » 14 May 2012, 18:42

I am a bit confused because I did a quick google of "1984 volvo 245 oil drain plug" and got a lot of hits of sites trying to sell such plugs. The plug looks rather ordinary. i.e. just perhaps uses a copper seal ('o'ring shaped) to do the sealing. I don't see any special retainer or ????

Edit:
Or maybe it is this one and they are worried that the rubber 'retainer' will come off and float around inside the oil/oil pan?

http://www.jcwhitney.com/proform-univer ... =c1698u0j1

sk8wagon · Post by **sk8wagon** » 07 Jun 2012, 23:59

dcarlson12 wrote:I am a bit confused because I did a quick google of "1984 volvo 245 oil drain plug" and got a lot of hits of sites trying to sell such plugs. The plug looks rather ordinary. i.e. just perhaps uses a copper seal ('o'ring shaped) to do the sealing. I don't see any special retainer or ????

Edit:
Or maybe it is this one and they are worried that the rubber 'retainer' will come off and float around inside the oil/oil pan?

http://www.jcwhitney.com/proform-univer ... =c1698u0j1

Thanks for the tips everyone. I have to get under there and take a picture. It IS rather odd looking and they called it a custom plug. It's a hand tighten deal as there is nothing to put a wrench on. They said it has some retainer inside and if you unscrew too far, it has nothing to anchor to and will require pan removal.

I did find a drill operated pump with in/out hoses and will be getting it soon through a marine dealer here, pretty reasonable at $16+tax.

Post by **MoVolvos** » 08 Jun 2012, 00:18

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It is likely this item. Like a dry wall toggle they are afraid it will become a onetime use item. Someone may have installed it due to strip threads on the oil pan drain hole.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-Oil-D ... vi-content

Blessings,
BKM
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sk8wagon · Post by **sk8wagon** » 08 Jun 2012, 01:07

BKM98 S70 T5 wrote:-

It is likely this item. Like a dry wall toggle they are afraid it will become a onetime use item. Someone may have installed it due to strip threads on the oil pan drain hole.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-Oil-D ... vi-content

Blessings,
BKM
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That's the one!! In the ebay pic, it does look like it can be unscrewed a good ways before it separates. I still wouldn't try it since I don't know what holds the retaining part in place or if it is that long.

Thanks BKM! I