My car engine started smoking after I took it for an oil change – then it was out of commission for six months

DRIVERS took their cars to a drive-thru oil change business for convenience - almost immediately, they faced severe engine damage.

Even a police department blamed the business for $6,000 worth of damage to their cruisers.

Take 5 is a popular oil change chain that advertises an oil change that is quick and efficient for a bargain - and drivers don't even have to leave their cars.

The process is simple - remove the oil drain plug, drain the oil, replace the filter, replace the oil drain plug, and refill the engine with the proper oil at the manufacturer's specified level.

However, several drivers faced thousands of dollars in engine damage when employees missed one of the five steps.

Robin Portfield took her Volvo to a Take 5 in Atlanta, Georgia while she waited for her girlfriend to finish her cancer treatment at the hospital.

"When I left, everything seemed to be fine," she told ABC affiliate WSB-TV in June.

As she continued back to the hospital, her car began to make terrifying sounds.

"It was like bam, bam, ban, really bad," she said.

Portfield drove her car to a friend's house after calling, and her friend instructed her to park in their driveway.

That's when her friend found that the Take 5 workers had skipped refilling her engine with oil after draining it.

"We pulled the dipstick out," she said.

"The only thing on it was a little black piece on the end."

She quickly called the business and told them what had happened, and she said a manager instructed her to pour a quart of oil back into the engine.

Then they said to bring the car in for evaluation.

Portfield followed her instructions faithfully and was met with even more terrible news.

"She said, you put oil in the car, so that null and voids, the warranty, and we can’t do anything for you," she recalled.

In fear of irreparable damage, she had her car towed to a repair shop, where it's been sitting for six months awaiting repairs.

I mean, I lost my job. I couldn't get to work.

After losing a reliable form of transportation, Porterfield faced another loss.

"I mean, I lost my job," she said.

"I couldn't get to work."

She told mechanics to hold off on fixing her car, as she wants Take 5 to foot the bill, despite their valiant efforts to avoid accountability.

"These people will not take responsibility," said Portfield.

"They’ll find any way they can to not take responsibility."

Take 5's statement regarding the several cases like Portfield's reads as such:

How often should you change your oil?

Experts say the exact figure depends on a variety of factors, including:

1. Age of vehicle. Older vehicles tend to need oil changes sooner than newer cars, as the engine oil used doesn't last as long as newer oil. Plus, the clearances between moving parts tend to be wider than when the engine was new.
2. Type of oil. Synthetic oil tends to last a lot longer between changes compared to synthetic or a synthetic blend.
3. Driving conditions. People who live in dusty areas or regions with extreme weather conditions that require a lot of driving or stop-and-go traffic should change their oil sooner than normal to keep moving parts lubricated.
4. Cars that bear heavy loads, like regularly towing a trailer, as it puts strain on an engine.

Typically, older cars should have their oil changed every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. More modern cars can go between 5,000 to 7,500 miles between changes, especially as modern oil contains more efficient lubricants and additives. Some cars that use synthetic oil only need changes every 15,000 miles.

It's important to read your owner's manual to determine the exact weight and interval your car needs.

Source: AAA

"Customer satisfaction and quality service are of the utmost importance to Take 5. Our oil changes conform to vehicle manufacturers’ warranties and help ensure long engine life. Our services are backed by a 30-day or 1,000-mile warranty, subject to customers adhering to warranty conditions."

As of July 22, drivers like Portfield in Jacksonville, Florida may find justice after the Office of Inspector General found 45 complaints have been filed against the company from July 2021 to August 2023.

The Office found the company to be guilty of "substandard work," according to CBS affiliate WJAX-TV.

No action has been taken against the company yet, but an investigation is ongoing after a Take 5 has been linked to over $6,000 in parts and labor after failing to refill the engines with oil.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Department claims the repairs have cost the department $750 in officer downtime.