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I brought my 2000 Honda Civic to my local Castrol shop for an oil change.

After leaving for work the next day my wife told me there was a three foot wide pool of oil where my car was. I moved my car at work and saw a two foot pool of oil where it was parked.

I took the car back to the Castrol shop and was told the engine oil pan gasket had to be replaced for $200. This has never been replaced before.

I said that my car wasn't leaking oil like this before I took it to Castrol and they said it just needed to be replaced.

I declined their repair and drove my car home. Today there's another three foot pool of oil under the engine.

I plan on putting a couple quarts of oil and taking it to an independent mechanic on Tuesday (after Memorial Day).

Did Castrol forget to tighten the oil filter (or something else) and are trying to rip me off? Or does my car need its engine oil pan gasket replaced?

Ryan
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If there was no oil leak before the oil change, then there is a possibility of wrong repair done at the workshop. Generally, for changing oil, the oil pan need not be touched at all, except for the oil drain plug. If the vehicle underbody is checked on a two post lift, then the leaking area could be spotted. Taking the vehicle to another mechanic is a good decision

knocksAndMisfires
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I agree with @knocksAndMisfires - it sounds strange that the oil pan gasket would have to be touched for a routine oil change.

If the oil pan/lower sump was removed then this may necessitate a gasket change since they tend to be a single-use item, but this should not be required for a routine oil change.

One other thing worth mentioning: $200 for an oil pan gasket is ludicrous.

Speculation

One of the things I dread is damaging the thread of the oil drain plug in the process of reinstalling it back in the oil pan. It might explain why your vehicle is leaking oil all of a sudden.

Zaid
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Odds are they did a shady job and are now trying to rip you off. No reason why it should be like that unless if they did that by accident or (worse) intentionally.

If you can, take a look underneath and see where its leaking from. Likely to be from one of 3 places: 1. The drain plug. Maybe it just needs to be tightened. Or maybe the drain plug has its own gasket that needs to be replaced. 2. Around the edges of the oil pan. If this is the case, then they were right and you need your oil pan gasket replaced. 3. Around the oil filter. Maybe they put it on crooked or it needs to be tightened.

Sounds like you should go to another place and have them drain, tighten everything properly, and refill.

Lots of oil changes / mechanics are shady...

user4471973
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Keep in mind that oil pan gaskets are 20 bucks stuff and they're easy to change at home by yourself.. It'll take you 30 minutes at most.. Jack up the car and do it yourself and save $$$

Never need a mechanic
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