Texaco Xpress Lube
Lied about my Mazda drain plug then stripped my Honda CRV oil pan

On May 15th I took my 2001 Mazda Protege to this shop for a simple oil change. I had a coupon for $17.99 which was in a local flyer and had no expiration date. The manager told me they didn't take those coupons. I told him it was not expired. He said it was for a Texaco Xpress lube which does $19.99 oil changes. I told him his place of business was printed on the coupon. He reluctantly took my vehicle in the bay. I watched them as they went to check my oil filter. It was a K&N. The mechanic came in and asked me if it was really a K&N and I replied it was. A few minutes later, the manager came in and told me they couldn't change my oil becasue the drain plug was TOTALLY stripped round and they could not get a wrench on it. They said I should go to where I had it done last and complain. I asked for my coupon back and said I would be back with my Honda CRV. When I arrived with my CRV, they took my coupon and drove it into the bay. They showed me the cabin air filter and wanted $48.00 to replace it. They are about $15.00 at a parts store. I told him no thank you. He saw the air cleaner was also a K&N and was upset. When they finished draining the oil and filling it back up, the manager came in and told me that whoever changed the oil last (Honda) had stripped out the oil pan. The oil did not leak at all when I took it there but now dripped hard and fast. He told me have a good day and good luck fixing it. I went home and called to tell them I was taking them to small claims court and to have a nice day too. I received a call from the manager to say his boss was driving in to see my car. I returned with my wife. He said that when he takes out the drain plug, if there is no metal on the threads, it's not their fault. He said if there was, he would put in a claim. I agreed and told him to continue. As soon as the plug came out, there was PLENTY of aluminum in the threads. I had my wife witness that fact. The boss then said if they had done that, the metal would have been in a different place on the threads. He also said that whoever tightened the plug last time drove the thread insert deeper into the pan (impossible). He reminded me he was an ASE Master mechanic. His oil monkey probably wasn't certified at all. I then told him I was a Federally certificated Airframe and Powerplant mechanic with 30 years of experience and I was also a Federally licensed aircraft inspector. That being said, he went and got a longer plug and put it in. I told him there were only 2 or 3 threads diffence in the length. They bit and the leak stopped, but the fact remains that their oil monkey damaged my oil pan and they attempted to cover it up BIG TIME. I busted their little theory all to pieces and they still refused to take the credit for the damage. If I were you (whomever might be reading this) I would steer VERY FAR from this place and any other Texaco Xpress Lube you may see. You would be much better off going to your dealer, or an auto parts shop and doing the job yourself.By the way, when I examined my Mazda oil drain plug, a 3/4 inch wrench fit it perfectly (no play) and it was removed easily. There was NO stripping on the plug at all. The oil monkey had the wrong size wrench (metric) on it!!! I did the Mazda oil change myself. I truly, truly believe that they were upset they had to honor the coupon and that was the reason they refused service on my Mazda. Nothing else makes sense.

Company: Texaco Xpress Lube
Country: USA
State: Florida
City: Riverview
Address: 13376 Lincoln Road
Phone: 8136717309

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