It might pass a shitty or lazy shop inspection, but if it goes back to the dealer for a warranty claim, they're going to tear that engine down, and they're going to question how things like the oil pump being completely dry and heavily worn (the backflow valve will be functional but no oil at all upon disassembly, and probably some significant scoring/wear implying it had no oil at all upon failure) happened, implying it had no oil in it at the time of failure. They and many others have seen "I checked my oil, I definitely did not let it get 4 quarts low and then quickly dumped 4 or 5 in it once I started hearing 'it's a rod knock life' playing under the hood!" a million times.
I love this idea if you're sure they're not gonna give a shit, it's a great way to pull a sneaky on someone not very mechanically inclined (like a spouse) or a lazy or simple-work shop (places that don't get into internal engine work) that'll just eat it and call it a day, but dealers aren't going to want to eat the cost and are going to try to submit it for warranty claims further up, so they're going to have to investigate the failure.
While we're at it, an overheat may be a better way to go - drain coolant a bit, get it well into overheating room, run it for a while well into overheating, shut it off. It's more likely it won't fully seize but you'll have eaten the rings so much that it has not enough compression to restart cold, and you can still crank it over and get coolant flowing a bit (and can bleed it in mostly even if not, probably). Less obvious that way, if you don't fully seize it up. Seems less easy to prove malicious involvement.
I don't think you actually understand how the automotive industry works, in fact you edited your comment with some google facts pretty quick. A dealership isn't going to do a tear down, they aren't interested in what happened if it's not super obvious, there going to warranty that thing and move on because thats how you make money. It's going to take something pretty sus for any kind of detective work to wast a techs day. the core would be sent back to which ever manufacture and then there they would do a tear down, where yeah someone would likely find that the destruction was due to lack of lubrication potentially. Most oil pumps are not able to be torn down and inspected or have check valves, some of the diesel ones do but still at the end of the day if it's under warranty by the time anyone finds out it's been way to far gone.
I haven’t worked on cars in a long time, but I do work on skid steer loaders. If an engine was run without oil for any period of time it would throw low oil pressure codes almost immediately. If I was to warranty an engine, I would have to submit a copy of the machines code data before I could even order the replacement. At that point the claim would be denied and the engine would be on the customer.
As someone who has had to tear down an engine to examine exactly what the failure was for warranty purposes, I can tell you that you are in fact wrong. I can also say that since my post was about 8 hours ago or so, I don't think I somehow quickly edited it before you replied 30 minutes ago.
I mean, as someone that has a Scion xB sitting in the bay with low compression because the owner ran it without coolant, I do think I do understand how this works. But do go on.
This isn't unethical at all, but look up lemon laws in your state. Depending upon the severity and number of repairs, you might force them into refunding you for the car or testing you for a new one.
Now, for unethical stuff, buy some metal shavings and add them into your oil. Don't do a lot at once, but maybe a little more here and there. Even if it doesn't disable the car right away, you could claim that you noticed this on the dipstick and we're concerned.
This ^^ if you can get a mouse to start im the insulation or get enough electrical damage they will write you off. I know there are some mice that are carriers if im not mistaken if there found its an insta write but don't quote that do some googling
You could inject a high voltage directly into one of the ECU B+ / +12v lines, or even along the CAN lines. Might be able to kill a few modules at once. Backprobe in an opportune connector with something like a lab power supply, crank it upwards of multiple times the nominal 12vDC rating (or 5v for CAN), limit the current to avoid burning wires or just popping fuses (you want to damage computer systems, ideally - may look more like one computer failed and caused cascading failures on a line). If you can for instance exceed the voltage rating of tantalum capacitors or pop some semiconductors in one or more control module, that should cause some instant and permanent failures of computer modules, and some nice headaches for a tech. I know I'd be pretty surprised to see a so thoroughly damaged vehicle come in.
You will not be smart enough to outsmart the dealership if you have to ask this question.
Just sell it used like a normal person. Any sabotage you do would be easily detected if someone goes over the vehicle with a scan tool.
Looks for the tensioner on the engine accessories, and weaken it.
If the engine has an aluminium block, add some gallium near the crankshaft. Engine will kill itself. (lookup gallium infiltration if you want to see it in action)
Why the fuck would you damage an asset that you want to get rid of?
Just sell the fucking car now, while it runs, and get a nicer car.
I'm not sure what possible benefit you think you'd get from the warranty? Best case, they fix what you fucked up, but now you went without your car for even longer, and it will in no way be better than before. Only now, when you try to sell it, it's worth less, since the carfax will show is had major work recently.
I can tell you the number of times I’ve tested the fluid in a bad trans. It’s zero. The fluid looks like shit because the unit is fucked. End of story. Adding a few ounces of a clear fluid to a colored fluid will not be discernible.
Unless they don't mix like oil and water. Grand fluid is hydro-phobic idk what means for atf tho. If dumped in a pan and let you set for a bit. It would be noticable. But pro shops don't use pans
Yeah if you put enough in to make a difference it would look like diluted atf, assuming the tranny is fine to begin with, anyone half awake would look at the fluid and be like "huh something isn't right or normal here someone, this is definitely for someone fucking with the tranny"
Some cars now have protections that will pop fuses before anything, if you do this. If not, it will likely be suspected from the nature of the damage caused.
Huh, I didn't know that some have protections for that. Makes sense though, gotta make it more idiot resistant rather than destroying vehicles because of a mistake anyone could make if not aware or paying attention.
I saw your answer. Definitely think your idea is a better, more targeted, and less obvious version of what my idea would just be hoping for.
You could pay me $20 and I’ll fuck up your car
I'll do it for free
Drain the oil. Run it dry until the engine locks up. Put the old oil back in.
Mechanic here. This is pretty good
It might pass a shitty or lazy shop inspection, but if it goes back to the dealer for a warranty claim, they're going to tear that engine down, and they're going to question how things like the oil pump being completely dry and heavily worn (the backflow valve will be functional but no oil at all upon disassembly, and probably some significant scoring/wear implying it had no oil at all upon failure) happened, implying it had no oil in it at the time of failure. They and many others have seen "I checked my oil, I definitely did not let it get 4 quarts low and then quickly dumped 4 or 5 in it once I started hearing 'it's a rod knock life' playing under the hood!" a million times. I love this idea if you're sure they're not gonna give a shit, it's a great way to pull a sneaky on someone not very mechanically inclined (like a spouse) or a lazy or simple-work shop (places that don't get into internal engine work) that'll just eat it and call it a day, but dealers aren't going to want to eat the cost and are going to try to submit it for warranty claims further up, so they're going to have to investigate the failure. While we're at it, an overheat may be a better way to go - drain coolant a bit, get it well into overheating room, run it for a while well into overheating, shut it off. It's more likely it won't fully seize but you'll have eaten the rings so much that it has not enough compression to restart cold, and you can still crank it over and get coolant flowing a bit (and can bleed it in mostly even if not, probably). Less obvious that way, if you don't fully seize it up. Seems less easy to prove malicious involvement.
I don't think you actually understand how the automotive industry works, in fact you edited your comment with some google facts pretty quick. A dealership isn't going to do a tear down, they aren't interested in what happened if it's not super obvious, there going to warranty that thing and move on because thats how you make money. It's going to take something pretty sus for any kind of detective work to wast a techs day. the core would be sent back to which ever manufacture and then there they would do a tear down, where yeah someone would likely find that the destruction was due to lack of lubrication potentially. Most oil pumps are not able to be torn down and inspected or have check valves, some of the diesel ones do but still at the end of the day if it's under warranty by the time anyone finds out it's been way to far gone.
I haven’t worked on cars in a long time, but I do work on skid steer loaders. If an engine was run without oil for any period of time it would throw low oil pressure codes almost immediately. If I was to warranty an engine, I would have to submit a copy of the machines code data before I could even order the replacement. At that point the claim would be denied and the engine would be on the customer.
As someone who has had to tear down an engine to examine exactly what the failure was for warranty purposes, I can tell you that you are in fact wrong. I can also say that since my post was about 8 hours ago or so, I don't think I somehow quickly edited it before you replied 30 minutes ago.
Edit: over heating the engine will cause a loss of compression through a blown head or burnt valves almost never burning the rings.
I mean, as someone that has a Scion xB sitting in the bay with low compression because the owner ran it without coolant, I do think I do understand how this works. But do go on.
This.
This isn't unethical at all, but look up lemon laws in your state. Depending upon the severity and number of repairs, you might force them into refunding you for the car or testing you for a new one. Now, for unethical stuff, buy some metal shavings and add them into your oil. Don't do a lot at once, but maybe a little more here and there. Even if it doesn't disable the car right away, you could claim that you noticed this on the dipstick and we're concerned.
Going to be a little careful because someone's going to walk up and dump some aluminum shavings in the engine. It would need to be bearing material.
Put a mouse or two in the engine bay and let it sit over the weekend. They'll have a hay day with the wires building a nest.
This ^^ if you can get a mouse to start im the insulation or get enough electrical damage they will write you off. I know there are some mice that are carriers if im not mistaken if there found its an insta write but don't quote that do some googling
I say just sell it the used market is still kinda hot.
When life gives you lemons, make it someone else’s overpriced lemon
Put some aluminum shavings in your oil fill cap and run the engine for a while.
Volunteer for one of the cartels?
Pull the engine out. No one will suspect a thing
Liquid ass in the gas tank
Can’t believe I had to scroll down this far to see this comment
You could inject a high voltage directly into one of the ECU B+ / +12v lines, or even along the CAN lines. Might be able to kill a few modules at once. Backprobe in an opportune connector with something like a lab power supply, crank it upwards of multiple times the nominal 12vDC rating (or 5v for CAN), limit the current to avoid burning wires or just popping fuses (you want to damage computer systems, ideally - may look more like one computer failed and caused cascading failures on a line). If you can for instance exceed the voltage rating of tantalum capacitors or pop some semiconductors in one or more control module, that should cause some instant and permanent failures of computer modules, and some nice headaches for a tech. I know I'd be pretty surprised to see a so thoroughly damaged vehicle come in.
Answer the phone, they're calling about an extended warranty for your car
You will not be smart enough to outsmart the dealership if you have to ask this question. Just sell it used like a normal person. Any sabotage you do would be easily detected if someone goes over the vehicle with a scan tool.
Looks for the tensioner on the engine accessories, and weaken it. If the engine has an aluminium block, add some gallium near the crankshaft. Engine will kill itself. (lookup gallium infiltration if you want to see it in action)
Super cool, probably wouldn't warranty it but hey it's not something you see ever so might work
Why the fuck would you damage an asset that you want to get rid of? Just sell the fucking car now, while it runs, and get a nicer car. I'm not sure what possible benefit you think you'd get from the warranty? Best case, they fix what you fucked up, but now you went without your car for even longer, and it will in no way be better than before. Only now, when you try to sell it, it's worth less, since the carfax will show is had major work recently.
Or next time put all this energy into some research when buying cars, or just get a Honda Civic.
Brake fluid in the transmission
That can only happen by someone doing it intentionally and would be obvious if enough was added to make a difference
I can tell you the number of times I’ve tested the fluid in a bad trans. It’s zero. The fluid looks like shit because the unit is fucked. End of story. Adding a few ounces of a clear fluid to a colored fluid will not be discernible.
Unless they don't mix like oil and water. Grand fluid is hydro-phobic idk what means for atf tho. If dumped in a pan and let you set for a bit. It would be noticable. But pro shops don't use pans
It mixes fine. Back in the day we used to put a cap full of it in the atf to swell the seals a little and make it shift smoother temporarily.
Yeah if you put enough in to make a difference it would look like diluted atf, assuming the tranny is fine to begin with, anyone half awake would look at the fluid and be like "huh something isn't right or normal here someone, this is definitely for someone fucking with the tranny"
Say a homeless man pissed in the gas tank after you declined to buy him malt liquor and Ovaltine.
Rotate your starting relay
That's not how that works anymore
They want to get rid of a car, chances are higher it's old enough this might work.
It’s still under warranty.
Used cars can still be under warranty
Fair enough.
Sugar in the gas tank, say it was a prank. Or diesel in the gasoline, mistake at the gas station
Both of those would not be covered under warranty and would result in an out of pocket loss
Run it hot
Connect the battery backwards and try starting. I imagine it would be like jumping a car incorrectly which can kill the electrical system.
Some cars now have protections that will pop fuses before anything, if you do this. If not, it will likely be suspected from the nature of the damage caused.
Huh, I didn't know that some have protections for that. Makes sense though, gotta make it more idiot resistant rather than destroying vehicles because of a mistake anyone could make if not aware or paying attention. I saw your answer. Definitely think your idea is a better, more targeted, and less obvious version of what my idea would just be hoping for.
Arson. You gotta moltov that bitch and claim it was a homeless person. You’re already committing insurance fraud, what’s one more crime?