Took my car in for service in August of last year for an oil change. Fast forward to last week, while adding windshield washer fluid, I noticed my engine cover was missing. I had not taken it anulen since then. This has happened to two other folks I know, agree different service centers. Is there some sort of 'catalytic converter' type hustle going on with engine with engine covers? My replacement is $350 used.

Hard to say but leaning towards incompetence, which isn't really better.


Don't go back and don't go to the Jiffy Lubes of the world. Find a great local mechanic to take care of this kind of stuff. I'll pay more to have my guy look over my car, without all the BS up charging and mess ups.

Like, your hood is missing?

DIY

I would not think engine covers would need to be removed for routine maintenance on most vehicles. Thats weird.

bam02 said:

---

I would not think engine covers would need to be removed for routine maintenance on most vehicles. Thats weird.

---

Typically they don't.

CEPhD said:

---

Like, your hood is missing?

---

No. The plastic dress-up part on top of the actual motor. Since its a sin now to actually see anything mechanical it has to be covered by decorative plastic.

Here's my WAG.

These jiffy lube guys know that 99% of the people who go to a jiffy lube place never open their hood. I think they are stealing them and selling on ebay maybe. Might only get 10 bucks out of one, but how many of these can they take in an hour? Could add up to enough for an 8 ball and a case of Keystone....

Tim Weaver said:

---

Here's my WAG.

These jiffy lube guys know that 99% of the people who go to a jiffy lube place never open their hood. I think they are stealing them and selling on ebay maybe. Might only get 10 bucks out of one, but how many of these can they take in an hour? Could add up to enough for an 8 ball and a case of Keystone....

---

This is exactly what I suspect is happening. This was at a Firestone after installing new tires from tire rack. Also got an alignment.
I called them today and wtf'ed them. Will stop by this week.

There's an EBay seller that has over 14,000 ratings selling here locally with a majority of their products being…..yep, engine covers.

So what does one like yours fetch on ebay?

Makes me think of my escalade before it got stolen. Had a hubcap ganked twice in the year or so i owned that car, never had a hubcap stolen before or since. $30 on ebay to buy one someone probably stole off someone else's scalade. Guess i helped perpetuate the cycle

$350 is the cheapest I seen. Not sure it worth it for a piece of plastic. Maybe on resale which I rarely do. I'm a 'wheels fall off guy'.

Yeah but I'm sure you would rather have that $350 than give it to the $60 oil change guy, right?
Jeez 14k x $250... that's $3.5M. That might pique a local news station's interest...

Do you have to replace it?

I have never used jiffy lube but my buddy in high school worked there . Based on his stories, I can assure you that if I saw mine was gone, I'd help myself to every spot in that shop looking for it and they can just sit there and watch me tear that place apart. **** those losers.

You guys do open your hood and check before you drive off right?

BattleGrackle said:

---

Do you have to replace it?

---

Nope.

Usually, not this time. I didn't pick it up. Bought a set of tires and alignment so I spend time looking at that and inspecting the alignment report.

Nice weight shedding, probably dropped a couple tenths on your quarter time.