Our daily driver is a 2005 Chevy Classic (i.e 2004 & earlier Malibu). I noticed a puddle of oil in the garage today, so I got under it tonight expecting to find the drain plug loose. The wife had the oil changed at some place's sale last week and I figured they didn't get it tight. The plug was fine, but the bottom of the engine is coated in oil where it bolts to the transmission (on the left, since the engine is mounted sideways). There is a canister-style oil filter above where the oil is on the engine. I can't see where any oil is escaping from it, but it is very hard to see in the tight engine compartment. I tried to take the lid off the oil filter canister, but they put it on so tight it won't budge. The dipstick reads full. Any thoughts on where the oil is coming from?

Where the filler is on the engine, is there any drippage around there? Perhaps residual dripage?

Some times they forget to make sure the old gasket from the old oil filter was removed. There could be 2 gaskets on the new filter now. Remove the filter and check for just one gasket. Some times the old one will be stuck to the engine block.

I was gonna say what Coupe said, that is another reason it's so tight. they really cranked it down after finding it leaking the first time...

Maybe start it and let it idle, watch for a drip....

Way too many stories about Jiffy/speedy lube-type places screwing up oil changes have made me way too gun shy. From stripped drain plugs, cross threaded spinon oil filters - not to mention draining the oil and failing to refill it, sending the customer out the door with no oil in the engine.

Even worse, they always seem to start out by blaming the customer for causing the problem or the old standby - It was like that when it came in.

I hate to suggest it, but have you called them to explain what you found or dropped by to give them a chance to make it right?

I might be a snob, but I have a problem with guys working on my car, making minimum wage. I figure either they aren't very competent or they are desperate - either way doesn't inspire a whole lot of confidence on my part.

makes me feel a little better about spending $100 per hour at the stealership.

There are more than a few examples of what I was talking about;

 

http://www.jiffylubeproblems.com/>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiCAJ8ULnaI>