Garage Liable for Engine Damage Due to Incorrectly Installed Oil Filter
Translated & summarized from Bizportal by baba
A Tel Aviv court ordered a garage to pay over 84,000 shekels for engine damage caused by installing oil filters that were 2.03 cm too long. The extended filters protruded and were damaged, leading to oil leaks and engine failure in two Ford Transit vans. The court found the garage negligent for failing to use appropriate parts and not informing the customer. The garage's defenses, including claims of external impact and driver negligence, were rejected.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- A garage was ordered to pay over 84,000 shekels for installing improperly sized oil filters.
- The 2.03 cm longer filters protruded, causing engine damage in two Ford Transit vans.
- Senior Registrar Naama Nir ruled the garage was negligent and failed to disclose the part difference.
- A court-appointed expert confirmed the filters were longer and posed a risk of external impact.
- The garage's defenses, including claims of rough terrain and driver error, were rejected by the court.
- The ruling cited violations of vehicle repair laws and consumer protection regulations.
A Tel Aviv court has ordered a garage to pay over 84,000 shekels in damages after it installed oil filters that were 2.03 centimeters longer than the original parts. The extended filters protruded below the oil pan and front bumper, leading to damage in two Ford Transit vans. The court ruled that the garage, Petachi Garage, was negligent in its installation.
The plaintiff, a battery sales and installation company, brought its two vans for service in September and November 2023. In both instances, the oil filters were replaced. Within weeks, oil pressure warning lights illuminated, and both engines suffered severe damage requiring replacement.
The garage argued it had been operating for 25 years without similar complaints and that the damage was caused by external impact due to the company's drivers using rough terrain. It also claimed the vehicles were old and potentially nearing engine failure anyway. However, a court-appointed expert, Shmuel Aviad, determined the installed filters were aftermarket, longer than the originals, and protruded beyond the oil pan and bumper level. He stated that the extended filter could be the first part to hit an obstacle when the vehicle approaches a curb or obstacle.
Senior Registrar Naama Nir rejected the garage's defense, emphasizing that professional considerations about filtration efficiency do not override the duty to ensure parts are suitable for the vehicle and do not create new risks. She also noted that the garage failed to disclose the use of longer, non-original parts to the customer, a violation of consumer protection regulations. The court found the garage's argument about external damage unproven and noted the garage presented contradictory claims regarding the cause of the damage.
The garage was ordered to pay 53,575 shekels for engine replacement, plus expert fees, court costs, and attorney fees, totaling over 84,000 shekels. The court also dismissed the garage's claim of contributory negligence by the drivers, finding their testimony credible.