Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Mumbai Commission Orders HPCL Service Centre Compensation Over Engine Damage
A man in Mumbai took his car to a service station to get it fixed.
The workers put too much oil into the engine, about six litres when the car only needs 3.1 litres.
This made the engine break.
The man had to pay a lot of money to repair the car.
The service station did not want to pay him back.
So the man asked a special consumer court for help.
The court is a place that protects people who buy things or services.
The court said the service station was at fault for not doing its job carefully.
It ordered the service centre to pay for the repairs and give extra money as a penalty.
Now the service centre must pay the man what he spent, plus interest and compensation.
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Mumbai Suburban, found Auto Care Centre, an HPCL-operated service station, guilty of deficiency in service.
The service centre overfilled a Maruti Suzuki Dzire's engine with about six litres of oil, against the prescribed capacity of 3.1 litres, causing severe engine damage.
The complaint was filed by Bandra resident Vithaldas Bhandarkar, a Junior Engineer with the Mumbai Port Trust, after the February 6, 2014 servicing.
The commission ordered the centre to pay Rs 1,09,000 in repair expenses with 6 per cent annual interest from 2014, plus Rs 30,000 compensation and Rs 5,000 litigation costs.
The commission rejected the service centre's defence that 2.9 litres were used only for flushing the engine, as it failed to prove the damage was unrelated.
- Who
- Vithaldas Bhandarkar, a Junior Engineer with the Mumbai Port Trust, filed the complaint against Auto Care Centre, an HPCL-operated service station; the case was decided by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Mumbai Suburban.
- What
- Auto Care Centre was found guilty of deficiency in service for overfilling a Maruti Suzuki Dzire's engine oil, causing severe engine damage, and was ordered to pay compensation.
- When
- The vehicle was serviced on February 6, 2014, the complaint was instituted in 2014, and the order was passed on June 11, 2026.
- Where
- Mumbai, Maharashtra (Mumbai Suburban district; the complainant is a resident of Bandra).
- Why
- Excessive engine oil, about six litres against the prescribed 3.1 litres, caused severe engine failure, and the commission found the service provider had failed to exercise reasonable care.
- Forum
- District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Mumbai Suburban
- Complainant
- Vithaldas Bhandarkar, Junior Engineer, Mumbai Port Trust
- Respondent
- Auto Care Centre (operated by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd)
- Vehicle
- Second-generation Maruti Suzuki Dzire
- Fault
- Engine overfilled with ~6 litres of oil (prescribed capacity: 3.1 litres)
- Repair expenses awarded
- Rs 1,09,000 plus 6% annual interest from 2014
- Additional relief
- Rs 30,000 compensation and Rs 5,000 litigation costs
- Order date
- June 11, 2026