The fast and the furious – oil wrecks $87k Maserati

A man whose new Maserati broke down, costing him ‘‘many thousands’’ of dollars, has lost a bid for a refund because he used the wrong type of oil.

Auckland company C&P Beauty Services bought the car – a Maserati Ghibli – for $87,400 in April 2017.

However, it broke down 10 months later, suffering ‘‘significant’’ engine damage.

Company director Jiawen Tang took the seller, Penrose-based NZ Motor Sport Imports, to the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal, saying the car was not of acceptable quality and not fit for purpose. The case was heard by barrister Brian Carter. A decision was released on December 19.

In January last year, the vehicle was serviced by GT Auto Source in Newmarket, which topped it up with Fuchs 5W/30 oil.

The next month the car broke down on a motorway and could not be restarted. Winger Maserati found extensive damage to parts of the engine due to ‘‘excessive heat caused by insufficient lubrication’’, the decision said.

An assessor for the tribunal said the engine would require a ‘‘significant overhaul, costing many thousands of dollars’’.

Peter McPhail from NZ Motor Sport Imports cited evidence from Auckland dealer Winger Maserati that only 5W/40, a thicker oil, should have been used.

Carter declined to order NZ Motor Sport Imports to refund Tang, saying the damage was most likely caused by the oil type and the car was fit for purpose.