My brother borrowed my car and blew the engine. Who should pay to fix it?

Question

My brother borrowed my car. We had recently bought a new car, so my 2003 Chevy Cavalier was sitting around not being used. His car broke so he asked to borrow mine. (he knew that it had been sitting for at least 3 months). I lent him the car, for two weeks he drove the car, w/out any issues. I then used the car to run an errand and noticed a bad noise coming from the engine. Seems as if the car had no oil in and and the engine was blown. Who should pay the damages for a new engine. Me or my brother??

Answer 1

Seems to me, you both drove the car without oil in it. You used the car to run an errand,,,, and then noticed a bad noise. You didn't notice this blown motor when you started the car? I also think that 03 Chevy has an indicator light for low oil level..... hmmmmmmmm.



IS there a bunch of oil somewhere on the gound, or under the car.... if not, then it took a long time for the engine to run out of oil.



Unless you can show that he abused the car, then you are guilty of the same thing he did. Drive the car without oil in it.

Answer 2

Sounds like PP maintenance had been done on the car. Usually a car that's been sitting the person should have checked the trans and crankcase oil before starting it up to begin with. While he or you were driving the car did the low oil light come on in the dash panal? If I were you, see if you can squeeze him for at least half the cost for a new short block or a junk-yard dog motor to get it back on the road. Between you and I and the fence post the motor developed the death rattle when you were driving it. You should have never moved the car when you heard the noise!



You can hate me forever but that's my take of this miserable story.

Answer 3

That's a tough one. Did either you or you brother ever go over the car when he first started driving the car? As it had been sitting for 3 months, you or your brother should have checked the fluid levels, tire pressures, lights, etc.? Did the car have any issues of leaking oil before you parked it? Were there oil spots in the driveway or street where he parked the car? If it was clearly leaking oil, I would hold your brother responsible as he did not look after it. If it burned oil, and you knew about it but did not tell him about this, I would say you're more responsible for the damage because you neglected to tell him there was something wrong.

Answer 4

Well, it is a relatively old car and hs been sitting around for a while, so it may not be entirely his fault. Just split the bill.



Actually on second thought, if the car isn't needed, sell it and don't even go through the hassle of paying of getting it fixed which will cost you more than its resale value!!!

Answer 5

that is a tricky question. if the car was low on oil, then the light should have come on. t that point your brother should have shut it off and checked the oil level or called you to see what to do. at the same time you should have known that the oil level was low, right? it is hard for a car to use 4 quarts of oil in two weeks. but going back to what i said before if the light was off when he left, then he should have shut it off when the light came on. tat is common sense and simple courtesy if oyu ask me.

Answer 6

Well you hardly used that car, and then you trusted your brother to use it, so I'm pretty sure in a law suit your brother would win, and you should have to pay. After all, it's your car.



I take that back. You should probably split the bill. Not half completely though, see my above statement

Answer 7

looks like PP maintenance were carried out on the automobile. generally a motor vehicle that's been sitting the guy could desire to have checked the trans and crankcase oil till now commencing it as much as initiate with. whilst he or you have been using the automobile did the low oil gentle come on interior the sprint panal? If I have been you, see in case you could squeeze him for a minimum of 0.5 the fee for a clean short block or a junk-backyard canine motor to get it returned on the line. between you and that i and the fence positioned up the motor enhanced the death rattle once you have been using it. you're able to desire to have in no way moved the automobile once you heard the noise! you could hate me consistently yet that's my take of this depressing tale.

Answer 8

The car wasn't worth much running and isn't worth anything now. Unless you expect he abused it, it would have croaked anyway. It isn't worth fixing if the engine is toast, so I would be gracious, suck it up, keep unity in the family and he owes you one hell of a favor some day. You can probably still get a few hundred for the corpse.

Answer 9

Sounds like your both at fault.Somebody should have checked the oil(you since it was your car and him since he was borrowing it)The oil didn't disappear in two weeks so it had to be low to start with.He should help with the bill, but the lions share should be yours

Answer 10

your brother should he had possession of the car when it got damaged or you should if the car had problems that you did not tell him about before he took it or you both should if the car had some minor problems that you did tell him about the car may have had high mileage and may have blown on you

Answer 11

well either one of you should have checked the motor over like the oil and radiator water since it has been sitting for three months so really it is both of your faults and maybe you should split the bill

Answer 12

Sounds like the best thing to do would be to split the bill.

Answer 13

YOUR

BROTHER

HE'S OBVIOUSLY THE ONE WHO DID'NT CHECH THE OIL LEVEL

Answer 14

who ever makes the most money.

Answer 15

your brother! he was the one who was driving it previously and when it happened