Dealer didn't put enough oil in my engine

what dip stick, We are in a lifestyle with all this great technology. Yea right. Just like the jets that have crashed. It has a computer that runs it. It will be ok. We are teaching the younger people to rely on all the new gizmos and when they don't work they don't know what to do.

 

You will never know the extent, if any, of the damage that has been done. Sounds like you also don't even know how low the oil really was. If it was really 3+ quarts low it is tough to believe there isn't some kind of damage. I also believe that if you paid for the service and walked out without it being recorded then anything that happens in the future will be your fault and not the dealer. Assuming it is not under warranty at that time.

I agree you get more done with a firm and calm approach but I don't know if I would have been so quiet myself.

Tough situation to be in and in my short time on this forum this is the 2nd post I have seen with this situation.

Lesson learned, check the dip stick before leaving the dealer.

 

"As soon as I get in the truck I notice the oil light is on"

That is fucked up. Then he drove it back to the service area! Oil light mean low or no oil pressure.

 

I worked in an oil change shop when I was in high school... The numbers the oil gun displays should only be a guideline, ALWAYS check the dipstick. (Except for one model of 80s or early 90s Cadillac where the computer specifically said DO NOT USE DIPSTICK FOR OIL LEVEL INDICATION.)

 

Okay I had it documented in my file that they didn't fill it with enough oil and ran it for 5 minutes on low oil. It seems to be working fine now. Is there anything else I could/should do now, or just take it as a lesson learned?

 

I would file complain with Toyota corporate. Engine maybe good now but not in 10 000 miles. If you run engine and drive with oil light on you pretty much fked up engine. Remember this guys take truck for test run before he gave back so he probably run it that loner what you just saw. There is no excuse for that.

 

I just called Toyota Corporate to open a case and document the situation to cover my ass if things break in the future.

 

Had a similar thing happen at one of those Iffy Loob joints. The new tech started the engine on a very posh Nissan Maxima (leather/Bose/venerable 3.0L V6 that they used in everything from their turbo-charged Z supercars to the Pathfinder...) that I would later bend around a guardrail. It became a moot point when State Farm paid out more than it was worth on the total.

Anyways, it only ran for a second or two, amid shouts of "TURN IT OFF, TURN IT OFF!!!", but I had them document that they started 'er without engine juice on the receipt in case the engine fell off at any point shortly thereafter.

Dern. I wouldn't trade my Taco for one, but I sure do miss that car sometimes. Comfy, great mileage, fast for a sedan, just the right size, and chicks dug it.

 

It should say NO oil pressure not low oil pressure. You are giving them an out by saying low oil pressure.

 

My personal feeling is there was no oil added, probably dry except for residual lube from oil drain...

Opening a case with Toyota is the right thing to do...

This really sucks....

 

That's exactly what I was thinking. There's no way the low oil pressure light would come on if it had 3.5 quarts in it as they claim. I also don't think the engine would be so audible unless it was critically low on oil. It sounds like they flat out forgot to put oil back in it after it was drained.

 

Run it for a week or so, then replace the oil filter. Cut the old one open (or have a different, reputable shop do it) and inspect the media for metal flakes and filings. If there is anything alarming found in the filter media, put it in a heavy zip-loc bag and take it to the service manager to discuss replacement of your engine. Its pretty clear to me that there was no oil put in the engine until after you pointed out the oil pressure light. Whatever you do, do not leave the evidence with the dealership, keep it in case you have to persue legal options. Here's to hoping that the filter media is clean, in which case, you should be good to go.

 

^^I agree!

My thoughts are it most likely did not hurt anything given the short amount of time and residual oil inside.

Still makes you feel like crap though.
I had the oil plug fall out of my 2011 Hayabusa 40 miles away from the dealership that performed the maintenance.
I immediately shut the bike off though and much remaining oil drained out of the bike (of course a cup looks like a gallon on the pavement).

 

if it had more then a qt in it its fine. I know plenty of tards that have run there oil almost dry and not changed there oil for a year and when I filled it back up for them it sounded normal again and still running fine. and one of them was a jeep motor that i did over a year ago. drained my sisters oil the other week and drained .75qt and he car is still running and sounding fine.

 

Unfortunately, with this type of thing, it may take several months or more for any signs of damage to show up. Make sure that this gets well documented.

 

Man, two stealership oil change horror stories in the same week - WTF is going on with the service dept's @ Toyota!?!?!?

 

Spend $25 and have the oil tested. It will tell you if there is any damage. http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

 

+1 GREAT idea for peace of mind.

 

Oh jezez, another one of these threads settles it. I'm not taking toyota up on their free oil changes. Ill do them myself.