Bad oil change

While at the gym I decided to have my 30k oil change at a local warren tire shop. I picked up my truck drove down the highway and heard a noise in the front end. Then noticed some smoke coming out the back end pulled over and look under the truck and see oil pouring out. Pop the hood and the filter was loose. By the time the guy came out to out new oil and a new filter in I had a huge puddle of oil under my truck and noticed oil all over the under body. I started my truck it runs fine no noise in the engine. Rinsed off the engine but just wondering what potential damage could be done. No check engine light no noise or anything. It's a 2014 with 30050 miles. Think I'll be ok ?

 

Your problem is that you have no idea what wear or damage occurred and may not show for thousands of miles. It COULD have reduced engine life by 100 thousand miles but, you'll never be able to prove it. The oil change place will never admit any damage happened if at all possible and once some miles have passed, they know they are off the hook.

That is why even the dealer will never touch my trucks to change the oil, the lowest, worst paid guy is on top of the oil change totem pole, who wants THAT guy changing your oil?

 

You shut it off before it quit I take it, if so I say your fine.

 

might be OK but it totally depends on how fast you shut it down

smoking means damage is being done. hpefully it was just smoke on exhaust manifolds and
not overheated engine parts.

it is super bad. they really owe you a new engine because this type of damage cannot be
seen or determined until you find out at 60,000 mile the head gasket is leaking or something like that


what really needs to happen is that shop should buy you an additional engine warranty like 10years unlimited mileage...that way no one goes broke today, but you are covered. this is reasonable and fair and can be negotiated. a new engine request they will fight it, too much money. a warranty, they can afford. go for a new warranty paid for by them

 

Ok I'll call the shop see what they say. I'm also thinking about a tundra because I could use the space. Maybe trade it and have no worries but start over again on a loan so not sure what to do.

Yes I pulled over shut it off. The puddle. Started small then huge as I sat and waited for the guy to meet me roadside. The smoke and smell though just before I pulled over worries me though. May be ok now. I did buy an extended bumper to bumper I'm protected until 100k but then what.

 

Yes, note to self: always do your own oil changes

 

I hear these stories all the time.

My friend always chastises me for changing my own oil. One day I went to his house and he was cleaning a spot in his driveway. Asked what happened and he sheepishly said he had his oil changed at Wally World and the drain plug was never tightened.

My response, "That is why I always change my own, no more breaking my privates for doing so from this day on, --- right?"

He agreed.

 

I agree. Doing my own herein out.

 

The fact that you had a huge puddle after shutting the engine down means there was still a good amount of oil in the engine. More than likely no damage, but I would still take 127.0.0.1's advice on getting the warranty extended.

 

This ^ As long as you didn't start the truck after you turned it off and saw the loose filter, you'll be fine. The smoke and smell was probably just the oil leaking from the filter and burning on the engine and exhaust.

 

Doesn't sound like your oil light came on so the engine didn't run low enough to damage anything - doesn't take much oil to make a mess and cause things to smoke.

Make sure your serp belt didn't get coated with oil while it was running down the side of the engine - have the shop pay for a new one if so, (and replace it yourself).

x1000 for changing your own oil.

 

Have them get you an extended warranty, then cancels yours and get your prorated refund on yours.

 

If the oil hasn't been changed yet, I would get it dropped, and then have a full oil analysis done to it. It may show some signs of metal or indicators that it did do damage. (Maybe)

 

Ok thanks for the ideas. The service tech met me on the side of the road once I pulled over and shut it off. He pulled up , replaced the oil and filter. I started it up and have been driving since with no issues or noise. Prolly drove 100 miles since then. Should I still ask for a oil analysis. I called Toyota and the service manager said if the check engine or oil light never came on and if there is no noise then it should be ok. But again the what ifs when I hit 80k are what's on my mind. Thanks again.

 

Chances are they dumped your oil and it would be too late for them to do an analysis.

 

Did the tech who pulled up on the side of the road drain and replace the oil, or top off the existing oil? If he just topped it off, you could have it analyzed.

Either way, I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. I doubt any harm came to the engine given the circumstances you described. The engine was still getting plenty of oil when you turned it off.

If anything, you could try to leverage the mistake into some freebies if you wanted to press the issue. Not my style, but I'm sure you could get something for your trouble.

 

I am not a guy that ships off oul for analysis. Fairly new concept for me, but seems like a bunch on here do it for every oil change. Maybe on the next couple of oil changes send it out for analysis and see what the report brings. If only for peace of mind. However, it sounds like you caught it before any damage could be done. But of course we are all only speculating. I do the don't have time and take it in oil changes as well. I do check to make sure everything is tight under the vehicle and under the hood before i go.

 

One thing I would definitley do is have them pay for a steam cleaning of the engine area. Years ago my wife had an oil change done at a honda dealer. The tech forgot to put the oil cap back on and oil sprayed all over the hood and engine bay. Took it back to the dealer and the manager was horrfied. They took it right in and gave us a loaner. The replaced the oil and steam cleaned the entire engine area and it looked brand new.

In your case, if the oil light didn't come on then I wouldn't worry about it.

 

How much oil did the guy add when he got there. That should tell you how much you lost and if it got to a dangerous level.

 

The first mistake you did was not doing the oil change yourself, the 2nd mistake you did was taking it to a tire place to do an oil change, they probably tightened the oil plug with the airgun..LOL not good not good.