Picked up truck from shop, why did a half quart oil burn off and fluid leak on radiator?

I got a heavy heart and don't know what to do, so I'll ask for your thoughts here. My 1996 Tacoma is the only thing of value I own. I let that 27-year old motor warm up for at least a full minute before I drive, I never let more than a few days go before I check the oil and eyeball the overflow bottle...you get the idea.

So I pick up my car today and the guy says, "We couldn't get it not to start. We spent an entire day just trying to get it not to start so we could find what was wrong." I'm like, "Huh, what the flip. I told you the neutral switch would sometimes work and then not." How stupid are these people? Anyway, I start it up and drive off and notice the car seems "weaker" (for lack of a better word). I get it home and check the oil; it had lost a half quart of oil while they had it, and not only that there was an antifreeze leak going from the cap down along the radiator. WTAF?

The mileage and gas level didn't change, so I don't think they were off-roading and hot rodding around in my truck. SO WHAT THE HELL DID THEY DO TO IT?

The thought of those fucktards laughing and reving the f*ck out of my engine after I've spent 6 years of babying it and taking gentle care of it, aggghhhhh. Has this happened to any of you? Maybe there was antifreeze leaking down the radiator because they pulled the cap off to inspect it, okay. But why did I lose a half quart of oil? And why couldn't a busy shop find a better way to inspect a switch besides "starting and stopping it all day to see if it failed?"

Please tell me I'm just being paranoid. One more thing; I found a Toyota OEM switch for $64.00, why was their generic switch $98.00?

I'm so p*ssed off that I've actually got the wind and the energy knocked out of me.

 

Sorry to hear about this...they could have checked the antifreeze and just spilled some...Did they change the Oil?

 

You're just being paranoid.

 

It might be useful to go back to that shop one more time and ask the owner for an explanation, without going into too much detail. You should be able to tell if what you have discovered has an innocent explanation or if the owner starts out being super defensive. If you get a reasonable explanation, it will ease your mind.

The coolant leak mark along the front of the radiator is understandable. The oil is another story... Could the half quart of oil missing be explained away by the time intervals of your checking your oil level? Or checking it immediately after turning off the engine before the oil has had a chance to settle and drain back down to the oil pan?

 

Can check the oil drain bolt, oil pan, oil filter, valve cover and in the spark tubes for leaks. If nothing you can wipe the tail pipe if you get black stuff it might be burning oil.

I think I’ve read on TW you can delete that switch somehow.

 

As for it not starting sometimes it could be related to the starter. I just replaced mine not to long ago because once in a blue moon it wouldn’t start on the 1st few turns of the key.

 

Well I've calmed down. The radiator was full so they probably just took the cap off to inspect it.

I'm going to change my oil this weekend and just try to forget this ever happened.

Damn I wish I could have reached that neutral switch, it only had one bolt holding it one, but with my guy and fused neck I can bend to reach it and turn the bolt with a wrench.

Plus in the back of my mind I thought maybe a wire had vibrated off the starter motor. That did happen to an old VW of mine.

Thanks again for all the advice. Why the hell busy experienced mechanics would need to "stop and start" my car until it failed....agh I can't even imagine it. Just take out that old switch and bench test it you idiots. What did they do to my poor starter motor and engine I can only guess. Goddamn idiots