Oil change nightmare! Help please

Make sure they know how to do it correctly!!!!
There is a thread somewhere here that shows how to do it the right way.
Print it out and give it to them.
Use the correct Toyota fluid, not whatever the local parts store has.

 

Glad you got it sorted out man!

 

What a great post. If anyone has any other oil change nightmares feel free to share them!

I forgot to put the oil drain plug back in before adding 4 liters of oil back in the engine. That was a waste of 30 bucks worth of full synthetic.

Just recently while doing an oil change, I failed to remove the oil filter seal along with the filter. I tightened the new oil filter overtop of the old seal. As soon as I turned the key the system pressurized and sent oil flying everywhere.

 

This. Too many people jump under the truck that think they know what they are doing and say ok here we go... quite frankly I'm not sure how you can mistake the two plugs... if you place yourself under the engine, you will find it. If you climb under from the side of the truck, you will have to realize you are halfway down the truck and need to scoot forward.

that all being said, the dealerships aren't much better. full of a bunch of lot monkeys.

 

I did that once on a old vw bug. Fucking sucked considering $15 back then was alot of money for me.

 

Its been a while since I've been under a Tacoma, but aren't the transmission plugs a hex head?

I don't see why people think Toyota needs to label things more clearly. It comes down to operator error 9/10, not the other way around. Plus, the oil pan is DIRECTLY under the engine, not under the cab.

 

Always must remember your not as krazie as this..

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/33318-halp.html

 

Just got the the dropped off at shop...They are going to get it taken care of tomorrow. Anybody have a link to the trans fill thread? And thanks for the moral support.

 

Shit happens OP, I was told once by a mechanic at a shop I worked at to fill a hydraulic tank for our drilling unit, I emptied the whole drum into the tank, I noticed the sight glass looked quite murky, as it turned out the mechanic gave me a drum of used diesel oil, I just hooked it up to the transfer pump and walked away for a while to do some other work. needless to say, it took four guys 12 hrs to clean out the tank, disconnect and flush all the lines, while running clean hydraulic fluid through the tank and back out into some filters! damage was about $5000 in labor and oil! "oilwell" huh?!?!

 

Take it from a guy who had made a lot of mistakes in his day when I say congrats for having more courage than 90% of the population who are too busy/intimidated/lazy/disinterested to work on their own vehicle. The only people who don't make mistakes are those who don't do anything.....Learn from it and read a ton here and move on. Best wishes for a happy outcome and get back on the horse.

 

OP, you'll be glad that you didn't put tranny fluid in your oil and vice versa.

You cheated death this time.

 

Good luck and make sure they use the correct fluid, buy it yourself if you need to.
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/63851-how-drain-refill-automatic-transmission.html

 

The first time I crawled under my truck and looked around I thought the trans plug was the oil plug. Took me a few seconds to figure it out. I did not drain anything but if your unfamiliar with the truck it can be a disaster.

 

Just yesterday, I forgot to close my drain plug and lost 1 1/2 quarts before I flew under the truck to close it. Shit happens!!! lol
Hope everything turns out OK.

 

I agree. I am not trying to be a dick here, but I know my comment will sound like it. If you can't tell the difference between pulling the drain plug of an engine, or pulling the drain plug of the transmission, AND on top of that notice that the fluid coming out was obviously not engine oil, you shouldn't be working on your own vehicles. There is no need for Toyota, or any other manufacturer, to label the drain plugs.

Let us hope that there is no long term damage to anything. Transmission repairs and engine repairs can get expensive.

 

I tried to point that out one time and some guys got mad, mine was in response to ”what is a sway bar and how do you take it off... "
If you want to learn and not ruin things, ask questions and read read read, books forum and service manuals. I have definitely done some silly things in life and on various vehicles thankfully nothing to ruin one.
Want to know how to roll a 4runner in your parent's yard at the age of 19? I know how.

 

??

I'm sure the guy learned a few things today. He thought he drained the correct fluid, but later learned he didn't.

There is absolutely no need to pig pile on him while he's already down and diminish his confidence.

Everybody makes mistakes... everybody.

 

I'd say the lack of oil in the trans did more damage in 25 miles than the overfill of motor oil. Sucks dude, look at the bright side, at least you didn't add oil to your radiator after this abortion.

 

I think that's crazy there is no trans dipstick on the new tacos! Is that true?

 

my first oil change, in my first truck (lowered chevy) was a nightmare. took me HOURS!

drained oil, made a huge mess. started trying on the filter. could not get the damn thing off. no tool I borrowed would fit. nothing. I got the bright idea to roll the truck down the driveway a bit and stop it so I could leave front wheels on driveway, rears on street, and be able to lay in the gutter so I could get under the truck better. didn't think about brakes not working well without vacuum boost.

overshot my goal, so now truck is completely in the street. sideways. my dumb az is laying in the middle of the road making feeble attempts at jamming a screwdriver into an object I could barely reach, let alone see, and royaly hating life.

one of the most embarrassing times I've ever had, but hey, it all worked out eventually. good luck