Need Advice: 12 4Runner Engine Damage?

I'm hoping everyone can help me out here with this. My mother has a 2012 4Runner Limited 4x4 that has approximately 39,000 miles on it. She travels to work out of town every week which puts approx. 350 miles per week just in travel to work (stays 4 days a week in Madison).

Due to the limited time at home, my father took the truck to Valvoline Instant Oil Change location on the Sunday before she left (2/15) as it needed an oil change and was due. Oil was changed and she left for the week to Madison for work. She returned Thursday and said that her truck smelled like burning oil ever since.

My dad goes to the garage Friday morning and there are two spots of oil about the size of a dinner plate on the garage floor. He takes it back to Valvoline to see what was going and what happened. Turns out they did not install the O-Ring on the oil filter and the whole underside was coated in oil. The guy that did the original was not there on Friday when my dad returned. Turns out there was roughly 4 quarts of the total 6.6 oil missing. Keep in mind she traveled 350 miles or so between the oil change. My mother is unsure if there ever was any lights or warning on. They fixed the mistake and documented the missing o ring and offered my dad 4 $15 coupons for next oil changes. Well there will be no next with them.

I am wondering what type of damage occurred and what I can do to help them out with this. How can we know the damage that was done to the engine? My father is in contact with the Valvoline regional manager and did contact his attorney about this. My dad then took the truck to the dealer this morning to see what a new engine would be. According to the dealer only brand new crates are available and the engine itself is roughly $17,000 and another $2000 for install.

Does anyone have experience with this type of situation. We are trying to figure out the best angle to go about this. My mother is hesitant to keep the truck and how do we know the possible damage? Any advice is much appreciate on how to go about this.

Thanks!

 

Damn, unfortunately too common at big box oil shops for shit like this to happen. 2.6/6.6 is pretty low, I would think the oil pressure light would have some on, certainly not good by any means. I would guess that some damage has been done, but you never know, could run for another 200k, or just 200. I would do as you have and document the shit out of it, certainly talk with corporate and see what they have to say, try to push for the replacement but I doubt they will go for it without having it blow up first.

Does it sound/drive normal?

 

Most unfortunate. I think those quick change oil joints change employees as much as oil. I agree with Wishbone. It would be a long hard fight with Valvoline for a new motor unless substantial damage could be proven.

 

I would file a complaint with their corporate office and tell them what happened. See their response, if you don't like what they say I would call the BBB and file a complaint. If both of those fail, lawyer up and sue them.

 

Thanks everyone, the regional manager and corporate office has been contacted, but they haven't done much in the way of trying to resolve anything yet. The guy who messed up the oil change has since been fired.

The problem is how do you know when the problems will occur. She usually switches vehicles every 2-3 years but just mentioned before this occurred that she would like to keep this one for awhile, but now after this doesn't sound like either my dad or mom want to keep it because who knows what could arise.

 

Probably the safest bet, move on to a new one, good luck.