NO OIL IN THE ENGINE

Jerky boys haha. Those were the days.

 

I don't think the kids from cancel culture fully understand reality.
Lol if everyone cancels all businesses and people they don't like, there will be nothing left.

 

I'm gonna sue you and everyone you represent!! Should I bring my shoes and glasses so I have them.

 

“I will wrap your head around with a ratchet”

 

Glad we got this thread back on track. As for anyone who doesn’t know the Jerky Boys... search for them on YouTube etc... it’s what we did in the 80’s.

 

I read that ('pencil whips'), and my eyes immediately dropped to the lower left corner of the box your post is in.
Yep... suspicion confirmed... another Navy squid.

 

Did Brenda get unnerved by the thread going bat shit sideways? I wonder? Hope not.
Between all the crap posts (like mine) there was some solid ideas for her.

Early someone suggested taking it for an inspection at an independent shop. This would be my first move to help me decide on what I was going to do next.

Brenda, if you are still reading these posts I hope the forum has been of service.

 

If there was a huge oil mess, maybe the drain plug wasn't tightened correctly or something to that effect?

I've had something extremely similar happen to me in my Corolla, but it was my oil filter that came off.
I was on vacation and after the road trip up was due for a change, so I took it to a mechanic and they put the wrong filter on. It fell off about a mile into my drive (searched after getting a loaner car) then I got a around 5ish miles before I started misfiring. Music was blaring, I was on vacation, listening for a blowing engine was the last thing on my mind, lol. By the time I noticed the noise it was too late. Engine shut off and we got it on the side of the road. Oil all over underneath. I got a tow back and they tried to convince me the car shut off because that prevents engine damage, so it would be fine. I'm glad it was totally seized, because I'm sure they would've tried to pull some bs if it still started in any way.
I had to call in an extra day at work, but my family friend was there the next day to make sure I was taken care of. I got to replace an engine with 244k with one that had 120k. Not a bad deal at all. Engine still runs great. I'm lucky I didn't have to fight much, and that it probably extended the longevity of my lil old car as a whole.
Accidents happen at mechanics for sure, just like in any other profession. Especially doing things like changing oil; you start working on auto pilot and things get lost in the mix. Doesn't make it excusable, but understandable. That's why everyone thinks they're better at changing their own oil than a mechanic; they're just way more careful. I also do as much of my own work as I can now, not because I know more, but because it's cheaper, and I'm careful about it.

Either way, given your circumstances, it seems obvious to me it was an error at the dealer. I'm sure they'll fight you every step of the way, but don't let them leave you with a damaged engine. Doesn't matter if things seem fine.

 

Good Morning Tacoma World. I am still reading all the posts, than you all again for the comments! Yes, the last few were different and I did not follow, but that is just fine.

So far, I have emailed a lengthy letter explain all the events from my first visit at the service department to Saturday's oil change gone bad. The service manager, who promised he would email me all the details of Saturday, has not emailed me. My letter gives them until Wednesday Jan. 22, 2020 at 3PM (Eastern) to respond.

This weekend we are travel to the middle of the state (Florida) to duck hunt, we will pull a boat (its a small one) for about 4 hours. We shall see how it performs.

Thanks again, for all the advice, keep it coming if you think of anything else.

Brenda

 

The fact that the dealership did not at least email you on Monday to keep you informed of status does not instill me with confidence that the dealership has your best interest at heart. I am sure the service manager is hoping that this issue just disappears. I know it’s been said repeatedly but keep detailed records of all interactions with Toyota. Even if vehicle performs flawlessly you have no idea of what lifespan is of unknown damage to engine. The bearings could be scored which will lower oil pressure, maybe not enough for you to notice but over time this engine will most likely not perform as originally intended. I am curious what the service manager would expect if this happened to his or her vehicle. I wish you all the best.

 

Good post. I gave up doing my own oil changes a long time ago. And even though I know what an oil filter is, I've been taking my cars to the dealership for oil changes for at least the past 15 - 20 years. I always buy extended warranties and prefer for my dealer to have a record of all maintenance performed on my vehicle. In those 20 years, I have NEVER had a problem with service.

I get where @Slick Taco is coming from, and certainly appreciate his choice to take his vehicles to a mechanic he knows and trusts.

In my case, that mechanic works at my Toyota dealership. There is so much pressure on these guys now from Toyota with all the follow-up satisfaction surveys, the types of circumstances incurred by the OP are really rare.

Like you said, this forum highlights the 1% of issues that occur out there. Most people probably never even wash their Toyotas, let alone get regular oil changes.

 

I am no way a legal minded person, but I think this would clear the dealer of any fault... Call them today, why so passive?

 

If the drain plug was loose, yes the oil would leak out slowly.

However if the filter/filter housing was improperly installed (damaged O ring or more likely O ring not in the housing seal groove) the oil didn't leak out...it was pumped out at 30-50 psi and wouldn't take very long at all until the oil level was below the oil pick-up. At that point it doesn't matter how much is left in the pan, the oil below the pickup will not be pumped through the engine. Oil starvation is never good, oil starvation with the engine under load (pulling the vehicle down the highway) is disastrous.

It's still the same outcome as far as potential damage, but if you take a stand that they didn't fill it with oil and they actually did, you kind of weaken your position by assuming a false narrative that was then proven wrong. It will weaken your next stance, because you have proven that you make statements that aren't correct. Be firm but don't say anything that they can disprove. Calm discussion with clear and concise objections with explanations why you know the engine's longevity has been compromised as a response to their dismissals will keep the dialogue open and on track. Wild unsubstantiated tirades work in their favor making you look unreasonable and uninformed.

Thinking of the effects of oil starvation reminds me of something that happened many years ago. Our group of friends went to a USAC Sprint Car race, the high horsepower dirt track cars that run on 1/2 mile dirt tracks. These cars are direct drive to the rear axle, no transmission, To start the cars, the driver couples the engine to the rear with the in and out lever and is push-started by another vehicle. During qualifying only one car at a time is on track, as they push the car around to start the engine you could always hear it chuffing along as the pistons worked up and down but it didn't immediately start. Eventually the engine would roar to life and the car would take off and fling sideways into the first turn.

Someone asked "why are those cars so hard to start"? The answer: "They aren't, they could have started it after just 3 or 4 feet of pushing. The driver doesn't flip the ignition switch until the car is pushed long enough for the oil pump to bring the oil pressure up to operating pressure"

Oil pressure is what makes the bearings work, lack of oil pressure/under load/for even a few minutes is not good. Get some kind of agreement for extended warranty that stipulates the coverage is for the loss of oil. A future claim for warranty coverage can be subjected to review. If the determination was the engine was ran low on oil causing accelerated wear, who gets the blame? Yeah we know who did it, but time has a way of twisting facts.

 

After reading this thread it reminds me why I watch the service being done to my vehicles....I watch myself work while I do it.

I lost faith in Toyota and their free service on the first visit for the 5k tire rotation/fluid check. I got home and one of the lug nuts on the passenger rear was gone. Not sure if it was there when I left or it fell off but I got my answer checking them all myself. A bunch were so tight I needed my breaker and a cheater pipe to get them off and one or two spun freely, I was surprised they were still there after the drive home.

 

Have a great trip!

 

Yo I wouldn't be driving that truck till there is an outcome, let alone tow with it. Just asking for the blame to be shifted away from the dealer.

 

I'm late to this thread but I read this far... I would absolutely 1000% not wait until 1000 miles to determine the next steps in this situation. I don't know how much you drive but 1000 miles could take a month or two and anything could happen during that time (service manager leaves, new dealer ownership, etc.). The dealer also may try and argue if after 1000 miles and there is no code that there is no problem and they stop helping. I would get on the phone with corporate TODAY and get a lawyer!

 

Makes me really happy I change my own oil and have a simple 2.7 to do all work on when I see stuff like this.

Sorry OP, don’t wait around though - time is money in this case, literally.

 

It's funny how people can have different experiences, since I have owned cars I have had a total of 6 oil changes that I had someone else perform. 3 where fine, 1 they broke the clips on the air filter box, 1 they overfilled the crankcase with 1.5 extra quarts, and 1 where they spilled oil all over the underhood fuse box and wiped my windows with an oily red mechanics rag. My luck seems to be 50-50 with the oil changes, also got the door sill/rocker panel bashed in during another warranty service.