Oil Cap Left Off

I had my first oil change this last week on my 2017 Tacoma TRD Sports. I took it to my trusted mechanic I have had for over 20 years. They used Mobil 1 synthetic and Toyota oil filter. I drove it to work over 40 miles and when I got to work I had a check engine light. Took it in after work, the owner opened the hood, and to our amazement, there was the oil cap sitting on the battery.

It had been raining that day and when we opened the hood the engine compartment was dry. No water. He tightened the oil cap and told me not to worry. He said the computer thought it was a vacuum leak because air was getting in the oil tube. He reset the computer turning off the engine light and it has been running fine with no warning lights ever sense.

Even though the engine compartment was dry, I'm still a little worried that water got in the tube. I had a nightmare after I went to bed! HA! Do you think I'm overreacting because I'm a new Tacoma owner? My mechanic gave me a new out of the box K&N air cleaner as an apology. I guess we all make mistakes but I'm gonna back-check their work from now on. Do you think my truck is okay?

 

If you put your cap back on and the engine light is off and the truck is running fine I'm sure the truck is unharmed!

 

Did the light turn off?

(Yes) Everything is ok.

(No) Take it to Toyota to service, if charged, send your trusty mechanic the bill

Why did you not just take it to Toyota in the first place? Did you not get any services included on your purchase?

 

no issue at all. if you are worried check the oil on the dipstick.

 

Take it for a 60 minute highway run. You will get the oil up to its maximum temperature and any water in the oil will evaporate.

 

Even if some water got in (it didn't), it would have cooked out in a 40 mile drive.

 

He gave you a return business gift.
You will be back when the k&n fouls up your maf sensor

 

As above. If a little water got in it'll cook off with a good long drive. If a lot of water got in you'll see signs of it on the dipstick. If neither of these sooth your nervousness, have the oil changed again. Any water still in the system will be at the bottom of the sump.

 

At the very least, your mechanic should have offered to change the oil and filter right away, just to eliminate any chance of water lowering the viscosity of the oil and damaging the engine.

 

If you are really concerned. Send a oil sample for analysis.

 

30 years ago, I forgot to put the oil filler cap on my 76 Celica and it was spitting oil out of the valve cover all over the engine. When I got home, I saw a flickering light under the car which turned out to be flames from the oil on the motor and ehaust manifold. That's when it's time to worry

Worst part was when I opened the hood and it drew air from underneath... Ahhh...To be 16 again!

 

What a classic!

 

This + a refund!

 

Thanks for everyone's reply! I saw the engine compartment and it was dry. The plastic engine cover was dry and the battery was dry. Also the dip-stick was clean and the oil was clear. I was very lucky that the cap didn't pop off the battery and end up on HWY17 in Campbell ca.

 

Actually it was better that it was raining to keep the dust down. Not that too much dust would have got in there anyway.

 

I had real bad experiences with dealerships over the years. One incidence was my wife's car had an oil change at the dealership and they spilled oil everywhere on the plastic engine cover under the engine. there was oil drips on our driveway for weeks. There have been scheduling issues, rude treatment, and such from dealership that I told myself I would never go back. So, this has been the first issue in the 20 years I have had with my mechanic. Thanks for your input!

 

Haha! Funny part was that my Celica burned through about a quart of oil per week (yah...It was driven really hard and smoked like an SOB)! I used to put about a half of a quart in every 2-3 days and it was bound to happen that I eventually forgot to put the cap on one night. Better yet, I didn't realize at first why my car was on fire (couldn't see through the flames and smoke) so I ran inside and grabbed a big bag of salt from the cabinet and threw it all over the motor to put the fire out (wait for it)...........A couple pounds of salt later I realized the oil cap was off and there was a bunch of salt inside the valve cover!!! DOH!

 

That's funny but I can see how that would happen.

I work in insurance and I've read a lot of claims that were ultimately caused by temporary lapses in judgement. Some of them were funny.

I saw one where a guy was driving through his front hard and ran his truck into a bathtub. No surprise, that one was from Arkansas.

I saw one where a guy's motorcycle caught on fire and he didn't have anything on hand to put it out so he pushed the entire motorcycle into a pond.

I saw one where a male driver and a female passenger both had head injuries from the steering wheel. They were surprisingly honest when asked how that was possible.

 

I used transmission fluid for brake fluid one time.....Not too good!

 

Reminders of The World According to Garp...