Oil change fail

Hello all
Hoping for some responses. I was able to score a 2020 used in April. My tire pressure sensor came on and since I’m planning a road trip soon, took the ride in for service last Tuesday (5 days ago). I haven’t used my new ride much since the oil change but to prepare for the trip, ran some errands today. When I came home I noticed some oil in the driveway. Looked under the truck and oil was pouring (heavy drip) out of the bottom. I don’t know exactly what I should do or request besides obviously new service with repair. Checked the dip and it registered no oil but it was after the vehicle was cooled. After reading the forum here I see that’s not ideal but I’m afraid to turn the vehicle back on. Thoughts? How should I request the dealer to make this whole? I’m obviously concerned about the life of my engine. Okay to take on a Florida to Virginia road trip?

 

Good call, Cindy. Don’t attempt to start your engine with no oil, bad things will happen. Call whoever did the service and tell them the oil leaked out and they need to transport it back to their shop and fix it. It sounds like someone didn’t tighten up the oil plug properly. Sh*t happens. Good thing you caught it. Give yourself a big pat on the back.
Btw, welcome to the forum from Canada!

 

Welcome from Nebraska & best of luck.
@Oldtoyotaguy is perfectly correct. Call the service provider.
Ryan

 

I will request a tow back to the Toyota dealer who provided service but should I request an extension of warranty? Just traded off my 2006 and am so sad this happened to my brand new vehicle.

 

Also, thanks for the welcome

 

Ask your dealer what he’s going to do to make the problem right. He should offer something, for sure, beyond tightening up the plug and refilling with oil. Tell him how close he came to having to replace your engine, and that you depend on his good service. He’s the pro, not you. You shouldn’t have to don your coveralls and crawl under your serviced vehicle to check his work.

 

Welcome to the forum, @Cindy !

Keep us posted on how your service department handles this.

Depending on how much you drove with little to no oil, I might request an extended powertrain warranty. If they offer nothing, it might be worth contacting Toyota directly.

Did you notice any unusual noises?

 

Pretty much this. Have them correct the issue and service compensation for your troubles.

BTW welcome Cindy to the forum!

 

Sorry this happened but my time on forums I know that Toyota, jeep and ford all hack oil changes and probably cost them a good buck in repairs. I'm sure other brands do it also...just guessing. My understanding is they use low wage help for oil changes. Good luck!

 

This exact thing happened to a family member. The 4Runner was towed back to dealer and was determined no damage was done. Paperwork for an extended drivetrain warranty to 100k miles was given. The 4Runner had 45k miles when the incident happened and 60k now with no issues.

 

Welcome and Good Luck Cindy.
I have to echo all the sentiment already said.
But besides the extended warranty, you should tell the service manager you question their quality of work and how can you trust them to continue doing service, if they can't get a simple oil change done properly.

If he questions your stance, you tell him you've done your research and this is nothing new with dealer oil changes all around the country, and that you expect exemplary service from now on.

You might want to do some research on that particular dealers service records and reviews, and if you don't like what you see, take it somewhere else. There are still a few good ones out there and hopefully yours is one of them and this was an isolated incident.

This is a basic function of car maintenance and hiring a low wage employee to handle this chore with such catastrophic consequences is unacceptable in my book.

After reading my umpteenth thread on this subject just reaffirms my early decision to do my own oil changes. Makes me sad for the folks that don't have the time or place to do it themselves.
@Oldtoyotaguy hopefully this will be a big advantage to having a full EV when they become more mainstream. A future without 0W20 dripping all over your driveway is one part of it that sounds good.

 

Well hang on, before you start calling tow trucks and such, look and see if the drain plug is installed. Check the oil again with the truck cold. How much oil are we talking about on the ground? Get some pics, not just for us, but for any subsequent claims you might need to file.

If the drain plug is missing or "finger loose" and / or there is no oil in the engine / and or the oil on the ground is clearly multiple quarts, then call the dealer and start the process with them.

 

I second this. Having pictures and taking notes of everything is a great idea! Maybe even check to see if there's a trail from when you drove home from the dealership.

 

I sincerely appreciate all the responses to this thread. I’ve been driving Toyota’s since I was a wee girl and this is my latest since trading my last 2006 4Runner (purchased new) and have always done business at the same dealership so I’m sure this is just a MAJOR snafu that happened but I’m obviously concerned. I have no experience or knowledge about repairs so would have no idea where to check to see if the plug is gone (or if the filter wasn’t tightened, thank you google for another concern). I just don’t want long term problems. I’m so sad. She’s a beauty Pearl White and exactly what I hoped for when I replaced ole Bessie. Best all. I’ll call the dealer in the morning. Wish me luck on my haul to Virginia this week!

 

Welcome and best of luck correcting the problem. Sounds like a service issue that is sure to be covered by warranty but still frustrating and concerning.

 

looks like a trainwreck, waiting to happen....glad you caught it..before the engine was trashed...I'm sure the dealer, etc will take care of it....good luck & keep us in the loop

 

Welcome from Wisconsin Cindy! About the oil change problem.... Hope you get it resolved, all I can think is.. WOW!

 

Did the oil pressure light come on? If not the engine should be fine, hopefully the dealer will fix the issue and offer you something for your trouble. Best of luck with the dealership.

 

I saw oil on the floor after my 1st (free) oil change by my local dealer on my 2016 Limited. Oil level was still good so took it back to the dealer. They spent a lot of time cleaning up the undercarriage but sure enough I saw drips again when I got home. Took it back (3rd trip) and they brought out the plastic oil filter housing and showed a crack calling it a 'factory defect'. Clearly the defect was the long handled wrench they gave to the technician. Never had any more problems but with Covid stay at home, I am now changing my own oil in my driveway. I bought a compatible aluminum oil filter housing but I read somewhere that the metal part may bond to the engine block and be more difficult to get off so I put the OEM plastic one back on with no issues. Anyone have any thoughts about which is better aluminum or plastic? By the way I have purchased four 4runners since 2005 and all are still in the family........never had a repair, just maintenance.

 

I've never heard about the metal oil filter housing fusing to the block, but then again this is the internet where one incident can get blown into major defect/recall/class action lawsuit territory.

I think you're better off with the metal housing. Lots more things can go wrong with the plastic one.

 

I hope the OP @Cindy gets back to us. I am interested in the findings...

Best of luck to anyone who has had this problem. I was an oil tech @ 18 in a carwash but I have always been a car guy so I just told management that I need the full 30 minutes to do a good oil change, grease chassis, add fluids, check air & basic check (gotta sell wipers & filters!) Maybe spot a belt going out here or there but it was a pit not a lift so nothing major. We didn't do belts but I warned people.
*Edit* There were 2 people (one up & one below), so that is almost an hour in total...

 

ugh. Taking mine in soon for the 5000 miles service. Not looking forward the dealers level of service based on things ive seen on this forum and to having to check work but at the same time Ive got to save every dollar I can at the moment and free is the right price.

 

Overtightening and the 10k mile oil change interval is the most likely cause of the housing getting fused. 12' LE 125k miles, still running plastic and no fusion issues. But I'm still a dinosaur changing at 3k mile intervals. Yes I know I'm crazy and it's an Internet forum sin to change my oil that often.

 

The metal housing will not fuse to the oil filter assemble. I run a few 4Runner's that I have all changed to metal housing's with 100k's of miles. I do 5k OCI's.
There are few good youtube video's on make the change. Lot's star's on Amazon:

$20 Toyota Oil Filter Cap - 15620-31060

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008BHP68A?ie=UTF8