No Oil!!! (1 Viewer)

[JHebert]

So I get a coupon in the mail from Toyota dealer for 'Road Trip Special' last week. Oil change, tire rotation, wiper blades and such for like $100. Driving from Houston to Colorado with family skiing in two weeks so took car in for service. Note I typically get oil changed from a gas station that gives a free car wash with oil change and never a problem.
After picking LC up on my way home smoke coming from under hood. I wrote off to sloppy guys who spilled some oil on the block. Get home (only another mile) and discover under hood oil EVERYWHERE. Under LC suspension and all under body parts covered in oil. Wait for it...checked dipstick and NOTHING! No oil left in engine.

I called the dealer up madder than hell and they sent a tow truck to bring the truck back. In the am they are going to begin inspection to determine cause and damage. This is a '04 I bought new and took great care of for 15 years. Trying to stay positive that my engine isn't ruined.

Anyone ever have anything like this? Better question...anyone have similar happen and LC live thru it?

 

[94SRUNNER]

WOW!

Hopefully the engine isn't finished.

 

[jLB]

Eeek!

I hope it wasn't the dealer near me!

I was planning to take my son's TLC to my local dealer, for its free oil change for geriatric/high mileage vehicles (where they try to sell me a new vehicle).

 

[JHebert]

Eeek!

I hope it wasn't the dealer near me!

I was planning to take my son's TLC to my local dealer, for its free oil change for geriatric/high mileage vehicles (where they try to sell me a new vehicle).

If those assholes call me tomorrow and tell me they want to offer me a couple $ towards purchase of a new sequoia I'm going to lose it!

 

[Dockofthebay]

Hope it works out for you. I wouldn't feel comfortable without a careful once over that includes a compression test etc. Perhaps, at least a one year warranty for related engine failure. The problem with taking our trucks to the Yota dealer is its not mechanics changing the oil. The last time i was there they left my crush washer off.

 

[jLB]

If those assholes call me tomorrow and tell me they want to offer me a couple $ towards purchase of a new sequoia I'm going to lose it!

Just use the "If you can match my current payments ($0) on a new Land Cruiser, I'll buy it today."

 

[Austin Hot Shoe]

@geanes You may want to chime in w advice here.......

 

[skhochay]

So I get a coupon in the mail from Toyota dealer for 'Road Trip Special' last week. Oil change, tire rotation, wiper blades and such for like $100. Driving from Houston to Colorado with family skiing in two weeks so took car in for service. Note I typically get oil changed from a gas station that gives a free car wash with oil change and never a problem.
After picking LC up on my way home smoke coming from under hood. I wrote off to sloppy guys who spilled some oil on the block. Get home (only another mile) and discover under hood oil EVERYWHERE. Under LC suspension and all under body parts covered in oil. Wait for it...checked dipstick and NOTHING! No oil left in engine.

I called the dealer up madder than hell and they sent a tow truck to bring the truck back. In the am they are going to begin inspection to determine cause and damage. This is a '04 I bought new and took great care of for 15 years. Trying to stay positive that my engine isn't ruined.

Anyone ever have anything like this? Better question...anyone have similar happen and LC live thru it?

If those assholes call me tomorrow and tell me they want to offer me a couple $ towards purchase of a new sequoia I'm going to lose it!

what is the big deal, the dealer has insurance, but what is the problem, looks like oil filer lost a seal?

 

[OEMGUY0720]

Sorry to hear this. I hope things work out well in your favor. Good part is you are safe. But also frustrating that a simple job was neglected.
I’d be calling my lawyer 6:45 in the morning and drafting a lawsuit if this happened to me as he always tells me never negotiate without him esp this was a safety (possible life/death situation not only to vehicle occupant but also with other motorists sharing the road -fire).

 

[l3n0x]

That sucks, I'm sorry to read this. But hopefully you luck it out, as even when it doesn't show on the dipstick there should be oil left in the engine. Every engine is different, but most still have at least half of the oil quantity inside when the dipstick isn't reading anything. I wouldn't be too concerned if the oil pressure light wasn't on / the oil pressure gauge wasn't reading 0. Okay. I would still be mad and a bit concerned Fingers crossed all is well!

 

[2020 Rocks]

I had a quick oil change place entirely forget to put oil in a car I had years ago. The car’s engine seized right in the middle of a busy intersection during rush hour traffic. Sucked big time resulting in total engine failure with their insurance paying for a salvage motor replacement and a rental car for a couple of weeks.

 

[KershZ71]

Family member took their Toyota car in for an oil change and they forgot to put oil back in. The dealership offered them a lifetime warranty on the engine because of the issue. May be worth trying to get something like that if it isn’t completely gone.

 

[cwmoser]

I can see this "no oil" issue being quite common - either through incompetence, job bordom, spaced out on drugs, or intentional spite. That is the main reason I use to always check the oil level when I got home, and now that I am retired I do my own Oil Changes so I know 1) that it was actually changed, 2) that the oil and filter used is what I wanted in it. Too many scams going around today, can't trust folks like I used to.

 

[geanes]

That sucks big time. The best outcome you can hope for (if the engine is damaged) is a replacement motor (rebuilt).

My favorite car of ALL time was my 1989 Toyota Supra Turbo. She was white with blue leather interior and the super rare targa top and Fujitsu10 audio system with 10 disc cd changer (very, VERY rare for the time). It was the car my parents got me for my high school graduation. I was meticulous maintaining it. In 1991, I took it to a Jiffy Lube to get the oil changed. They did everything right except put oil back in. Engine seized, turbo destroyed within a few miles. Went round and round until their insurance finally paid for a "new" (rebuilt) motor. She never drove the same after that. I sold it 6 months later after having to take it into the shop multiple times for ongoing issues with the rebuilt motor. I still miss that car more than anything.

I hope your engine is ok. At minimum, I'd demand a 1 year unlimited/no deductible warranty on the engine. File a claim with ToyotaUSA. The dealers are "independent" so there is nothing Toyota corporate can do except "lean" on the dealer. Ultimately, it's up to the dealer to decide what they want to do.

After my recent steering rack debacle (dealer failed to put coolant back in which led to a near catastrophic overheat scenario), I've decided to never, ever, ever again go to any Toyota dealer for any service whatsoever. I now have an 12-month unlimited mileage/no deductible warranty on my motor with the dealer paying for my Blackstone tests every oil change during that window. My costs were significantly more than yours for the original service ($2k+), so getting my money back has been a PITA....but, my fight continues.

In the end, I think it's safe to say that taking our rigs to Toyota dealers is an absolute crap shoot. The guys doing the "basic" services are not mechanics. They are just dudes who work for minimum wage for beer money and don't really care. Nothing is ever torqued correctly, crush washers are left off, short cuts are made everywhere in the interest of saving time. I trust the ham fisted guys at Discount Tire better....and they just ram on the lug nuts with an impact wrench without regard. For reference, I've never met a single Toyota dealer tech here in Austin who can explain what the AHC system is. Heck, several even asked why I was bringing an LX470 to them. They didn't know that it was a LandCruiser. Yeah, that's what we're dealing with. Learn to do most, if not ALL, of your own repairs/maintenance or find a trusted source (I'm lucky here in Austin to have both Land Cruiser Specialists and Bearden Automotive.....both KNOW Land Cruisers very very well).

 

[spc7669]

That sucks big time. The best outcome you can hope for (if the engine is damaged) is a replacement motor (rebuilt).

My favorite car of ALL time was my 1989 Toyota Supra Turbo. She was white with blue leather interior and the super rare targa top and Fujitsu10 audio system with 10 disc cd changer (very, VERY rare for the time). It was the car my parents got me for my high school graduation. I was meticulous maintaining it. In 1991, I took it to a Jiffy Lube to get the oil changed. They did everything right except put oil back in. Engine seized, turbo destroyed within a few miles. Went round and round until their insurance finally paid for a "new" (rebuilt) motor. She never drove the same after that. I sold it 6 months later after having to take it into the shop multiple times for ongoing issues with the rebuilt motor. I still miss that car more than anything.

I hope your engine is ok. At minimum, I'd demand a 1 year unlimited/no deductible warranty on the engine. File a claim with ToyotaUSA. The dealers are "independent" so there is nothing Toyota corporate can do except "lean" on the dealer. Ultimately, it's up to the dealer to decide what they want to do.

After my recent steering rack debacle (dealer failed to put coolant back in which led to a near catastrophic overheat scenario), I've decided to never, ever, ever again go to any Toyota dealer for any service whatsoever. I now have an 12-month unlimited mileage/no deductible warranty on my motor with the dealer paying for my Blackstone tests every oil change during that window. My costs were significantly more than yours for the original service ($2k+), so getting my money back has been a PITA....but, my fight continues.

In the end, I think it's safe to say that taking our rigs to Toyota dealers is an absolute crap shoot. The guys doing the "basic" services are not mechanics. They are just dudes who work for minimum wage for beer money and don't really care. Nothing is ever torqued correctly, crush washers are left off, short cuts are made everywhere in the interest of saving time. I trust the ham fisted guys at Discount Tire better....and they just ram on the lug nuts with an impact wrench without regard. For reference, I've never met a single Toyota dealer tech here in Austin who can explain what the AHC system is. Heck, several even asked why I was bringing an LX470 to them. They didn't know that it was a LandCruiser. Yeah, that's what we're dealing with. Learn to do most, if not ALL, of your own repairs/maintenance or find a trusted source (I'm lucky here in Austin to have both Land Cruiser Specialists and Bearden Automotive.....both KNOW Land Cruisers very very well).

Had a buddy who got oil changes and tire rotations at the local dealer. On two separate occasions they didn’t tighten the lugs and a wheel came off within a mile. He didn’t push it like he should’ve considering he might have been killed or seriously hurt another person. I deal with fleet vehicles at my job and no dealer has overly impressed me. My local guy is also a friend. He’s worked on all my vehicles since 2000. I trust him way more than a dealer and will continue until a dealer does something to change my mind.

 

[FxFormat]

Trust issues is what started my career in automotive repairs. Turned out to be the best decision of my life, not only is it lucrative, it allows me to buy expensive cars that a normal person with average income wouldn't touch due to the high maintenance and repair cost.

ie. R230 V12 Twinturbo benz, i have 2 of them

How did the oil s pray everywhere? If it was the drain plug it'd just simply drain out, if it was the oil cap they forgot to put on then it would eventually get everywhere. Might be a double gasket filter, that would spray oil like an aerosol can and is no fun.

 

[2020 Rocks]

My guess as others suggested is doubling of the seal on oil filter or no seal at all. Always check the dipstick, whether you do the oil change yourself, or pay someone. It should be the last thing you look at before putting the key in the ignition. Every.Time.

 

[gregnash]

Yeah, unfortunately not uncommon. When I was in HS my sister (9yrs my senior) had this happen. Took her little Toyota Paseo to a Jiffy Lube and they forgot to put ALL the oil back in (put like a quart in if I remember). She only lived a few blocks away so didn't notice when she drove home. Left at the ass crack of dawn the next morning for a trip from central Cali to Las Vegas, got as far as Bakersfield on 99 before the engine blew. Took my parents and her 6 months of fighting with Jiffy Lube to get it taken care of (same as others, paid to install a new (rebuilt) motor) but car was never the same. That was a fun little whip, small, light, 5spd and quick!

For the wife and I, we are lucky that the local Toyota Dealership has won multiple national toyota service awards (think top in NV for the last 10yrs) and I ride with the Parts Manager. They have always been honest with us and have earned our business. But I trust their techs about as far as I can throw them so I normally check things that I can whenever they do work.

With Alita, well she is mine, the wife taking the 4Runner to Toyota is the whole "outta sight outta mind" thing for her. I would rather do it myself for the things that I can and that I have the tools for. Still debating on doing my own starter R&R as I don't have a top level creeper, don't want to buy one and the engine was cramped enough while I was doing the Heater T's!!

 

[JHebert]

Update:
When changing filter the dealer didn't remove old gasket. Installed new filter w/ gasket on top of old gasket. One post above called it, double gasket. Once engine built pressure, it blew out the gasket. Dealer is stepping up to the plate. They acknowledged fault. They are cleaning engine and under carriage of LC now and will fill w/ new oil and filer, then run compression tests on engine. Per dealer (if I believe them) when they pulled the drain plug two quarts of oil drained out so while no reading on dip stick, maybe enough oil to keep engine from getting damaged. Worth noting, engine temp never went excessively high nor did oil pressure gauge drop when I was driving it.
FYI - this is a '04 TLC w/ 190K miles. OME suspension, ARB bumper, etc. I'm original owner.

 

[D21FJ60]

That's good they are stepping up. Get everything in writing that you can.