Dealer forgot to put the "Oil" in my Oil Change!

No offers of free oil changes for the next year? Shame on them --- you could have gone to _Iffy Lube for that kind of service. Thats why I like to do it myself --- oil running down the arms and on the concrete drive and all. Admittedly I once installed new filter only to find the old rubber ring was still on the mounting plate! Argh.

Sounds about like a Wal-Mart job, haha. They either overtighten the bolt so it has to be drilled out, or put it on so loose that you're half a quart low by the time you get home.

If you want well documented oil changes, save your receipts for oil and filters and keep a journal. I've found keeping a journal on my truck is extremely handy, even though I have yet to need any sort of repairs. Heck, you probably own a computer, use a spreadsheet to keep a log of everything and get a little expanding file with dated tabs for all the receipts to keep in your glove box.

My trust in mechanics at large companies is totally shot, ever since Pep-Boys did a brake inspection on our Prism. They cross threaded one of the lugs with an impact gun, and when we removed the wheels later that week it popped right off. They had the gall to argue with us about replacing the lug, telling us their guys don't use impact guns to put the lugs on, when right behind them through the open door they were doing just that. I didn't stand for it. After a little 'persuasion' from me, the issue was resolved.

*grin*

If I were you, I'd take this matter to the regional folks. Explain how much lost time (and potential wages, because time is money!) you had and that you expect some extended guarantee that if there's any related failures within a certain amount of time, they'll cover the cost above and beyond what the warranty says. (That is, as long as you do all future oil changes and document them, because I'm sure you want to be honest about this.) Get everything in writing. Don't let them intimidate you with repeated apologies or anecdotes ("well so-and-so's vehicle survived without any oil for x amount of time, so yours will be ok," maybe so-and-so just got lucky.) The fact is, they goofed, and they should remedy the situation to your satisfaction. Dee

If they're SO sure nothing is wrong with the truck and you have less than 2k on it, I'd ask them to trade you for another one with about the same mileage on it. I'm curious what they'd say to that. I bet they'd have all kinds of excuses (registration, blah-blah-blah) none of which would hold water. Don't be adverse to involving the national/regional offices. The old saying about the squeaky wheel really applies with dealers and warrantee service - especialy when they blatantly screw up like this.

Good luck, - Jeff G

Sorry to hear the problem.

You should send out the oil for inspection, that is for sure! Before you go to the regional/national office, talk to owner and/or general manager. Give the shop the chance to fix the problem before you go to the next level. At least they should pay for the towing, cover the oil change, pay for oil inspection, and give some perks to make up for the time and incoveance. If they don't do anything, then goto the regional level.

embarrassing,

embarrassing,

Should have come to Panama City Toyota. On Wednesdays you could get your nails done. (shameful attempt at humor). Anyway, they are all the same, PC Toyota called and asked why they haven't seen my wife's car lately. Told them they won't see it again since it bled oil in the carport the last time they saw it. Dumbasses didn't let the filter drain then left the oil in the cross member under the engine.

I would not count on seeing any rocket scientist doing oil changes or tire rotations.

Andy K.

(raising hand here).

'Course it IS my own truck :)

--- Rich

Sounds more like a Ford dealership than Toyota?

embarrassing,

The last I checked, Toyota didn't engineer the mechanics.

embarrassing,

I'd say his attitude is rather cavalier, and they owe you a new truck. Let that service manager have yours - if he wants it.

Next time, do your own service. It's cheaper, and you'll know for sure who to blame if it goes badly.

BTW, don't ever valet park your car/truck. Trust me.

Tom S

They do not owe you a new truck, worst case scenario is they owe you a prefect fix to your engine. Low on oil doesnt mean there was any damage, and it surely wont damage the rest of the truck, even if it ran completely out of oil! Get realistic.

I don't think there is any major damage, e.g., truck seems to run fine, but

4.5 quarts low on a 6.5 quart system is not "low", that's nearly empty! I plan on getting an oil analysis on the 2 quarts drained from the truck.

Service Manager at the Dealer told me, "your truck's fine don't worry about it...document our conversation if you want....bah, bah, bah."

Lesson learned - NEVER drive-off from any (dealer included) oil change place without first checking your oil! Second lesson learned - DO IT YOURSELF!

-Jay

While it is true that running the engine low on oil wouldn't damage the rest of the truck, how would you remunerate this guy for the inconvenience of having his truck tied up for God knows how long while the engine is swapped for a new one from the factory? And don't even _suggest_ that he should let these bozos attempt to rebuild/repair the existing engine! If they aren't competent to change the oil, I sure as hell wouldn't trust them to do anything beyond emptying the ashtrays.

Sure, the service manager _could_ be right about there being no damage to the engine from running it nearly out of oil, but that motor may very well fail well after the warranty has expired, but _significantly_ earlier than its normal life expectancy - which I'd put at 250K miles, minimum.

AFAIC, the best solution is for them to give this guy a new truck and sell his "damaged goods" to someone else, with a full warranty, at a deep discount. That way nobody gets hurt except for the dealer, and he can write it off on his taxes. That's what I would expect in his position, after spending 30+K on a new vehicle. After all, it's a _Toyota_ - not a Yugo!

Tom S

"Sure, the service manager _could_ be right about there being no damage to the engine from running it nearly out of oil, but that motor may very well fail well after the warranty has expired, but _significantly_ earlier than its normal life expectancy - which I'd put at 250K miles, minimum."

I agree and that's my main concern! I wonder if I called another Toyota dealership and told them I went to "an oil change place" and they forgot to put 4.5 quarts of oil in my engine, and I didn't notice until after I'd been driving around for a while, what they would say? Void the warranty on the engine? Suggest a partial teardown to inspect? "Don't worry about it", like this service manager said at Legacy????

-Jay

What's the chances of the OP getting a lawyer to write up an agreement for engine replacement by the jammy lube if the OPs engine barfs from premature wear/or related failure?

I'd think a lawyer (while not cheap or much fun) could come up with such a thing, perhaps even causing goofy lube to put such an agreement together themselves for the OP.

When you can't even pay someone to change your oil properly (or remember to give you ketchup for a bad burger), things are getting scary out there.

Stew

Talk to a lawyer. Demand a replacement motor. Shoot for a new crate motor if possible but a certified rebuilt should be fine. And above all else document everything!

Bard

None of this is going to happen. Just because the engine oil capacity was low, doesnt mean the engine ran out of oil. At 2.5 qts of oil, the engine was always lubricated. As for the inconveinence, a loaner car, some free oil changes (with all the oil this time;-). Just for the sake of argument, lets assume the engine was damaged, they'd install a new shortblock, and damaged heads would be replaced too. But they dont have a complete engine ass'y.

You have a full warranty and this will not void it.

Waste of time, we have to determine damage had occured, this would require bearing inspection, if there was no damage (and I bet there isnt) then reinstall the parts and kick it out.

There may not be any damage. But the low oil pressure and rough running engine would make me want to know for sure.

Bard