Drove 40 miles with NO OIL

[repo]

I took the 4runner in for an oil change yesterday. Now today I drove about 40 miles and when I got home I saw a small pool of oil in the drive way (didn't see it when backing out this morning). I look under the 4runner and there is oil splattered on everything. There is a RAG stuck under the skid plater where the oil drain is. I check the dip stick... NO OIL. Obviously they forgot to finish the oil change.

Is my engine lost?

 

[toto]

I'm sure it's possible to have oil in the crankcase that doesn't register on the stick. The difference between the high and low marks is usually about 1 quart, and there isn't much stick left below the low mark. A tiny bit of oil will make a huge splatter under the truck, so don't take that as the only measurement. The first time I changed the oil on my truck, some of the drain oil landed on the skid plate and made a splatter mess after I drove it. The plug was tight and no leak - it was the old oil that got caught on the plate on the way out.

The oil pressure warning light didn't come on? No check engine light, either? If not, it's probably not destroyed, but it's still a pretty ugly situation. Definitely don't drive it any more until you can get this resolved. Is the drain plug missing, or was it just loose under the rag? Also check the filter to make sure it's not leaking.

If the plug is in, they could have underfilled it. If it was not a dealer, they might not have known that a V6 takes 5.5 quarts or a V8 takes 6.5.

Just so we can avoid the place, which fine establishment did this to your truck?

 

[repo]

I didn't notice any lights come on when I was driving but I was really paying attention. I don't know how much is in there, I just saw oil splattered on the underside and that rag stuck in there, although the rag looked pretty dry.

I was getting a transfer case seal replaced along with the oil change. They called me to say the oil change was done and she was ready to go but they didn't have the correct seal until the next day, so I left it with them over night. I don't know if they drained the oil and forgot to replace it or replaced it and forgot the plug. They at least put the sticker on the window.

I'm going to have them come over and look at it after I've taken some pics of the 'evidence'.

I've heard good reccomendations of this place and I beleive it was an honest mistake. I guess they probably have some dumb teenager for doing the oil changes. It still shouldnt have happened.

 

[AlphaQup]

you'll be lucky if your cylinder walls are not scourged beyond recognition. I'm sure you'll be alright if you didnt drive it too far. Be sure to get some sort of compensation for this BS.

After they inspect it and the oil has been added, watch for signs of white smoke from the tail pipe. If it smokes, your in trouble. Don't be scared if it's just your regular morning condensation smoke though.

 

[repo]

*False alarm*

I got under there in the daylight and the drain plug is in there tight, the rag was just left there when they checked the filter. It looks like oil dripped down on everything when they were checking it. The oil level was ok this morning in the daylight with a cold engine. They added another quart and cleaned the off the underside.

I still have some oil leaking around the transfer case skid guard. They said they used a 3rd party seal not a Toyota one. It used to leak ATF but now its leaking oil

 

[toto]

Clean the skid plate thoroughly, and then check it again after the next time you drive it. What you're seeing could just be leftover mess from the oil change.

 

[JungleJim]

The oil level was ok this morning in the daylight with a cold engine. They added another quart and cleaned the off the underside.

Why did they add a quart of oil if the oil lever was okay? Too much oil can be worse than being a little low.

 

[repo]

It was in the lower half when I checked this morning. When the engine is hot it the oil was very light and hard to see. They checked it when I got there and had a hard time reading it also. They did say it's better to have a little too less oil that too much and they know what they were doing better than me. Couldn't find any leaks or anything up front when it was up on the lift so I don't know. I couldnt tell if the stuff on the transfer case was engine oil or gear oil.