HELP! Oil change disaster.

[atalarico]

Hey all,

So, today was my first time changing my oil on my 97 V6 4Runner.

My first problem was that I misremembered the whole thing about tightening your oil filter. I used the wrench to tighten and then backed off 3/4. As I was doing this I knew something wasn't right, so I came up to check online and realized it was HAND tighten. So, I went back down and un-threaded the filter and tightened it by hand until it was snug and then I backed off 3/4.

According to the manual, the oil capacity should be 5.5 quarts. I bought a giant 5.28 quart bottle of Mobil One Synth 10w-30 and a single quart bottle. I emptied the 5.28 quarts into the engine, and then about .2 from the single quart bottle, thinking this would bring me up to 5.5.

I started the engine and idling and revving for a few minutes.

I shut it off and checked the dipstick. I was WAY over the top fill line. It was the same distance between the low oil and the top fill above the top fill line. Thinking it was just the oil needing to settle, I went to clean up and make some dinner. I came back down to go out, and the oil was still the same distance over the top fill line. I figured I didn't wait long enough.

Well, then I went to drive it. Something is seriously wrong. When I press the gas the engine struggles to get going. I turned around after less than .1 miles and barely got home. I knew something was wrong, so the first place I started was draining about 2 quarts of oil out of the oil pan. However, after initial gush of oil, there's very little coming from the pan now. The oil fill cap was off, so there should be adequate air flow. The dipstick is still showing way over, and it seems like there is a pressure issue.

What is happening, what do I do? I'm freaking out a little.

 

[atalarico]

Oh crap. I'm realizing that I think I just drained my transmission fluid and. Crrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaap!!!!

Going to drain the oil now...under the skid plate. So stupid. Soooo stupid.

What do I do now? Get it towed to the dealership?

 

[02SE]

Why are you backing off the oil filter 3/4 turn after hand tightening? Hand tighten and leave it alone.

Can you take a pic of the drain plug you removed to drain the oil, it sounds like you might have removed the transmission pan plug by mistake.

 

[quicksilvr]

I think you actually lost a bunch of oil from not tightening the filter enough. The only real way to fix this problem is to start over. Drain all the oil. Remove the filter. Clean the filter gasket, and clean the filter mounting point. Re install the drain plug. Then re-install your oil filter. Make it hand tight, about as tight as you can get it by hand without going crazy. DON't back it off! The general rule is to tighten it 3/4 of a turn after it first makes contact. I think you got that part backwards. I usually get about 3/4 to 1 whole turn out of my filters after the gasket makes contact.


Then refill with oil. 5.5 quarts. Start the truck, let it idle for 20 seconds, then shut it off. Let it sit for at least an hour.

Then come back, pull the dipstick, wipe it off, re-insert it and THEN read it.

 

[quicksilvr]

Oh crap. I'm realizing that I think I just drained my transmission fluid and. Crrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaap!!!!

Going to drain the oil now...under the skid plate. So stupid. Soooo stupid.

What do I do now? Get it towed to the dealership?

Yeah, that's a bad mistake but hopefully not the end of the world. If you're not comfortable trying to fix it, yes, get it towed to a reputable mechanic.

What you really need to do is to do a proper oil change, and then simply refill your transmission with about 5 quarts of ATF. That's all the dealership will do.

 

[atalarico]

****. That's exactly what happened.

I found the oil drain plug and let it go. However, not realizing I had 5 extra quarts of oil in my engine, it went alllllllllllll over.

I hear cat litter works well to soak it up?

I'm so screwed. Can I just add tranny fluid and refill the oil, or do I have to get this towed?

 

[02SE]

You posted while I was typing. Sorry to hear that.

If you have the appropriate ATF to refill the trans to the proper level, and know how to refill it through the trans dipstick tube, I'd do that.

As for the engine oil, you need to at least drain off the excess oil to get to the proper level. The 'Runner needs to be parked on a level surface to determine that.

 

[bgmac]

__________________
1997 4-Runner Limited w/e-locker. Coming soon: OME 2.5" lift

Im thinking you may not want to tackle the upcoming lift project on your own....just saying!

 

[atalarico]

Thanks for the help, all. I just freaked out quite a bit. Order of operations is to cat littler the oil, and figure out the transmission fluid part. Luckily, there is an autozone in biking distance, so the oil is no big deal.

I just sincerely hope I didn't do major damage to my engine or any seals.

Leave it to me to mess up an oil change.

 

[atalarico]

__________________
1997 4-Runner Limited w/e-locker. Coming soon: OME 2.5" lift

Im thinking you may not want to tackle the upcoming lift project on your own....just saying!

I sincerely hope this is an attempt at humoring me right now to make me feel better.

I've been working on my own cars since I was a teenager, but this engine is a whole new animal for me. I definitely should have realized what was happening when a.) the oil was pink (although, the for being transmission fluid, it was dark as hell) b.) the "oil pan" was draining was nowhere near the underside of the engine.

Live and learn.

 

[ogden8]

This is awesome. I am sorry to be a jerk, I am just glad I am not the only one this **** happens to.

At least nothing catastrophic happened. This seems like a reasonably easy fix.

As far as soaking up the oil, cat litter will work, but look out for the saw dust type cat litter. I think that would soak better than clay based litter.

 

[zcruiser]

__________________
1997 4-Runner Limited w/e-locker. Coming soon: OME 2.5" lift

Im thinking you may not want to tackle the upcoming lift project on your own....just saying!

My thought too.

Don't forget to use a fresh crush washer on both plugs, and don't over-torque them. And yes, hand-tighten only on the oil filter, no need to back off.

 

[Gerdo]

Drain the oil. Spin off the filter and make sure that the gasket is properly seated, and that the old one didn't stick to the engine. Spin on the filter and hand tighten, do not back off. Refill the oil. Refill the transmission. Start the engine, turn off, let it sit a minute then check the oil level. Warm up and drive around some, check the trans fluid level while running.

The good news is, you did a trans fluid change.

Unless you drove far or hard or long, you probably didn't damage anything.

The dealership isn't going to do anything different unless the transmission slips or the engine leaks oil.

 

[02SE]

I'm so screwed. Can I just add tranny fluid and refill the oil, or do I have to get this towed?

If you have the right ATF, Dexron II or compatible which the bottle will say, and enough of it, you can refill the trans after reinstalling the transmission pan plug. You're putting in the same amount you drained, not the total system capacity, most of which is still in the torque convertor. You'll need a funnel that fits in the trans dipstick tube.

None of this is hard, but it has to be done correctly. If your not comfortable at this point with doing the work, I'd get it towed to a reputable shop, and make sure they know it has no engine oil, and that the ATF is low.

I doubt you did any damage to the engine with the short period of running with the oil overfilled. The trans should be okay too.

Any questions you have, ask.

 

[atalarico]

Thanks for the advice. All the shops are closed, so I'm going to a friends for a much needed drink. Cat littered the crap out of the garage floor.

I'll head to autozone tomorrow and get a tiny funnel for the trans (which I found the dipstick), ATF, and another 5.2 quart of oil.

The disappointing part is that I really sprung for the good stuff this change. Mobil 1 synth with a nice filter (the dealership parts dept is closed on Sundays so OEM filter was out of the question). Even though AutoZone was doing a deal of $39 for 5.2 quart and mobil one filter, it's still $40 down the drain.

=/

I'll check the gasket tomorrow. Should I remove the trans pan and change the trans filter while I'm at it? The fluid was very dark, indicating it was needed, but I don't want to ruin the new fluid with the old filter.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Although I have never gone this far (I did once try and tighten down two gaskets on the block where the oil filter goes, not a pretty site), I have had friends leave the filler cap off, the oil drain plug left out while putting new oil in, and over torque the drain bolt so it stripped the threads on the oil pan.

Chalk it up to a learning experience. I bet you never do it again in your life. Old mechanic told me two wise things: never work on your automobile at night unless one has to and/or has done the work before and to always go over your auto from bumper to bumper before doing any work on it to make a mental picture of everything.

 

[atalarico]

Although I have never gone this far (I did once try and tighten down two gaskets on the block where the oil filter goes, not a pretty site), I have had friends leave the filler cap off, the oil drain plug left out while putting new oil in, and over torque the drain bolt so it stripped the threads on the oil pan.

Chalk it up to a learning experience. I bet you never do it again in your life. Old mechanic told me two wise things: never work on your automobile at night unless one has to and/or has done the work before and to always go over your auto from bumper to bumper before doing any work on it to make a mental picture of everything.

That is sage advice. It's true, I tend not to make the same mistake twice. In hindsight, my neighbors must have thought I was having a coronary as I was running around looking for more containers for oil.

I started the whole process at 3pm, but I just figured the oil needed to settle so I'd check it before going out for the night. Again, won't do that twice.

Gooood times. So, who's up for helping me with my lift kit?! Hah ha! Kidding.

Thanks again for the advice all. I'm glad I didn't ruin my engine.

 

[CoMarc]

I just got done changing my oil back on Wednesday night! Not being my first oil change on this vehicle it went a lot smoother than it had ever gone before (other than my oil tub sprang a leak and my shirt got soaked in oil). The only way I got to this point was making mistakes and learning from the first few oil changes. Live and learn!



As for your lift kit, good luck and as always ask questions! (see my thread on my lift as proof that I knew little and asked a lot).

 

[electronics4u]

Pink Oil??

I sincerely hope this is an attempt at humoring me right now to make me feel better.

I've been working on my own cars since I was a teenager, but this engine is a whole new animal for me. I definitely should have realized what was happening when a.) the oil was pink (although, the for being transmission fluid, it was dark as hell) b.) the "oil pan" was draining was nowhere near the underside of the engine.

Live and learn.

You said that the tranny fluid was pink. I am assuming you meant red right? If it was pink and milky, then you could have a whole set of problems coming. For me it ended up with a new radiator and a tranny rebuild. My suggestion to you would be before you spring for the lift, get a tranny cooler. Pun was intended.

 

[Supra725]

sorry to hear about your disaster mate.

for measuring the last .5 quart, I use an ratio cup... haven't failed me since..

Cycle Gear - RATIO RITE: Measuring/Mixing Container,

I use cat litter too to soak it up but haven't had an single drip for the past 2 years changing the oil..

if you have an Costco Membership, sometimes they have an $9 dollars coupon off Mobil 1. I picked up 6 quarts (1 case) for a little over $24 dollars + the cost of filter..

good luck mate.