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Iowa4Runner
New member
Without getting into the engine it may be tough to determine exactly what happened. Was the oil pressure light on prior to the explosion? Did the engine sound and perform normally prior to the explosion? I suppose you could have had a lubrication related piston or rod bearing seizure. Maybe they overfilled the crankcase. Hard to say...
The engine ran and sounded ok when I drove off the dealer in street speed, but as soon as I stepped on the gas to accelerate the car to the freeway speed, the engine suddenly "boom" and exploded.
The oil warning light lit up about a second or two after the engine explosion.
P.S. Would overfilling the oil cause engine explosion like this? Thanks for shedding any light
With best regards,
- Alex.
The oil warning light lit up about a second or two after the engine explosion.
P.S. Would overfilling the oil cause engine explosion like this? Thanks for shedding any light
With best regards,
- Alex.
toybox
New member
The oil filter and drain plug were there BUT did they put any oil into it? Did you check to see afterwards if there was any oil in the engine.
It wouldn't be the first time something like that has happened. JiffyLube did it to a car I once owned, Thankfully I figured it out before anything happened.
It wouldn't be the first time something like that has happened. JiffyLube did it to a car I once owned, Thankfully I figured it out before anything happened.
Iowa4Runner
New member
If the oil pressure light didn't come on until after the explosion, I would think the engine wasn't running dry, but it's not a 100% certainty. If they grossly overfilled the crankcase it might be possible to get oil into places where its incompressibility would cause parts to break. I have no idea how likely that is. Maybe they dropped something into the engine when they removed the oil fill cap. Or maybe it was your engine's time to go and it happened to coincide with an oil change...
peter78
Super Moderator
You would think if you had no oil the oil light would come on before it blew. Also if you overfill the crankcase churns up the oil making foam and causing the engine to starve of oil.
My guess is the oil change had something to do with it. I wonder if you could find out what the oil level is in the car now? Or did it go all over the road when it blew.
My guess is the oil change had something to do with it. I wonder if you could find out what the oil level is in the car now? Or did it go all over the road when it blew.
alotawatts
New member
Oil change only ? What does the dealer say ? drain and measure the oil ?
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After it happened, I towed the car directly from freeway back to the dealer. They unscrewed the oil drain plug, and pretty much all the oil was gone (there was a shotgun-hole size hole in the engine block).
Of course, the dealer didn't admit anything was wrong with them or the oil change. The dealer's senior mechanic walked up and said that it was a Toyota (car company) problem, and the Service Manager just gave me a phone number to call Toyota.
I guess no body at the dealer wanted to take the responsiblity (or the blame), so they all point the finger to the Toyota (car company)....
With best regards,
- Alex.
My car has about 95,000 miles on it. In fact I just had the same dealer performed a 90K tune-up on the car a few months ago.
When called Toyota (car company), they said they looked up the Service Bulletin and didn't see any record about my model and problem, so nothing they could do.
When I talked to the dealer, its mechanic said that he had seen something like that before and said I need to talk to Toyota (car company) not the dealer for the problem.
They are pointing their fingers to each other....
With best regards,
- Alex.
Let me put it this was i have a 92 4runner. Its been tuned up twice. The maintence was never followed by the previous owner but they did change the oil every 5k. The timing belt was first replaced by toyota when it broke @ 150k and then @ 226k by me
. Today the same original engine will still start on the first crank at 228k miles!!!! Those engines are designed to run in hell :satan: . They must have done something wrong. Take legal action!
. Today the same original engine will still start on the first crank at 228k miles!!!! Those engines are designed to run in hell :satan: . They must have done something wrong. Take legal action!
trd_style
New member
did you find a wrench inside your engine when you checked it? :arrow:
but if there wasn't any oil, the engine shouldn't start. it might start but after few seconds, it will shut off. so that couldn't be the issue. they 'could' put in the wrong oil. my brother didn't change his oil on his Accord and his piston blew due to no oil change. hehe. but THAT might be the issue. check your oil stick to see if your oil is clear and not 'dark black'. but i'm pretty sure Toyota should/have to fix or at least help with the problem. if not, you should sue the dealership.
but yes, i have nearly 140k on my '97 and i plan to keep it until i'm 25 (maybe). i am currently 19 and after this, i'm going for a luxury car but might go back to another 3rd gen 4Runner again. i change my own oil and mostly do my own tune-up.
but if there wasn't any oil, the engine shouldn't start. it might start but after few seconds, it will shut off. so that couldn't be the issue. they 'could' put in the wrong oil. my brother didn't change his oil on his Accord and his piston blew due to no oil change. hehe. but THAT might be the issue. check your oil stick to see if your oil is clear and not 'dark black'. but i'm pretty sure Toyota should/have to fix or at least help with the problem. if not, you should sue the dealership.
but yes, i have nearly 140k on my '97 and i plan to keep it until i'm 25 (maybe). i am currently 19 and after this, i'm going for a luxury car but might go back to another 3rd gen 4Runner again. i change my own oil and mostly do my own tune-up.
trd_style
New member
marko3xl3 said:
like i said, if you got your car back from the dealership and you start it up at the dealership, you aren't going anywhere. the reason why it would start up and later turn off is because there is still enough oil to start the engine. but then, when not enough oil go through the engine, it will shut off. but after that sentence you quoted, "so that couldn't be the issue." that was my answer.
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