Threw a rod, just my luck........

[mgalbra]

I was driving my 2002 4Runner this weekend , and without warning I threw a rod through my engine block. I immediately thought it was an oil filter issue since I had gotten my oil changed and a tune up done a couple weeks ago. The oil filter had broken off the engine block sometime during the tow, but the housing was still attached to the filter. I've gotten routine maintenance done on it, so I'm not sure what the problem is or what my next option is. I really don't want to pay $4000 for a new engine. Has anyone heard of anything like this, or was this just a freakish accident?

 

[JP4RNR]

I was driving my 2002 4Runner this weekend , and without warning I threw a rod through my engine block. I immediately thought it was an oil filter issue since I had gotten my oil changed and a tune up done a couple weeks ago. The oil filter had broken off the engine block sometime during the tow, but the housing was still attached to the filter. I've gotten routine maintenance done on it, so I'm not sure what the problem is or what my next option is. I really don't want to pay $4000 for a new engine. Has anyone heard of anything like this, or was this just a freakish accident?

How many miles are on your engine? For a Toyota I would say freak incident. I assume that is the V6 you have and I have never heard of those engines throwing a rod. The only issue I have heard about were the headgaskets leaking

 

[mgalbra]

it had just over 100,000 miles on it. It just doesn't make any sense, especially when I've had routine maintenance done on it.

 

[MikeInNH]

Even Toyota will have problems every now and then....just a lot less frequency then other manufacturers.

Are you sure when the filter fell off?? No oil in a running engine is a GREAT way to throw a rod.

$4000?? I'm assuming that's a NEW short-block. I'd also consider a low mileage used engine. Should be a lot cheaper.

 

[mgalbra]

The dipstick said it was full of oil, and I haven't seen any spots in my driveway, or work, or garage. It's just strange. The $4000 was for a used engine with 43,000 miles on it. My checkbook told me to look into other options.

 

[tomhaney1]

Ok, what exactly do you mean by, "The oil filter had broken off the engine block sometime during the tow, but the housing was still attached to the filter." From what I'm picturing, a hell of alot of pressure would have to be made to cause that to happen. If you meant the filter was loose from the block then the idiot who changed the oil could have not tightened it properly and you very well could have lost oil pressure, ergo bye-bye engine. You should have noticed the low oil pressure and a code should be present if that happened.

 

[Hank]

That's what I was thinking also. If it was a loose oil filter that wasn't screwed on tight enough by the mechanic who did your oil change, I smell a law suit. However, if it was a structural failure or crack of the housing, then it may or may not be a legal/warranty issue with Toyota. Either way, I wish you the best of luck.

 

[mgalbra]

the filter being loose was the first thing I thought of. The best I can figure is that when the rod blew, it came out so close to the oil filter that it must have left it hanging. Sometime during the bouncing of the tow, the filter fell off with the "male" end of the housing still screwed into it.

 

[tomhaney1]

The dipstick said it was full of oil, and I haven't seen any spots in my driveway, or work, or garage. It's just strange. The $4000 was for a used engine with 43,000 miles on it. My checkbook told me to look into other options.

That actually seems like a fair price, assuming it's complete. Otherwise, as long as the block is still good you could always contract a shop to build it with better components. Probably would cost you about the same...