Toyota Tech forgets to put oil in a 14 T4R for 20k service!

[GeneGrit]

So I pick up my 2014 T4R SR5 from the dealer today after the 20,000 mile service. I get in the truck, turn it on, and see immediately that the oil light is on. I immediately turn the truck off, and check the oil. NO OIL!!!!! I go speak with the Service Advisor and he tells me to hold on. He comes back and says they added oil in it and that "with these new 4Runners it needs a little more oil than the old ones did, that's all." I go out to check the oil again, when the Service Manager comes out with the Tech in question. He admits he forgot to add the oil, because, as they saw on the cameras, he got "distracted". So the truck was run with NO OIL!! They gave me the 30,000 mile service for free now.

Question I have is, does anyone here have any insight into if any damage would be done to the engine with the truck being driven from the bay to the lot, and me starting it and idling it for a few minutes? Was far less than one mile, probably around 5 minutes, and the RPMS shouldn't have gone far past idling RPM. Engine sounds and drives fine, just like before.

Also should I accept their free service for this f up or should I go to higher management at the dealership or corporate?

Any comments advice are appreciated.

 

[cashmoney]

If I'm reading correctly you started it and then shut it off immediately. If that's the case I'd take the free service, have them make a note in your file with signatures stating the events, get a copy for yourself, top off the oil, and not think a thing of it. More than likely you didn't cause any damage. Speaking from experience on this from being a dumb kid.

 

[ST1FLER]

in for the "You should get a new 4runner for free" crowd comments

 

[NHinAK]

I'd be pretty pissed for sure. Honestly, I'd be asking for an extension on the 6/60 power train warranty.

 

[05Rrunner]

So I pick up my 2014 T4R SR5 from the dealer today after the 20,000 mile service. I get in the truck, turn it on, and see immediately that the oil light is on. I immediately turn the truck off, and check the oil. NO OIL!!!!! I go speak with the Service Advisor and he tells me to hold on. He comes back and says they added oil in it and that "with these new 4Runners it needs a little more oil than the old ones did, that's all." I go out to check the oil again, when the Service Manager comes out with the Tech in question. He admits he forgot to add the oil, because, as they saw on the cameras, he got "distracted". So the truck was run with NO OIL!! They gave me the 30,000 mile service for free now.

Question I have is, does anyone here have any insight into if any damage would be done to the engine with the truck being driven from the bay to the lot, and me starting it and idling it for a few minutes? Was far less than one mile, probably around 5 minutes, and the RPMS shouldn't have gone far past idling RPM. Engine sounds and drives fine, just like before.

Also should I accept their free service for this f up or should I go to higher management at the dealership or corporate?

Any comments advice are appreciated.

These dealer oil changes nightmares never end,
scary thing to me if it were my truck I would be pretty upset , this is what I would do , copy owners manual about proper oil level and what happens if it runs low. Contact Toyota corprate and tell them your truck was ran without oil ( don't tell them how it happened yet) see what they say. It should be documented with Toyota Corp and dealer in writing explaining what happened. If you as a customer ran the truck out of oil the warranty would be void , so it should be void if they do it and some measures should be taken to make you whole again . No one can say for sure how much it was ran without oil or how much damage was done. He had to drive it to move it and if the oil light came right on it was dry already. Running a motor with no oil is the death of it . Modern motors have tight tolerances and oil is critical. I'm not tryin to scare you but this could be serious . Protect yourself , and your investment !
Good luck

 

[aimalick]

I'd be pretty pissed for sure. Honestly, I'd be asking for an extension on the 6/60 power train warranty.

I'd be sure that motor is covered for as long as you own it, in writing from the dealer. no other option IMO.

 

[GeneGrit]

Thank you for your input 05Runner. I am thinking its a good idea to loop corporate into this.

 

[DEERUNNER]

You should get a new 4Runner. For free.

 

[NHinAK]

I'd be sure that motor is covered for as long as you own it, in writing from the dealer. no other option IMO.

The problem is, is that's not a reasonable request. If he keeps the truck, and the motor lets go at 500k, should toyota still be required to provide a new one due to a screw-up 480k miles ago? OP, be realistic and they'll be more apt to work with you without fighting/dragging their feet. Cover your ass, just be realistic about what you request.

 

[jwkilgore]

If I'm reading correctly you started it and then shut it off immediately. If that's the case I'd take the free service, have them make a note in your file with signatures stating the events, get a copy for yourself, top off the oil, and not think a thing of it. More than likely you didn't cause any damage. Speaking from experience on this from being a dumb kid.

I'd be more worried about how long the engine was running to get it from the service bay to the parking spot. Less than a minute? Crank and idle for a few minutes? Crank and idle for a while as the tech took a break to listen to a few songs?

You shouldn't have any problems unless it was running for several minutes. But otherwise, the advice above is sound. Make sure everything is documented so you'll have a case if you start to have engine problems just past warranty.

 

[Thelonius]

I agree with the extended warranty scenario. Seems reasonable to me.

 

[CF_Machete]

Hells no! Another one? Get a new truck like 4RunRunFun did. Granted, your's has some more mileage, but a tech f-up like that could do more damage then you know. Might want to check your oil pan for metal shavings.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/206862-answer-about-500-yards.html

 

[Blitzkrieg]

In reality, there is enough oil on the surfaces of the bearings that if the truck were just run long enough to move it from the bay, there was likely no harm done.

Do a Google for "Cash For Clunkers Videos" and you will be surprised at how long some of those engines actually held on after having that Obama derived silica/concrete shit poured in them and then revved until they locked up.

That being said, if this were my new 4Runner they can take their free oil change and shove it up their butts. I would be pissed beyond belief and would demand a whole lot more than that.

But, that would never be me because my vehicles will never see an oil change by anyone but me and my careful and attentive hands. Nobody loves your vehicle as much as you. Nobody.

And not to state the obvious, but HTF one takes a vehicle out of the service bay and parks it and does not notice the oil light STILL on is beyond me??? One has to question what else was missed by this clown.

 

[T4R2014]

And not to state the obvious, but HTF one takes a vehicle out of the service bay and parks it and does not notice the oil light STILL on is beyond me??? One has to question what else was missed by this clown.

You would be surprised at the amount of people that simply do not notice the idiot lights on their dash. People will jump in and drive off with the e-brake up for miles. I'm pretty sure my aunt did a 50 miles mile trip with the e-brake engaged after I parked her car. She didn't even know what that magical lever did, let alone know how to disengage it.

 

[-dustin]

Man, as a wrench, reading stuff like this sucks. I will say, though, I wouldn't go easy on the dealership. More than one person screwed up. Handling employee lapses of concentration is part of doing business. Management knows what the proper solution to the problem is.

Wrenches screw up. That's all there is to it. Show me a mechanic who hasn't screwed up.

 

[wfo9]

There is simply no way to know what damage was done. 100k Powertrain warranty would be the minimal compensation I would accept. Maybe also demand an oil analysis over the next 20k...

Here is another way to look at it. What if you purchased the truck used and saw this on the history report? If it was documented... how much would it diminish the value...

Crazy how often this happens and so easy to prevent with some simple operating procedures.

 

[lilsid112]

Believe this happened to another member here about a couple months ago with a PRO. Dealer ended up buying the his 4runner back for just about the cost of the new one.

It might have been better to just drive off the lot and lock up the motor to insure replacement.

 

[77Bronc]

I'd be more worried about how long the engine was running to get it from the service bay to the parking spot. Less than a minute? Crank and idle for a few minutes? Crank and idle for a while as the tech took a break to listen to a few songs?

You shouldn't have any problems unless it was running for several minutes. But otherwise, the advice above is sound. Make sure everything is documented so you'll have a case if you start to have engine problems just past warranty.

This is my concern. You don't know how long. Like others said, I would get a lifetime warranty in writing and notorized, call Toyota Motor Corp and send them a copy with return receipt.

I had a similar event at a 5 Minute Oil Change on my 2000 Expedition. The tech dropped the oil, I heard him yell "oils out", and then told the top guy to have me start the engine to turn the wheel left to access the filter. I screamed at him "start the engine without oil, are you out your F'ing mind?"

They both stopped and paused and I told the manger to wrap it up and I am not paying for the service or I would report them to the home office, they said fine.

Before I started the engine I had them show me the dip stick level, it was high as normal with filter change, we were good, never been back.

I would not take my 4Runner back to my dealer for an oil change, as I went into their service bay and it looked like Goobers Garage in Mayberry.

77

 

[LandCruiser]

I'd have told them that they just bought the truck at far above book value.

Dealer put on my directional snow tires, that were labeled PR, DR, PF, DF backwards.

How can you **** that up?

 

[ben550]

This is my concern. You don't know how long. Like others said, I would get a lifetime warranty in writing and notorized, call Toyota Motor Corp and send them a copy with return receipt.

I had a similar event at a 5 Minute Oil Change on my 2000 Expedition. The tech dropped the oil, I heard him yell "oils out", and then told the top guy to have me start the engine to turn the wheel left to access the filter. I screamed at him "start the engine without oil, are you out your F'ing mind?"

They both stopped and paused and I told the manger to wrap it up and I am not paying for the service or I would report them to the home office, they said fine.

Before I started the engine I had them show me the dip stick level, it was high as normal with filter change, we were good, never been back.

I would not take my 4Runner back to my dealer for an oil change, as I went into their service bay and it looked like Goobers Garage in Mayberry.

77

Your truck could have idled for 10 minutes in the bay before the tech moved it out to the pickup lot. You really have no idea how long it had been run with no oil. You almost need to watch the video from the shop to determine how many minutes it was on... It's typical to see a tech start the vehicle and let it run while he runs around the bay looking for the paperwork or running the paperwork up to the desk... They are not concerned about wasting your gas if you know what i mean...

If it were me, and I had close to $35k in a vehicle, and the dealer did that, I would expect them to buy it back. No way I would want to drive it after that.

Even at idle, the motor is turning/cycling around 1,000 times a minute... that is a lot of moving with no lubrication... now add in the extra minutes it was on and the driving to the lot from the bay (additional rpm's added) and your probably looking at around 5,000 to 8,000 revolutions with no lubrication... that is bad.