Loose Oil Filter - BLOWN Engine!

Hey everyone! My 2019 Tacoma had a significant oil leak in the driveway so I had it towed into the dealership. I did have to turn it on for 30 seconds to line it up for the tow truck, no clanking. I got a call from the dealership saying that my engine is knocking like crazy and blown and the oil filter was loose/off. They are blaming another shop that did my oil change for not locking on the filter, but that was 4 months ago! I’m calling bullshit and think they’re covering something. My questions are, 1.) Is there ANY way the filter could have come loose on its own? I thought they locked on but I did get suck in some gravel/mud a day earlier and had to be pulled out. It was a minor incident and I don’t drive hard, but I certainly wonder if the oil filter coming loose was related. 2.) The dealership is adamant that this won’t be covered by our warranty. Any hope there? The dealership has been very rude and so I’m wondering about reaching out to Toyota 1-800 directly. Any suggestions on how to reach someone with Toyota who will care about helping me navigate this catastrophe? Thank you!!!

 

Well, if the filter assembly came loose (which I guess is possible but I also guess would be extremely rare if done right), then I can see why the dealer is taking the "it's not Toyota's fault" stance. Not sure what you are expecting them to do here, but you maybe SOL. Did you ever get a low oil pressure light?

 

I’m thinking you banged it up while getting unstuck since it was ok up until you got stuck. It’s only a plastic filter housing.

 

That sucks.
I'm assuming you have the V6?
I can't see how the filter housing would have been damaged from using the truck. It's tucked up above the skid plate. You would have had to smash it.
There is a locking clip on the engine that keeps the plastic housing from turning in the event it is loose.
If it sounded fine in the driveway, I'd ask them to replace the filter, housing, and clip and take it somewhere else for an opinion on the knocking.

 

Since you got stuck in mud and gravel it’s possible the gravel could have put a hole in the filter housing, or the suction of the mud could have been just strong enough to pull the filter housing down and strip the plastic threads. Ask to see the defective parts and see what damage there is on the filter housing.

 

Tree limbs or a root can go any which way if there were some. But very unlucky.

 

There should have been ample warnings prior losing enough oil to blow your engine.............. such as oil pressure light coming on and I can understand a gradual oil leak, however a massive oil leak all of a sudden would be highly unlikely.

 

First off I'm sorry to hear of your misfortune. As was mentioned, the skid plate would/should have protected the filter housing unless it got dented into it and somehow broke it. One would think if it was loose or coming loose you'd have seen some oil before and not all at once. Furthermore you'd have seen an oil trail when you moved it for the tow unless it was totally empty which should have lit up your instrument cluster like a xmas tree. Hard to fathom why you heard no noise and then they said it's knocking like hell. Did they run it without refilling the oil? May want to have it towed to another dealer if they're being asses. Where was the last oil change done? At a dealership or other shop? If it was a dealership this would all be on them I would think. Best of luck, hope they take care of this for you.

 

You don't state if you checked your oil level when you noticed the leak. If the engine is really knocking due to no oil there should be a trial of oil and the undercarriage should have evidence of 4-5 quarts of oil being blown back during 4 months of driving. With no evidence like that you are sadly out of luck. If the Toyota diagnosis says for a fact something was loose or improperly installed the oil change shop is at fault. Of course that shop will say why didn't you notice any leak before the knocking. Good luck.

 

Unless you can prove fault, it is on you. Maybe you can get something from your auto insurance (assuming you have mechanical coverage).

 

Long read but great points made here OP.

 

The low engine oil light should have came on before this happened if it caused damage . I would open a case with Toyota to see if they will do a 1 time good will repair for it . Best of luck .

 

First off, i'd go talk to the dealer and ask to see the truck and/or pictures. We're all speculating but ask for photos of whats happening and some more details

 

The big ass skid plate is covering that filter, so if you did sit it on ground, I am sure plate has some marks to show it. I don't think your off roading did it.

I just have one question since it is not mentioned. Do you check your oil every week?

4 months is long time. If you never checked your dipstick all that time, filter was probably installed improperly and kept bleeding little by little all that time. Until, eventually it got worse and squirted.

Engine then obviously started knocking since there was no oil left inside.

 

I wonder how much oil was in the engine when the dealership decided to start it up... and why would they even start it with oil leaking from a loose/off filter? The reason it was brought in was for an oil leak... you'd think that would be the first thing they'd check.

 

I have a hard time believing the dealer is being honest.

 

Who changed the oil last? Your BF, a quick-lube, or a real shop?

This is tough;
It's hard for me to read/believe/listen to this- A real tow company asked you to start a vehicle,,, knowing damn well, that they are there to tow a vehicle due to significant oil loss. Unless they didn't get the memo, and sorry to pour salt in the wound, but there is no way in hell I would have started it,, just to line it up for him, to make his life easy. I would've told him to drag it up on the rollback, or get his lazy ass on down the road empty.

 

Do not tell them or anyone else this

I did get suck in some gravel/mud a day earlier and had to be pulled out. It was a minor incident and I don’t drive hard, but I certainly wonder if the oil filter coming loose was related.

 

I'd be the first to say dealers are often sketchy, sometimes downright sleazy.

BUT -
1. You had a "significant oil leak"
2. It's unknown how long/hard you drove it with it "leaking"
3. At some point you decided it needed towing...why? Was it knocking or was it the 5 ft circle of oil on the driveway?
4. You knew it had a "signicant leak" and you started it anyway?
5. As if all the above isn't enough, I get the feeling there's more to the story either by admission or you don't know/realize it

From what has been revealed, this is in no way a warranty claim. I doubt it's on the shop that changed the oil either, since it didn't leak for 4 months. The only relevant action pointing to the cause is being stuck/towed. What happened there is unclear, but any reasonable person would conclude something damaged the filter housing. Since you didn't investigate yourself you left it up to the dealer.

Unless there is something else you haven't shared, this is on you.