Car busted (piston shot out the side of the engine)

[five40]

Ok, so I was driving on the highway and my car started to make a super loud lawnmower noise then that was followed with a loud bang, smoke, and pieces falling out of the bottom of my car. My car is 7 years old with 77k miles on it and I almost always get all work done at the dealer (it's no longer under warranty). When I had my oil changed last time they seemed to have put different oil in my car...normally the sticker on the windshield is 3months/3k miles, however this last time they changed my oil (less than 500 miles ago with no highway driving) they put oil in that says 6months/5k miles. So I'm thinking the different oil totally busted my engine. What should I do with dealing with the dealer? I think they should be somewhat responsible but I don't know what to say....I can't charge in their and demand money when I know pretty much nothing about cars. I remember reading on here someone who went to jiffy lube or some similar place and they messed up his engine and they offered to repair it all. I don't even care if they repair it or not, I'm going to trade in my car at the dealership tomorrow and get a new car, I just want what I should have received had they not messed up the oil (if they really did break the car...innocent until guilty in my book). It would be nice to get 7k for my car instead of like 500 bucks. What are your thoughts, suggestions, ideas?


Update:

I spent 4 hours today test driving and ended up with a RAV4. The only two cars I was considering before I went in where a Prius and a FJ Cruiser. I was pretty impressed with the Prius but I would have had to wait 2 months unless I wanted a white one for close to 30k. So that was a quick no. I saw the RAV in the showroom and I really liked it but wanted to drive the FJ first. The FJ was nice and fun to drive but hello monster blindspots and no real back seat. The spacing of the interior was just horrible and it only did about 12mpg city. The RAV ended up driving really nice and is a really good car for me right now. On the most surprising note of the day, they gave me 4k for my car with no engine. I had called Toyota corporate before going and had a case number and I think that helped in getting more money, but it also really helped that I had tons of service records and was considered a "premium" customer (probably totally BS but whatever) because my family has purchased more than a handful of cars from them. Considering I thought it was pretty much 0 and ended up getting 4k I was super happy.

Cliffs:

1. car piston shoots out of engine
2. I'm pretty sure dealer put in wrong oil
3. What do I do now?
4. Got 4k for it....go figure

 

[Antisocial Virge]

That sticker is not proof that different oil was used in your car, even if they did, it would not make a connecting rod let go.

 

[five40]

Originally posted by: Antisocial Virge
That sticker is not proof that different oil was used in your car, even if they did, it would not make a connecting rod let go.

Very good to know...I'm a total car noob so this is good information for me.

 

[Greenman]

Throwing a rod is a pretty big deal, unless the drain plug fell out and and all the oil drained out, I don't see how it could be the dealers problem. And even then you should have seen the oil light come on. As far as trading it in goes, it's worthless. Donate the car for a tax write off.

Edit: Just in case you don't know, the engine will have to be pulled out and replaced or rebuilt, a several thousand dollar operation.

 

[five40]

Originally posted by: Greenman
Throwing a rod is a pretty big deal, unless the drain plug fell out and and all the oil drained out, I don't see how it could be the dealers problem. And even then you should have seen the oil light come on. As far as trading it in goes, it's worthless. Donate the car for a tax write off.

Edit: Just in case you don't know, the engine will have to be pulled out and replaced or rebuilt, a several thousand dollar operation.

I figured that replacing the engine will be at least 3-4K that's why I'm just going to get a new car. It's not worth sinking more money into a 7 year old car. To bad tax season isn't for another 9 months. I'm not mad at the dealer (hell I'll be buying another car from them), but it's just odd that after I recently get the oil changed the engine goes to pot when the car doesn't really have that many miles on it (77k for a toyota is nothing).

 

[Kalvin00]

People still fall for that 3k miles/3month scam?


Bwahaha.

 

[five40]

Originally posted by: Kalvin00
People still fall for that 3k miles/3month scam?


Bwahaha.

? Not sure what you mean by that. I probably don't change my oil often enough...more like every 4.5-5 months since I only drive about 600 miles/mon.

 

[BUTCH1]

My dealer OVERFILLED my crankcase by 1 Qt. when changing oil,
it's always a good idea to check it after servicing to be sure it's at
proper level. Might want to check W/Toyota and see if they would help
with the engine problem, throwing a rod @77K is very unusual on a well
maintained engine..

 

[Kalvin00]

Originally posted by: five40

Originally posted by: Kalvin00
People still fall for that 3k miles/3month scam?


Bwahaha.

? Not sure what you mean by that. I probably don't change my oil often enough...more like every 4.5-5 months since I only drive about 600 miles/mon.

3K miles or 3 months is a scam. That's what.

Even 10+ year old vehicles are fine on conventional oil with a 5K miles/1 year basis, provided you use a good filter (NO FRAM!)

 

[five40]

Originally posted by: BUTCH1
My dealer OVERFILLED my crankcase by 1 Qt. when changing oil,
it's always a good idea to check it after servicing to be sure it's at
proper level. Might want to check W/Toyota and see if they would help
with the engine problem, throwing a rod @77K is very unusual on a well
maintained engine..

That's my plan, but I'm not sure how to go about it.

 

[Eli]

Sounds like you ran out of oil.

I also agree that it is fishy that you recently had your oil changed. It is unfortunate that you don't know anything abut cars, otherwise you might be able to pin this on them.

The first thing I would have checked is the level on the dipstick. If there was nothing there, check the filter and drain plugs. Could have cross-threaded the drain plug, or double-gasketed the filter. And if I found anything suspicious, I would have taken pics.

 

[xanis]

It's definitely something to do with the oil. A well-maintained engine doesn't just throw a rod.

Check the level on the dipstick, and see if you can find the oil pan drain plug and see if there's anything unusual. If you find anything unusualy, take pictures and take them along with the service records with you to the dealer.

 

[five40]

Originally posted by: Eli
Sounds like you ran out of oil.

I also agree that it is fishy that you recently had your oil changed. It is unfortunate that you don't know anything abut cars, otherwise you might be able to pin this on them.

The first thing I would have checked is the level on the dipstick. If there was nothing there, check the filter and drain plugs. Could have cross-threaded the drain plug, or double-gasketed the filter. And if I found anything suspicious, I would have taken pics.

I don't think I ran out of oil. It exploded all over the highway; the tow truck driver knew right away that my rod blew out since his first comment was...."you must have heard some loud clanking before that rob blew...there is oil all over the lane in the highway back there." As for all the other stuff you said it just flew right over my head (double-gasketed the filter...can we talk programming? I understand that real well). Also, no engine lights where on at all until the rod shot out. I thought I had a hole in the muffler since it was so damn loud and there where no checkup lights on.

 

[five40]

Originally posted by: Xanis
It's definitely something to do with the oil. A well-maintained engine doesn't just throw a rod.

Check the level on the dipstick, and see if you can find the oil pan drain plug and see if there's anything unusual. If you find anything unusualy, take pictures and take them along with the service records with you to the dealer.

I did try and check the oil on the side of the road, but lots of oil was on the highway and a lot of oil was all over the bottom of the engine area. When I took the dipstick out there was some oil on it still, but I'm not sure what that means. The dealer has all of my records since I've gone to them for all maintenance over the last couple of years. They've fixed some engine fan stuff, new clutch, tires, brakes, belts, etc..., and done a whole bunch of oil changes.

 

[Greenman]

If the drain plug is in place, and you didn't get an oil light, it's going to be darn near impossible to pin it on the dealer, unless they did something really stupid like fill the crank case with coolant. You might check a Toyota forum or two, perhaps the model you own has a known defect, or perhaps Toyota's engines just don't last that long. (Never owned a Toyota)

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Some of the better oil change places will actually show you the dip stick so you can see that it's at the right point before you leave.

 

[eplebnista]

Link

 

[BUTCH1]

Originally posted by: eplebnista
Link

That's what I was thinking too, also OP doesn't state if he was driving@ normal Hwy. speeds
or trying to race a Mustang GT when it happened.

 

[Cattlegod]

It was probably bad from the day the engine was manufactured. I worked in an engine plant for about 6 months, so I'm pretty familiar with the process. It was likely either a bad pin clip or a flaw in the rod somewhere during the manufacturing process. The bottom line is Toyota gave you a dud car that died at 77k, you won't be able to get anything out of the dealership or Toyota.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Cattlegod
It was probably bad from the day the engine was manufactured. I worked in an engine plant for about 6 months, so I'm pretty familiar with the process. It was likely either a bad pin clip or a flaw in the rod somewhere during the manufacturing process. The bottom line is Toyota gave you a dud car that died at 77k, you won't be able to get anything out of the dealership or Toyota.

Yep... it does indeed sound like this may be the case.

That is quite unfortunate.

 

[Yossarian]

Originally posted by: five40

Originally posted by: Eli
Sounds like you ran out of oil.

I also agree that it is fishy that you recently had your oil changed. It is unfortunate that you don't know anything abut cars, otherwise you might be able to pin this on them.

The first thing I would have checked is the level on the dipstick. If there was nothing there, check the filter and drain plugs. Could have cross-threaded the drain plug, or double-gasketed the filter. And if I found anything suspicious, I would have taken pics.

I don't think I ran out of oil. It exploded all over the highway; the tow truck driver knew right away that my rod blew out since his first comment was...."you must have heard some loud clanking before that rob blew...there is oil all over the lane in the highway back there." As for all the other stuff you said it just flew right over my head (double-gasketed the filter...can we talk programming? I understand that real well). Also, no engine lights where on at all until the rod shot out. I thought I had a hole in the muffler since it was so damn loud and there where no checkup lights on.

double gasket is when you take off the old filter while changing the oil but some of the gasket sticks to the engine. then when you put the new filter on you don't get a good fit and oil can leak.

 

[IGBT]

..I'd say the vehicle is pretty much shot and may not be worth the run around trying to hang the dealer. Sounds like mabe they didn't put any oil in it at all or not enough. Wouldn't be the first time.

 

[compuwiz1]

First off, your dealer did not make it, and they did not break it. Therefore, any thoughts of liablility go out the window, as far as they are concerned.
Next step, go after the warranty. Oh, you are expired, I see.

Did you know that an extended warranty would have paid for this problem, had you bought a 7yr / 100,000 plan? Oh, I almost forgot, it's a Toyota, and they never break.

 

[boomerang]

Your cheapest way out if you want to keep the car, is an engine from a junkyard. It's not too hard to find them with low miles. They will give you a warranty of some duration but it won't be anywhere near as long as the original.

I doubt the dealer will do this kind of work. A local shop will be able to do this for you.

I know this isn't your question, but I just thought I'd share the information.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

turn the engine into a center [iece glass table, using the suspension for legs

turn the seats into a comfy 3 piece sofa

buy new car, and make it a Kia Ceed..... damn good car, inconspicuous and backed by a 7year/100,000mile warranty