Got an oil change and while driving home from work the car just stopped running.?

Question

I have a 97 toyota avalon I have a good feeling that when I got the oil change that they did not screw something on right. I can not find any information on if my car has a safety feature to keep from ruining the engine when there is no oil. I hope jiffy lube does not give me alot of troubel.

When I was driving down the road at the same time the oil light went on the car quit working. I was told that maybe the filter was not screwed on tight enough and that is why I was able to make it to work and maybe with a slow drip there was still enough oil left to get me a few miles. When I was stuck on the road I checked the oil and the dip stick was bone dry

my car did not smoke at all so maybe there is a good chance that my car has the switch so maybe my engine is ok.. Thank you for all the help and some great advice.

Answer 1

It could have been that they forgot to put oil in the engine and the oil that was still remaining in the engine kept it going for awhile, but that is not likely. I've seen some techs (that USED TO work for me) remove oil filters and not check that the seal came out with the filter. Sometimes the rubber gasket sticks to the filter housing and they put the new filter with new gasket right onto the old gasket. This also means that the tech didn't wipe the contact surface or he would have found the old gasket stuck there. When that happens, the engine will run fine - temporarily. Eventually the oil pressure will force its way between the two gaskets and all will leak out within a few minutes of driving (sometimes it doesn't start leaking until the next day).
Either way, the fact that the engine was bone dry means you have a problem. Even if they put oil and a new filter on properly this time and the engine runs fine, it won't run fine for long. There is damage that has been done and the life of the engine is severly compromised. So unless they can prove that something happened other than a mistake on their part, the lube shop is responsible to make the situation right. You should get a new engine installed and a rental car in the meantime.

Answer 2

First, there is no "safety feature" on any vehicle (of which I am aware) that prevents the engine running out of oil; there is no way of stopping people (mechanics/owners) from making the mistake of assuming there is oil in the pan. The only way to know there is the proper amount of oil is to check the oil regularly, and immediately after having an oil change done (my father, who worked part-time at a Sunoco station in NYC, once did an oil change on a brand new Cadillac, was interrupted and never filled the pan. Needless to say, the owner of the station had to buy a new engine for the Cadillac's owner).

That being said, I'm afraid the "burden of proof" rests squarely upon your shoulders when it comes time to confronting Jiffy Lube. I've heard a lot of stories and seen videos of Jiffy Lube doing slipshod work, engaging in questionable business practices, and generally "ripping off" its customers. Good luck (you're probably going to need a lawyer).

Answer 3

It sounds like 1 of 2 possibilities.

1. Jiffy Lube forgot to put on the drain plug and all the oil drained out. This would cause your engine to seize up, smoke, and overheat. If this was the case, you couldn't have made it very far from Jiffy Lube and likely left an oil trail.

2. Your Toyota Avalon has one of the engines that is currently involved in a class action law suit where the engines will sludge up due to poor oil circulation.

Answer 4

That likely means that the oil filter fell off. My wife had the EXACT same thing happen on her Rav4 when I made the mistake of having her oil changed at Walmart. On the positive side- I called Walmart and complained, and they immediately got in contact with their Adjuster when the Dealer told them what the problem was, and they paid for $7000 or so dollars for a new engine. I suggest you call the manager at Jiffy Lube immediately.

Answer 5

i work at jiffy lube and it sounds like what everybody is saying but there is no way that the drain plug was left out the plug is check at least 10 times but the filter could have fell off call the jiffy lube immediately and tell them exactly what happened they will always take good care of their customers and will sort the whole thing out quickly even give you a rental car if needed hope i was some help

Answer 6

Did your oil light come on when you were driving? This would indicate low oil. Check your dip stick and see if it is full or not. Jiffy Lube did replace a friends engine when they cross threaded the cap and the oil drained.

Answer 7

I had a similar experience. Village Lube. They did not put the filter on tight. Result was, lost all oil and ruined the engine.
They were not very nice about it. I found out who their liability insurance company was. The insurance company was a bit stubborn. However, I was very persistent. The result, They paid for a new engine.
Don't quit. Document everything. If you do you will win.
Good Luck.

Answer 8

Did they change your oil filter when you got a oil change. The oil could be clean but the filter could be clogging it up. Also the new oil could have been dirty so it clogged up the oil filter even more. Was the car's engine hot when it stopped running. Take it to your dealership have them look at it then if jiffy lube caused the problem, you better go back and talk to the manager there

Answer 9

DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND STAY AWAY FROM THE DRIVE THROUGH SERVICES,
stick with a reputable garage, someplace that a friend,co-worker or family recommends. Places that offer oil changes really cheap are not using licensed mechanics, you don't even have to have experience in some of these places to do a customer's oil change.

Answer 10

Can you check the oil level by pulling out the stick and wiping itoff and seeing your oil level? I bet it isn't even showing on the stick! Yes there is a switch that will shut down an engine if oil level is too low