Dealer did the last oil change on my 2019 3.5L V6 Toyota Highlander. I do all my own oil changes usually but took advantage of a dealer coupon. Went to do the next change and couldn't budge the housing even using the Toyota oil filter housing tool. Added a breaker bar and heard a crack sound but housing still wouldn't budge. Use an air impact tool which succeeded in loosening the housing so I could use a ratchet to completely turn it out. The housing had one of its ears broken off, but I didn't notice the hole it created which allowed the oil to pump out. After finishing the oil change and backing the Highlander off the ramps and out of the garage I immediately noticed a broad oil slick trail on the garage floor and out into the driveway. I immediately shut the car off, got out and concluded that something was wrong with the oil filter housing. I started the car and drove the 15-20 feet back into the garage and up on the ramps. The engine ran for no more than 30-45 seconds from off the ramps and then back on.
Went to the dealer and complained about them way over torquing the housing which led to it cracking when I removed it. After the excuses they agreed to replace it which just left me out of 5qts of oil and a giant bag of oil absorbent.
Now the problem. When I was finished installing the new housing and adding 5 qts of oil, permanent codes were generated (read by my BlueDriver): P0012 "A" Camshaft Position - Timing Over Retarded Bank 1, also P0022 "A" Camshaft Position - Timing Over Retarded Bank 2.
BlueDriver explanation suggested that these permanent codes could be fixed by replacing the engine variable valve timing solenoids.
Would that loss of oil in 45 seconds actually damage those solenoids? Also did a road test following the housing replacement and could not detect any difference in engine performance (after 3 miles on the road, speeds ranging 30 to 55mph). Re-read after road test and these permanent codes remain.
Would that loss of oil in 45 seconds actually damage those solenoids?
Yes, as soon as there's insufficient oil pressure, components are being damaged. Metal-on-metal contact is never a good thing, and there was basically no oil pressure for 45 seconds -the engine ran with no lubrication for at least 750 revolutions. It didn't damage the solenoids enough for you to notice, but the ECU notices it.
Hook up a scan tool, select live data, and watch the timing advancing and receding. If it's beyond a certain limit, which that code indicates, at minimum, you need the solenoids replaced, maybe even the camshafts themselves.
Loss of oil pressure means the components farthest from the oil pump are the first to suffer damage, all modern engines are dual-overhead camshaft engines, so they are the farthest away from the oil pump.
@justin-shepherd The timing advance reading (engine was warmed up while idling) read 19 deg idling in park, driving steadily 30 to 50 mph it read 33 deg, coasting while driving it read 10 deg and would return to 33 deg when steady driving speed resumed. I'm not sure what the specified advances should be expected.
There's a range of advancing and retarding ignition timing at all engine speeds, and it's based on the wear inside the engine. An engine that new should only alternate within a degree so of perfect. My old Ranger has 294k miles on it, and ignition timing fluctuates a bit because the timing chain is slightly stretched. It's not enough to trip codes.
@justin-shepherd I also noted that re-scanning this morning no new pending codes were generated. Thinking more about my BlueDriver scanner, it allowed me to clear the pending codes but this scanner also offers recommended repairs that seem to require a check off before its list of permanent codes can be cleared. The list of repair options does not include "I didn't do anything".
I'll have to find out if this is true about the scanner. In the meanwhile, I hope to find out if those timing advances I listed are normal. Again, re-scanning after clearing those two pending codes generated no new codes.
@justin-shepherd Contacted the BlueDriver people. They said that after sufficient amount of driving and data collection (stop and go, highway, around town) that these permanent codes would clear themselves. I assume that my 10 minutes of road testing hasn't been enough time yet. Thanks for your help.
@justin-shepherd Took the Highlander out for the day. Scanned for codes after returning. No new codes and the permanent codes cleared. Still no apparent difference in engine performance. Guessing I dodged a bullet! Thanks for your input.
IGHguy
Contacted the BlueDriver people. They said that after sufficient amount of driving and data collection (stop and go, highway, around town) that these permanent codes would clear themselves. I assume that my 10 minutes of road testing hasn't been enough time yet. Thanks for your help.
You assume correctly. From my personal experience, the BlueDriver has nice product support and an informed staff. They gave you sound advice, you need to allow the engine time to complete several drive cycles before the ECU can clear any permanent codes.
Also if you didn't lose any oil pressure your engine may/should be OK. When an engine loses oil pressure as a result of leaking oil, nothing good happens.
@hixster Took the Highlander out for the day. Scanned for codes after returning. No new codes and the permanent codes cleared. Still no apparent difference in engine performance. Guessing I dodged a bullet! Thanks for your input.
IGHguy
@ighguy good update, you may have dodged one . Bungled oil changes, they happen, unfortunately.. Dealerships, along with the oil change chains, their employees are typically bottom skill laborers. The results speak for themselves.
Thanks for the reply. I'll check the live data tomorrow and, hopefully, I won't discover any severe damage.
IGHguy