Oil filler cap broken by dealer - oil burned off until light said check oil
Scotty, Someone dropped my cap and broke it and lost the o-ring - no seal. It took a week or 2 for the light to come on - check oil. When I checked I found the bad cap and was about 1 1/2 quarts low on oil (I think - but prob not more than 2 - I hope). Did this do damage? I told the deal on next oil change but all I got was - Oh really??? I think it's now burning more oil - I check it about 2500 miles and I need to add a quart. Change at 5000 miles - full synth. Before, I maybe added oil once when I was delayed to about 6K miles - I checked then to see how bad it may be and oil still looked OK but was 1/2-3/4 low. If this cause something can I reverse it? If probably the rings then I just keep adding oil - right?
Thanks
2008 Lexus GS350 AWD
Did this do damage?
Possibly, depending on how much oil was actually lost and that particular engine's tolerance for a low oil level.
If this cause something can I reverse it?
No, at least not without tearing the engine down for an overhaul.
If probably the rings then I just keep adding oil - right?
You can check condition of the piston rings and cylinders with a wet vs. dry compression test. However it's more likely your bearings would have been damaged from low oil. Is the engine making any bad noises? Does the engine have low oil pressure? Any oil smoke?
In any event if the engine is not displaying any other signs of distress you can just keep adding oil. A quart every 2500 miles is not bad for a 15-year-old car. If it were brand new and under warranty you would be told that level of consumption is "normal".
Of course the dealer should be liable if there was any actual damage. Proving it is the problem - they will deny everything. It's really best to avoid dealers and chain shops, and seek out a good independent mechanic for maintenance.
Thanks Scotty, The engine makes a small ticking noise that wasn't there before and gets slightly louder as the oil lowers. I know when to add more oil - usually 3/4 quart. Also - No low oil pressure and no oil smoke? So really nothing to do but keep up with the oil. - correct?
If you stopped the car ASAP after getting the low oil signal, and replenished the oil, you may be okay. It’s not ideal, but hopefully not devastating.
FWIW, I got a low oil signal on my Prius maybe 10 years ago. Stopped and replenished right away. 10 years later, I’m at 300K+ miles.
It may be okay, it may be not. A compression test like others recommended may be indicative. Or you can just ride it out, keep up with the oil, and hopefully it will last many more years and miles.
