Took care to dealer for an oil change. After 3 weeks got a low old indication message. Immediately stop car and had son fill it back with oil. Took almost 4 litres too fill. The bottom panel is soaked with oil. What's the likelihood of engine damage? It's a 2021 model with only 30000 km.

 

Get back to the dealer with a phone call...how far away are they? Is there any oil on the ground under where you park the car? Did you tighten anything since the oil change?...(if not then chances are it is still leaking). Sounds like either a poorly installed oil filter or a loose pan drain plug. Take photographs. Document everything. Don't drive anywhere until you hear back from them. With documents & evidence, even if there is nothing wrong "at the moment' it doesn't mean you might not have a serious problem later than would involve Lexus Corporate.

 

Most likely they did not tighten the filter or the drain plug. So you drove on 0,5 liters of oil inside the engine. That's dangerous.

 

Sounds like the oil change mechanic failed to properly tighten the filter housing or the oil reservoir drain nut causing the oil to leak out over the 3 week period. Thus the oil all over the bottom cover. The indicator saved the engine by alerting you to refill. If you have an ES 350 the oil capacity is over 6 U.S. quarts so you still had over 2 quarts in the engine. If you don't have any loud noises or smoking or anything else out of the ordinary I'd say your engine is OK. I'd also be looking for a trusted independent mechanic to work on my car in the future...

 

Yes, there is oil on garage floor. No, didn't tighten anything after oil change. Low oil indicator only turned on when we parked the car. Towed car back to dealer. They are trying to skirt responsibility by claiming that we had cracked filter housing. Most likely they over tighten. I usually use Toyota dealership for service but took it to Lexus thinking that they would be better. What a mistake.

 

How are they saying you cracked it did they think you had oil changed again after 3 weeks. Call corporate and tell them what happened. Engine needs to be checked to see if any damage done but I wouldn't trust that Lexus dealer. Dealership is not the best place to get oil changes.

 

I remember the CCN specifically saying the V6 engine is extremely sensitive to damage due to a low oil level.
It would have been very interesting to know how tight was that cracked filter housing.

 

Kai, you listed your mileage in kilometres so I am guessing you are in Canada. What city? Definitely contact Lexus Corporate https://www.lexus.ca/en/contact-lexus/ (it's a form but there are phone numbers on the right side of the page) and get them to open a case. Not logical that you would pay Lexus to change the oil and then within 3 weeks go under the car and start mucking with it yourself....dealer is trying to shirk responsibility...go over their head. If my guess is right, you will want Lexus Canada, not the US...

 

Actually 5.7 quarts on 7th gen ES 350.

On my car the previous owner did all service at Lexus. When I bought the car at 20k miles last Aug 2024 I did DIY oil service and the filter was installed by Lexus over at least 120 ft lbs by my T- wrench, ridiculously way over the 18 ft lbs per factory spec. Luckily the filter housing was ok. I can understand a little over spec but not that much plus the O-Ring does the sealing and the tech does not know that. I put the filter housing back at 18 ft lbs and no leaks

If you use the Toy or Lex dealership or other outlet check before you leave for proper oil fill level and leaks at the oil service site even if you have to run the car around their parking area before checking if any problems get right to service manager. If in a rush that's when problems can occur.

 

To bring my ES to the full mark it takes 6.0 quarts
Technically 5.7 quarts is in the specified dip stick range.

 

owners manual states capacity is 5.7 WITH filter change.

 

PLS Excuse my correction, I guess there are unique cars, mine takes a bit over 5.7 qts with the filter

 

Owner's manual states 5.7 quarts is a REFERENCE quantity but to use DIPSTICK when ACTUALLY adding oil.

 

If was me I would send my next Oil drain sample out to a Oil analysis lab. See what they say about wear particles and other at that mileage? Then go back after the Dealer with the results if they are way far off for the low miles you have. No one can guess engine damage. The other accurate check would be a leak down and compression check, and or a Bore scope look inside the cylinders.

 

^That's a good suggestion OP.
If possible, I’ll also take a sample of the remaining oil for analysis. If any damage has occurred, the current oil should show elevated metal wear levels.