Need some advice .. I go to get food this morning and I start smelling oil not to bad just a little. I get back home and try to check the oil and when I try to put the the stick back in. it keeps getting stuck right at the black oring . After trying it for a while I noticed that the tube was loose and moving on the bottom And there's oil leaking under the car. I have never had a leak before . Im thinking that it came out somehow so the oil is just coming out of where the tube should be. also noticed that there's a tie strap holding it in place where I think a bracket should be



I recently had my starter and plugs done at a shop and I'm planning on taking it back in the morning it's about a 15 /20 mile drive and I'm not sure if Its safe to drive it or not everything in my gut says no and just have it towed.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Sounds like they failed to reinstall the disptick tube correctly after replacing the starter, and it popped out at the bottom. I wouldn’t drive the car back to the shop. Just have it towed and make sure they replace the o ring at the bottom as well.

 

I think I see a zip tie around the dipstick tube maybe that is what pulled the tube out of the engine block.

 

Thanks for the reply. That's what I'm going to do just took it for ride around the block and let it sit and it's just dripping out already

 

Thats what im thinking when I pulled it up to check it must have came right out.. I'm just disappointed with the work. And now worried about what else they did or didn't do..

 

Unsure why they would need to unbolt the dipstick for doing plugs, unnecessary. Also looks like they forgot to put the 10mm nut back on that relay/fuse box bracket as well... Accessing the oil dipstick bolt is a very tight fit and needs a narrow socket to reach, easier to get it back in position with 2 people.

 

they would’ve removed it as part of the starter replacement job.

 

As a point of reference. When I had the headers installed on my LC, the dipstick tube was not installed correctly. I drove around for a bit before I discovered the leak. The loss was about the same as the OP. I wouldn't be afraid to drive it 20 miles to the repair shop. It's not hemorrhaging oil. Just make sure it's topped off before the drive. Should it have happened, NO, but stuff happens

Lou

 

I can assure you the dipstick tube should be bolted to the passenger head with a 10mm bolt. Check to see if you can find it. If not I would be concerned of how they did your starter and plugs. Highly doubt they also torqued the spark plugs to spec and just cranked on it till it’s “tight”. Can’t stand mechanics that work like that and trust me I know because I use to work for Honda and Acura as a tech and the work I’ve seen mechanics do is disgusting.

 

From the missing nut on the fuse box and the zip tie where none should exist, I'd bet the bolt is long gone. Incredibly shoddy work. I would not trust that shop again.

 

Thanks for the thoughts everyone.. so to give a update had the car towed to the shop today . I didn't want to give them any reason to not get the job done today . So I went to Lexus of Bellevue and picked up a new Oring and dipstick tube cost me about 85$ . Yes, I know I over paid but at this point I didn't want to wait for shipping. I just wanted to get it done and move on. I already had to take the day off work to get it done because they're not open on weekends.


And for the shop I get that sometimes things happen they're times when I mess up on some jobs at work but I always make it right before it ever gets out of the building. I really like the owner he is a old Asian ex military man who to me seems like he cares. He just needs to make it right .. and do a free oil change...👀

 

Pick up the car yesterday and took it out for a drive this morning so far no leak that I can see. They replaced the tube and Oring with the new one that I picked up sofar so good.

1 thing that I did notice is before like everyone else when I had my heater, AC or lights on my idle Rpm be around 800 now if I have on the Ac or the lights its 800 like normal. But if I just turn on the heater it no longer go's up it just stays@ 500 ... Is that how it's supposed to be or was it right before

 

Mine idles ~500 with ac off and ~750 with ac on, this is normal. I haven't noticed much change in idle with lights or heater though.

Another thing that could have happened was if they disconnected the battery for service the ECU could be relearning.