Bad Oil Drain Plug?
 

Hi... new member. 08 tC, about 75K miles. Always get oil changes at the dealer (Cobb County Toyota in Kennesaw, GA) and when I went there for an oil change last week they told me if they took the drain plug out they wouldn't be able to get it back in and it would cost $375 to fix.

I asked a friend about it and he said they probably want to replace the oil pan and gasket -- but they didn't tell me what parts they needed to replace (I can ask again later). But he also said if the oil drain plug is bad and the dealer is the only ones who have changed the oil, they are ones who messed it up by tightening the bolt too much.

I searched and couldn't find any other threads with people reporting the same problem. Has anyone else had this issue? Or is the dealer trying to rip me off?

My friend took a picture of the oil pan and plug and it looks fine, no evidence of damage or leaking.

:confused:

https://i41.tinypic.com/29w659l.jpg

Sounds like bs. Change it yourself and save money and the trouble of going to the stealership.

Yep, BS.
They might have cross threaded the bolt, but that’s on their heads and they should pay for it. I would ask exactly what’s wrong and why you need a new set up.

plain old BS..........take 15 mins to do youself

Thanks, will go back to the same dealer and get more specifics. If I don't like it will report to Toyota consumer affairs and go somewhere else for the oil change.

ok.. maybe it's too early in the morning.. but.. if it was stripped, how would they ever get the bolt to tighten against the drain plug washer? and why isn't it leaking? plus.. the bolt if the threads are gone, should be very loose. definitely sounds like a scam, wow.. just lies everywhere you turn lately! Definitely report them and have someone else check it out. :tap:

It might just be barely holding on if they cross threaded it on purpose to get it to hold ( once they realized they screwed up the pan) If this is the case then the next time you pull the plug out would be the last, so be prepared.......

I took it back to the same dealer for an oil change and played dumb. They changed the oil and didn't say anything about the drain plug. So I guess it was just an overzealous oil change tech the first time -- do they get compensated for finding more problems? On the second visit they noticed the battery was about to die, needs rear brakes, and tires....

Yes. All dealerships or auto repair shops look for stuff that need to be replaces according to the mileage etc..... That's how they up sell and stay in business. Just say no unless you are not mechanically inclined to do it yourself.