Hello, All. Went to change my oil today and I cracked the stupid plastic oil filter canister. I started the car and saw the dreaded “low oil pressure” light. The engine was running for about 45 seconds until I saw the oil spewing out from under the car.

Do you think I caused any catastrophic damage to the engine by running it for a minute with this gushing leak?

Thanks.

 

Time will tell. Fill er up and see how she sounds. Hhhhmmmm to those that look down on not doing your own oil changes.

 

My opinion is that no damage occurred in that short amount of time. I've heard an engine run w/o oil and it is ear splitting. Of course it's tough to judge not knowing just how much oil you lost and how fast it emptied. I think you'd know if there was substantial damage. GOOD LUCK!

 

45 seconds with low pressure light on seems like a long time but yeah hopefully there was enough lube holding on despite the loss.

 

You didn't mention which engine you're asking about but in the V6 there's over 6 quarts to lose and with the hybrid I think it's around 4 quarts. Depending on the leak, I would think you're OK.

 

When you say "running," do you mean basically idling? If so, you should be fine. It should take longer than that for the oil film to break down on moving parts. Synthetic oil is good stuff, and all 0W-20 is by definition synthetic.

 

Wow! This is why people need to take their vehicles to professionals for service. Hope that your vehicle doesn’t have any engine damage to it from this. It’s time for a new car or a new engine if there’s any engine damage.

 

the filter cover/cup is an odd one on these cars and requires the Toyota filter wrench otherwise it’s easy to crack or break while removing. With the right wrench the oil change is a breeze. I do wish Lexus would put it on top the engine like VW and some others.

 

Can you try to show a picture of what the filter cover/cup on the ES350/ES300/ES250 looks like.

 

Like they never make mistakes. You don't know thst the part wasn't faulty. It is a plastic piece, after all.

To the original post, I believe you are ok. When the VVT-i oil line burst on our 07 ES350, my wife was driving and drove it home for about two miles with the oil light on. That was about 100K miles ago. Car is at 270K and still drives well and burns about a quart of oil every 7K miles.

The first mod I did on our 2018 RX350 was to replace the plastic-composite oil filter canister to an aluminum canister, # 15620-31060, the same canister as in our 07 ES350. I replaced it at the first oil change, at 4K. I’ve done four oil changes since then, and the alum housing is functioning as expected.

 

45 seconds is nothing so don't worry.

 

Thanks, all!

 

I didn't know that VW and other manufacturers placed their filters on top of the engine. That would make changing a breeze. IIRC the filter canister on the gen 6 Lexus ES350 was aluminum not plastic. Toyota probably saved a bundle by changing.

 

I actually feel just the opposite. I know if I change it - I will spend extra time after I’m done and before I put all the covers back to ensure there is no leak. I find it hard to put that level of trust in the average quick oil change shop. That being said, I have a friend that owns a lube shop here and they are outstanding and I actually do trust them. I also get to observe as they go about changing it. In my case I have them only add 6 qts and I add the extra .2 qts when I get home. Just call me a partial control freak….lol

 

changing oil is easier than frying an egg. Your reaction seems overly dramatic.