I Watched In Horror As the Ford Tech Forgot the Oil Filter on My 2024 F-150, and Ran It Without Oil For Who Knows How Long, I’m Worried About Catastrophic Damage

A routine oil change turned into a nightmare for one 2024 Ford F-150 owner when a dealership mistake left his engine running without oil in the service bay. 

Imagine waiting for the Ford dealer to finish the oil change on your babied 2024 F-150. Then you check on the progress and see them lift it again, and your stomach drops. A terrible, huge puddle of oil is gushing out and rapidly spreading across the clean floor.

You instantly realize they started the engine without the oil filter. You can hear the engine running, which feels like an eternity. You watch the panic on the techs' faces, but all you can see is the irreversible damage to your perfect engine. That oil draining away is the lifeblood of your truck, and your peace of mind is gone as you envision the catastrophic damage.

Dealership Engine Negligence—A Critical Guide for Ford F-150 Owners

When you've spent as much time in and around the auto service world as I have, you see every kind of screw-up imaginable. What happened to this 2024 F-150 XLT is a classic case of shocking negligence by the dealership service department, and Lee and other owners should be concerned.

So, here are the facts, not the dealership spin. You have a brand new, babied truck, and a technician just put its 5.0L V8 through a severe, preventable trauma. Here is a roadmap to protect yourself and ensure that if it happens to you, the people who caused this mess address your long-term concerns about engine reliability.

Here is my breakdown and the steps you need to take.

The Catastrophic Risk: Understanding Oil Starvation

The critical factor here is how long that engine ran without an oil filter. When the oil filter is missing, the oil pump immediately attempts to circulate oil, but instead of routing it through the engine galleries, it simply pumps the entire contents of the sump—quickly followed by air—out onto the floor.

Lee Sharp shared his unbelievable experience on the Ford F-150 Owners Facebook page. He said:

"I took my 2024 F-150 XLT 4X4 5.0L for the 20k mile oil change at the local Ford dealer, and just as they finished, I watched in horror when I saw them lifting my truck back up. Turns out the tech forgot to put on an oil filter, and another tech started the truck. Of course, it pumped all the oil out onto the floor. They ran it for who knows how long before they shut it down. Now I'm worried about how much damage there is. It's a one-owner, and I have babied this truck."

How Much Damage Was Done?

The Ford 5.0L Coyote V8 relies heavily on oil pressure not just for basic lubrication, but for the complex timing system (Ti-VCT and VDE). When that pressure drops to zero, the metallic surfaces, designed to operate on a film of pressurized oil, immediately make contact. The low-end components—like the main and rod bearings—are the first to suffer micro-abrasions. 

While the engine might not have seized outright (thanks to the thin layer of residual oil and the speed at which it was probably shut down), the damage is microscopic, leading to potential Ford F-150 5.0L Coyote engine oil consumption problems down the line. We are talking about accelerated wear that can dramatically reduce the engine's lifespan —the very thing we are trying to avoid when preventing catastrophic engine failure in late-model trucks.

What Is the Solution?

The dealership's goal now is to clean the mess, fill it up, and tell you it's fine. Your goal is to compel the service manager to document and mitigate the long-term risks arising from this dealership's service department's negligence.

• Demand a Formal Incident Report: Do not accept a verbal apology. Get a repair order (RO) detailing the incident: Truck started/run without oil filter; immediately shut down when oil sprayed out; mileage 20,000; oil/filter replaced; engine cleaned. This document is your shield, safeguarding your Ford F-150 powertrain warranty.
• Immediate Oil Analysis (The Prove-It Test): You need to know how to prove engine damage after oil starvation. Before you drive it again, demand that the dealership take a sample of the new oil for a formal laboratory analysis (like Blackstone Labs). This analysis will look for microscopic metal contaminants—especially high levels of Copper (from bearings), Iron (from cylinder walls/camshafts), and Aluminum (from pistons/bushings). An abnormal result is proof of wear caused by this incident.
• The Extended Warranty Demand: Since they compromised your engine's integrity, the only logical remedy for this high-mileage risk is a free, comprehensive, extended powertrain warranty covering the engine specifically for at least 7 years/100,000 miles, over and above your factory coverage. Do not pay for this. They need to cover the cost.

What the Community is Saying

The community forums are full of similar accounts, ranging from pure relief to total disaster. It proves that this is not an isolated incident.

Optimistic View (via Torque News comments): "I'm sure as soon as they saw the oil pouring out, they immediately stopped the engine... Likely no damage at all other than an oily mess in the engine bay near the spot where the oil filter goes."

Dealer's Minimization (via Reddit): "They said they have cars come in all the time without oil or low oil, and they are fine... they stressed that the motor didn't run out of oil since after adding 2 quarts it slightly registered on the dip stick."

Legal Perspective (via Reddit): "No one can tell the extent of the damage until the heads are removed and everything is visually inspected... I'd recommend contacting corporate, having the car towed to another mechanic, then lawyering up..."

Conclusion

Your priority now is protection. The initial "oily mess" is temporary, but the damage to the bearings and camshaft is permanent, even if it takes years to manifest as a knock or excessive oil consumption. You must follow the steps above to build an undeniable paper trail, especially if you ever face a warranty claim 50,000 miles down the road.

This is a prime example of why trusting your steps to take when a quick lube messes up your truck is so critical. Whether you choose the reliable 5.0L V8 or the powerful EcoBoost, detailed maintenance is key. 

For more on the risks associated with modern Ford engine systems, check out my previous reports on the Ford EcoBoost and V8:

I Just Traded My 2025 Ram 10K In With Major Electrical Issues, For This 2023 Ford F-150 With 38K Miles. I Think the Older F-150 Is a More Reliable Truck

Ford Dealer Says Auto Stop-Start is Killing Your Engine

It's Your Turn

Have you ever had a dealership or shop make a catastrophic mistake during routine maintenance? What specific legal or warranty steps did you take to hold the service center accountable and get a satisfactory outcome? Click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

I'm Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012, bringing over 30 years of automotive expertise to every story. My career began with a consulting role for every major car brand, followed by years as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles—equipping me with a wealth of insider knowledge. I specialize in delivering the latest auto news, sharing compelling owner stories, and providing expert, up-to-date analysis to keep you fully informed.

Follow me on X @DenisFlierl, @WorldsCoolestRides, Facebook, and Instagram

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Lee Sharp -Facebook