BIG Problems...I think

radarwhiz · #1 08-08-2009, 04:25 PM

At some piont today my engine ran out of oil...very bad I know. This morning began making a slight tapping sound (like maybe a stuck valve) which I have known before to be attributed to low oil. I stopped and checked to oil and it was fine (just recently got the oil changed). Some time after that point, apparently all the oil leaked out. Driving home and I started hear a bad rattle from the engine so I stopped and shut it off. Only then did the oil light come on and of course it was bone dry. I figure I'm pretty much f***ed cause it sounds awful. But I hitched a ride and got oil and filled it up and when I started it, it sounded fine. So I continued home. Just as I got into town (15 min later) the noise started again and much worse this time (sounds worse than a diesel on a cold morning). I'm guessing this is really bad, I'm wondering if anyone here might have any idea how bad.

redlightningsvx · #2 08-08-2009, 04:42 PM

My mom ran her mazda 626 dry of oil. She ended up frying most of the piston rings and bendindg most of the valves. Does yours have any smoke coming out the back like crazy?

radarwhiz · #3 08-08-2009, 05:38 PM

No, not smoking at all. That would indicate rings, right? So you think bent valves then? I was guessing something to do with the valves because the rate of the rattle seems to be about the rate that the valves operate at, it sounds like it might only be one.

redlightningsvx · #4 08-08-2009, 05:50 PM

Does the noise get louder with higher rpms? I no one time my car sat for about a week without it being started and I had a loud knock coming from the motor for about 20 min then it went away. It was from the oil being drained out of the motor from sitting so long. Try running a can of seafoam in the oil.

Tim · #5 08-08-2009, 06:05 PM

If your lifters collapse it would make an awful tapping sound similar to a cracked flexplate. Mine went away after adding oil and running it for a while, then learning never to do that again

radarwhiz · #6 08-08-2009, 06:50 PM

How big a deal is that to fix? I've pulled off, machined and replaced heads on an mx6 once but never any rebuilding. Got the car towed to the subaru dealer to see what they think. Said they'd look at it for free. I wouldn't mind taking a stab at doing the work myself. If I do that I imagine I'll be on here a lot then. So anyone with any knowledge on this: I'll be picking your brains a bit. Once I can pull the heads off I'll know for sure.