sump damage - ran with no oil = killed engine?

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kuSt
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Mon Apr 07, 2008 5:29 pm

hi, cracked my sump, drove 8 miles without knowing there was no oil. by the end of the journey there was a slight knocking.

is it worth putting a new sump on to see if i get a few months driving? or will the big end just come through the block immediately, even though the klonking noise isn't very loud?

an info'd be great. ta :)
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wrcarter
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Mon Apr 07, 2008 5:49 pm

I would chance fixing the hole and filling it up. If the hole is not too bad, fill it with epoxy glue. Would be a lot cheaper than an engine rebuild.
MarkF
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Mon Apr 07, 2008 6:02 pm

Weld up the sump or replace it, fill up with oil, take it easy for a while and hopefully the knocking will go. If its any help i did this with my 1.8 diesel fiesta van but drove for about 20 miles with it knocking!!! ha ha. i filled up with oil and drove steadily. After an hour or 2 it went and never had any trouble. Its down to luck alot of the time i think but its well worth trying mate. Good luck
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patrick85
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Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:01 pm

Same thing happened my IS. Oil light flicked for a milisecond after busting the sump and it was never right afterwards. But I still drove it for about 4 months before I stripped it to see what happened.

Don't start the car with your foot on the clutch as it will put pressure on the thrust bearings on the crankshaft, it will just accelerate the wear. I had a habit of always starting with the clutch pressed, after I stripped it I found the front thrust bearing had worn away and the crank had even started to wear into the cap. The thrust bearing was in cap number four so it was the second furthest away from the oil pump which didn't help either.

All you can do is chance it, you never know.
kuSt
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Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:30 pm

k thanks for the info gents...i'll bodge it and see what happens.
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bilun777
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Mon Apr 07, 2008 9:04 pm

I would definitely refill with oil,and use STP or wynns viscosity improvers, a couple of tins works wonders.Dont stress the bearings with high revs though :)
Templ8e30
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Tue Apr 08, 2008 8:21 pm

I take it you don't have a bulb in the low oil pressure indicator ?

If it's knocking it'll only get worse.

Bodge it for now but get another engine ready.

Cheers,

Iain T
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kuSt
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Wed Apr 09, 2008 8:15 pm

the car wanted to stall when i dropped the revs templ8, so all the dash lights came on at once, the oil light flickered a little, but i thought the alt belt had snapped.

glued the sump just to test the engine, filled up with oil, knocking went immediately! i'll get a new sump now, hopefully be ok for a while...

thanks for the info :)
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