Oh Sh*t! Err, little help please.

[wrongboy]

On way to work last night, i hit the motorway and booted it as per normal. and half way down it the engine seemed to loose its grunt for a moment, i just put my foot down a little harder and off it went again. but getting to the gate at work and turning down my music, i noticed a tapping coming from what seemed the front of the engine. it looked/sounded like it was coming from the belt wheels at the front. i turned the car off and went into work crapping myself.
someone suggest my oil level, which i thought was daft as ive not even had a warning light, but checking it at 7am this morning it was bone dry! i checked it 400 miles ago and it was half way up the dip stick. Ive left it at work and will return with oil again tonight. but i really am nervous. will it be a new engine? have i done to much damage? how much is a rebuild on a 2004 3.0 engine these days? this is one expense i really cant afford at the mo as well. Any help witll be greatfully taken. thanks so much if you can help or advise me.

 

[Z4M-2006]

Put oil in and start the car and see how you go..

The early engine does have a tendency to use oil,but if its using that much i dare say the CCV is torn and its pulling oil into the inlet and burning it off..(the CCV usually last around 80k,good oil history can elongate its life,bad history shortens it)

Its all a "try and see" situation im afraid....

If you have destroyed the engine a warrantied second hand engine is probably the most economical way to get the car 100% again.

 

[mr wilks]

Before grabbing a chair & rope just ease up a little 8) The car should be warmed up to check the oil correctly
Turn off once warm & wait 5 mins , then check the dipstick & oil level should be between the 2 marks
Then if zero oil go back to the chair & rope

 

[aquazi]

As above give it some oil first before planning the worst.

Worst case wont need a new engine, may have just caused bottom end damage..


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[andysat]

Before grabbing a chair & rope just ease up a little 8) The car should be warmed up to check the oil correctly
Turn off once warm & wait 5 mins , then check the dipstick & oil level should be between the 2 marks
Then if zero oil go back to the chair & rope

I thought you checked the oil level when cold?(with a dipstick)

 

[mr wilks]

Before grabbing a chair & rope just ease up a little 8) The car should be warmed up to check the oil correctly
Turn off once warm & wait 5 mins , then check the dipstick & oil level should be between the 2 marks
Then if zero oil go back to the chair & rope

I thought you checked the oil level when cold?

Handbook states to check oil shortly after engine has been at running temp :wink: also the space between the marks on dipstick is only about a litre so go steady when topping up

 

[Z4M-2006]

As above give it some oil first before planning the worst.

Worst case wont need a new engine, may have just caused bottom end damage..


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Hmm....

Oil starvation doesnt affect the cam bearing journal surfaces then ?

 

[Stuart Truman]

Yep, the engine should be warm and then left about 5 mins to allow it to settle. The car should also be level and not parked on a slope.

If your oil warning light didn't come on (and assuming it's working) then you're probably ok. Take it as lesson learned.

Fill it up to the upper mark if the engine's cold, then run it, wait 5 mins and check again. Don't be alarmed if it looks lower, it hasn't guzzled it, it's just coating inner surfaces inside the engine.

Once you're up and running again start checking more frequently as if you do have an issue where oil is being consumed you'll want to get on top of it quickly.

 

[Ewazix]

............... Once you're up and running again start checking more frequently as if you do have an issue where oil is being consumed you'll want to get on top of it quickly.

........ or sell it quickly :exitright:

But seriously if the oil light didn't come on you should hopefully be OK but certainly needs investigating :|

 

[Lance]

No oil on the dipstick is not good, and with none showing you don't know how little oil is in there.

Bottom end damage is common with oil starvation, as is cam issues.
Either way is expensive. Top end is usually light tapping, bottom more of a rumbling knocking. If damage has been caused, topping up won't resolve it.

 

[mad4slalom]

the fact that you didnt get an oil light may mean that oil pressure is ok dip stick is only a guide, long as yr oil switch/ and warning bulb are ok. I have had 2 instances this year in a grand vitara and renault master where i have had massive noises and absolutely convinced that it was in both cases catastrophic engine failure.in both it was not serious, the van was an alternator belt tensioner pulley, but sounded like top end had or was disintergrating. the grand vitara gave out clanking and knocking on startup, then stopped and wouldnt turn over, i thought it was siezed as the starter would just whirr. aa put jump leads on it , it turned over and fierd, burrned off a load of unburnt fuel, ran like a baby, is fine now, the battery is fine as it was before.. still baffled but its all good, so with luck yours may be something more trivial, good luck, keep us posted

 

[wrongboy]

Put oil in and start the car and see how you go..

The early engine does have a tendency to use oil,but if its using that much i dare say the CCV is torn and its pulling oil into the inlet and burning it off..(the CCV usually last around 80k,good oil history can elongate its life,bad history shortens it)

Its all a "try and see" situation im afraid....

If you have destroyed the engine a warrantied second hand engine is probably the most economical way to get the car 100% again.

whats the ccv matey? Thanks for all the replies guys, some made me feel a bit better, some made me a bit more nervous! does anyone have any idea on engine rebuild/recon'd engine? suppose i should get it looked at and report my findings before asking anymore questions. lol. But really all, massive thansk for all your honest opinions. it means a lot to me seeing as im not hot on the mechanics of cars.

 

[Z4M-2006]

CCV is crank case ventilation valve..

Its basically a diaphragm inbetween 2 chambers..It has the crankcase breather system plumbed into the body and the diaphragm controls the oil vapour and flows it into the inlet manifold,getting burned off in combustion..

When the CCV diaphragm rips,inlet manifold vacuum gets vented into the crankcase and literally sucks oil out of the sump..

Put oil in your car,and let it run for 10 mins if no undue noises can be heard....A simple CCV test is to remove the oil cap with the car idling and place your hand over the filler hole,if vacuum can be felt(tries to suck your hand onto the filler),then the CCV is paggered...

 

[Mark-Z4]

Put oil in and start the car and see how you go..

The early engine does have a tendency to use oil,but if its using that much i dare say the CCV is torn and its pulling oil into the inlet and burning it off..(the CCV usually last around 80k,good oil history can elongate its life,bad history shortens it)

Its all a "try and see" situation im afraid....

If you have destroyed the engine a warrantied second hand engine is probably the most economical way to get the car 100% again.

whats the ccv matey? Thanks for all the replies guys, some made me feel a bit better, some made me a bit more nervous! does anyone have any idea on engine rebuild/recon'd engine? suppose i should get it looked at and report my findings before asking anymore questions. lol. But really all, massive thansk for all your honest opinions. it means a lot to me seeing as im not hot on the mechanics of cars.

First things first, get some oil in and see how you get on before thinking about rebuilds. Halfords are open all weekend, get down there!

 

[wrongboy]

Put oil in and start the car and see how you go..

The early engine does have a tendency to use oil,but if its using that much i dare say the CCV is torn and its pulling oil into the inlet and burning it off..(the CCV usually last around 80k,good oil history can elongate its life,bad history shortens it)

Its all a "try and see" situation im afraid....

If you have destroyed the engine a warrantied second hand engine is probably the most economical way to get the car 100% again.

whats the ccv matey? Thanks for all the replies guys, some made me feel a bit better, some made me a bit more nervous! does anyone have any idea on engine rebuild/recon'd engine? suppose i should get it looked at and report my findings before asking anymore questions. lol. But really all, massive thansk for all your honest opinions. it means a lot to me seeing as im not hot on the mechanics of cars.

First things first, get some oil in and see how you get on before thinking about rebuilds. Halfords are open all weekend, get down there!

already donr buddy. 5w30 fully synth. ill be topping up tonight and reporting back first thing tomorrow morning. wish me luck, think im going to need it.

 

[andysat]

Good luck!

 

[Ewazix]

Good news, or bad news? :|

 

[Stuart Truman]

Sadly wrongboy was fatally killed by a torrent of oil from his Z4 when he started it up after panic filling it. A spokesperson from Castrol said "We are devastated, he'd become our #1 customer in the last 24hrs"

 

[buzyg]

Any news?

Fingers crossed, but those symtoms remind me of the BE bearing going on my old Modeo SI 24v.

 

[inkey$]

Sadly wrongboy was fatally killed by a torrent of oil from his Z4 when he started it up after panic filling it. A spokesperson from Castrol said "We are devastated, he'd become our #1 customer in the last 24hrs"

I'm a little bit worried about him now....