Tech / General Engine Is your car making a strange sound or won't start? Thinking of adding power with a new combination? Need other technical information or engine specific advice? Don't see another board for your problem? Post it here!

Drove the car with very little oil...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-21-2005, 01:44 AM
  #1  
Member
Thread Starter
 
moreyes's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Downtown Chicago
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 85 TA
Engine: 305 tpi
Transmission: 700
Drove the car with very little oil...

I took the car for a spin after sitting for a few weeks. It was about a 30 mile trip with no problems. I just went outside to park it at a different spot and it wouldn't sustain the idle. I had to give it gas to keep it from stalling. No warning light came up. I finally parked it and check the oil and it was below the ADD line. My oil pressure never dropped. Is this the reason the car acted up? Is the engine damaged now?
I'm thinking the oil leaked through the seals after sitting for so many days and it was all burnt while driving. Finally leaving the engine with very little by the time I got home.
Old 11-21-2005, 04:43 AM
  #2  
ede
TGO Supporter

 
ede's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Jackson County
Posts: 14,811
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
it isn't good but it isn't a big deal either, below the add line is a quart or so low out of 5 quarts in the system. i doubt the oil level and the engine performance were related.
Old 11-21-2005, 09:29 AM
  #3  
Member

 
Merlin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Winnebago - 871' ASL
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If the car sits for long periods, it is an excellent candidate for synthetic. Mobil 1 has extra seal conditioners that will help keep the elastomers "live" and prevent hardening and potential leakage. The synthetic itself will keep the seals (and all other areas) cleaner so the conditioners can work.

That's not to mention all the other benefits of synthetics.

If you're really concerned, you could drive the car out to me, take the bus or Metra back, and I'll evaluate it thoroughly. I'd let you know when I'm finished...
Old 11-21-2005, 09:12 PM
  #4  
Senior Member

iTrader: (1)
 
Irockz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Springfield,Mo
Posts: 696
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 87 Berlinetta,work in progress
Engine: 468 BB,still in the build process
Transmission: TH350,3500 stall
Axle/Gears: 9" Ford,learning how to live under
Hold on,hold on.When you say you "finally parked it and checked the oil",did you check it immediatly after shutting it off?if you did a good portion of the oil was still up in the top end of the engine.Check it cold,but at any rate,if it ain't rattling or banging,you didn't kill it,but you sure did it no favors.
Old 11-21-2005, 09:26 PM
  #5  
Member

iTrader: (1)
 
RocBoy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Carmel NY
Posts: 447
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Car: 85 IROC Ht
Engine: 383 carb
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: Moser 12 bolt 411
I had a 73 350 Nova that burned about a quart a week . Did not care about the motor, so i would just put oil in from the used oil barrel . Ran it real hard for about 15k befor it quit , beat a few stangs like that too . You will be fine .
Old 11-21-2005, 11:20 PM
  #6  
Moderator

 
IROCThe5.7L's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Buffalo, NY
Posts: 5,193
Received 58 Likes on 39 Posts
Car: 1988 IROC-Z
Engine: 427 SBC
Transmission: ProBuilt 700R4
Axle/Gears: Moser 12 Bolt / 3.73 TrueTrac
You couldn't be too low if your oil pressure didn't change from normal. Correct?
Old 11-21-2005, 11:45 PM
  #7  
Senior Member

iTrader: (1)
 
Irockz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Springfield,Mo
Posts: 696
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 87 Berlinetta,work in progress
Engine: 468 BB,still in the build process
Transmission: TH350,3500 stall
Axle/Gears: 9" Ford,learning how to live under
Originally posted by IROCThe5.7L
You couldn't be too low if your oil pressure didn't change from normal. Correct?
WRONG ANSWER
Old 11-22-2005, 06:01 AM
  #8  
ede
TGO Supporter

 
ede's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Jackson County
Posts: 14,811
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally posted by RocBoy
I had a 73 350 Nova that burned about a quart a week . Did not care about the motor, so i would just put oil in from the used oil barrel . Ran it real hard for about 15k befor it quit , beat a few stangs like that too . You will be fine .
few years back i had a chevy 4x4 the used alot of oil. round trip to work and back was less than 80 miles. i'd get home and pour 2 quarts in one day and 1 quart in the next then back to 2 quarts. finially rebuilt it and replaced a few bad pistons and it stopped using oil. point is it ran on 3 quarts at times and the bearings still looked pretty good all things considered.
Old 11-22-2005, 11:53 AM
  #9  
Moderator

 
IROCThe5.7L's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Buffalo, NY
Posts: 5,193
Received 58 Likes on 39 Posts
Car: 1988 IROC-Z
Engine: 427 SBC
Transmission: ProBuilt 700R4
Axle/Gears: Moser 12 Bolt / 3.73 TrueTrac
Originally posted by Irockz
WRONG ANSWER

Well that was not very informative. Why don't you go into detail with your reply, instead of writing in large caps.

Last edited by IROCThe5.7L; 11-22-2005 at 02:25 PM.
Old 11-22-2005, 05:53 PM
  #10  
Member

iTrader: (1)
 
RocBoy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Carmel NY
Posts: 447
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Car: 85 IROC Ht
Engine: 383 carb
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: Moser 12 bolt 411
What did me in was that I never changed the oil filter . It got all gumed up from the used oil , the pickup was restricted too. Got to love the beat'in a SBC will take
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Ghettobird52
Tech / General Engine
15
12-29-2023 08:23 AM
Reddeath210
Firebirds for Sale
14
10-06-2015 08:20 AM
kah992
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Parts for Sale
2
08-19-2015 02:55 PM
kyleb24
Camaros for Sale
2
08-15-2015 08:24 AM



Quick Reply: Drove the car with very little oil...



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:59 PM.