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Engine damage?; Ran on 1.25 qts for unkown time
Topic Started: Oct 11 2017, 09:29 AM (240 Views)
smysmbrg
SteveO

My friend I have been helping out with his 97 4cylinder autotragic came to my house last friday for an oil change. I fixed the cam,crank and distributor seals but told him he needed to check the oil!!!
Drained the oil and the filter and got about 1.25 qts out.

Now he wants to sell me the car because checking the oil is too hard For him.
He has spent about 3,000$ on this car at the shop is what he tells me.
I am going to test drive the car all day at work today to see how much oil its using and see what kind of milleage I can get.
(Also assuming the 4 cyl valve seals are leaking, common right? And due to a puff of smoke on startup)
It does have a smaller rust hole on the passenger frame horn.
My thinking is that it could replace my aging winter beater since the car only has about 85,ooo miles.
He is hoping to get 500$ for it
Then he can have $ for a down payment on a more expensive car to wreck
(says its going to be a insight or a echo for 3,000$)
Meanwhile his 2011 avenger only sees lyft duty because he doesnt want to put miles on it doing delivery.
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Me and my metro
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I have seen cars run low on oil continue to run with no problems. I have also seen the aftermath of running them out of oil. They usually have only a few rods still connected to the crank. So if it is quiet it is probably still ok.
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snowfish
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Basic GearHead

If it doesn't rattle, you're probably fine. ^o)
I would ignore the puff of smoke at start up. :stoner
If it drives, sounds good, and handles to you satisfaction, you've probably got a decent winter car. :thumb

Run some good oil, put on a JT Brace, get a 4 wheel alignment, and run it. :drivin
For city driving, fuel mileage should be pretty close to the 3 cylinder automatic. :news

Be sure to post up some pictures when it's yours. :cheers

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smysmbrg
SteveO

Sound advice literaly. Car sounds good. Struggles a little on startup.

My guess is that it goes thru a quart every 1,000. Do know that synthetic burns cleaner than conventional, so less likely to burn valves up quickly.

Guess it will depend on what milleage i can get at work today. Car has brand new ac compressor and condensor.
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snowfish
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Basic GearHead

smysmbrg
Oct 11 2017, 12:19 PM
...Struggles a little on startup...
Probably just need a fresh set of sparkies. :hmm

1qt every 1000 miles? :news My 2 stroke sled goes through more than 2qts every 1000 miles. :lol

Buy, run it, and if you don't like it next fall, you have a Great Baja Car for the county fair! :nfs

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Moringa
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Living BOT

Is the 1.25 qts just what you drained, or did you pour the oil out of the filter, as well? You might want to ask the guy what kind of oil he used. Synthetic is so much better, that the chance for bearing damage is a whole lot less, when it gets low. The best time do determine bad bearing clearance, is when you start up, right after an oil change. For 3 or 4 seconds, you have no oil pressure, because the filter is empty. If you don't hear anything then, you are probably in good shape.
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smysmbrg
SteveO

Well it didnt make any noise when It was started after the oil change. I dont think its burning oil too bad, maybe 1/2 qt in a 1000 or so. I got 35mpg city today so I am going thru with the purchase. He wants 700 wich is fair really just needs a set of tires and it will be rolling good for a while.

Now I just need to sell my 1990 civic hatch winter beater and possibly my 92 3/5 because 5 cars is just to many when you live in the city and have to park some on the street.
Edited by smysmbrg, Oct 11 2017, 11:07 PM.
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Scoobs
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:D

How did you find out it was low? Was the oil light on? If it wasnt on at any point, then your probably ok. Aprils car i drove it one day and made a turn into my work and the oil light came on, i checked and the dipstick was bone dry. That was the first time the light came on, and its still driving like it was. (shitty) Made no effect on it. Again, the light only came on making a sharp turn and went away as i straightened out, and then i added 4 quarts of oil as soon as i pulled into my work.
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smysmbrg
SteveO

I found out it was low when I did his oil change last week. Only little came out and none on the stick so I measured what was left. Would have been nice for him to have an oil light. I assumed metros didnt have a low oil light could it be a low pressure light?

Checked it today and I dont think I let it drain back into the pan long enough after shutting it off. It registered slightly above halfway in the safe zone. Put in just under half qt checked it 120 miles later after letting it sit and it was slightly overfull.

Probably didnt help that I only had 1 qt of mobil 5w30 full syn when I did the change
so I used that plus 2 qts of mobil 5w20 full syn plus a half qt of federated 5w30 syn blend

Going to try some lucas full syn oil stabill mixed with mobil full syn. My dad really likes the lucas full syn oil addative. Also thinking about trying some full syn 0w40 but dont think it will make a noticable difference.
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Metromightymouse
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Powdercoat Wizard

smysmbrg
Oct 12 2017, 12:34 AM
I found out it was low when I did his oil change last week. Only little came out and none on the stick so I measured what was left. Would have been nice for him to have an oil light. I assumed metros didnt have a low oil light could it be a low pressure light?

Checked it today and I dont think I let it drain back into the pan long enough after shutting it off. It registered slightly above halfway in the safe zone. Put in just under half qt checked it 120 miles later after letting it sit and it was slightly overfull.

Probably didnt help that I only had 1 qt of mobil 5w30 full syn when I did the change
so I used that plus 2 qts of mobil 5w20 full syn plus a half qt of federated 5w30 syn blend

Going to try some lucas full syn oil stabill mixed with mobil full syn. My dad really likes the lucas full syn oil addative. Also thinking about trying some full syn 0w40 but dont think it will make a noticable difference.
It's a low oil pressure light.
No low oil level light on a Metro.
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Dystopiate666
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Tree Banger

Doing a compression/leakage test couldn't hurt.....
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Hanuman
"The Almighty Grounds Cleaner"

Metromightymouse
Oct 12 2017, 12:55 AM
smysmbrg
Oct 12 2017, 12:34 AM
I found out it was low when I did his oil change last week. Only little came out and none on the stick so I measured what was left. Would have been nice for him to have an oil light. I assumed metros didnt have a low oil light could it be a low pressure light?

Checked it today and I dont think I let it drain back into the pan long enough after shutting it off. It registered slightly above halfway in the safe zone. Put in just under half qt checked it 120 miles later after letting it sit and it was slightly overfull.

Probably didnt help that I only had 1 qt of mobil 5w30 full syn when I did the change
so I used that plus 2 qts of mobil 5w20 full syn plus a half qt of federated 5w30 syn blend

Going to try some lucas full syn oil stabill mixed with mobil full syn. My dad really likes the lucas full syn oil addative. Also thinking about trying some full syn 0w40 but dont think it will make a noticable difference.
It's a low oil pressure light.
No low oil level light on a Metro.
It's th3 change engine light :D
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