Ran low on engine oil?

dnsherrill

dnsherrill

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i went and checked out a FS mark viii a while back. The seller told me it had an oil leak but the ofa gask was r/r and no more leak. Oil level is fine now and the oil looks/smells ok. The odometer is about 100k but I'm wondering if it ever went significantly (2-3 qts?) low before the leak was resolved. It drives with plenty of power but it sounds 'odd' when starting- kind of like a mild churning sound- like it's really laboring. After driving it about 10-15 minutes the churning sound goes away about 90%.
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-if it did run low on oil, what type changes/damage may have occurred?
-is there any simple fix at this point?
-possibly main crank bearings worn abnormally?
- would using a heavier grade oil make a difference if there is bearing damage
 
Walk away.. It's like a scene in a horror movie when the people should really leave the house but choose to stay anyway.
If it doesn't feel right, no wishing it so or heavier grade oil is going to make it any better.
 
Sometimes, it's the starter making the weird noises. Just something to think about.
 
DieselDan said:
Sometimes, it's the starter making the weird noises. Just something to think about.
Click to expand...
the starter can make noise after it's running? it started quickly, no prob there
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peformance-wise, it runs fine...no different than my other car(s)
-i don't know if it took 10-15 mins for the sound to subside; when I finished the test drive it sounded almost normal
-what changes occur when the engine runs low on but not out of oil?
 
No, I thought it only made this nouse with the starter engaged. Take off the serpentine belt and fire up the car, see if the noise is still there...
 
Like Diesel Dan said. All those spinning things on the front of the engine could be making your noise that goes away. If noise is only there while moving, wheel bearings. I have a rrrrring noise on my 98 and same on my 97(but less), when moving only. Wheel bearings ok so I'm thinking trans. Noise doesn't go away. Both cars around 100K
 
A bad water pump and a bad tensioner have both given me similar noises. Like was said earlier, take off the belt and see if the noise is still there.
 
Any sustained moderate/high TP while at a low oil level will wipe out the rod bearings in a hurry in these engines. That being said, further diagnosis would be necessary to determine what you're actually hearing.
 
Could just be chain slap man, all marks have it on startup, mine does also. When my oil filter adapter gasket went out, i thought i was just low on oil inbetween changes, topped my oil off, and i went on my way to my friends house, 10 minutes later up the road when i was turning on his street my low oil level light came on and i immediatley turned pulled in his driveway and turned off the car, i had at most 2 -3 quarts of oil left in the car, and thats being optimistic, it left an oil trail for a mile up my street when i was leaving, got the gasket changed, and it has never given me a problem since, unless your hearing a constant knock while its running i seriously doubt you have bearing damage, obvioulsy running any engine any amount low on oil can be detrimental though
 
made a couple sound clip videos, lots of white noise but it sounds better through headphones
cold start first thing in the morning
[video=youtube;jXeePI7Pz5I]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXeePI7Pz5I[/video]
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then after driving 30 mins
[video=youtube;2kTt_dP0JMo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kTt_dP0JMo[/video]
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any chance this is an exh man noise?
 
yeah that first video, that clacking noise after you rev it, sounds like my timing chains on cold start up.
now, obviously, that noise should go away. mine doesn't last more than a second or two. but that went on for thirty or more.

i have no idea how to fix it though. but the timing kit from ford is expensive and somewhat complex.
 
not related to worn bearings though...I realize getting rid of one noise often allows another (new) noise to be heard
 
I had a mechanic listen to it and he was convinced it's timing chain slap, usually decelerating from about 2500 rpms....from what I can tell, running some Seafoam then using 5 or 10-30 might get rid of the slapping?
 
I wouldn't pursue the car, but it looks like you may have already purchased it. You can run a little Seafoam in the crankcase (for a short interval and no WOT blasts), but you would want to switch to a 0W-xx oil rather than a 10W-xx oil. A 10W-xx oil will be "thicker" at startup, and only exacerbate the issue.

Have you opened up the oil filter and inspected the filter media? That would provide additional clues as to what is going on with that engine.
 
thx Rod, I'll check the oil_filter media...what are the conditions to look for and what do they indicate
Another member suggested a half can of Seafoam, run it a while then oil change to 5-30. You think 0w- 30 would better reduce the racket?
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is it likely that the previous ofa gask leak is associated with the bad tensioners? 109k miles
 
it's either lifters or timing chain tensioners...how do they sound differently? does either result in diminished engine performance? from reading it looks like replacement of followers (lifters) is simpler than tensioners?
 
97MarkJA said:
Has this gone from a should I buy to a how do I fix thread?
Click to expand...
it's a "how big of a problem is it, and how far down my fix-list should it be?" thread :cool:
I'm no mechanic, the reason I own Mark VIII's is to learn how to work on cars...this is just the next chapter
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first I need to get my stethoscope and find out where the clack-clack-clack is the loudest..valve covers or timing chain cover...I'll prolly go ahead and do the seafoam, chage oil and add a qt of Lucas..only question is what grade oil? if it's timing chain tensioners, a zero-20 or 30 will REDUCE chain slap on startup?
 
thinner oil should get oil pressure to the tensioners faster. a 0w20 or 0w30. Racecougar has suggested a 0w30 for cars with noisy chains on startup before.

you have a problem with the tensioners not having enough tension though.
so either that plasticy coating on the tensioners is worn down enough they don't provide enough tension,
or the tensioner has failed (cracked and is leaking oil pressure maybe.),
or the chain has stretched too much,
or a combination of several things.

as far as where is the noise, it sounds like its the big chains to me. the primaries.
 
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