I've had this car since new (90k now) and haven't always kept an eye on the oil, never having had something that went through so much of it. After a recent service, it would start rough when cold, and miss when accelerating at a low RPM. A month later the oil light cam eon in a hot corner. I added oil, but the miss persisted. No time to take it back to the dealer.

Yesterday after a flawless 400 mile weekend trip, I pass someone at high RPM. 5 minutes later I'm at a stoplight and the red oil light comes on. I rev the engine a bit and the 1/2 power light comes on. I drive it a few hundred feet to a driveway and pull in.

The engine is making a rattly noise when I rev it very much like a loose timing chain, and there's a tap tap tap like a dry lifter. As I understand it, no oil pressure can cause these noises.

I've read about the timing guides breaking and the pieces messing up the oil pump & chain. How common is that?

I'd appreciate hearing opinions on what this sounds like. I'm in the middle of moving and don't have all my tools to pull the oil pan which I've read is a bear in this jellyroll of a car.

thanks,
jim

 

 

get the valve cover removed and take a look.

 

I finally took off the valve cover and oil pan. The timing chain and guides are fine, and so it the oil pump chain. But there is aluminum in the oil pan. I haven't removed the oil pump to see if its damaged. I don't know what else is aluminum that would cause no oil pressure but still allow the engine to run.

jim

 

hummm...the only thing that comes to mind is the connecting rod or crankshaft bearings. Engines can run without oil for a while before they just quit.

 

My buddy bought the car and tore into the engine. No spun bearings but #1 rod and mains were trashed. These are the mains. I'm convinced the oil pump failed to provide proper pressure on the high RPM zero throttle overrun, though it's possible I technically exceeded redline by downshifting.

jim