camry run out of oil

[tprater]

I messed up bigtime today. I was driving my 1998 to work and it began to make a rattling sound and stalled. I pulled it over and started it up. Drove it a few miles to work and checked the oil. Oil was bone dry!!!! After work I put 3 quarts of oil in it and it still rattles. I drove it home 12 miles and it rattles at take off but seems ok at higher speeds. By the time I got it home it was rattling real bad. Did I mess this car up real bad or what??? Can I get it fixed? I think I just ran it out of oil but that surprises me because this car has never gone low on oil. This Camry has 144000 miles on it and has run like a champ with no problems except for the door and trunk locks that were replaced. The book value on this car isn't very much so I'm wondereing if it is worth fixing or maybe it's time for a new car. Shoot,,, !!! I was enjoying having it payed off. Heeelp meeeeeee

[.tony. .riot.]

Sound like what happend to me a year ago, you're probably looking at anything from 1k to 2k to get it fixed, depending on how bad (you drove it for a while, so it looks like it's going to be pretty bad) and how much the mechanic charges you for labor.

In my case, it was about $700 in parts and $500 in labor.

[Ferrat]

lol this happened to me last year, lol the rattleing you hear should be your bottom end bearings. and if it is you need a new motor :P your lucky after mine stalled it refused to start again.

Shouldn't be to much, mechanic should pick it up right away. Mine did.

Good luck

[Cyorke]

SOunds like it is time for a new engine. Like others said probably in the 1-2000 dollar range for a 4 cyl. That is if you can find a used engine and a place to install farily inexpensively.

[jhbhatia]

Learning point should be: there is a reason i always check my oil when i fill up gas. I know i may look like "WTF is he doing" but i want assurances that if my car's running low on oil..i want to know about it myself before my car decides to tell me.