HELP! Ran without oil due to leak

[Jakelukas]

1998 Toyota Camry V6 XLE

Need some urgent help. Long story, did an oil change, normally I run the engine to make sure everything is ok but it was late and didn’t have time. Next day I drove 15km before the low oil indicator light came on, I pulled over and discovered the engine was bone dry and oil sprayed all over the engine compartment. Turns out there was a problem with the oil filter gasket.

Had a friend come and bring some oil, refitted the oil filter, started the car. Audible problem with a valve but went mostly quiet after the oil circulated. Continued on my trip to his house about 20km, no obvious problem. Later that day took another trip still noticed a sound coming from one of the valves but figured it still was sticking from earlier, about 15km later after stopping at a set of lights noticed engine hesitating/laboring. Turned off the AC dropped in into neutral, engine cut off. Waited a few mins I managed to start it up and get it into a parking lot and call a tow truck.

Sorry about the long step by step, I'm hoping this will give someone enough information to offer a suggestion.

Before calling the tow truck I noticed the engine was extremely hot, I checked the oil level and was ok, none was leaking, I don't think the temp gauge rose, nothing that would reflect the heat coming from the engine. Based on sound and senses it felt like the oil is not getting to all the parts of the engine.

I don’t know how much damage was done at this point. What are my options? I would love to take it to a mechanic but is not in the budged.

What can I look for? Did I kill a bearing? Is there burned oil residue left over from the initial problem?

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Jake

[xylium]

That's a toughy. I don't know a whole lot about engines but you could try this. First get some engine degreaser and cover up all the electrical stuff and hose the enigne down with the degreaser. After about 10 minutes, hose the engine down with water. Make sure you cover the distributer or you will have problems! Cover the alternator too. I've heard too much oil build up on the engine could make it run hot. Next, get some engine flush by Restore or what ever brand. Just a thought but you could have sludge jammed in the drainage valves or pump. If none of that works, your oil pump could have died due to lack of oil. If your oil pump is dead or on the way out, flushing it won't hurt it anymore.

[Jakelukas]

Thanks for the tips,

I picked up a couple products to help remove some of the sludge but don’t want to use them just yet. So far it sounds like a potential problem with one of the forward valves. I ran the car just long enough to turn it around in the driveway and the valve noise was to painful to hear. Idle was very rough as well.

Took the front valve cover off, nothing was really noticeable, perhaps a little light scuffing almost on one of the lobes. Basic compression check indicated that one of the front cylinders had a difference of about 30 psi compared to the others. It does seem to be in the same area as the loud valve, also is the same cylinder that had the scuffing on the exhaust lobes.

I'm going to do a leak down test on it tonight and see if its the piston rings or the valves on that cylinder. Then I'll know if I should be ordering my engine rebuild kit..


Jake

[emeny2]

if there is more that a 15psi difference between the cylinders the cylinder with the low psi is considered a dead cylinder even if there is still pressure in it. and if you find "glitter" in your oil i would recommend a possible new/ remaned crank

[chronoti]

penny on the crank shaft test do that too if you think there any crank issues.

i say sticky valve that can cause low compression if not that scuffing is your cam lobe warn down and you might need a new cam or the old reground.