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EA82 Ran Low on Oil, Damage?


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So, I'm an idiot and ran the subie low on oil. I drove from DC to Boston for the holidays, I hadn't checked the oil level in a while and didn't bother checking before I left since I was planning on changing it this weekend. About halfway, I start hearing this noise that sounded kind of like an exhaust leak, so I ignored it. It seemed to be getting worse and it wasn't related to throttle position, only engine speed, so I eventually pulled over to check. I thought it could be a belt and didn't see anything wrong, so I kept going.

 

Then I started to notice what seemed like the oil pressure dropping on turns (not to zero, but it was noticeable) but some of that could have been attributed to just slowing down in the turn. When I arrived, however, I changed the oil, and it looked like maybe around only a quart or two came out. Most of the noise subsided with the fresh change, but I can still hear a clicking that I'm not sure was there before or not.

 

So my question is, what kind of damage have I done? Am I more likely to throw a rod or something now? It's got ~115k on it.

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Could be just valvetrain noise....which get's worse with crap old oil.

 

If it got a bit better with the new oil you may be fine....

 

although it's never good to run low on oil or run old oil.........so yes you'r more likley now to throw a rod.......how much more likely is hard to say.......EA82 bottom ends are pretty tough.

 

Check your oil regularly......change it regularly.

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that old lifter noise first is a handy sign to stop and go chase. i too ignored same likely source, planning to redo exhaust gaskets the weekend coming at the time. Power got worse and worse to stall state, would not idle, or restart. My oil was not just low and neding a top up, my oil pressure switch for idiot light blew out its diaphragm, spraying new oil out of my just rebuilt engine costing fifteen full pay packets. New oil in a clean bay could not be seen until road grime settled in it, in the bay, underneath and rooster tailing on the rear. I had about one litre of oil in sump as it took a four litre top up.

 

This was thirty years ago, 350,000km since passed on this tough old Ford six - still going strong. The oil loss may have toughened it up!

 

Next oil change you may want to try an engine oil flush to help clean lifters

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I never experienced any loss in performance that I could really tell. The car seemed to shake a little bit more at idle, but I have a feeling that doesn't have to do with that since I'm pretty sure I've experienced that before.

 

I also forgot to mention that I never saw the idiot light (which is not clear whether that's for oil level or pressure). I still need to make sure that it comes on when it starts tho.

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