No oil and 6K RPM-- bad noise coming from engine. Blown??!

[Andrew_5.0]

Ok. There is a lot more to the story, that I will (try to) say in a nutshell.

Car was leaking oil badly about 4 weeks ago. Brought it to Ford, they fixed it (under warranty). It was a really simple fix. The fixed it, added oil, and a new filter.

Since then, I've driven it pretty hard-- as I usually do.

Then, on the freeway last night, I was driving it really hard. Realllyyyy hard. Winding it up to 6K a number of times, flying through the gears. It was kinda difficult to hear anything over the h-pipe, but when I let it get down to 2K or so, I heard a loud clunking that was only present during certain RPMs. At idle, you can hear the clunking. Then, at around 2K, you can hear it, then, just shy of 3K its present, as well.

This is the weird part. I'm usually very good about checking my oil regularly, but the past weeks have been pretty crazy, and blah blah... I never did as I normally do. On the way to the dealership, my oil gauge is bouncing from zero, back up to half. I immediately pulled over and check oil. Nothing! wow. Put 4 quarts in, and went up to full on dipstick. They're fault for not properly fixing leak.

Noise was not as loud, but it was still there.

One last thing...

I took it to Ford, and serv. mgr. said, no prob. Its all under warranty and we will fix whatever it is. BUT my concern is what was damaged w/o oil during those high revs. Also, what is the integrity of the service mechanics? I know they have to replace what is actually broken, but what about if I fried some rings, or something like that? Should I go down there w/ someone when the engine is apart, and look myself? Do you think they will really replace what endured excessive wear during the no-oil-high-rpm runs?

Thanks for the input

 

[COramprat]

Dogging it with that low of oil can only be bad. I'd look into having them replace the engine if they are admitting fault.

 

[shonoff]

Id imagine they will replace the least amount of parts they can to get it running well enough to get you of the lot.Id also try to get a whole new motor.

 

[Shiroelex]

Leaking oil in a 99? Man, when you find out where it all was coming from, let me know. I want to double check my 01.

 

[Mike97gt]

Id imagine they will replace the least amount of parts they can to get it running well enough to get you of the lot.Id also try to get a whole new motor.

the opposite is usually true. most dealer mechanics are flat rate and come backs like this will hurt you. so for the most part the tech will get the most new parts he can. to try and cut down the chances of it comeing back again and again.

at my work we would not mess around with rebuilding it. we would drop a rmp rebuild in it. we do no in house rebuilding of engines. it's just way too risky.

a new motor is out of the question. a ford rebuild is the best you can hope for. ford don't put new motors in anything. the only exception is if the car is under 1 year old and under 5k miles. if thats the case then a new motor is shiped fromt he factory.

 

[Mike97gt]

Leaking oil in a 99? Man, when you find out where it all was coming from, let me know. I want to double check my 01.

some 4.6's leak oil from the rear of the passenger side head. and on a few rare lucky ones they also leak from the front of the left hand drivers side head. the leak is fromt he HPOF ( high pressure oil feed) area due too contamination of the head gaskets when built. this does not affect any oil or coolant going into the combustion chamber. or any cross mixing of coolant and oil. it just causes a external leak. and the fix is headgaskets and possibly a cylinder head.

mine leaks from the passenger side head

thats the onl common oil leak i know of on these cars.

 

[Andrew_5.0]

shonoff-- I thought that same thing. That is what I am concerned about.

mikez28-- That makes the most logical sense. I would like to think this. I'm just concerned, obviously, because nobody treats someone elses car like their own. And another thought is since they are flat rate mechanics, if it comes back, who gives a *****, they will be paid their flat rate wage then as they did the first time. I mean, if they work on 2 4-hour jobs, or 8 1-hour jobs, I dont think they mind. Just playing devil's advocate. Not sure what to think.

 

[csledd]

I wouldn't trust the Ford mechanics at the local dealership here if my life depended on it.

 

[cmaglio]

My 00GT has a slight leak from the rear main seal. I hear this is fairly common on ford motors. The leak is probably more noticeable on my car due to the fact that the engine is under boost. This leak is still only a couple of drops every now and then though...

 

[WOT]

Hmm, all this talk of oil leaks being common. I have been driving mine for 5 years now and not one drip. I have been boosted for two of those years too.

 

[Turbo92PGT]

Mine doesnt leak a drop on the ground, but I saw that there is a little bit of a leak on the passenger side head. Not really bad. Its hardly wet. As far as what your problem is, i really dont know! I would definetly take it back to them and complain. Make sure you dont say you were gunnin it who can resist floorin these cars? not me! Even though mine breaks belt tensioners like clockwork, I hadn't floored the thing in a week. I couldn't take it anymore. I floored it. It has broken the belt tensioner in two on a few power shifts into second and third. its retarded

 

[shonoff]

the opposite is usually true. most dealer mechanics are flat rate and come backs like this will hurt you. so for the most part the tech will get the most new parts he can. to try and cut down the chances of it comeing back again and again.

at my work we would not mess around with rebuilding it. we would drop a rmp rebuild in it. we do no in house rebuilding of engines. it's just way too risky.

a new motor is out of the question. a ford rebuild is the best you can hope for. ford don't put new motors in anything. the only exception is if the car is under 1 year old and under 5k miles. if thats the case then a new motor is shiped fromt he factory.

I was refering to the dealership/management getting the car out as quick and inexpensively as possible,not so much the techs working on it.Isnt it the dealerships/managements decision to what parts they authorize to go on the car?If that was the case,I would think when they come across a part that would be somewhat worn,but still functional they would not replace it.You would know better than I will but in my experiences,when I am footing the bill,they will replace whatever I want,but if I am not paying for it,they have only replaced what was absolutely necessary to get the car running.

 

[shonoff]

And thanks Mikez28 for the info on the oil leak.And info you have given me in the past.