Engine damage?

[Greg12]

2000 Mustang GT 4.6 Litre 5 speed manual.

Change my own oil at work like I have for years on all my vehicles. Changed the oil and filter on my son's Mustang yesterday. Folowing the change I started the engine ran it up to about 2500 RPM for about 10 seconds. Shut it down checked under the vehicle for leaks (none seen) let it down from the jack stands checked the oil level (via dipstick) and was on my way home.

I was about 3 miles form work on the freeway when I notice I had no oil presure on the oil pressure gauge. Pulled off the freeway on first off ramp and stopped engine immediately. A quick check under the vehicle revealed a massive oil leak originating from the oil filter area. Towed the car back to work and found that when I removed the old oil filter during the oil change the rubber gasket had stuck to the block and had not come off with the old filter. I did not notice this at the time and spun the new filter on with the old rubber gasket still in place.

After fixing the filter issue I refilled the engine with new oil again (Esso XD-3 0W-30) and started it. When I shut the engine off after discovering the oil leak it was running alright but was making a rattling noise (sounded like lifter noise). When I started the engine after fixing the filter and refilling the oil it made this sound again for a couple of seconds and then the noise disappeared and it seemed to be fine. I drove the car around a bit and it seemed (on the surface anyway) to be OK. It runs smooth with no noise at all.

Any thoughts on things I should check? Did I get lucky? Or could something be wrong that I just don't see right now?

Thanks

 

[tom slick]

I think you are fine. it probably had an air bubble in the oil system and a lifter or something caught the bubble for a little bit. probably no damage.

 

[Billy_D]

4.6l is tough engine. I think you got lucky, don't push your luck next time.

 

[Bill in Utah]

I think you are ok.

Real IMPORTANT to check for the old gasket. When I take the filter off, I always check the old filter for it. Then double check when I cut the filter open for it.

Thankfully you were paying attention to the operation of your car. GOOD JOB!

Bill

PS:

 

[oilyriser]

close call. It's probably fine. I had a gasket stick once, but noticed it as I picked up the old filter to move it, before putting on the new one.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: tom slick
I think you are fine. it probably had an air bubble in the oil system and a lifter or something caught the bubble for a little bit. probably no damage.


Had the same thing happen to me years ago. Was changing the oil/filter on my 3000GT. After the change,started her up,and heard this really loud noise. Turned off the engine and the oil filter had shot off like a bullet. Got under my car and noticed the gasket on the Wix filter had come off the filter and was stuck to the engine oil filter tree. From then on I used nothing but Mitsubishi OEM oil filters.

I drove her another 100,000+ miles with 100% no issues at all. Like the other poster said,the ticking was probably an air bubble passing through the valvetrain. Your engine is fine. No worries at all IMO. Those Ford 4.6 V8`s are virtually indestructable!

 

[Nyquist]

I think you'll be Ok. That model is a good engine.

To compliment this with another story, I knew a couple who had a Nissan Maxima (1996). They were driving and something hit the oil pan. All the oil leaked out, and the engine seized up. We towed it in, and put oil in it to see if it would work. After a little finagling it started up. It lasted for about 2 more years before they got rid of it.

Moral of the story, many of the engines today can take a beating.

 

[mechtech2]

I had a double gasket issue many years ago when I was a kid working a a gas station, doing oil changes. The car leaked immediately, so I was lucky to find it right away. But I never did that again [STRONG chewing out by a type 'A']! I have been very careful performing the umpteen jillion oil changes I have done since then! When I change an oil filter, all I think about is that incident decades ago!

In your particular case, your quick reaction and careful monitoring of the OPG saved the day. I think the engine is just fine, but you will probably not be 100% sure of it until a few years have passed.

 

[Whimsey]

Originally Posted By: Greg12
2000 Mustang GT 4.6 Litre 5 speed manual.

After fixing the filter issue I refilled the engine with new oil again (Esso XD-3 0W-30) and started it. When I shut the engine off after discovering the oil leak it was running alright but was making a rattling noise (sounded like lifter noise). When I started the engine after fixing the filter and refilling the oil it made this sound again for a couple of seconds and then the noise disappeared and it seemed to be fine. I drove the car around a bit and it seemed (on the surface anyway) to be OK. It runs smooth with no noise at all.

Any thoughts on things I should check? Did I get lucky? Or could something be wrong that I just don't see right now?

Thanks



When you put on the "replacement" filter the engine needed to fill it. Start up "clatter" is normal in these cases. Did it happen afterwards? MC filters seem to work best on our engines. I've also had good luck with Napa Gold a Wix equivalent product filter. Both have Silicon ADBV and pressure relief valves at the thread end. The Silicon ADBV seems to be the key for quiet start ups. I've used Fram's and they cause painful start-up noise everytime in my vehicles.

Most likely you didn't do any long term damage to the engine. Especially if with the proper type oil filter and correct weight oil it doesn't make "unusal noises".

Whimsey

 

[TallPaul]

Seems to me most filter installation instructions say to wipe off the mounting surface. In so doing, one hopefully would fine out if the old gasket is stuck. Anyway, I confess I often don't wipe the mounting surface.

 

[XCELERATIONRULES]

I always wipe down the mounting area.
I always get dirty dropping the filter,and the hot drain plug.
Besides an old gasket,there is usually grime and contaminants from the road all over the old filter area.
Makes sense to make sure the area is totally clean before adding oil.

 

[kaboom10]

Get an oil analysis to see if things like bearing and rings are ok still.

 

[Whimsey]

I always wipe the filter mount, check to make sure the old filter has it's gasket and put fresh oil on the new filter gasket

. So far after 37 years I've been ok. Unfortunately I can't always change my own oil anymore.

Whimsey

 

[Al]

Originally Posted By: XCELERATIONRULES
I always wipe down the mounting area.

I got in the habit of running my finger around the filter seal are for this reason and also to insure a perfect sealing surface. Disclaimer..sometimes its very hot.

 

[ThirdeYe]

Originally Posted By: Whimsey
I always wipe the filter mount, check to make sure the old filter has it's gasket and put fresh oil on the new filter gasket

. So far after 37 years I've been ok. Unfortunately I can't always change my own oil anymore.

Whimsey


We should start a mobile-BITOG oil changing crew to help out other fellow BITOG'ers!

 

[Gary in Sandy Eggo]

Your engine is fine. The only things that will be immediately starved for oil on oil loss are hydraulic lifters (which you heard starting to clatter), and the cylinder walls for lack of oil throw-off from the crankshaft journals. The journal bearings will remain well oiled for a surprising length of time as the rotation keeps the residual oil in place.

Even with said "starvation", the residual oil on the cylinder walls will also lubricate adequately for some time. The lifters, OTOH start to complain right away because there's no oil to refresh them after each lift, but at least for a short time, the only problem is noise. That's the same noise you heard while the lifters were pumping themselves back up after you fixed the problem.