I hate to admit it but it looks like I just lost a few thousand dollars due to not checking the oil in my Toyota Sienna van.
I knew that the van was overdue for an oil change and I had already purchased a jug of 5W30 QS high mileage oil and a filter. I have moved twice in the last few months so I had let the van go longer than normal (about 11,000 km) between oil changes. It normally did not use much oil and rarely needed a top up. My girlfriend has been driving it and I went to move the van a few days ago and noticed a definite ticking noise. I checked the oil and it was below the low mark but no oil light. Also, it has been -15C here this week. I immediately added a quart of oil but the ticking persisted.
Yesterday I changed the oil. Last night my daughter was driving the van and it died going up a large hill. She called me and said it was making a horrible noise with lots of smoke and a bad smell. I'm pretty sure it blew a rod. The van had 345,000 km on it and I never had to do any major repairs - original engine and transmission. But it is a shame for it to end like this. It was running great prior to this week.
I think that extending the interval resulted in faster than normal oil consumption and that combined with a lack of attention on my part resulted in severe engine damage. Being a member here I normally am very attentive to oil levels and oil changes but I missed this one.
So... check your oil!
Happy New Year
I knew that the van was overdue for an oil change and I had already purchased a jug of 5W30 QS high mileage oil and a filter. I have moved twice in the last few months so I had let the van go longer than normal (about 11,000 km) between oil changes. It normally did not use much oil and rarely needed a top up. My girlfriend has been driving it and I went to move the van a few days ago and noticed a definite ticking noise. I checked the oil and it was below the low mark but no oil light. Also, it has been -15C here this week. I immediately added a quart of oil but the ticking persisted.
Yesterday I changed the oil. Last night my daughter was driving the van and it died going up a large hill. She called me and said it was making a horrible noise with lots of smoke and a bad smell. I'm pretty sure it blew a rod. The van had 345,000 km on it and I never had to do any major repairs - original engine and transmission. But it is a shame for it to end like this. It was running great prior to this week.
I think that extending the interval resulted in faster than normal oil consumption and that combined with a lack of attention on my part resulted in severe engine damage. Being a member here I normally am very attentive to oil levels and oil changes but I missed this one.
So... check your oil!
Happy New Year