Stupid mistake - risk of long term engine damage?

[nthach]

In the saga of the Chevy Blazer I’m working on, I installed a new radiator - only problem was that the drain plug was a Japanese-style winged one. To loosen it, I had to use a pair of needle-nose pliers to bust it loose. That meant I had to undo the lower oil cooler line to get access to it.

I thought I tightened it back - nope. It was only on finger-tight. There was a puddle of oil, lost about 1/2 quart. We shut down the engine and tightened the line up. Restarted it, no weird sounds.

I don’t know how the oil system schematics on this - the engine was running for 15 seconds before I realized my mistake. Should I keep an ear out for any weird sounds or do an UOA of the old fill?

 

[Jimmy_Russells]

If it was only 1/2 qt you have nothing to worry about, other than the clean up.

 

[B1974]

15 seconds shouldn't hurt anything. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[dishdude]

Didn't hurt a thing.

 

[nthach]

If it was only 1/2 qt you have nothing to worry about, other than the clean up.

There’s a lot of cat litter and Krud Kutter in my future, that’s for sure.

 

[Gimpy1]

1/2 quart lost in an oil cooler line is no big deal at all assuming u had 5 quarts to begin with in the pan. I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

 

[nthach]

1/2 quat lost in an oil cooler lie is no big deal at all assuming u fad 5 quarts to begin with in the pan. I would lose any sleep over it.

I changed the oil after getting the truck fired up and this mishap. My mind is at ease after seeing the oil drain out clear.

 

[Creekside]

I had an oil filter gasket blow out on a New Holland wheel loader on start up after a PM. I was also charging the AC and got out as soon as it started to walk around the back after I saw the oil pressure light go out. It was pumping oil out at a high rate when I came around the corner, ran back to the cab and managed to kill it a couple seconds after the oil pressure warning came on. Pumped 8 quarts out of a 10 quart system. Refilled it with more oil and another oil filter and it has run thousands of hours with no issue.

 

[Lubener]

I wouldn't worry. 1/2 quart isn't much at all.

 

[Trav]

+1 to all the reply's.

 

[PWMDMD]

After a cracked oil filter cover (that I missed) and essentially all the oil running out in about 20 seconds and another 5 seconds of me thinking *** as the lower pressure warning came on before shut down - 5000 miles later a picture-perfect UOA with no elevated wear metals. You're fine.

 

[mightymousetech]

Most people drive with less oil than that all day, every day.

 

[kschachn]

What’s the range on your dipstick? I’ll bet it’s more than half a quart.

 

[dnewton3]

Was it engine oil or transmission oil? Typically the cooler circuit in the radiator is for the auto-trans fluid, not the engine. Or do you have a separate engine oil cooler mounted by the rad? Or have you created a hybrid by using the radiator oil circuit for engine oil?

 

[Hall]

lost about 1/2 quart

You can be confident that the oil capacity allows for much more tolerance than a 1/2 quart high or low. No worries.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

I think the OP was worried about pressure loss not volume loss; but all should be fine.
NO odd and loud noises usually = healthy engine.

 

[DriveHard]

I would not be worried at all...and isn't that at least a 6 quart sump?

 

[nwjones18]

Was it engine oil or transmission oil? Typically the cooler circuit in the radiator is for the auto-trans fluid, not the engine. Or do you have a separate engine oil cooler mounted by the rad? Or have you created a hybrid by using the radiator oil circuit for engine oil?

I would have said the same thing before having a 99 s10. They have engine oil and atf both running through the radiator... At least they do for a 4.3 with the auto transmission.

 

[JMJNet]

You will loose the engine when all the oil drain out.
Usually happened when the oil cooler line fitting let go completely, not just leaking.

 

[nthach]

I would have said the same thing before having a 99 s10. They have engine oil and atf both running through the radiator... At least they do for a 4.3 with the auto transmission.

Yep - the engine oil cooler is on the driver’s side, the ATF one is on the passenger side. This is the C/K Blazer, early GMT400 before it got renamed as a Tahoe with a dash and engine refresh.