wife drove 08 Sienna with low oil for 2 days, with loud tapping

[08sienna]

I am debating if I should spend money to fix the leak or say good bye to my old friend.

(1) my wife reported the van is "making noise" and she can smell something burning. And when asked she said it has been like this since Wednesday.
(2) sure enough, there were oil drips in the driveway. Not a puddle, but the fresh drip was enough to completely soak one piece of tissue.
(3) no oil in the dip stick but no oil light on
(4) it was not from the oil plug or the filter, it was somewhere higher around the engine.
(5) oil reached all the way to the spare tire - must be spewing when engine was running
(6) overhead cam noise (tap tap tap tap) is LOUD. And she drove the car in this condition at least one hour cumulatively.

Do I have enough evidence this 3.5L engine is done for?

Please advice..
Thanks.

 

[Soft Cars]

Does it still make the noise after filling it full of oil?

 

[08sienna]

I will buy some oil tomorrow and do exactly that.
I think that is a good test - (1) starving oil? (2) oil level is ok but oil pressure still low?

 

[Soft Cars]

Where was the oil leak coming from?

 

[08sienna]

It seems somewhere front, in the middle, lower half of the engine. But higher than the oil filter

 

[LDB]

Might want to significantly upgrade the oil checking and other maintenance programs on it and any other vehicles you own also.

 

[Soft Cars]

If the noise doesn't go away, that means the camshafts are wiped out. The top of the engine is what suffers first when the oil pressure drops.

 

[mrsilv04]

Does wifey need her hearing checked or a hearing aid?

 

[08sienna]

I know right? Since the 08 Sienna always makes some sort of noise (mostly squeaks from suspension), she thought it was just another one... another ordinary noise. which amused me

 

[Cujet]

Sadly, we can only guess as to whether the engine is done for, or not. It is certainly worth considering pulling a valve cover to check some of the internals.

 

[vavavroom]

I am debating if I should spend money to fix the leak or say good bye to my old friend.

Get rid of the wife.

 

[Soft Cars]

What you need in that Sienna is a digital display of the coolant temperature and the oil pressure. And you need to have it displayed in such a manner that the driver has to look at it whether they want to or not.

 

[08sienna]

Get rid of the wife.

I needed your advice on Tuesday

 

[vavavroom]

I needed your advice on Tuesday

That was my day off.

 

[Lubener]

I will buy some oil tomorrow and do exactly that.
I think that is a good test - (1) starving oil? (2) oil level is ok but oil pressure still low?

Probably too late, the damage is done.

 

[Graham Piccinini]

Top it off, engine will likely quiet back down. If it does - do a short OCI or two, and carry on. If it doesn't - say your goodbyes.

 

[demarpaint]

Add oil, if it quiets down don't worry about it. Then focus on finding and fixing the leak, or pay someone. Then check the oil weekly for your wife. If after adding oil and it doesn't quiet down I see a replacement vehicle in your future. Keep up with the maintenance and checking oil in that vehicle to avoid a problem down the road.

 

[joekingcorvette]

I guess if we knew the year and mileage of the vehicle it would help to determine if it's worth fixing. Is it an 08 Sienna and how bad is the rest of the vehicle? It sounds as if the sound does not go away after filling it to the full line you are out of luck. Otherwise it's probably going to be a few thousand to get it corrected again and then if it's a high miler it may be toast.

 

[4WD]

I will buy some oil tomorrow and do exactly that.
I think that is a good test - (1) starving oil? (2) oil level is ok but oil pressure still low?

First of all that’s -5 points for not having a stash

 

[xmanjeff]

maybe do an oil change and see what comes out of it , would not hurt to get whatever is in there out