Valve cover gasket leaking. Easy fix. Engine is probably fine.
wife drove 08 Sienna with low oil for 2 days, with loud tapping
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What good will that do for a person who doesn’t know what the numbers mean?
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
Only if wife is the designated oil checker. If not then funny noise is the default oil level indicator.Get rid of the wife.
But what if the chunks didn’t fit through that tiny hole?
RIP Rod Bearings
Highboy
$100 Site Donor 2025
If it’s a V6 check the oil cooler lines they’re made of rubber know to fail and also there’s a rubber line going to the rear bank VVT that’s known to fail. Also check those two points.
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I don’t like strange and abnormal sounds, but isn’t it more expensive to replace the vehicle?
On the other hand it doesn’t sound like your household is into checking or monitoring which often is needed on old machines (if a leak is occurring it would show in the oil level going down gradually), and you don’t have any oil on hand anyway, if low oil were discovered. So replacement with new should solve this issue.
Me, say it turned out to be a seal or valve cover gasket and I got the job done. I’d still check the oil daily to make sure the problem is resolved, and you may not want to do it. What I mean is when a car has a major
Repair, I need to observe it to conclude the issue is resolved….old cars are not for everyone…
On the other hand it doesn’t sound like your household is into checking or monitoring which often is needed on old machines (if a leak is occurring it would show in the oil level going down gradually), and you don’t have any oil on hand anyway, if low oil were discovered. So replacement with new should solve this issue.
Me, say it turned out to be a seal or valve cover gasket and I got the job done. I’d still check the oil daily to make sure the problem is resolved, and you may not want to do it. What I mean is when a car has a major
Repair, I need to observe it to conclude the issue is resolved….old cars are not for everyone…
ok, Some updates:
(1) took most of a 5 qt jug of Supertech "all mileage" to reach the full mark on the dip stick
(2) engine sounded normal (no tapping). But while engine is on, oil dripped like crazy
(3) quickly drove to my neighbor gas station garage, jacked up and found one of the oil line was spewing (I was in the jacked-up car to start and stop the car so couldn't see it myself but the mechanic said so. I think it's that famous oil cooler line - I knew it was not the rubber elbow of VVT line by visual check)
(4) so I left the car with them...
I'll post any further updates.
Thanks for all the excellent advice.
(1) took most of a 5 qt jug of Supertech "all mileage" to reach the full mark on the dip stick
(2) engine sounded normal (no tapping). But while engine is on, oil dripped like crazy
(3) quickly drove to my neighbor gas station garage, jacked up and found one of the oil line was spewing (I was in the jacked-up car to start and stop the car so couldn't see it myself but the mechanic said so. I think it's that famous oil cooler line - I knew it was not the rubber elbow of VVT line by visual check)
(4) so I left the car with them...
I'll post any further updates.
Thanks for all the excellent advice.
That is good news! I suspect the engine will be fine after the hoses are replaced. Especially if you added Slick 50 before running it without oil!
(if you are too young get that joke, then check youtube for the Slick 50 commercials from the 90s)
On that note, in the early 90s I ran an '82 Cutlass V8 for several months without oil. The dipstick showed full but I later learned that was just the sludge left over from poor maintenance habits. After flushing with kerosene, replacing the fuel pump gasket (location of oil leak), and filling it up with oil, it ran for several more years until the frame rusted apart. Great car!
(if you are too young get that joke, then check youtube for the Slick 50 commercials from the 90s)
On that note, in the early 90s I ran an '82 Cutlass V8 for several months without oil. The dipstick showed full but I later learned that was just the sludge left over from poor maintenance habits. After flushing with kerosene, replacing the fuel pump gasket (location of oil leak), and filling it up with oil, it ran for several more years until the frame rusted apart. Great car!
Those iron engines could be abused beyound belief. Overheat? No problem- just let them cool down and add coolant. Little oil- no worries. Add some when you get around to it. LOL. But modern aluminum engines- no wayThat is good news! I suspect the engine will be fine after the hoses are replaced. Especially if you added Slick 50 before running it without oil!
(if you are too young get that joke, then check youtube for the Slick 50 commercials from the 90s)
On that note, in the early 90s I ran an '82 Cutlass V8 for several months without oil. The dipstick showed full but I later learned that was just the sludge left over from poor maintenance habits. After flushing with kerosene, replacing the fuel pump gasket (location of oil leak), and filling it up with oil, it ran for several more years until the frame rusted apart. Great car!
Fix the oil line. Fill it up with oil. Wash off the engine and underside and drive it!
Hey, don't wash off the rust proofing!
Probably because there was just barely enough oil in the system to keep the oil pressure over 7 psi at the oil pressure sender.
Exactly what I said earlier- VVT oil line.
+ 5 points.
Make sure the replacement line is the metal version, not rubber. I doubt they make the rubber ones anymore after the recall but just to be safe. You also should do the rear VVT line upgrade to metal as well or a similar situation could be in your future.
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