Drove car on low oil?

Question

I have a 1993 Saturn. I usually add oil to my car about every 3 weeks, maybe 1/2 - 3/4 of a quart. I started my summer job and have been making much longer commutes than usual and I accidently waited the same amount of time to check my oil. Yesterday I sat in really bad traffic all the way home for about 1.5 hours. When I got home i realized a slight and very faint noise as i turned my car off that sounded like metal clinking and knew right away i was low on oil. I checked it after it cooled down and it was very low, it holds 4 quarts to the full line and it took 2 quarts to get it back up to the full level meaning I had roughly 2 quarts in there on a 4 cylindar. I added the oil and drove to work today with no noise or problems. I really only need this car for 1 more year. Will it most likely be okay or am I going to get a big problem in the next few weeks?

Thanks

Answer 1

While you may have caused some additional wear on the engine, you most likely did not do a great amount of damage.

One hint, if you check the oil every time you fill the gas tank, and carry some oil in the trunk, you will always have the oil level correct.

Answer 2

Car, heal thyself for I have replenished your soul with the golden nectar of Life.

That is what you are saying. Note, it is metal. It does not heal. If parts seize up, or bend, they stay that way. Lack of oil will do that.
HOWEVER
They are built better than that. If your idiot light did not come on on the dash(red light saying NO OIL) You should still be fine.
>> Better to be slightly below the full line than way over(you blow oil seals when you have to much and really will be leaking like a stuck pig - the seals have to be replaced which means tearing apart the engine)<<
My MGB once ran out of oil. I could tell because I had a mechanical oil pressure gage and the needle would not rise when I started it in the morning. So shut off the car and checked the dip stick. (And that dipstick hit the bottom of the oilpan...you could hear the metallic click when it touched.) Pulled it out and nothing showing. I had none, nearest place to get some a garage 1 mile down the road....in the winter. So, started the car again and drove it down(super-conservatively...I lugged it in 4th instead of 2nd and coasted.) Asked how much oil it took and bought that amount and added it all,there at the pumps...to the amazement of the inside mechanic.
Little low? Just a bit. Good now. Chow.
Never had a problem after arise because of that for the next 2 years until I changed from cars to a motorbike.
2 qts low is OK. 1 qt. not so especially if you have a curvy hilly neighborhood and you do a lot of racing around.

Answer 3

You may have saved it. At this point I'd change the oil and start using one viscosity grade higher than your owners manual calls for. If the book calls for 5W-30 try 10W30.
Be sure there are no obvious oil leaks and check the oil level every other day. If 10W-30 does not reduce your oil consumption dig around and find a 15W-40 gasoline engine oil. The next step would be a 20W-50. Avoid 10W-40 in a gasoline engine at all costs. Independent tests have demonstrated that after a very short period of time the 10W-40 does not flow like a 10 weight at start-up. Because of the additive packages it gains viscosity at low temps.

Answer 4

Sounds like you caught it in time. I don't think you'll have any more problems other than the ones you have with the oil.

Do you know why the engine keeps losing oil? Is it burning it, or leaking it? Either way it must be getting close to needing a rebuild. good luck

PS. Start buying the oil by the case, you may save some money that way.

Answer 5

If you keep up with the oil maintenance from now on, you should still be OK. Most engines tend to "tick" when the oil gets low -- but I've run them for a long time with that happening and had no real problems. I just filled it when it ticked and away I'd go! Not the best solution, of course, but it worked.

Answer 6

Saturns can take a beating. I've heard stories about saturns going 2-3 weeks without oil. Mine went for a few days once. It's not good for the engine, but the rest of the car will be dead before it matters.

Answer 7

The noise isn't from low oil, because cars won't make a sound from that. Noise is usually caused by a sluggish (slightly off-timing) piston rod. A good mechanic will not reccomend maintainence, because it's a minor problem that only amounts to noise. Good Luck!

Answer 8

Add a quart of oil for $3 but that will be "wasted" and thrown away when you get an oil change. Can you reaaally not afford the $20 or so for an oil change? You need to look around for oil change coupon or advertisements for specials. This is cutting pennies here if you can't get an oil change when you are just about due anyway.

Answer 9

The noise you heard was your valvetrain. You starved your lifters, rockers, and valves. You'll be ok as long as you didn't drive a long time with no oil in it.

Answer 10

You caught it in time to prevent seizure. But there was plenty of friction which shortens the time between valve jobs and ring jobs.