What else can cause a car engine to be completely damaged??
2007-08-28 07:23:30 · 7 answers · asked by amy_82_a 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Here's what exactly happened: I was driving the car and suddenly the car started making rattling sounds and I thought something was wrong and so started to pull over the car to the shoulder.
I noticed in the rear view mirror that lot of smoke was coming out of the car from behind and once I pulled the car to the shoulder, I could smell burning smell from the hood. I didnt drive the car after that, got it towed to the mechanic.
The mechanic said that there is a hole in the engine , the piston was overworked and made a hole in the engine, which is irreparable. He's asking me to install a new engine, which for a Subaru Forester comes to around 7000$, and there's no guarantee on used engines.
I don't understand how drivng in "3" gear can damage the engine so much! My friend was next to me and she noticed that I was driving in the "3" gear.....
2007-08-28 08:08:40 · update #1
Depends, Are you Flooring it?
2007-08-28 07:31:40 · answer #1 · answered by mr_kevin2000 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like you have problems and no, you'd have to run the thing full tilt in 3rd to even begin to effect anything and then it'd probably just want to heat up. As far as the engine being seriously damaged, overheating is one cause. Since I believe all Subaru's are air cooled, there'd have to be a pretty obvious fan failure. Running low or without oil will lock the engine up (it won't turn over at all) and do serious damage although the oil pressure or warning light should have come on to warn you. By the way, if a red light comes on, red means to stop, not drive home or even to the next exit (seen that happen before). I don't know how the valve train on a Subaru is operated, but on some belt driven engines, if it breaks it caused serious damage. Any catastrophic damage beyond the above causes would be the unusual circumstance. About the only way you could be at fault is if you ran it without oil.
2007-08-28 07:36:29 · answer #2 · answered by bikinkawboy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not at all, as long as you're not at or over the red-line.
The worst thing that will happen is you'll use more fuel, so your fuel economy will suck. But aside from that, there's no problem.
In fact, many cars with automatics use the top gear in the automatic as an overdrive (OD) gear or have an electronic overdrive gear (meaning the drive shaft is actually turning faster than the crankshaft). 3rd is almost always an underdrive gear (like 1st and 2nd). Anyways, the point I'm trying to make is that most automatics have the ability to turn off the OD when you're towing something, or when you're going up a steep hill. The transmissions and the engines are designed to be able to run for long periods of time in a lower gear. As long as you weren't at-or-over the red-line, then you're fine.
2007-08-28 07:40:46 · answer #3 · answered by This is SPARTAAAA! 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Driving in 3 would not harm the engine it will just use more gas. I would need to know what you mean by totally damaged to answer what could cause it. If you ran the engine past the red line you could cause it to throw a rod. If you drove it over heated it could crack a head or the block. If you ran it out of oil or just never changed it you could seize the engine, If it has a timing belt and you didn't replace it when it should have been you could have put a valve through a piston.
2007-08-28 07:37:57 · answer #4 · answered by Mark G 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not likely. Unless you rev the engine too high. (i.e., too many RPM). For example, If you drive in "3" for 10 minutes at say 35 to 50 mph, then your engine shouldn't suffer any damage. However, if you tried to drive in "3" at 80-90 mph for ten minutes then you could possibly damage the engine.
As far as actions that will "totally damage" any car engine: running the engine without oil and running an overheated engine are probably the two most common.
2007-08-28 07:38:08 · answer #5 · answered by amw 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's normal to drive in 3 around town. It just keeps it from going into overdrive.
You might want to get a different quote. 7 grand is pretty high. Places like http://www.jer-us.com/Applications/subaru.html have new engines for $2800 to $3400 for Foresters. Install shouldn't run more than a grand. You would have to pay a $300 core charge since your old engine isn't any good for rebuilding.
2007-08-28 13:59:48 · answer #6 · answered by Nomadd 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Low or no -coolant- oil or oil pressure, kind of hard to over rev a subaru unless you can`t hear the buzzer. What do you mean by totally damaged? Sounds like there was a problem before
2007-08-28 07:35:35 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋