I damaged my engine but I was wondering if someone could tell me how bad (oil plug came out on highway)?

Question

I'd rather not tell you who the last person was to change the oil in my car was (me), but this weekend my oil plug fell out while cruising at a good pace and i didn't realize what happened until i got off the highway.
I plugged it, filled it (98 civic dx, 140k miles) with high mileage oil to try to get the benefit of the additives to help the seals and rings. I have no tach, but at a certain RPM (about 27MPH in 2nd gear, above 65 in 5th), I hear a pinging or knocking noise. if I stay under that point and shift early, it sounds normal and idles normal. I've also noticed the pinging/knocking only sounds when i am on the throttle, like if I downshift and the RPMs are at the same point as when I accelerate and hear the noise, I do not hear it when the engine's naturally winding down.
My last observation is my breaks feel stiffer, as if the vacuum for the power breaks doesn't have as much of a pull. (loss of compression?)

~Continued~

I was wondering if someone who has a bigger clue than I do, could suggest to me if it's worth fixing this engine and having it rebuilt or, because it's a honda, just getting another one put in.
I was wondering if someone could give me an idea as to if it sounds like a total rebuild or a top half build would need to be done. I know i'm going to need diagnostics done to get a better idea but because of the cost of those I was wondering if someone could easily say "it's shot, get used engine"

Thanks for your time

~Chris

Thanks all for the answers. the www.car-part.com was useful. I was trying to search other junk yard sights but this one found the most. great sight.

I'm going to go with replacing it. I was wondering if someone could give me a ballpark range of how much a mechanic would charge to swap the old engine out and drop the new one in? Thanks again.

Answer 1

well first put a plug in it, put oil in it and try it out. if you get a lower end noise (very possible) then swap in a new engine.
guesstimate of 6 or 8 hours to r&r engine. at my dealership we are at $75/hr. dont forget all the belts/hoses/tune up/fluids to add to the cost. i would budget $2000 to be safe.

Answer 2

You've all seen the oil commercials where they drain the oil and run the car 50 to 100 miles and then fill it with fresh oil and keep going. You may have done some serious damage, you may luck out, the sludge that was in the oil galleries inside the engine may have thickened or hardened and the fresh oil may clean that back up. I would recommend driving it 250 miles or so and if the noise doesn't get much worse change the oil and filter again. All the heat you created I'm sure carbonized things up, my guess is you have a 40% chance of getting a few more miles out of it and 60% chance of an engine failure

Answer 3

At each end of the crank shift are "Thrust Bearings" sounds like that may be part of the noise, also sounds like the "Main Bearings" might be bad. Vacuum is mostly created by changes in engine RPM but the heat that was generated may have damaged the vacuum lines. SAD, extreme ware was done to the engine, it's still running, good, it needs to be rebuilt or replaced! Till then treat it like an engine with 200,000 miles, oils,Etc.

Answer 4

OOPS I finger tightened my drain plug one time and with the same disasterious results. Connecting rod bearing noise is like you describe. Most mecnahics would rather replace Your motor with a low mile used engine out of a wrecked or salvaged car. 10 years old 140k miles was to soon for lubrication failure. There is likely lots of dammage inside the motor cam bearing surfaces lifters and rod and main bearings too. So talk to lot's of people find a good mechanic who will replace the engine for you. Good Luck

Answer 5

Sorry, if you drove it for any amount of time with no oil in it, and are now hearing a knock under load, it's only a matter of time before the bearings go out completely. It's time to have it evaluated by your mechanic, but with that high of mileage, and any time at all with no oil, I'd expect to hear the worst.

Answer 6

It's going to DIE. Start shopping for one of those used japan imported engines. They are pretty good units, come with a warranty, and not as expensive a rebuilding the one you have. That is the best way to go.

Answer 7

need diagnostics to know for sure how bad you mess it up but id say if you hear a knock or ping now that you didnt before sure its a burned bearing maybe a crank shaft also might be fixable but then again another motor might be about the same price

Answer 8

I am amazed that this thing runs at all, your engine is now junk. Start looking for a used engine would be my advice.

Answer 9

dude my advice is to swing another power plant in, they are eas enough and cheap enough. you'll spend more time researching it than if you get a long block, bolt everything to it, and then drop her *** in. good luck.

Answer 10

Your engine is now junk.
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