Left oil cap off when driving
Rhinoceros
12-07-2017, 12:21 PM
2011 Sentra
I discovered this morning that I had driven my car with the oil filler cap off, probably less than 100 miles.
The area under the hood was all oily. I cleaned it as best I could, in the 20 degree weather ths morning, using rags.
And I had to use probably 3.5 quarts of oil to fill it to the full level.
There was no odd noise, while driving it, and no oil light came on. The check engine light was already on and had been for a long time, so that wouldn't tell me anything.
So I have 3 questions:
1. Did this likely cause any internal damage to the engine? If so, what? And is there anything to do to prevent that, at this point?
2. Did it likely cause any damage, or will it do so, to electrical components (alternator is oily, e.g.), drive belts, or other damage (fire?).
3. How best to clean it thoroughly, without doing more damage from water, such as spraying the engine might do?
One more thing, maybe related, maybe not. I had been hearing some noise from the heater blower motor. It kind of came and went and was louder when the fan was turned up higher. I assumed a twig or such was in the blower. Now, when I turn the fan on, it is louder. When I turn it up higher, it becomes very loud. It sounds like a bearing going out or like the fan is flapping against something. Could it have sucked oil into the blower motor, and could that cause the louder noise?
I appreciate any advice or assistance.
I discovered this morning that I had driven my car with the oil filler cap off, probably less than 100 miles.
The area under the hood was all oily. I cleaned it as best I could, in the 20 degree weather ths morning, using rags.
And I had to use probably 3.5 quarts of oil to fill it to the full level.
There was no odd noise, while driving it, and no oil light came on. The check engine light was already on and had been for a long time, so that wouldn't tell me anything.
So I have 3 questions:
1. Did this likely cause any internal damage to the engine? If so, what? And is there anything to do to prevent that, at this point?
2. Did it likely cause any damage, or will it do so, to electrical components (alternator is oily, e.g.), drive belts, or other damage (fire?).
3. How best to clean it thoroughly, without doing more damage from water, such as spraying the engine might do?
One more thing, maybe related, maybe not. I had been hearing some noise from the heater blower motor. It kind of came and went and was louder when the fan was turned up higher. I assumed a twig or such was in the blower. Now, when I turn the fan on, it is louder. When I turn it up higher, it becomes very loud. It sounds like a bearing going out or like the fan is flapping against something. Could it have sucked oil into the blower motor, and could that cause the louder noise?
I appreciate any advice or assistance.
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