Oil light and slight knock after 30min of driving

BlueCaprice · #1 06-17-2007, 11:35 PM

Hello everyone. I just changed the LIM gasket on my 96 3.8l Windstar, and now, on really hot days after driving for maybe a half hour, the oil light comes on and the engine kinda ticks or knocks very slightly.

I haven't listened to it to well cause when it happens I'm afraid to leave it running. I've changed the oil three times in six days to make sure the crank case was clean of any radiator fluid but it hasn't helped. Anybody know what might cause this?

12Ounce · #2 06-18-2007, 07:53 AM

I wouldn't drive like that ... nothing but bad can come of it.

Probably something (trash) is sucked up against the oil pick-up screen. THe pan will have to come down for an inspection.

12Ounce · #3 06-18-2007, 09:40 AM

If you don't find the screen plugged-up, you'd better check the crankshaft and rod bearings.

BlueCaprice · #4 06-18-2007, 02:57 PM

Thanks so much for the reply.

I'm hoping it might be something plugged up like you said, however when I checked the oil, it seemed very hot to me, so I also thought it might be bearings. If the bearings are bad, could they be quiet when the car is cool, but causing enough friction to kind of "cook" the oil and cause problems? Before I get the oil light, I can't even hear the engine running. Again it was a very hot day, but I never noticed this in my other car. I will drop the pan like you said and hope for the best, but I won't be able to get to it till at least the weekend so I want to prepare for the worst.

12Ounce · #5 06-18-2007, 05:26 PM

The oil is a bit thicker when cool, and thins when warmer ... I suspect this is why the noise comes and goes with high temps.

The oil may be getting hot because of bearings ... but more likely because of piston blow-by, heating up the whole crankcase area. How many miles are on the engine ... and what kind of maintenance history does it have?

BlueCaprice · #6 06-18-2007, 08:38 PM

I think the van has about 109,000 miles on it. The oil changes were pretty regular. It' s been through 1 transmission. When the car died from the blown gasket, I went to get it off the side of the road, and the crank case was full of radiator fluid. I drained it and let it sit draining for a many days. When I pulled the LIM I could actually see where the gasket had broke and the fluid was pouring in so I changed the gaskets and put it back together. I gave it 3 oil changes to flush any fluid out. Thats about it as far as History. The Check engine light is on, but that has been on for 7 years. The engine always ran very good, and does still, till the oil light comes on. I haven't check it today. I want to drop the pan before I run it anymore.

12Ounce · #7 06-18-2007, 09:34 PM

Coolant in the crankcase ... that's not good.

BlueCaprice · #8 06-18-2007, 10:42 PM

Yeah I know. I think it happened all of a sudden though cause the car ran really really bad when the gasket crapped out. I drove it 3 blocks home after letting the motor cool and I didn't run it again till the new gasket. I was hoping the motor might have survived any serious damage.

LeSabre97mint · #9 06-18-2007, 11:00 PM

Hello

Antifreeze eats bearings. What weight of oil are you using? Which gasket blew?

Regards

Dan

BlueCaprice · #10 06-19-2007, 12:10 AM

The gasket that blew was the Lower Intake Manifold gasket. I used 10/30 the first time and 10/40 the second and the third. I put in a bottle of STP on the last one. I was planning on doing a few oil changes to make sure everything was flushed out so I bought the cheapest oil they had, and was gonna end off with a good synthetic or something of the appropriate weight.

Update - I started the car today. It was ice cold, and now the oil lights stays on all the time. It shakes a little too. I didn't run it for more than maybe 15-20 seconds at a time but I started it a few times to see if the light would go out. It didn't. We'll see what happens when I drop the pan.

BlueCaprice · #11 08-13-2007, 08:22 PM

Well the pick-up screen was VERY VERY clogged. I'm pretty sure It was my fault. While changing the LIM gasket it started to pour, so I went inside. When it had stopped, a bunch of berries and flower pedals had fallen from a tree onto the engine. I vacuumed it all up as best I could with my shopvac, but aparently some got into the crank case. Anyway it's running strong again. Thanks for all the help.

wiswind · #12 08-13-2007, 09:17 PM

It is great to hear that you are back on the road!
Thanks for posting back on what ended up being the problem.

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