Is this possible?

[RMoose]

'98 323is -- I had my oil changed, my car sit for 2 days until my normal commute to work. Where my car overheated and blew a head gasket. Upon getting under the hood, I checked the coolant (it was okay), next i checked the oil and there wasn't any. I found the oil all over the underside and rear of my car.

So the question is...can you blow a head gasket if there is no oil in your car?

I ask because, the shop that changed the oil said the fan clutch is the whole problem so they are not liable. They admitted to the oil filter and o-ring being faulty, and they replaced it and the oil...AFTER the gasket damage had already been done, where they explained the oil as it circulated left the car through the filter. So after the oil was gone, can the car overheat to the point of blowing the head gasket? They want to pin all this mess ($2000+ parts/labor) on the fan clutch that I've never had any problems with.

Please somebody let me know something.

[divot91]

sounds like there trying to you for a walk

[daddyo8]

It sounds like you need a lawyer. If the oil all leaks out and the coolant is alright and your car didn't overheat at the coolant level, so fan clutch is doubious, the oil is also there to cool the engine at the cylinders. That would certainly cause overheating and quite possibly cause the head to overheat, warp, blow gasket, whatever. Pray it didn't screw up the lower half of your engine. It really sounds like these grease monkeys are responsible for the overheating.
Get a second opinion and take it to the afore-mentioned lawyer.
I could be wrong, but I dont think so. Good luck !

[MPWR]

Originally Posted by RMoose

So the question is...can you blow a head gasket if there is no oil in your car?

Yes, absolutely. And the shopmonkeys know this. Lubrication and heat dissipation are the primary functions of oil. The engine was designed to use both oil and water coolant to manage engine heat. If there's no oil, the engine will definitely overheat regardless of the functioning of the coolant system.

I'm with daddyo on this. Talk to another shop and they should confirm it (they shouldn't evne need to see the car to confirm the possibility). Then get a lawyer if you need. But this damage is almost undoubtably the result of their error causing the engine oil to leak out.