On the Eve Before Christmas the Gremlins Gave to Me...

[GSpence2]

An oil warning light, oil everywhere, a horrible rattle rattle and an untimely huge repair bill! (You gotta say it to the tune of the 12-days of Christmas. At least that way it's tolerable.)

P1000116.wmv

[bigbuzuki]

How many miles on the engine?

What exactly let go?

[GSpence2]

Morning Big. Coffee? 

It's got just under 131K miles. Not sure what let loose. The fan is spraying oil all over the place so it's hard to tell where it's coming from. I'm thinking it's one or possibly both head gaskets because the coolant definitely has oil in it, thankfully not a lot but it's in there. Some how it doesn't smell like fuel though, still smells like fresh sweet coolant so this is definitely a new thing. Odd thing is I've still got decent power delivery and gitty-up! No bangs, bucks, CEL, hard starting, only a low oil light and then the discovery. Both valve cover gaskets were already weeping and I had an appointment scheduled next week to remedy those anyway. They seem to last about 2 years because every two years at this same time I have to have them changed. I was planning on doing a full fluid and filter swap anyway. I guess now I'll plan on doing a rebuild or engine swap. Well, at least Santa has a sense of humor then

[lewisweller]

4 hours ago, GSpence2 said:

Morning Big. Coffee? 

It's got just under 131K miles. Not sure what let loose. The fan is spraying oil all over the place so it's hard to tell where it's coming from. I'm thinking it's one or possibly both head gaskets because the coolant definitely has oil in it, thankfully not a lot but it's in there. Some how it doesn't smell like fuel though, still smells like fresh sweet coolant so this is definitely a new thing. Odd thing is I've still got decent power delivery and gitty-up! No bangs, bucks, CEL, hard starting, only a low oil light and then the discovery. Both valve cover gaskets were already weeping and I had an appointment scheduled next week to remedy those anyway. They seem to last about 2 years because every two years at this same time I have to have them changed. I was planning on doing a full fluid and filter swap anyway. I guess now I'll plan on doing a rebuild or engine swap. Well, at least Santa has a sense of humor then

This stinks of a oil cooler failure! 

You better hope I'm right cos that is a lot cheaper than double head gaskets, ask me how I know. 

Merry Xmas. 

[GSpence2]

Ah Brother Lewis I so pray you are correct! We'll know more tomorrow, or more likely Tuesday. Fingers crossed. And tell ya what, if it is the oil cooler then I'll buy the first three rounds at the O-Club!

[GSpence2]

Well one thing we know for sure, the intake plenum is cracked. Tech smoked the engine first and the hose going to the AOS is leaking too as are several other lines. He hypothesizes that the cracked plemun caused an over-pressure condition in the system and may have damaged the VVT actuator because the tapping noise is coming from the right side (looking head-on engine) valve cover and from the center front engine cover (timing chain?). The forward portion of the gasket is where the main oil leak is coming from. They're tearing it down now to get a look at the oil cooler, etc...

I'll keep ya posted.

[GSpence2]

Hey guys. Sorry I posted a reply on the wrong thread. Update. Engine out and what mess. Long story short the timing chain is stretched t least one guide has broken the idlers are worn the coolant pipes seals are leaking the valve cover gaskets were leaking the breather hoses were broken and the exhaust is worn. I decided to install sport cats rear cat bypasses and a sport pipes. I'll keep ya posted.

[GSpence2]

This is what melted pistons scoring & piston slap looks like.