1996 Chevy Silverado Low oil

Tiny
BFO1
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 124,000 MILES
I drove my truck with the oil cap off on the freeway for about 200 miles. Oil split out, but there was still about 2-3 quarts left in it when I realized my mistake. The engine did not over heat, but there is this random revving sound that occurs ocationally now. More worry some in the rattleing below the engine when I travel over gravel. What is the impact of running an engine on low oil at high speed?
Tuesday, May 26th, 2009 AT 11:05 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
Did the oil light ever come on? When running, do you hear any knocking or ticking?
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Thursday, May 28th, 2009 AT 7:38 AM
Tiny
BFO1
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The light never came on. Also, B4 the incident the oil pressure gauge was not working from a previous oil change. Since the incident, and after taking the truck to the same mechanic which knocked out the oil gauge to begin with, it now works again. I had mentioned to him the gauge stppped working after I had it in and his guys looked at it and couldn't fix it. Guess the gauge fixed itself accidentally.
When I first noticed the low oil accident, and for about 400 miles afterward, I heard a knocking and pinging internally below where the motor resides in the hood. Lately it has been better, but when I drive on gravel or bumpy roads I hear all sorts of rattleing internally below the motor. Lots of rattling. What could that be? Are the parts so worn from driving at low oil I now have too much wiggle room internally. What would those parts be? The check engine light comes on when I haul wood, but goes off when I get back into town and as of occationally, but latley I am feeling more secure in the fact I'm not going to break down in the woods. Knocking and pinging yes, what is pinging? Thanks, brad.
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Thursday, May 28th, 2009 AT 10:42 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
Chances are when they changed the oil, they bumped the wire off the oil sending unit. As far as the noise on the gravel roads, that wouldn't be from the engine. Have someone check to see if there are any lose steering components in the front end. It could even be a broken stabalizer pin. As far as pinging, the valves will do it for one of three reasons. Cheap gas, engine too hot (preignition), or a bad knock sensor can cause the timing of ignition to change resulting in the valves actually making that noise.
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Thursday, May 28th, 2009 AT 1:31 PM

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