2002 Ford Focus Rattle in engine

JZPDX

MEMBER
2002 FORD FOCUS
4 CYL
FWD
MANUAL
65,000 MILES

After a faulty oil change, oil leaked out of the car quickly to the point where the engine started bucking and making loud noises.

Luckily, I was across the street from a Firestone and they replaced the oil and cleaned up the mess.

Unfortunately, ever since then, the car has had a rattle like noise when starting up and when reaching higher RPMs. I've been told that it is a bearing problem, metal on metal and that the only fix is a new engine.

Is this true? The car has been so well maintained for many years and has low mileage. I am now trying to sell the car for other reasons and am trying to gauge a realistic price.

It's been said that the car may run for a while with no issue, other than the noise, but that eventually it will get worse.

1 Reply

BLUELIGHTNIN6

MECHANIC
16,542 POSTS

Hello and thanks for donating

It definitely seems as though your engine will need replacing very soon. Anytime the engine is ran without oil it will be catastrophic to the internal parts of the engine (i.E. Rods, pistons, bearings ). The only fix for this is to replace the motor or rebuild it, both being about the same price if you go with a used motor. It will run, and it may run for thousands of miles, or just a handful of miles. It's pretty much a ticking time bomb now and should not at all be trusted to drive far.