I ran motor with low or no oil. Is it ruined?

CHILI_W

MEMBER
TOYOTA PICKUP

I have a 2005 toyota tundra automatic with 4.7 v8 engine. It has about 60k original miles. I was going to change the oil. I am running mobil 1 5w30. When I replaced the filter, the old gasket stuck to the engine. I drove down the road about one half mile before I pulled over and added oil since most of mine had leaked out. The temp gauge was normall. It was conventional oil that a buddy had brought. IIt was making some noise like a tapping. Also, at higher rpm, makes rattling noise. I don't know what this is. I only drove about 5 miles with it like that. I then flushed the engine using that 5 minute engine flush from NAPA. Drained completely and installed new filter and 6 quarts of MOBIL 1 5w30.
So, everything is back to normal except my new noise.
I don't think this noise was there before but I could be wrong.
The light came on stating I need to take it to dealer.
I was mainly wondering if I did any major damage to the engine or what the noises may be.
Thanks for the help. Bill

3 Replies

FAIRRACING31

MECHANIC
150 POSTS

Chili, it all really depends on how much oil you lost and if you dropped oil pressure. Rattle at high RPM really makes me think you did some damage. Did your oil pressure light come on? I'm not sure if you truck just has a idiot light or a actual oil pressure gauge. All I can really say is maybe change your oil again and try some synthetic oil. Pull your old oil filter off and cut it up and see if you have any metal shavings in it. Good luck

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Sunday, October 7th, 2007 AT 8:16 PM

CHILI_W

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Oil pressure light never came on, motor never got hot. Nothing like that. I have put on a new filter and all new synthetic oil, mobil 1 5w30. I still have noise and the light on the dash saying take to dealer. The rattle is not always there. Was any major damage done that quickly?

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Monday, October 8th, 2007 AT 11:32 AM

FAIRRACING31

MECHANIC
150 POSTS

Chili, I cant say with full confidence that you have major damage with your motor, and I cant say there is no damage. I have seen motors that have run for a few seconds without oil have rods and main bearings go bad, I've also seen some without any problems. I guess It really depends on how well you have maintained the service on your motor. You keep saying you have a light on the dash that say's take it to a dealer, I think you mean a "service engine soon" or "check engine light". Do a computer diagnostic so you have a better ideal whats going on. You are going to have to determine what's making your noise.

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Monday, October 8th, 2007 AT 4:14 PM