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Car problems. . . AGAIN?! ugh.?

Here we go again... (Sorry it's so LONG)

I have a '96 (standard) Mustang GT. I just had the clutch replaced in it... say early last year... because it was clacking (I think it was the throw-out bearing). Well, the clutch was replaced and I didn't really have a problem with it. **Keep in mind I drive over 500 miles/week at LEAST to go to school.**

I've been under so must stress lately, that I have neglected to check the oil (I know, stupid stupid). So yesterday at the softball field, I messed around a little and played around with racing off the line across the softball parking lot... we didn't go far (both of us spun a little). I missed second and stopped because by that time he had left me. Anyways, so I drive back to my boyfriends house and we happened to get stopped at the red light. Well, this is when my boyfriend told me my car is knocking BAD. I turned my radio down and OMG it was.

We popped the hood and tried to figure out where it was coming from... he told me it could be a rod... I have no clue what that is... or where it's located. So I call my parents and they tell me to check the oil... of course... NO OIL. ****! Then it hits me... (again, as I've said I've neglected to pay attention to gauges due to stress) it hits me and I finally realize that my oil gauge has been fluctuating bad... NO WONDER. Ugh... so I went and bought oil stabilizer (1 qt) and 5 quarts of oil to put in my car (I only put 5 quarts total in- the stabilizer and 4q quarts from jug of oil.

I cranked the car and let it circulate, and the sound of knocking was significantly lower... and sometimes it would stop... then pick back up (as in get louder) and continue... Please, does anyone know what went wrong? Will the oil eventually fix the knocking noise? No negative comments, I already know what I did was stupid (I don't ever do that... and just happened to that night), and I'm already under a LOT of stress from college and trying to find a job...

Thank in advance!

Update:

I have no one by myself to blame for not checking my fluids on a daily basis- especially driving 500 miles/week. This is my "first" car... I worked and paid it off myself, so it has sentimental value to me... I hope its not as serious as it sounds.

When I bought the car roughly two years ago, the guy had just put a new engine in it (it only had 5,000 miles on it). The odometer read 107,000. Now, almost two years later it reads 168,000... I really really hope it's not that bad... :S

5 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    10 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    You ran it out of oil, most likely screwed up a crank part such as a rod or bearing, once that has been done there is no turning back. Now that you have oil in it it will help, but its not going to magically fix itself. Drive it a while, see if the knock goes away, maybe its not so severe. If it continues you may want to get it looked at, if lucky repairs can be made without pulling the motor depending on where the issue is at.

    If me, I most likely would not pull the motor and fix it, its a 96. Gonna cost you more to rebuild the darn thing than the car is worth. I would drive it till the thing exploded and then if I liked the car I would think about putting a used motor back in or just dropping in a fresh rebuild.

  • ?
    Lv 4
    10 years ago

    Well it seem unanimous your engine is cooked. Well yes running it out of oil you've ran the crank and connecting rod bearing dry causing them to wear creating a gap between the connecting rod and the crank, that's the noise your hearing. No amount of oil or stabilizer you put in there is going to fix it. I've seen cars drive like that for a bit but its not something i'd do especially if your driving lots as it will leave you on the side of the road one day. Your best to bit the bullet and get yourself a new engine or just sell the car as is while its still running.

  • Mr. T
    Lv 7
    10 years ago

    No, the oil will not solve the problem, the damage is done. Due to lack of lubricant, the soft bearing material on the ends of the connecting rods & crankshaft have worn. The only fix is to have the engine rebuilt, meaning the engine must be removed from the vehicle, stripped & all new parts installed.

    »»»

    Source(s): Mechanic - 33 Years
  • 10 years ago

    the damage is done u know that nothing more needs to be said, but if u want to try to baby it along i would change my oil and filter and add some lucas oil stabilizer ( a lot of it) and a can of Restore along with my oil. u said ur in college so money is probably pretty tight, but after u change ur oil drive for a 1,000 miles and change it again adding the same things with ur oil. then drive it nicely for however long u go in between oil changes. it wont fix ur problem but it definately wont hurt anything besides ur checkbook. hope this helps sorry about the bad luck.

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  • Anonymous
    10 years ago

    Yup irrepreble damage but if you baby it and keep checking the oil it should last you quite a while i had an old ford truck that was ran out of oil b4 i got it it knocked and clacked i just kept up on the oil and used it for heavy work for 5 years

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