$4000 CAR REPAIR ESTIMATE?

A FRIEND HAS AN '03 TOYOTA COROLLA, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, 4-CYLINDER, 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND 53,000 MILES.

DURING APRIL, THE OIL LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF. SHE DROVE IT UNDER 10 MILES WHEN OIL LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF AGAIN. SHE CHECKED THE OIL. THERE WAS NONE. SHE FILLED IT UP. THE NEXT DAY, SHE TOOK IT TO SERVICE DEPT. THEY DRAINED THE OIL SHE HAD PUT IN BECAUSE IT WAS "A LITTLE THICK." THEN THEY FLUSHED IT OUT AND PUT NEW OIL IN.

NO INDICATION OF ANYTHING WRONG OTHER THAN IT SEEM TO BE LOSING POWER GOING UPHILL. TODAY, DEALER SAID ENGINE HAD TO BE TAKEN APART ($875) AND THAT OIL WAS LIKE PUDDING, THE ROD BEARINGS, PISTON RINGS AND VALVE SEALS ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. SHE CHANGED OIL FAITHFULLY.

WOULD YOU ADVISE TO HAVE THIS CAR REPAIRED OR TRADED IN ON A NEW ONE?

IS SHE BEING RIPPED OFF BY THE $4000 ESTIMATE? COULD FINAL AMOUNT BE HIGHER?

THANK YOU.