I went off the curb and heard something hit hard underneath and oil leaked out everywhere then engine shut off

COLLEEN FAY FITZGERALD

MEMBER
1996 BUICK CENTURY
6 CYL
2WD
26,448,689 MILES

I went off the curb and heard something hit hard underneath. Got to the place about 6 to 8 miles away oil light was on. Saw a trail of oil and a puddle in the front of car. On way home I stopped and put the quart of oil I had in. There was only about a 1/2 in of oil before I put the quart in. Also the oil cap would not come off and I had to force it off. So about 3 or 4 miles the car shut off. No smoke no sound I put more oil in 2 quarts car would not turn over. The cop said oil was on the hood on the inside. Had it towed home and went out and I think the oil pan bolts are loose and lots of oil everywhere. I did not notice oil when I put the first quart in. So do you think it quit from the oil flying all over the engine? I hope it was the oil pan that is close to the ground. Also the car seems closer to the ground under the hood.

Monday, December 30th, 2019 AT 4:11 AM

3 Replies

SCGRANTURISMO

MECHANIC
4,897 POSTS

Hello,

Unfortunately, it sounds like you ran your vehicle out of oil and might have blown it up. The internal precision rotating parts of your engine that are machined down to the thousands of an inch require a fine film of oil to ride on and lubricate themselves against metal to metal wear that will cause your engine to seize up if not present. Usually it is the camshaft and valve-train that fail first from oil starvation as they are the farthest away from the oil pan and oil pump. If you try to start your vehicle and the engine will not crank or has a hard time cranking then the engine has blown up due to oil starvation.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros

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Monday, December 30th, 2019 AT 5:42 AM

COLLEEN FAY FITZGERALD

MEMBER
1 POST

The car did not show any sine of trouble except sluggish when going up a small hill. The oil I had just added would not have all ran out. Will the oil all over everything make it stall?

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Tuesday, December 31st, 2019 AT 10:48 AM

SCGRANTURISMO

MECHANIC
4,897 POSTS

Hello again,

Sure, it could foul the Crankshaft Position Sensor[CKP] or the Camshaft Position Sensor[CMP]. One, or either, or both could keep your vehicle from starting, but the engine would still crank when you are trying to start it. Does your starter crank the engine when you are trying to start it?

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros

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Tuesday, December 31st, 2019 AT 3:35 PM