VE ran out of oil. What to expect next

[Charlescrown]

Had a customer call me saying they thought the transmission had a problem. When I drove it you could hear a distinct engine rattle at higher engine RPM. OMG. Checked the oil and had to add about 4 litres. Noise has gone but I am sure some of the Holden techs can tell me what to expect next.

[Gareth]

Replacing of the engine

[Gareth]

It will also have shagged timing chains, not to mention oil sludge blocking the pick up.

[Charlescrown]

I am well aware of the timing chain issue. I have seen quiet a few engines run well and truly out of oil and survive for many years after but don't know how Holden's pull up. It still would have had 2 litres left but obviously not enough to stop metal to metal noises. It's been serviced by Holden regularly with all the additives they like to sell like engine flush and injector cleaner on each service so I assume if that's been done the pickup should be clean but not sure just how much engine damage may have occurred.

[vlad01]

sounds like either too long intervals or perhaps not thrashed when new so rings never bedded in. No engine that is designed well should burn oil, and certainly not to the point there is none left.

[Jayme]

the holden service interval was 15000 ks on the alloytecs if I rememebr correctly.... far far too long, which is is why they tend to clog up the pickup with gunk.

[Gareth]

engineered redundancy...

[FXST02]

The owner never checks the oil and relies on servicing for his top ups? Some people don't deserve cars.

[Charlescrown]

Agreed. I think I need to start educating them on basic owner maintenance after this episode. Still don't know what to expect long term. I have another customer who bought a Yarris and the pickup screen blocked. Drove it for a few days before bringing it to me. Cleaned the pickup and it did it again shortly afterwards. This time I got in and scraped all the crap I could see in the bottom end. Last episode was she ran out of oil but the pickup was clean as a whistle. Engine still runs great. They must be tough little engines but I don't know about these Holden engines.