Engine Knock

[bassprokd]

I'll admit...I neglected my oil for 2400 miles and yesterday I was on the side of the road. Going up the interstate I started hearing a ticking noise over the stereo so I shifted into neutral to see if the ticking died down with the rpms...it did...put it back in overdrive and gave it gas to get back up to speed and I felt a pop through the pedal and it lost all kinds of power so I pulled over. Opened the door and I could hear the engine knocking bad...checked the oil and there was just a little bit on it from the oil splashing...stupid me. Had it towed to a friends house...he put 4 quarts of oil in it...started it up and it was only a slight ticking...drove it on the highway and now it is fine. Should I trust this thing now that this has happened?

[Z71Rider]

It depends on your definition of "trust". I'd just drive on and keep an eye on the oil level and ears open for some more noises. With any luck...this may be a thing of the past. An engine will actually take an extraordinary amount of abuse, as long as nothing really breaks...rod, rings, rocker, valve, etc....and this sounds like to be the case here. If something really broke, you'd know it by now.

 

There is something else that can and does happen occasionally. An engine, especially one that uses a little oil, can develop a carbon buildup in, or above, the combustion chamber...usually around the intake valve, from valve guide leakage. Sometimes a small piece of carbon will break loose and rattle around in the cylinder like a friggin' marble. You'd swear that the engine had shot craps! When it clears the crud...good as new. You may want to check the spark plugs if it still has a miss...coulda' reduced the gap to almost nothing if the carbon hits the electrode just right.

 

Good luck!

[bsmithC3500]

...I neglected my oil for 2400 miles

 

2400 miles and you were down 4 quarts of oil? I didn't read anywhere how many miles were on your truck... but at the very least, I'd be looking at some valve seals and possibly a rebuild if you're blowing smoke.

 

Does it leak a lot of oil? 4 quarts is excessive.