Hey everyone. I'm new here so please have patience! I've searched and searched on here for anything regarding my problem with no luck so now I'm going to ask. About 3 months ago I had to replace my engine in my 98 RS (a fiasco all of it's own). When I got my car back, aside from the CEL being on, it ran just fine. After a few weeks I began noticing a faint tapping or clanking noise from the engine. At first it only happened above 4500rpms, but after about a week it became louder and then my oil light came on. I checked the oil and used my better judgement and added about 3/4 qt. Noise went away as did the light. Began doing the same thing about two weeks later. Checked oil...low again. Put in a quart...sound went away. It's beginning to come back again three weeks later. I checked for leaks of course...didn't see any. Checked for any kind of smoke...didn't see any. Can somebody please help me determine what the problem is!? Thanks for any info.

-James

oil Gnomes living in the valve cover are eating your oil.


Seriously, your prolly burning it if you dont have any visable leaks. Make sure there arent any traces of oil in your coolant. Get under the car and with a flashlight look for oil on the backside of the motor.

If your oil light comes on and your only 1quart low of oil then something is seriously wrong. Oil light should come on when you are 2-3Q low. The tapping noise is very possibly a rod knock.

Now why is your oil light comming on? your oil is low causing the pick up tube to capture air in the oil. Possible cause are a bent pickup tube, possible the dipstick in your car is reading oil level incorrectly (wrong dipstick or Tube has been shortened)

Need to drop the pan and see if there is metal in the bottom of your pan from the bearings, check the condition of the pick up tube and oil pan.

From a fresh oil change, how many quarts does your car hold when filled to the full mark?

Terry
Terry

Thanks for your reply Terry. I gave it a fresh oil change and put 4.5 qts in. I also double and triple checked for any leaks and I did notice a small one in the back where the headgasket is. This is a used motor that was just put in my car about two months ago. I'll keep monitoring it. Thanks again.

Just like in one of those oil commercials on TV where the engine jumps out of the car and vomit all its oil. Maybe your engine don't like the oil you are putting in it. j/k...

Keep monitoring that oil trace and check the sides and the spark plug holes by your valve cover.

Originally posted by MiztahfooLish
Keep monitoring that oil trace and check the sides and the spark plug holes by your valve cover.

Damn. I haven't seen you around in a while. Must be hanging out in different forums. Always liked your car with those wheels and the headlights. Different is good.

OP, easy place to check for oil in the coolant is your overflow tank. On the passenger side of the bay, pop the cap off the overflow bottle and pull it upwards. Typically, the oil will cling to the hose inside and look like pure shit. Another good place to check (when the car is cold, mind you) is to pull the radiator cap. The oil attaches to the gasket there as well.

Until you get this figured out, I would be checking your oil every time you get gas. My HG is shot to hell and I have to add a quart every time I get gas. The downside of building your daily driver. :\